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New PC buyers would be facing one major questions, though its quite confirm that it would be a Core 2 (Duo / Quad) processor but now there is 2 versions of it. The 65nm Conroe batch and 45nm Penryn batch.

Many would be thinking whats the difference between these 45nm Core 2 Duo / Quad vs 65nm Core 2 Duo / Quad processors ?

I would be trying to list few basic difference between these processors from an end user point a view. The immediate difference one may find is their identifying model numbers.

• nm stands for nano meter.
• Code name of Intel processors comes from the a name of any local neighborhood near by to the Intel development facility in which it is developed

Intel 65nm processors are the 1st batch of Core architecture product code named Conroe / Conroe XE / Conroe L / Allendale / Merom / Merom XE / Kentsfield / Kentsfield XE.

Intel 45nm Penryn processors are the second batch of the successful Core architecture with Code name Penryn / Wolfdale / Yorkfield / Yorkfield XE.

Every single Intel processor model has their unique identification numbers, the 65nm numbers are as follows with relationship of their code name.

The 65nm Core 2 batch is as follows, it contains Dual Core desktop and notebook as well as Quad core desktop processors.

Intel Core 2 Duo (Conroe - 65nm)

E6300 - 2MB L2 / 1066 FSB / 1.86 GHz / 65W / Desptop (LGA 775)
E6320 - 4MB L2 / 1066 FSB / 1.86 GHz / 65W / Desptop (LGA 775)
E6400 - 2MB L2 / 1066 FSB / 2.13 GHz / 65W / Desptop (LGA 775)
E6420 - 4MB L2 / 1066 FSB / 2.13 GHz / 65W / Desptop (LGA 775)
E6540 - 2MB L2 / 1066 FSB / 2.33 GHz / 65W / Desptop (LGA 775)
E6550 - 4MB L2 / 1333 FSB / 2.33 GHz / 65W / Desptop (LGA 775)
E6600 - 4MB L2 / 1066 FSB / 2.40 GHz / 65W / Desptop (LGA 775)
E6700 - 4MB L2 / 1066 FSB / 2.67 GHz / 65W / Desptop (LGA 775)
E6750 - 4MB L2 / 1333 FSB / 2.67 GHz / 65W / Desptop (LGA 775)
E6850 - 4MB L2 / 1333 FSB / 3.00 GHz / 65W / Desptop (LGA 775)

Intel Core 2 eXtreme (Conroe XE - 65nm)

X6800 - 4MB L2 / 1066 FSB / 2.93 GHz / 75W / Desptop (LGA 775)

Intel Core 2 Duo (Allendale - 65nm)

E4300 - 2MB L2 / 800 FSB / 1.80 GHz / 65W / Desptop (LGA 775)
E4400 - 2MB L2 / 800 FSB / 2.00 GHz / 65W / Desptop (LGA 775)
E4500 - 2MB L2 / 800 FSB / 2.20 GHz / 65W / Desptop (LGA 775)
E4600 - 2MB L2 / 800 FSB / 2.40 GHz / 65W / Desptop (LGA 775)
E4700 - 2MB L2 / 800 FSB / 2.60 GHz / 65W / Desptop (LGA 775)

Intel Core 2 Duo (Merom - 65nm)

T5200 - 2MB L2 / 533 FSB / 1.60 GHz / 34W / Mobile (Socket P)
T5250 - 2MB L2 / 667 FSB / 1.50 GHz / 35W / Mobile (Socket P)
T5270 - 2MB L2 / 800 FSB / 1.40 GHz / 35W / Mobile (Socket P)
T5300 - 2MB L2 / 533 FSB / 1.73 GHz / 35W / Mobile (Socket P)
T5450 - 2MB L2 / 667 FSB / 1.66 GHz / 35W / Mobile (Socket P)
T5470 - 2MB L2 / 800 FSB / 1.60 GHz / 35W / Mobile (Socket P)
T5500 - 2MB L2 / 667 FSB / 1.66 GHz / 34W / Mobile (Socket P)
T5550 - 2MB L2 / 667 FSB / 1.83 GHz / 34W / Mobile (Socket P)
T5600 - 2MB L2 / 667 FSB / 1.83 GHz / 34W / Mobile (Socket P)
T5750 - 2MB L2 / 667 FSB / 2.00 GHz / 35W / Mobile (Socket P)
T5850 - 2MB L2 / 667 FSB / 2.16 GHz / 35W / Mobile (Socket P)
T7100 - 2MB L2 / 800 FSB / 1.80 GHz / 35W / Mobile (Socket P)
T7200 - 4MB L2 / 667 FSB / 2.00 GHz / 34W / Mobile (Socket P)
T7250 - 2MB L2 / 800 FSB / 2.00 GHz / 35W / Mobile (Socket P)
T7300 - 4MB L2 / 800 FSB / 2.00 GHz / 35W / Mobile (Socket P)
T7400 - 4MB L2 / 667 FSB / 2.16 GHz / 34W / Mobile (Socket P)
T7500 - 4MB L2 / 800 FSB / 2.20 GHz / 35W / Mobile (Socket P)
T7600 - 4MB L2 / 667 FSB / 2.33 GHz / 35W / Mobile (Socket P)
T7700 - 4MB L2 / 800 FSB / 2.40 GHz / 34W / Mobile (Socket P)
T7800 - 4MB L2 / 800 FSB / 2.60 GHz / 35W / Mobile (Socket P)

L7200 - 4MB L2 / 667 FSB / 1.33 GHz / 17W / Mobile (Socket P)
L7300 - 4MB L2 / 800 FSB / 1.40 GHz / 17W / Mobile (Socket P)
L7400 - 4MB L2 / 667 FSB / 1.50 GHz / 17W / Mobile (Socket P)
L7500 - 4MB L2 / 800 FSB / 1.60 GHz / 17W / Mobile (Socket P)
L7700 - 4MB L2 / 800 FSB / 1.80 GHz / 17W / Mobile (Socket P)

U7500 - 2MB L2 / 533 FSB / 1.06 GHz / 10W / Mobile (Socket P)
U7600 - 2MB L2 / 533 FSB / 1.20 GHz / 10W / Mobile (Socket P)
U7700 - 2MB L2 / 533 FSB / 1.33 GHz / 10W / Mobile (Socket P)

Intel Core 2 eXtreme (Merom XE - 65nm)

X7800 - 4MB L2 / 800 FSB / 2.60 GHz / 44W / Mobile (Socket P)
X7900 - 4MB L2 / 800 FSB / 2.80 GHz / 44W / Mobile (Socket P)

Intel Core 2 Quad (Kentsfield - 65nm)

Q6600 - 8MB L2 / 1066 FSB / 2.40 GHz / 95W / Desktop (LGA 775)
Q6700 - 8MB L2 / 1066 FSB / 2.67 GHz / 95W / Desktop (LGA 775)

Intel Core 2 Quad (Kentsfield XE - 65nm)

QX6700 - 8MB L2 / 1066 FSB / 2.67 GHz / 130W / Desktop (LGA 775)
QX6800 - 8MB L2 / 1066 FSB / 2.93 GHz / 130W / Desktop (LGA 775)
QX6850 - 8MB L2 / 1333 FSB / 3.00 GHz / 130W / Desktop (LGA 775)

The 45nm Penryn batch is as follows,

Intel Core 2 Duo (Penryn - 45nm)

T9300 - 6MB L2 / 800 FSB / 2.50 GHz / 35W / Mobile (Socket P)
T9500 - 6MB L2 / 800 FSB / 2.60 GHz / 35W / Mobile (Socket P)

T8100 - 3MB L2 / 800 FSB / 2.10 GHz / 35W / Mobile (Socket P)
T8300 - 3MB L2 / 800 FSB / 2.40 GHz / 35W / Mobile (Socket P)

Intel Core 2 eXtreme (Penryn XE - 45nm)

X9000 - 6MB L2 / 800 FSB / 2.80 GHz / 44W / Mobile (Socket P)
X9100 - 6MB L2 / 800 FSB / 3.00 GHz / 44W / Mobile (Socket P)

Intel Core 2 Duo (Wolfdale - 45nm)

E7200 - 3MB L2 / 1066 FSB / 2.53 GHz / 65W / Desktop (LGA 775)
E7300 - 3MB L2 / 1066 FSB / 2.67 GHz / 65W / Desktop (LGA 775)

E8190 - 6MB L2 / 1333 FSB / 2.67 GHz / 65W / Desktop (LGA 775)
E8200 - 6MB L2 / 1333 FSB / 2.67 GHz / 65W / Desktop (LGA 775)
E8300 - 6MB L2 / 1333 FSB / 2.83 GHz / 65W / Desktop (LGA 775)
E8400 - 6MB L2 / 1333 FSB / 3.00 GHz / 65W / Desktop (LGA 775)
E8500 - 6MB L2 / 1333 FSB / 3.16 GHz / 65W / Desktop (LGA 775)

Intel Core 2 Quad (Yorkfield - 45nm)

Q9300 - 06MB L2 / 1333 FSB / 2.50 GHz / 95W / Desktop (LGA 775)
Q9450 - 12MB L2 / 1333 FSB / 2.67 GHz / 95W / Desktop (LGA 775)
Q9550 - 12MB L2 / 1333 FSB / 2.83 GHz / 95W / Desktop (LGA 775)

Intel Core 2 eXtreme (Yorkfield XE - 45nm)

QX9650 - 12MB L2 / 1333 FSB / 3.00 GHz / 130W / Desktop (LGA 775)
QX9770 - 12MB L2 / 1333 FSB / 3.20 GHz / 136W / Desktop (LGA 775)
QX9775 - 12MB L2 / 1333 FSB / 3.20 GHz / 150W / Desktop (LGA 775)

As you may see, from the model numbers, basically the E6xxx / E4xxx / T5xxx / T7xxx / Q6xxx / QX6xxx processors are coming under 65nm platform, where as the E7xxx / E8xxx / Q9xxx / T8xxx / Q9xxx / QX9xxx processors belongs to Penryn 45nm family.

So when you would be looking to purchase a notebook or a desktop processor, this number would quickly help you to under stand the type of the processor it is coming with.

Difference in their manufacturing !

All though all these processors are under Core 2 family however there is a major jump from 65nm to this 45nm platform which Intel has done.

Basic building block of modern processors, silicon is no longer present in this 45nm family. 65nm infact is the smallest that a silicon gate can archive. Intel has developed a new material calling it High-K gate.

High-K gate allows Intel to make smaller transistors. A quick Intel video on Why High-K switch ?

What are transistors ?

In short layman’s language, this is some thing which is building block of any processor. It calculate and processes data. - Read more in Wiki. More is better, so number of transistors under your processor will determine how fast it is.

Number of transistors

45nm Core 2 processors contains 410 million transistors per core compare to 291 million per core of a 65nm Core 2 processor. Few quick facts on 45nm

Difference in clock speed and power consumptions

Increased number of transistors and lower power consumptions allows the new 45nm processors to run at higher clock speed compare to 65nm counter part under same price range !!

More L2 cache

Once again smaller transistors size with High-K gate at 45nm allowed more space under processor Die, thus allowed Intel to increase the L2 cache.

Compare to 4 MB L2 E6xxx the standard Penryn dual core comes with 6 MB L2 where as compare to 8 MB of 65nm Quads, a 45nm quad core comes with 12 MB of cache.

Enhanced cache line split load

Not only more L2 option for 45nm processors, also they get smarter. Penryn comes with a new function called “enhanced cache line split load“. This innovation allows the processors to read L2 data more efficiently. Namely, the set of data which are suppose to be on a single thread but for some reason, is distributed on multiple thread. This new function would help to realign the data on a single thread and unblocking other threads which would allow other sets of data to be processed simultaneously. Data base related applications and some CAD applications would heavily benefit from it.

Fractional multiple

The Penryn family supports fractional multiple, thus allowing users to archive better over clocking needs.

Multiple ??

(FSB / 4) x multiple = Clock Speed

Good for over clocking

The new Penryn 45nm family is certainly better over clockers compare to their 65nm counter part. New High-K gate technology along with fractional multiple allows the lowest range 45nm processors (E8xxx) to touch almost 4 GHz with simple air cooling options.

Fast Radix-16 Divider support

This is a new feature compare to Radix-4 under a 65 nm Core 2 processor which is now included under Penryn batch. Just in layman’s language, this allows Penryn to process certain data such as integer and floating-point division and square roots twice faster than older 65 nm batch. Virtual / CAD application would have some major benefit from it.

Built For Virtualization

The 45nm batch is built for virtualization. This range of processors with Intel VT technology and larger L2 cache is meant to provide full support for application platform like Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V / VM Ware hardware virtualization or upcoming Windows 7 with native virtualization support.

SSE4.1 instructions support

Once again a major jump by supporting 47 new instruction set over older SSSE3 instruction sets. This is a major jump for Hardware technology how ever right now there are very very few application which are able to use few of these new 47 instruction set, for example few video encoding softwares would run significantly faster with Penryn compare to older Core 2 range. However not just video encoding, as we move along many upcoming softwares would be optimized for 45nm platform and would have ability to use these new instruction sets.

What does this mean to a layman computer user ?

To be honest, if you have a 65nm (Conroe) Core 2 range processor then under present real world application there would be a 6 to 15 % improvement with the new 45nm Penryn batch with heavy processing application, but with day to day application, there will be no visible performance improvement.

Simply to put it in this way, at present we dont have any mainstream real world application which can take advantage of a Penryn.

So if you are thing to upgrade your 65nm Core 2 (duo / quad) range processor with a new 45nm, then I would suggest to hold. It would be better idea to wait till the Intel 32nm nehalem range for a processor upgrade. Where as if you have money to spend, it would better idea to buy a better and powerful graphics card (if you are a gamer) or some more RAM (for virtualisation) or a better and larger TFT (for entertainment).

Where as if you are a new computer user and planing to buy one PC / Notebook, then as intel has released these 45nm with same price tag of 65nm, you must make sure your new PC / notebook comes with 45nm processor if you plan to buy a Intel based PC.