About Intel® Processor Numbers

The processor number is one of several factors, along with processor brand, specific system configurations, and system-level benchmarks, to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

A higher number within a processor class or family generally indicates more features, but it may be more of one and less of another.  Once you decide on a specific processor brand and type, compare processor numbers to verify the processor includes the features you are looking for.

View processor specifications and compare processors >
View processor performance benchmarks >

Laptop, Desktop, and Mobile Device Processors

3rd generation Intel® Core™ processor family

Processor numbers for the 3rd generation Intel® Core™ processor family have an alpha/numerical identifier followed by a four digit numerical sequence (3xxx), and may have an alpha suffix depending on the processor. The table below explains the alpha suffixes used for the 3rd generation Intel Core processor family.

2nd generation Intel® Core™ processor family

Processor numbers for the 2nd generation Intel® Core™ processor family have an alpha/numerical identifier followed by a four digit numerical sequence, and may have an alpha suffix depending on the processor. The table below explains the alpha suffixes used for the 2nd generation Intel Core processor family.

Processor numbers for the Previous Generation Intel Core processor family have an alpha/numerical identifier followed by a three digit numerical sequence.

Processor numbers for the Intel® Core™2 processor family brands are categorized with an alpha prefix followed by a four digit numerical sequence. The table below explains the alpha prefixes used for the Intel Core2 processor families.

Processor numbers for the Intel® Core™2 Quad family have an alpha prefix followed by a four digit numerical sequence. Additionally, low power Intel Core2 Quad processors are identifiable by an "S" suffix which represents processors having a lower thermal design power.

Intel® Atom™ processors

Processor numbers for the Intel® Atom™ processor family are categorized by a three digit numerical sequence. Netbook class Intel® Atom™ processors have an alpha prefix of N, and Intel Atom processors with an alpha prefix of Z indicate the processor is for Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs).

A higher number within a processor class or family generally indicates more features. A higher processor number may have more of one feature and less of another.

Intel® Pentium® processors

Processor numbers for the Intel Pentium brand have an alpha prefix followed by a four character numerical sequence. All are desktop energy-efficient dual-core processors with TDP that is greater than or equal to 65W.

A higher number within a processor class or family generally indicates more features such as cache, clock speed, Front Side Bus or other Intel technologies¹. A higher number processor may also have more of one feature and less of another.

Intel® Celeron® processors

Processor numbers for the Intel® Celeron® brand are expressed with either a three digit numerical sequence or a five character sequence with an alphabetical prefix and four digits, depending on the processor type.

A higher number within a processor class or family generally indicates more features such as cache, clock speed, Front Side Bus or other Intel technologies¹. A higher number processor may also have more of one feature and less of another.

Server and Workstation Processors

Intel® Xeon® processor E3, E5, and E7 and Intel® Xeon Phi™ families

The latest Intel® Xeon® processor numbering system is an alpha numeric representation of product line, product family, and version. An ‘L’ suffix will be used to identify a low power processor. The version number will not be used in the first processor generation.

Intel® Xeon® processor families and product lines

Intel® Xeon® and Intel® Itanium® processors

Intel® Xeon® and Intel® Itanium® processor numbers are categorized in four digit numerical sequences, and may have an alpha prefix to indicate power and performance.

Intel® Xeon® and Intel® Itanium® processor families and their number sequence