Intel helped launch their 45nm processors with in November, and then proceeded to release their mid-range Dual-Cores and finally, their low-end and mid-range Quad-Cores late last month. So you might be asking, "where are the low-end Dual-Cores?" Good question, and one we'll help answer today.
The E7200 will be the first "value" model that Intel will launch, and for the most part, it's kind of like a Q9300 split right down the middle. The difference is that while the Q9300 utilizes a 1333MHz FSB, the E7200 sticks to the "stock" option of the 65nm models, at 1066MHz FSB. This in itself is a big improvement, since the most comparable 65nm Dual-Core, the E4700, uses an 800MHz FSB.
The rumored launch date for the E7200 is next month, but that conflicts with the "Q2" launch date that Intel's press relations gave us. Similar to the 45nm Quad-Core launch, Intel likely still has many 65nm low-end Dual-Cores and would like to clear some of them out first, before officially launching the E7200 and others. So at this point, the release date is up in the air, but it will probably prove a lot sooner than later.
With its unique 9.5x multiplier, the E7200 hits a stock clock frequency of 2.53GHz and includes 3 MB of L2 cache, 1.5 MB per core. This is unlike the mid-range Dual-Cores, such as the E8400, which includes 6 MB of L2 cache. Whether or not that decrease will affect performance is something our benchmarks will help explain.
Closer Look at the Core 2 Duo E7200
Like the E4xxx series before it, the E7xxx series is designed for value-conscious consumers who want a solid CPU that will help get the job done. They don't boast extreme performance, but as we've come to find out well over the past few years, even Intel's lower-end Core 2 Duo offerings are well worth the time... even with overclocking out of the picture.
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