Detailed Guide to Identifying Intel CPU Lines in 2023

CPU (Central Processing Unit) is the central processing component of a computer, responsible for processing and calculating data and running programs. An Intel CPU is a high-quality central processor, widely regarded for its performance and manufactured by Intel Corporation. Intel CPUs are widely used in personal computers, laptops, servers, workstations, and other electronic devices. In this article, Hung Phat explains in detail how to distinguish between Intel CPU lines.

Notice on Intel CPU's new brand naming convention

Intel will introduce a new simplified brand - Intel® Processor - for computers. Starting in 2023, computer products in this segment will be simplified under the Intel® Processor brand, instead of Intel® Pentium® and Intel® Celeron® processor as before.

This new brand architecture will allow Intel to focus on its leading brands such as Intel® Core ™, Intel® Evo ™ and Intel vPro®, while also helping streamline branded products across computer segments to improve and enable clearer communication with customers about the value of each product. This new brand architecture is also expected to give customers a simpler shopping experience by using one brand name across multiple processor families.

Intel will continue to offer the same products and benefits across computer segments. The new Intel Processor brand will not change Intel's existing products or its product roadmap.

Understanding Intel® product naming conventions:

• The processor number is only one of several factors - along with the processor brand, system configuration, and system-level benchmarks - that should be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.
• Distinguish product brands, brand modifiers, generations, SKUs, and different product lines from an Intel® processor name.
• Intel builds specific processors for affordable computing sold under the Intel® processor brand.

	Brand Intel's naming system starts with the processor brand - the overall product line the processor was created for. The most common Intel processor names begin with Intel® Core™ or, under the new brand naming convention, Intel® Processor, which replaces the Intel® Pentium® and Intel® Celeron® product lines starting in 2023. Intel® Processor is a budget product line created for consumers with limited budgets. Intel® Core™ processors deliver faster performance and additional features not found in Intel® Processor models. Intel® Xeon® processors provide higher levels of performance for servers and workstations.
	Processor series The Intel® Core™ processor series includes a brand modifier before the rest of the model number. Intel® Pentium® and Intel® Celeron® processors do not use this naming convention. Today, the Intel® Core™ processor series includes the i3, i5, i7, and i9 brand modifiers. Higher brand modifier numbers indicate higher performance and, in some cases, additional features such as Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology. For example, within a given processor line, an i9 will perform better than an i7, an i7 will perform better than an i5, and an i5 will perform better than an i3.
	Generation convention After the brand and brand modifier comes the processor generation indicator. Intel® processor generations are identified in the processor number across most Intel® Core™ processor brands, with the generation listed after the hyphen. When a processor has four or five digits, the first one or two digits represent the generation. For example, a processor with the digits 9700 is a 9th Gen processor, while a processor labeled 12800 is a 12th Gen processor. *Note: Intel® Processor and Intel® Core™ i3 N-series processors will follow the current N-series naming convention, which does not include a generation indicator in the number format. For 10th Gen Intel® Core™ mobile processors, Intel's naming scheme is slightly different and will be discussed later. However, the first two digits in the product number will be 10.
	SKU For most Intel® processors, the last three digits of the product number are the SKU. SKUs are usually assigned in the order in which processors in that generation and product line were developed. A higher SKU within otherwise identical processor brands and generations will often have more features. However, the SKU number is generally not the best metric for comparing different generations or product lines.
	SKU suffix The SKU suffix is another important indicator of a processor's capabilities. These remaining differences are shown through letter-based product line suffixes. For example, in the Intel® Core™ processor line, U indicates a processor designed for power-efficient laptops or 2-in-1 computers. Meanwhile, XE indicates an "Extreme Edition" desktop processor designed for maximum performance.

The Latest Intel® Core™ Processors (10th-13th Gen)

13th Gen Intel® Core™ CPUs

13th Gen Intel® Core™ CPUs advance the performance hybrid architecture with up to 8 P-cores and 16 E-cores, delivering outstanding gaming and creation experiences. These processors offer a highly flexible architecture and industry-leading tools for optimal performance tuning.

For more information, visit the 13th Gen product page.

12th Gen Intel® Core™ CPUs

12th Gen Intel® Core™ CPUs introduced a performance hybrid architecture that delivers outstanding performance where you need it most. They combined Performance-cores and Efficient-cores to improve gaming, productivity, and creative workloads.

For more information, visit the 12th Gen page.

11th Gen Intel® Core™ CPUs

11th Gen Intel® Core™ CPUs introduced a core and graphics architecture with IPC gains that enabled AI-supported acceleration, best-in-class wired and wireless connectivity, and advanced tuning features to improve performance so you can do more.

For more information, visit the 11th Gen page.

10th Gen Intel® Core™ CPUs

10th Gen Intel® Core™ CPUs balance frequency, cores, and threads to support advanced tuning, while fast connectivity helps improve experiences and productivity for gamers, content creators, and mainstream users.

For more information, visit the 10th Gen page.

Intel Processors

Intel is introducing a new processor brand for the entry-level computing space: Intel® Processor. Although current Intel Pentium® and Intel Celeron® products will continue to be produced, Intel Processor will replace Intel Pentium® and Intel Celeron® in new product families beginning in 2023. In the naming convention, "Intel® Processor" is followed by an alphanumeric prefix that indicates the series, followed by 3 digits. Intel® Processor follows the current N-series naming convention and does not include any generation indicator in the number format.

General format: Intel® Processor N###. One example of this format is Intel® Processor N200.

*Note: The alphanumeric prefix for Intel® Processor will begin with the letter N or U." In addition, Intel® Processor also includes other variants outside N-series processors.

Intel® Pentium® processors

The Intel® Pentium® Silver processor naming convention includes a one-letter prefix followed by a four-digit SKU number. Intel® Pentium® Gold processors, by contrast, do not have a letter prefix and instead include an SKU number followed by a suffix.

Higher numbers within a processor class or line indicate improved features and performance standards, including cache, clock speed, or front-side bus. Intel® Pentium® Gold and Silver processors are differentiated by overall CPU performance. Intel® Pentium® Gold processors are optimized for performance, while Intel® Pentium® Silver processors are optimized for cost.

View Intel® Pentium® processors ›

Intel® Celeron® processors

The Intel® Celeron® processor naming convention includes two different formats. Some Intel® Celeron® processors have a three-digit SKU with no alphabetical prefix. Others include a one-letter prefix followed by a four-digit SKU number.

Higher numbers within a processor class or line usually indicate improved features and performance standards, including cache, clock speed, or front-side bus.

View Intel® Celeron® processors ›

Intel CPU Suffixes

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Phát Lâm

Website Administrator, Hung Phat Laptop

I'm Phát Lâm, CEO of Hungphatlaptop.com and an IT specialist with years of experience in PC reviews, technology infrastructure and networking. With a deep understanding of hardware configurations, system performance and market trends, I focus on recommending the right solution so every customer gets a device that fits their needs, delivers strong performance, keeps costs in check and offers real value.

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