Core i5-2405S and Core i3-2105 CPUs planned in Q2 2011

With the launch of new micro-architecture, the first two months of this year are, perhaps, the busiest for Intel. For the desktop market, Intel already released 10 desktop Core i5 and Core i7 CPUs, and 3 or 4 Core i3 models will be available in less than two weeks. The second quarter doesn't look as impressive for the desktop market as the first one. The biggest planned event will be introduction of Pentium-branded Sandy Bridge processors. Also in Q2, Intel will launch two Core i-branded models, Core i3-2105 and Core i5-2405S. This week, we dig up specifications of two Core processors, and found what makes them different from Core i3-2100 / i5-2400S CPUs.

Built on recently launched Sandy Bridge microarchitecture, Intel Core i3-2105 and Core i5-2405S microprocessors will pack two or four CPU cores, shared L3 cache, DDR3 memory controller and HD 3000 graphics controller on a single die. Both processors will support SIMD instructions up to SSE4 and Advanced Vector Extensions. Core i5-2405S will have 4 CPU cores and 6 MB L3 cache. The processor's base clock frequency will be 2.5 GHz, which can be boosted to 3.3 GHz under certain conditions. The CPU will feature AES instructions, VT-d virtualization and Trusted Execution technology, but won't support HyperThreading. Core i3-2105, on the other hand, will come with two cores, 3 MB L3 cache, and HyperThreading technology, but will be lacking Turbo Boost and advanced AES and vPro features. Intel i3-2105 and i5-2405S models will fit 65 Watt thermal envelope, and, like other Sandy Bridge processors, will use socket 1155.

Looking closely at the features of the Intel i5-2405S and i3-2105 CPUs, you may notice that they are almost indistinguishable from Core i3-2400S and i3-2100 models. The only difference between them is in the integrated graphics controller. The 2100/2400S have HD 2000 graphics, clocked at 850 MHz under normal conditions or 1100 MHz in Turbo mode, whereas Core i3-2105/i5-2405S will have HD 3000 controller, running at the same base and turbo frequencies, but with twice as many execution units.