PROCESSOR GENERATIONS
This guide explains what different Intel processor models mean and what sort of user they’re best suited for.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INTEL PROCESSOR GENERATIONS
Difference between Intel Core i3, i5, i7 and i9
How to Check Processor Generation on your Windows PC
INTEL CORE PROCESSOR NAMES AND NUMBERS
Intel processors: key terms you need to know
What do the numbers and letters at the end of Intel Core i processors mean?
Intel Processor Generations: Quick Glance
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INTEL PROCESSOR GENERATIONS
Difference between Intel Core i3, i5, i7 and i9
Core i3 processors offer a great mix of price and performance. They aren't the best for heavy multi-tasking or more challenging tasks such as editing videos, but they offer a noticeable step up from Pentium processors without you having to spend too much more; you'll find them in laptops from about £350 and up.
Core i5 processors are a great choice if you want a computer that can perform lots of tasks at once, and perhaps even delve into photo and video editing work. They don't cost as much as i7 processors but they offer performance that isn't too far off. It's the specification we recommend to most people, and you can grab one in a laptop for about £500.
Core i7 is a step up from i5, with a bit of extra performance to make those tough tasks that bit quicker. You often pay a premium for this, and if you have no specific need for speed then you may well not need or want to pay the extra.
Core i9 chips are reserved for specialist computers working on extremely challenging tasks, usually editing large videos. These would be overkill for most people, although if you do get the chance to use one you'll surely notice the scintillating speed.
How to Check Processor Generation on your Windows PC
- Type in msinfo32 in the Run Command box to open System Information.
msinfo32
- Now, look for the information in front of “Processor”. Using the information above, you can now determine all the information regarding the processor, including its generation.
First of all, many people think that Core i3, i5, and i7 are the processor generations.
The major processor models released by Intel.
- Pentium 1, 2, 3, 4
- Celeron
- Pentium M and Celeron M for mobile devices
- Pentium Dual Core
- Core Solo
- Core Duo
- Core 2 Duo
- Core 2 Quad
- Core i3, i5, i7, i9
The concept of generations mainly comes after the release of the Core i series. The difference in processor micro-architecture is the main difference in processor generations.
INTEL CORE PROCESSOR NAMES AND NUMBERS
The name of an Intel Core processor contains the following information:
- Brand
- Brand Modifier
- Generation Indicator
- SKU
- Product Line Suffix
Brand
The Brand signifies the overall product line. It could be any one of the following:
- Core
- Xeon
- Pentium
- Celeron
Brand Modifier
A Brand Modifier is only used in the Core series to signify the processor’s performance. You can find the following modifiers currently available:
- i3
- i5
- i7
- i9
The higher the modifier, the greater its performance.
Generation Indicator
In the 4 or 5-digit processor number, you will find the generation of the processor in the 1st or the 1st and 2nd digits.
If the processor is from a generation with only one integer (for example 8th or 9th), then the numbers would be starting like 8XXX or 9XXX. However, if it is of the 10th or 11th generation, the numbers would be line 10XXX or 11XXX.
The generation signifies some of the processor’s attributes, such as when it was released, the size of the transistors used, cache type and size, etc.
SKU
The SKU signifies the model number, which is usually the last 3 digits in the product number. The higher the SKU, the more features the processor is likely to have.
That said, SKUs cannot be used to compare processors amongst different Intel brands or different generations.
Product Line Suffix
The suffix at the end also signifies the capabilities of a processor. This is an alphabet that highlights the key features of the processor. Below is a list of all the suffixes currently in use by Intel and their meaning:
- C: Desktop processor with high-end graphics
- F: High-performance processor used with discrete graphics cards (ex. Gaming)
- H: High-performance graphics
- K: Unlocked for overclocking
- M: Mobile
- Q: Quad-core
- R: Desktop processor, BGA1364 (mobile) package, high-end graphics
- S: Performance-optimized lifestyle
- T: Power-optimized for best desktop computing
- U: Ultra-low power for laptop efficiency
- X: Extreme unlocked for high desktop performance
- Y: Extreme low power
Usman Khurshid Processor-generations/
Intel processors: key terms you need to know
1. Clock speed
This measured in gigahertz (GHz, one billion hertz), and tells you how many operations a processor can do each second. The higher the number, the faster the computer (when comparing like-for-like laptop/desktop models).
You’ll notice a higher clock speed when opening programs, files and exporting photos.
2. Number of cores
Typically, laptop and desktop chips have two or four cores (known as dual-core and quad-core). Some newer models have six and even eight. The more cores, the better, because it allows your computer to run multiple tasks at the same time without slowing down.
You’ll appreciate more cores if you often have lots of programs running or open lots of web browser tabs.
However, comparing the number of cores between different types of Intel processor (such as comparing an Intel Atom with an Intel Core i5) won't tell you much; as the cores themselves are completely different. Four Atom cores are much less powerful than four i5 cores, for example.
Intel Atom – best avoided
Atom processors heralded the arrival of ultra-thin, ultra-light laptops in the mid-2000s. These chips offered four cores for sprightly everyday computing performance.
Nowadays, these chips are generally relegated to very cheap Windows tablets costing under £200. Since there haven't been any new Atom processors in years, we'd advise you steer clear of any devices using an Atom processor as they are now extremely slow.
Intel Celeron and Pentium – cheap laptops and very cheap desktops
Celeron and Pentium processors are at the very bottom of Intel’s range. You might be familiar with the Pentium brand, with the name being a mainstay of more powerful computers of the late 1990s. Nowadays, it sits just above Celeron in terms of performance.
Celeron processors have improved in recent years, but they rarely excel in our tests as they are too slow for anything but very basic tasks, and multi-tasking with multiple programs is almost completely out of the question. They're usable, but given there are much better processors available in laptops that aren't hugely more expensive, we don't think they're worth seeking out.
Newer Pentium models, such as those launched in 2017 onwards, are becoming more common on laptops costing between £250 and £300. These chips are power-efficient, meaning they’re great when you want a laptop with a long battery life. They’re perfectly usable for web browsing and basic office work.
What do the numbers and letters at the end of Intel Core i processors mean?
The make-up of an Intel Core i chip model name can be broken up into five parts, each part giving you a little more information about the processor in your computer.
The first part is the easiest: Core i3, i5, i7 i9 are the processor's brand and tells you broadly where it fits into the range. Laptops and desktops with Core i3 are typically the cheapest and least powerful, with i5, i7 and i9 representing large steps up in performance.
We'll take the the Intel Core i5-1145G7 as an example.
Part one: generational number
The first digit after the dash tells you which generation your processor is from. The higher the number, the newer it is. As of 2022, the latest generation is 12th gen, meaning all the model numbers from this generation start with the number 12, and our example above is from the 11th-generation, hence it starting with 11 (1145G7). Ninth-generation processors and earlier start with a single digit, rather than two.
This is useful to know, as it can not only help you know the age of a laptop if you're buying used or refurbished, but it also lets you easily compare between two models.
The newer the processor, the better performance you'll get for the money. But if two models of laptop have processors perhaps only one generation apart (9th gen vs 10th gen, for example), the difference between them will be pretty small, so if the 9th-gen model is substantially cheaper it could well be a better buy.
What are the generations of Intel processor?
Below are the years in which each generation of Intel Core processor was launched, plus the codename you'll sometimes see them referred to as.
Intel Processor Generations
o 1st Generation Intel Processors - Nehalem
o 2nd Generation Intel Processors - Sandy Bridge
o 3rd Generation Intel Processors - Ivy Bridge
o 4th Generation Intel Processors - Haswell
o 5th Generation Intel Processors - Broadwell
o 6th Generation Intel Processors - Skylake
o 7th Generation Intel Processors - Kaby Lake
o 8th Generation Intel Processors - Kaby Lake R
o 9th Generation Intel Processors - Coffee Lake
o 10th Generation Intel Processors - Cannon Lake/Ice Lake
o 11th Generation Intel Processors - Tiger Lake
o 12th Generation Intel Processors – Alder Lake
o The next generations
Intel Processor Generations: Quick Glance
GENERATION |
CODE NAME |
RELEASE YEAR |
1st Gen |
Nehalem |
2008 |
2nd Gen |
Sandy Bridge |
2011 |
3rd Gen |
Ivy Bridge |
2012 |
4th Gen |
Haswell |
2013 |
5th Gen |
Broadwell |
2014 |
6th Gen |
Skylake |
2015 |
7th Gen |
Kaby Lake |
2016 |
8th Gen |
Kaby Lake R |
2017 |
9th Gen |
Coffee Lake |
2017 |
10th Gen |
Cannon Lake |
2020 |
11th Gen |
Tiger Lake |
2021 |
Generation |
Year first released |
Codename |
Number in model name |
1st |
2008 |
Nehalem |
None |
2nd |
2011 |
Sandy Bridge |
2 |
3rd |
2012 |
Ivy Bridge |
3 |
4th |
2013 |
Haswell |
4 |
5th |
2014 |
Broadwell |
5 |
6th |
2015 |
Skylake |
6 |
7th |
2016 |
Kaby Lake |
7 |
13th | 2022 | Raptor Lake | 13 |
Part two: Position in range
After the generation number, you get two digits (or three in post-10th-gen processors) that tell you roughly where in the hierarchy the processor sits. If you compared the two numbers in two processors, for example Core i5-1145G7 and 1140G7, you could glean that the 1145G7 was more powerful. However, Intel does not recommend you use these numbers for comparison as the 'bigger is better' mentality may not always hold true when comparing all processors as there are other technical differences that aren't apparent from these numbers.
Part three: Suffix
The suffix (trailing letters or letter and number) give you more information about where the processor sits in the range. Our suffix in our example is Core i5-1145G7,for example, but there are other variations including the i5-11300H and the 11600, which has no suffix at all. Below is a list of the common suffixes you'll find.
- G and a number at the end: Processors from the 10th-generation onwards (models starting with, 10, 11 or 12) often end with a G and a number, for example, G1 or G7. The higher the number on the end, the better the built-in graphics chip on the processor will be. The product listing should provide more detail as to what sort of performance you can expect.
- No suffix: This is a standard desktop processor, generally with four cores and a high clock speed for excellent everyday performance and the ability to edit videos and photos at high speed.
- T suffix: Found in smaller desktops and all-in-one PCs. These chips are functionally the same as those without a suffix and have the same number of cores, but with a slower clock speed.
- K suffix: The highest-performance processor you’ll find in a computer you can buy on the high street. Similar to a chip with no suffix, but generally with a higher clock speed. These chips can be ‘overclocked’ by those with technical knowledge.
- U suffix (older chips only): ‘Ultra’ low power. These chips generally have two cores (although newer models now have four cores) and are among the slowest processors with Core i branding. These chips can often be found in cheaper AIO PCs and in many laptops. They can be suitable for photo and video editing, but tend to be a lot slower when performing tasks such as exporting files to disk. If you’re looking for a photo-editing machine, pick a Core i5 or even try to stretch to an i7.
- HQ suffix: Generally found in powerful laptops and normally come with four cores. Perfect for video and photo editing, but sacrifices battery life and portability.
- Y in the middle (older chips only): Y are the lowest-power chips you can find. They aren’t really suitable for photo or video editing but will be fine for lighter tasks. The advantage of choosing one of these is very good performance for lighter tasks, coupled with a longer battery life. Laptops that use this chip tend to have fanless designs, meaning they’re totally silent and very thin.
By Michael Passingham intel-processors-explained-what-is-core-i3-i5-i7-and-pentium
7th Generation Intel Processors – Kaby Lake
Intel’s 7th generation processors, codenamed Kaby Lake, were introduced in 2016. Kaby Lake is essentially a refresh of Sky Lake architecture with few efficiencies and power improvements. It uses a 14-nm process architecture.
Kaby Lake is the first micro-architecture from Intel that does not come with an official driver for Operating Systems older than Windows 10.
Kaby Lake introduced a new graphics architecture to improve 3D graphics performance and 4K video playback. It uses 1151 LGA sockets and has dual-channel support for DDR3L-1600 and DDR4-2400 RAM slots.
8th Generation Intel Processors – Kaby Lake R
In 2017, Intel introduced a refresh of Kaby Lake processors as their new 8th generation release. The details are the same as mentioned in the 7th Generation Intel Processor but some 8th generation chipsets have support for DDR4-2666 RAM but lack DDR3L RAM support.
9th Generation Intel Processors – Coffee Lake
Coffee Lake processors were introduced by Intel in late 2017. With this architecture, Intel Core i9 processors were introduced.
Coffee Lake processors break the limit of 4 cores per CPU. The new processors can now support up to 8 cores per CPU.
Since the heat produced in these cores will be enormous, Intel attached the integrated heat spreader (IHS) to the CPU die instead of the thermal paste which is normally used in earlier processors.
It uses 1151 LGA sockets with altered pinouts to support more than 4 cores along with up to 16 MB of L3 cache.
10th Generation Intel Processors – Cannon Lake/Ice Lake
Cannon Lake, Intel’s 10th generation architecture, comes with an all-new 10-nm technology. It was released in late 2017 but production properly started in 2018.
Ice Lake is produced as the 2nd generation of 10-nm processors.
They use BGA1526 sockets and come with DDR4 3200 and LPDDR4X 3733 support. This is the first CPU architecture that comes with integrated support for Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and Thunderbolt 3.
11th Generation Intel Processors – Tiger Lake
The 11th generation Intel, Tiger Lake, is the third generation of 10-nm transistor technology, released on September 2, 2020. The Tiger Lake architecture has up to 19% performance gains compared to Ice Lake. L4 cache has been introduced in this generation for further performance boosts.
Furthermore, this was the first generation to feature Intel Iris Xe graphics with significant FPS boosts whilst gaming.
12th Generation Intel Processors – Alder Lake
The 12th generation of Intel Core processors is referred to as Alder Lake. It also has 10-nanometer transistor technology, but with hybrid capabilities. This means it is both designed for power and scalability with its P-cores and E-cores, which essentially means power core and efficiency cores, respectively.
This generation supports DDR5 memory, Thunderbolt 4 connectivity, and WiFi 6E (Gig+).
Intel claims the 12th generation provides an average of 13% performance gains in gaming and offers up to twice the performance of its predecessor in terms of content creation.
The next generations
The next generation of Intel Core processors is the 13th with the codename Raptor Lake. It is anticipated to be released in the second half of 2022. It is rumored to have double-digit performance boosts in comparison to Alder Lake, and may have up to 24 threads.
Key terms related to Intel processors
Generational numbers:
When choosing a CPU, there’s one more aspect to consider. The first digit determines your processor’s generation after the dash. It is newer if the number is higher..
- Core i5-7200U: two cores, maximum speed of 3.1GHz
- Core i5-8250U: four cores, maximum speed of 3.4GHz
Intel Core suffix meanings:
Core suffix |
Meanings |
C |
Desktop processor with high-end graphics |
F |
High-performance processor used with a discrete graphics card |
H |
High-performance graphics |
K |
Unlocked for overclocking |
M |
Mobile |
Q |
Quad-core |
R |
Desktop processor, mobile package, high-end graphics |
S |
Performance-optimized lifestyle |
T |
Power-optimized for best desktop computing |
U |
Ultra-low-power for laptop efficiency |
X |
Extreme unlocked for high desktop performance |
Y |
Extreme low power |
An Intel Xeon processor is a cutting-edge central processing unit from Intel (CPU). The Intel Xeon CPUs are unquestionably influential. They contain a lot of cores and certain unique features that make them ideal for executing heavy applications and mission-critical activities. Error-correcting code memory is arguably the most crucial of these characteristics.
Intel Xeon processor generations:
- Cooper Lake(2020-2021); Xeon Gold, and Xeon Platinum
- Comet Lake(2020-2021); Xeon W
- Cascade lake(2019-2020); Xeon Platinum, Xeon Gold, Xeon Silver, and Xeon Bronze
- Coffee Lake(2018-2019); Xeon E
Intel Xeon suffix meanings:
The various letter suffixes at the end of the Xeon processor names provide some info about the chip’s features.
Xeon Suffix |
Meaning |
E |
Embedded |
H |
Large memory support of up to 1.12 TB per socket |
HL |
Large memory support of up to 4.5 TB |
L |
Large memory support of up to 4.5 TB |
M |
Medium memory support of up to 2 TB |
N |
Networking specialized |
P |
Performance and power |
R |
Refresh (high performance) |
S |
Search optimized |
T |
Thermal / long life cycle / low power |
U |
Uniprocessor |
V |
Virtual machine density optimized |
Y |
Speed select |
Pentium processors from Intel are mid-to-entry-level processors that offer good performance at a lower cost than the Core and Xeon processor lines. These processors run at similar clock rates as the more powerful Core chips, but they don’t include premium features like Turbo Boost or HyperThreading; thus, they’re less expensive. A Pentium processor might be a fantastic choice if you aren’t running CPU-intensive tasks like extensive data or design.
Intel Pentium processor generations:
- Jasper Lake(2021); Pentium Silver
- Comet Lake(2019 to 2020); Pentium Gold
- Tiger Lake(Mobile-2019 to 2020); Pentium Gold
- Coffee Lake(2018-2019); Pentium Gold
Intel Pentium suffix meanings:
Pentium Suffix |
Meanings |
H |
High power |
U |
Medium power |
T |
Low power |
Celeron is the low-end (and low-cost) member of Intel’s P6 architecture-based CPU family. Although it shares the same architecture as the Pentium II, it lacks several of Pentium II’s high-performance capabilities. Celeron versions after the 300 A include an on-chip L1 and L2 cache, which means the cache is accessible at the same clock speed as the CPU. The Celeron L2 cache is less than the Pentium II’s (128 kilobytes) (512 KB). The Celeron L2 cache is on the CPU chip, but the Pentium II’s is not, hence their effective L2 speeds are almost identical. Celeron processors are enticing to power users at first appearance, with clock speeds up to 466 MHz. Still, they should be compared to the Pentium II’s computational capability to understand their practical use.
Intel Celeron processor generations
- Jasper Lake(2021); Celeron N
- Comet Lake(2019-2020); Celeron G5
- Tiger Lake (Mobile: 2019-2020); Celeron 6305
- Coffee Lake(2018-2019); Celeron G4
Intel Celeron suffix meanings:
Celeron Suffix |
Meanings |
E |
Embedded |
J |
The processor has NX (No-execute) feature |
L |
Mobile low power |
S |
Small form factor CPU |
P |
Mobile power-optimized |
Q |
Desktop or mobile quad-core |
T |
Extended temperature range |
U |
Mobile ultra-low power |
X |
Desktop or mobile extreme power |
Intel produces hundreds of different CPU models, with new ones being released every year.
- The Intel Xeon processor family is optimised for scientific and data-intensive activities.
- The Intel Pentium line of CPUs is a cost-effective solution that gives you a lot of bang for your buck.
- For entry-level buyers with light-level workloads, Intel Celeron delivers rapid performance.
By Abantika De intel-processor-generation
Comparison Charts for Intel® Core™ Desktop Processor Family
Intel® Core™ Desktop Processors 12th Generation through 4th Generation Excel* file
If Excel is not available, use the PDF file instead
The PDF file allows you to compare if you do not have Excel installed. It provides the same information as the Excel file above but in a PDF format.
Intel® Core™ Desktop Processors 12th Generation
through 4th Generation PDF file
INTEL CORE I9 VERSIONS
Price |
|
|
|
|
|
Rating |
|||||
Sold By |
|||||
Brand |
Intel |
Intel |
Intel |
Intel |
Intel |
Name |
Core i9-10940X |
Core i9-11900K |
Core i9-12900KF |
Core i9-10920X |
Core i9-10900X |
Operating Frequency |
3.3 GHz |
3.5 GHz |
P-core Base
Frequency: 3.2 GHz |
3.5 GHz |
3.7 GHz |
CPU Socket Type |
LGA 2066 |
LGA 1200 |
LGA 1700 |
LGA 2066 |
LGA 2066 |
# of Cores |
14-Core |
8-Core |
16-Core (8P+8E) |
12-Core |
10-Core |
Model |
BX8069510940X |
BX8070811900K |
BX8071512900KF |
BX8069510920X |
BX8069510900X |
Core Name |
Cascade Lake |
Rocket Lake |
Alder Lake |
Cascade Lake |
Cascade Lake |
Thermal Design Power |
165W |
125W |
Processor Base Power: 125W |
165W |
165W |
Integrated Graphics |
Intel UHD Graphics 750 |
|
|
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