Intel Processors Naming Scheme

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Core 2 Duo[edit | edit source]

The Core 2 Duo CPUs have a 5-digit alphanumeric naming scheme

Example: Core 2 Duo E8600
1 - Cores 2 - Performance 3 - SKU 4 - Features 5 - Platform
E 8 6 0 0

Identification

1. Number of Cores (E8600):

  • E - Dual Core

2. Performance Segment (E8600):

  • 4 - Low end Core 2 models
  • 6 - Mainstream CPUs
  • 7 - Mainstream CPUs (45nm)
  • 8 - High-end CPUs (45nm)

3. SKU (E8600):

  • This digit is higher for better performing processors

4. Extra/Removed Features (E8600):

  • 0 - None
  • 2 - Larger L2 cache
  • 4 - Increased FSB speed
  • 5 - Increased FSB speed
  • 9 - Lacks Virtualization Support

5. Platform Type (E8600):

  • 0 - Desktop
  • 5 - Workstation

Core 2 Quad and Extreme[edit | edit source]

The Core 2 Quad and Core 2 Extreme CPUs, have a 6-digit alphanumeric naming scheme.

Example: Core 2 Quad QX9650
1 - Cores 2 - Performance 3 - SKU 4 - Features 5 - Platform
QX 9 6 5 0

Identification

1. Number of Cores (QX9650):

  • Q - Quad Core
  • QX - Quad Core Extreme
  • X - Dual Core Extreme

2. Performance Segment (QX9650):

  • 6 - Mid-class CPUs
  • 8 - Mid-class CPUs (45nm)
  • 9 - High-end CPUs (45nm)

3. SKU (QX9650):

  • This digit is higher for better performing processors

4+5. Extra/Removed Features (QX9650):

  • 00 - None
  • 05 - VT-d and TXT technologies
  • 50 - Larger L2 cache, support for VT-d and TXT technologies (Q processors), Higher FSB or larger L2 cache (QX processors)
  • 70 - Increased L2 cache and FSB
  • 75 - Increased L2 cache and FSB, workstation platform

6. Power Consumption:

  • Blank - Standard Power
  • S - Reduced Power

Core i3, Core i5, Core i7 and Core i9[edit | edit source]

First Generation:[edit | edit source]

First Generation Core i CPUs use a 4-digit alphanumeric naming scheme.

Example: Core i7-860S
1 - Performance 2+3 - SKU 3 - Features
8 60 S

Identification

1. Performance Segment (860S):

  • 5 - Affordable mid-class dual-core CPUs
  • 6 - Mid-class dual-core CPUs
  • 7 - Mid-class quad-core CPUs
  • 8 - Performance quad-core CPUs
  • 9 - High-performance / Extreme CPUs

2+3. SKU (860S):

  • This 2-digit number is usually higher for processors with higher clock speed or better features.

3. Additional Features:

  • Blank - No extra features
  • K - Unlocked core multiplies
  • S - Energy-efficient (82W)
  • X - Extreme Edition

Second/Third Generation:[edit | edit source]

Second/Third Generation Core i CPUs use a 5-digit alphanumeric naming scheme.

Example: Core i7-3970X
1 - Generation 2 - Performance 3+4 - SKU 5 - Features
3 9 70 X

Identification

1. Generation (i7-3970X):

  • 2 - 2nd Generation (Sandy Bridge)
  • 3 - 3rd Generation (Ivy Bridge and Sandy Bridge-E)

2. Performance Segment (i7-3970X):

  • 1 - Affordable mid-class dual-core processors
  • 2 - Affordable mid-class dual-core processors
  • 3 - Mid-class quad-core CPUs
  • 4 - Mid-class quad-core CPUs
  • 5 - Performance quad-core CPUs
  • 6 - High-performance quad-core microprocessors
  • 7 - High-performance quad-core microprocessors
  • 8 - Extreme performance
  • 9 - Extreme performance / Top of the line

3+4. SKU (i7-3970X):

  • This 2-digit number is usually higher for processors with higher clock speed or better features.

5. Extra Features

  • Blank - No extra features
  • C - Embedded model for communications market
  • K - Unlocked clock multiplier
  • P - Disabled on-chip GPU
  • S - Energy-efficient version (65 Watt)
  • T - Low-power version (35 Watt or 45 Watt)
  • X - Extreme Edition

Fourth Generation and Newer:[edit | edit source]

Fourth Generation and newer Core i CPUs use a 5-digit alphanumeric naming scheme.

Example: Core i9-7980XE
1 - Generation 2 - Performance 3+4 - SKU 5 - Features
7 9 80 XE

Identification:

1. Generation (i9-7980XE):

  • 4 - 4th Generation (Haswell or Ivy Bridge-E)
  • 5 - 5th Generation (Broadwell or Haswell-E)
  • 6 - 6th Generation (Skylake or Broadwell-E)
  • 7 - 7th Generation (Kaby Lake or Skylake-X)
  • 8 - 8th Generation (Coffee Lake, Kaby Lake-R or Kaby Lake-G)
  • 9 - 9th Generation (Coffee Lake or Skylake-X)
  • 10 - 10th Generation (Comet Lake or Cascade Lake-X)
  • 11 - 11th Generation (Rocket Lake)
  • 12 - 12th Generation (Alder Lake)

2. Performance Segment (i9-7980XE):

  • 1 - Affordable mid-class dual-core and quad-core processors
  • 3 - Affordable mid-class dual-core and quad-core processors
  • 4 - Mid-class quad-core and six-core CPUs
  • 5 - Mid-class quad-core and six-core CPUs
  • 6 - Performance quad- and six-core CPUs
  • 7 - High-performance quad- and six-core processors
  • 8 - Extreme performance
  • 9 - Extreme performance / Top of the line

3+4. SKU (i7-7980XE):

  • This 2-digit number is usually higher for processors with higher clock speed or better features.

5. Extra features

Blank - No extra features

  • C - Iris Pro graphics, socketable version; On Broadwell eDRAM on the CPU Package
  • F - Disabled on-chip GPU
  • K - Unlocked clock multiplier
  • KF - Unlocked clock multiplier / Disabled on-chip GPU
  • R - Iris Pro graphics, BGA version
  • S - Energy-efficient version (65 Watt)
  • T - Low-power version (35 Watt or 45 Watt)
  • TE - Low-power version for embedded market (35 Watt)
  • X - Unlocked clock multiplier
  • XE - Unlocked clock multiplier / Extreme performance

Mobile Suffixes[edit | edit source]

Suffix Meaning
G1-G7 Embedded
E Embedded
H High Performance
HK High Performance, Unlocked
HQ High Performance, Quad Core
U Power Efficient
Y Extremely Low Power

Sources[edit | edit source]

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/processors/processor-numbers.html

https://www.cpu-world.com/info/id_model/Intel-desktop-conventions.html