If you are new to CPUs you probably know how complicated CPU names are. Here we are going to help you understand Intel’s naming scheme to be able to spot a good CPU just from its name. In case you are wondering, we got a detailed guide on AMD’s naming scheme too.
Intel Core Naming Scheme (Up to 10th Generation)
We will take the Core i9 13900K as an example.
Brand
The Intel naming scheme begins with the product line (Core i9 13900K). Notable brands include Intel® Xeon® for workstation tasks and Intel® Core™, which offers a wide range of processors from budget-friendly options to high-end CPUs. Additionally, there are Intel® Pentium® and Intel® Celeron® processors, which are ideal for those seeking budget-friendly options. However, if you have a bit more to invest, we highly recommend choosing a Pentium CPU over a Celeron.
Other brands, such as Intel Atom®, Intel® Itanium®, and Intel® Quark™, exist; however, they are not covered in this guide. The Xeon brand is also not included in this guide for now.
Brand Modifier (Core Brand Only)
Brand modifiers (Core i9 13900K), such as i3, i5, i7, and i9, are exclusive to the Core brand. Higher numbers signify enhanced performance, additional features, and advanced technology. For example, i3 processors are suitable for basic tasks, i5 processors excel in everyday use and gaming, while i7 and i9 processors are designed for content creation and demanding tasks. Other Intel brands like Xeon or Pentium do not use brand modifiers.
Generation Indicator
Following the brand and its modifier, you will encounter a generation indicator (Core i9 13900K), indicating when the chip was manufactured. Each generation has its own unique name for example the 11th generation of Core processors is named Tiger Lake and the 12th is named Alder Lake.
Occasionally, CPUs from the same generation may have two different ‘lake’ names. This differentiation helps distinguish CPUs within the same generation. For example Comet Lake and Ice Lake are both branded as 10th generation CPUs, however Ice Lake uses a new architecture that Intel has developed while Comet Lake is still using the older one.
In general, new generations offer improved performance compared to older ones. However, in certain cases, sticking to the previous generation may be wise, especially if the new generation’s price does not justify the improvements made by Intel.
SKU
The SKU number is the last three digits in a processor’s name (Core i9 13900K). When you compare between CPUs from the same generation and the same brand the SKU might be useful. We don’t recommend using SKU numbers for comparing CPUs from different generations or brands.
Suffix
Intel uses a suffix as a way of sorting its processors into categories (Core i9 13900K). Below is a list of these suffixes.
| Suffix | Meaning |
|---|---|
| G1-G7 | Intel’s new integrated graphics, not designed for gaming, see “What changed after 10th generation?” below. |
| E | The processor can be utilized in embedded systems (not suitable for most consumers). |
| F | The processor doesn’t have integrated graphics and it requires a discrete graphics card. |
| G | Has a powerful built-in graphics processor. |
| H | High performance mobile processors. |
| HK | High performance mobile processors, can be overclocked (unlocked). |
| HQ | High performance mobile processors, quad core. |
| K | Can be overclocked (unlocked). |
| S | Lower power in exchange for little lower performance. |
| T | Power-optimized lifestyle |
| U | Mobile power efficient |
| Y | Mobile extremely low power |
| X/XE | Unlocked, High End (scientific tasks and workstation muscle) |
| B | Ball Grid Array (BGA) |
What changed after 10th generation?
After the 10th generation of Core processors, intel decided to change things a little bit. They came up with a new architecture exclusively for mobile CPUs that has improved graphics, but unfortunately follows a new naming scheme. And now 10th gen mobile CPUs have two architectures and two naming schemes; so we are going to explain the differences between both of these naming schemes to better understand them.
The Usual Naming Scheme (Already Explained Above)
- Brand Name: Core
- Brand Modifier: i3, i5, i7, i9
- Generation Indicator: All Core™ generations.
- SKU (3 digits): Higher SKU means better performance.
- Suffix: All the suffixes above (except for G1-G7).
The New Naming Scheme
We will take the Core i7 1165G7 as an example.
- Brand Name: Core
- Brand Modifier: i3, i5, i7, i9
- Generation Indicator (10+): CPUs that use the new graphics technology are either 10th gen or newer.
- SKU (2 digits): In the previous naming scheme, the general rule was that higher numbers indicated better performance. However, it’s not as straightforward here. Only the first digit (Core i7 1165G7) ,which can be found after the generation number, signifies performance.
On the other hand, the second digit (Core i7 1165G7) classifies the CPU as U-series (power-efficient) which offers better performance than the Y-series (extremely low power), with 5 and 0 representing the U and Y series respectively.
- Suffix (G1-G7): In this naming scheme, the suffix consists of ‘G’ followed by a number ranging from 1 to 7. The number after the “G” tells you the level of the graphics that you are getting which means that a G7 CPU has better graphics than a G1 CPU.
As we can see, the fastest way to spot one of these CPUs is to look at the suffix, if it has a ‘G’ followed by a number then it uses the architecture with improved graphics that we just mentioned.
Intel Pentium Naming Scheme
We will take the Pentium Gold G7400T as an example
- Brand Name: Pentium followed by Gold or Silver.
- A letter: Gold G or Silver J for desktops and Gold (without a litter) or Silver N for mobile.
- Generation Indicator: The first number in the name refers to its generation.
- SKU (3 digits): Higher SKU means better performance.
- Suffix: Intel uses suffixes in its Pentium brand that are different from the suffixes they use in their Core brand. We won’t make a suffix list since the suffixes in the Pentium brand mess up the pattern sometimes, so its best not to include them here.
This naming scheme doesn’t apply to older Pentium generations, as they follow different patterns.
Latest Pentium CPUs can be found in this list.
Intel Pentium Gold G
They offer high levels of performance compared to other budget CPUs; some desktop Gold CPUs even have clock speeds higher than 4 GHz. Another interesting thing about them, is that they feature hyper-threading which makes these dual core processors even more useful for tasks like gaming and video editing. However, it’s important to keep in mind that they fall into the budget category, so you shouldn’t expect too much from them.
While Gold G is used in desktops, there is a mobile version called Gold (without a G).
Intel Pentium Silver J
Silver CPUs prioritize using less power over achieving peak performance. So, you will usually find that Silver processors have lower clock speeds than Gold processors. However, Silver CPUs aren’t entirely subpar. As mentioned earlier, they are energy-efficient quad-core CPUs, and all Silver CPUs include a feature called burst frequency, unlike most Gold CPUs.
While Silver J is used in desktops, there is a mobile version called Silver N.
Intel Celeron Naming Scheme
We will take the Celeron G6900T as an example.
- Brand Name: Celeron.
- A letter: G, J, N for desktops, and N for mobile.
- Generation Indicator: The first number in the name refers to its generation.
- SKU (3 digits): Higher SKU means better performance.
- Suffix: Intel uses suffixes in its Celeron brand that are different from the suffixes they use in their Core brand. We won’t make a suffix list since the suffixes in the Celeron brand mess up the pattern sometimes, so its best not to include them here.
This naming scheme doesn’t apply to older Celeron generations, as they follow different patterns.
Latest Celeron CPUs can be found in this list.
Intel Celeron G
G series CPUs, used in desktops, share the same architecture as Intel Core CPUs, making them a budget-friendly alternative to the renowned Core brand. As a result, G series CPUs are known for having the highest performance, compared to J and N Celeron CPUs. That said, the Intel Celeron G series is an excellent choice for individuals seeking optimal performance from a budget CPU. However, they may not be the best option for extended battery life.
Intel Celeron J
Used in desktops (with a few exceptions), J series CPUs utilize the same architecture found in Intel Atom CPUs, making them an improved iteration of Atom CPUs. As a result, J series CPUs are recognized for their relatively lower performance compared to the G series. However, they excel in terms of battery life and generating less heat. Therefore, if high performance isn’t a top priority and you seek better battery life, consider opting for a Celeron J CPU.
Intel Celeron N
Used in mobile devices (except for the Intel Celeron N5095, designed for desktop use). N series CPUs utilize the same architecture as Intel Atom CPUs, making them akin to the laptop version of the J series. N CPUs are suitable for basic tasks, as they offer the lowest performance compared to Celeron J or Celeron G.
