Pentium Dual Core is a Core 2 Duo (or a Core Duo, in the case of the mobile versions) CPU with a lower internal clock rate and less L2 memory cache. In this tutorial you will learn the main technical specifications of this processor and a table with all Pentium Duo Core released so far.

Who thought that with the release of the Core microarchitecture and Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Extreme and Core Quad Intel would retire their Pentium trademark was completely wrong. The legendary Pentium trademark is back with the release of the Pentium Dual Core.

Pentium Dual Core for desktops is a dual-core processor based on Core microarchitecture, the same one used by Core 2 Duo. Watch out to not make confusion between Pentium Dual Core and Pentium D. Even though both are dual-core CPUs, Pentium D is based on Intel’s previous microarchitecture, called Netburst, the same one used by Pentium 4. If you want to learn in details about the microarchitecture used by Pentium Dual Core read our Inside Intel Core Microarchitecture tutorial. To compare it to Pentium D’s microarchitecture, read Inside Pentium 4 Architecture and Intel Dual Core Technology tutorials.

Pentium Dual Core uses a 1 MB L2 memory cache, which is shared between the two CPU cores (Intel calls this implementation as “Smart Cache”), and works externally at 800 MHz (200 MHz transferring four data per clock cycle).

In contrast Core 2 Duo processors have at least 2 MB L2 memory cache – with several 4 MB models – and, even thought there are models running externally at 800 MHz, the vast majority uses a 1,066 MHz external bus, with newer models running externally at 1,333 MHz.

The mobile version of Pentium Dual Core is based on Pentium M’s microarchitecture, which Core microarchitecture was based on. Since these processors are dual-core Pentium M’s manufactured under 65 nm process, they are in fact Core Duo processors with less L2 memory cache – the original Core Duo has 2 MB L2 memory cache, while Pentium Dual Core has only 1 MB. The majority of Core Duo processors run externally at 667 MHz, while all mobile versions of Pentium Dual Core run externally at 533 MHz.

Here is a summary of the main Pentium Dual Core family features:

• Core microarchitecture (desktop version) or Pentium M (mobile version)
• 32 KB instruction L1 memory cache and 32 KB data L1 memory cache for each core.
• Dual-core technology
• 65 nm manufacturing process.
• Socket 775.
• 800 MHz (200 MHz transferring four data per clock cycle) external bus on desktop versions or 533 MHz (133 MHz transferring four data per clock cycle) on mobile versions.
• 1 MB unified L2 memory cache
• Intel EM64T Technology.
• SSE3 instruction set.
• Execute Disable Bit.
• Intelligent Power Capability.
• Enhanced SpeedStep Technology. 

Let’s now talk about Pentium Dual Core models launched so far.