Intel will offer Intel Core 2 micro-architecture for cost effective computers starting from the second quarter 2006, if a report published by an Asian web-site is to be believed. The new chips are currently called Conroe-L and offer only one processing engines, not two, as more advanced Conroe brethren.
While the branding is to be decided, according to slides published, it is highly-likely that the value chips based on the Core 2 micro-architecture will be sold under Core 2 Solo trademark. The slides, which are believed to be leaked by mainboard makers to HKEPC web-site, also imply that the code-named Conroe-L products will be substitute not only Pentium 4 processors, but also Celeron D chips.
It is claimed that Core 2 Solo processors will have one core, 1MB or 512KB level-two cache, feature 64-bit capability, execute disable bit and Intel Enhanced SpeedStep technology, however, the value processors will not support virtualization technology. The Conroe-L processors will use 800MHz processor system bus, but it is yet unknown, which mainboards will actually support the new central processing units (CPUs).
X-bit labs – Hardware news – Intel Readies Value Core 2 Solo Processors – Web-Site.
