Intel Processor Names

While looking at a processor name, you must be confused what those tricky numbers and letters means. Your doubts will be cleared in the article. Let’s get started.

Image showing 5 elements of a Processor Model Number

Brand Name: Intel Core processors are specially designed for laptops and desktops which have to be used for definite time in a definite manner. Intel Xeon processors are specially designed for Servers and Workstations which are capable to run 24/7 at heavy workload.

Model Number: Intel always keeps on working on technology to give their customers the best. Therefore, keeps launching processors with new technology. These can be differentiated on the basis of model number of the processor.

Different Intel Core Models. Image Courtesy: Mobilator

Model Number	Common Usage	Frequency	Number of cores	Cache Memory	Hyper-threading	Year	TDP
Atom	Tablets & Cell Phones	1.3 GHz to 1.9 GHz	2 to 4	512Kb to 1Mb	No	2008	0.13W to 13W
Celeron	Entry-Level PCs	1.7 GHz to 2.9 GHz	2 to 4	1Mb to 2Mb	No	1998	4W to 86W
Pentium	Entry-Level PCs	1.2 GHz to 3.7 GHz	2 to 4	3Mb	No	1995	2.9W to 115W
i3	Basic Usage PCs	1.06 GHz to 4.2 GHz	2 to 4	3Mb to 4Mb	Yes	2010	35W to 73W
i5	Standard Multitasking PCs	1.6 GHz to 4.4 GHz	2 to 6	6Mb	Yes	2009	17W to 95W
i7	Heavy Multitasking and Gaming PCs	3.0 GHz to 5.0 GHz	2 to 8	8Mb	Yes	2008	45W to 150W
i9	High-End Gaming and 3D Rendering and Professional Usage	2.9 GHz to 5 GHz	2 to 8 *also 16 in Extreme series	16Mb	Yes	2018	45W to 165W

Table comparing different Intel Processors Model numbers in the terms of Year, TDP, Frequency, No. of Cores, hyper-threading and usage

*There are more models to explore. i.e. Core Solo, Core Duo, Core Extreme, Pentium 4, Pentium M etc. Please refer to Wikipedia for these.

Generation: In order to provide customers, the best, Intel is always working on new technologies. As we know, the core of a processor consists of a large number of transistors to process upon the data, smaller the size of the transistor, more efficient it is, less power it consumes, the greater number of cores we can include in the processor.

Here is a comparison of Intel Core Generations till now.

Generation	Name	Architecture	Year
1^st	Nehalem	45nm	2010
2^nd	Sandy Bridge	32nm	2011
3^rd	Ivy Bridge	22nm	2012
4^th	Haswell	22nm	2013
5^th	Broadwell	14nm	2015
6^th	Skylake	14nm	2015
7^th	Kaby Lake	14nm	2016
8^th	Kaby Lake – Revised	14nm	2017
9^th	Coffee Lake	14nm	2017
10^th	Sky Lake / Cannon Lake	14nm	2018
11^th	Tiger Lake	10nm	Not Yet

Do you Know?

1^st Gen – 6^th Gen Processors uses DDR3 Memory. DDR4 Memory was launched with 7^th Gen Processors.
Intel Core i9 was launched with 9^th Gen Processors.
All of the Generations from 1^st to 9^th uses LGA socket with LGA 1150-1156 and so on expect some of the processors in 4^th Gen uses LGA 2011 – 3 Socket.
Core i9 Extreme uses LGA2066 Socket.
11^th Gen Processors will have L4 Cache Memory.

SKU Digits: Well, the three or four numeric after the generation are SKU Digits of the Processor Model Number. These differentiate the processors on the basis of their cache memory and specially clock speed.

i.e. Core i3 9100 has a clock speed of up to 3.6GHz and 6Mb Cache whereas i3 9350 have a clock speed of 4GHz and 8Mb Cache.

*Please search for the model number on Intel Official Website to view the specifications of the process before purchase.

Product Line Suffix: Well, most of the persons are always confused because of this one alphabet. Here is what it means:

Alphabet	Meaning	Description
K	Unlocked	It means the processor version is unlocked for overclocking and can easily be overclocked to increase its performance by increasing the clock speed.
U	Ultra-Low Power	These processors are specially designed for Mobile Phones, Laptop Machines etc. These comes with BGA Sockets instead or regular LGA and consumes 60-80% less power than regular ones.
F	Requires Discrete Graphics	These processors do not have any integrated graphics in them and hence requires an additional Graphics Processor / Graphics card to give Display output.
T	Power Optimized	These processors are optimized to consume 50-80% less power than the regular ones.
H	High Performance Graphics	Used to indicate a mobile/laptop processor having high performance graphics processor as integrated graphics. These usually comes with BGA Package.
HK	High Performance Graphics + Unlocked	Used to indicate a mobile/laptop processor having high performance graphics processor as integrated graphics and these are unlocked and hence can easily be overclocked.
HQ	High Performance Graphics + Quad Core	This is used to indicate that the mobile/laptop processor is quad core and have high performance graphics processor as integrated graphics processor. Usually comes in a BGA Package.
C	Unlocked	Generally used in 5^th Gen Processors, Unlocked desktop processor based on the LGA 1150 package with high performance graphics.
R	High Performance Graphics	Desktop processor based on BGA1364 (mobile/laptop) package with high performance graphics
G	Discrete Graphics Included	Used in 8^th Gen, G indicates the processor have discrete graphics included in it and doesn’t require a Graphics processor for display output.
S	Performance Optimized	Performance Optimized Processor or Special Edition Processor
MX	Mobile Extreme	Mobile/Laptop Extreme Edition with BGA Socket with Higher clock speed, a greater number of cores
Y	Extremely Low Power	These processors consume about 80-90% less power than the regular ones, specially for mobiles and laptops. Comes with BGA Socket.
QM, MQ	Quad Core Mobile	These were used in older Generations to indicate 4 cores in a Laptop/Mobile Processor.
M	Mobile	Used in older Generations, Indicates a Mobile/Laptop Processor.
X	Extreme Edition	These are extreme edition of Desktop/Mobile Processor, with a very high performance as compared to regular ones. Higher Clock speed, a greater number of Cores, New Technologies.
E	Power Saving	Used in older Generations, Indicates desktop energy efficient dual-core processors with TDP greater than or equal to 55 W