New Streamlined Brand Naming Convention
Intel is introducing a new simplified brand – Intel® Processor – for affordable computing. Starting in 2023, these affordable computing products will be simply branded as Intel® Processor, instead of Intel® Pentium® and Intel® Celeron® processor.
This new, streamlined brand architecture will allow Intel to sharpen its focus on flagship brands, including Intel® Core™, Intel® Evo™, and Intel vPro®. Additionally, this update will streamline brand offerings across PC segments to enhance and enable Intel customer communication on each product’s value proposition. The new brand architecture is also expected to provide customers a simplified purchasing experience by serving as a brand name for multiple processor families.
Intel will continue to deliver the same products and benefits within segments. The new Intel Processor brand will leave Intel’s current product offerings and roadmap unchanged.
Brand
The Intel naming scheme starts with the processor’s brand—the overall product line the processor was created for. The most common Intel processor names begin with Intel® Core™ or the new brand naming convention – Intel® Processor (replacing Intel® Pentium® and Intel® Celeron® product lines starting in 2023).
Intel® Processor is an economical product line created for price-conscious consumers. Intel® Core™ processors bring faster performance and additional features not available in Intel® Processor models.
Intel® Xeon® processors offer a higher level of performance for servers and workstations. Learn more about Intel® Xeon® processor numbers.
Brand Modifier
Intel® Core™ processor series include a brand modifier before the remaining parts of the model number. Intel® Pentium® and Intel® Celeron® processors do not use this naming convention. Today, the Intel® Core™ processor series includes the brand modifiers i3, i5, i7, and i9. Higher brand modifier numbers offer a higher level of performance and, in some cases, additional features (like Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology). For example, within a given processor family, an i9 will outperform an i7, which will outperform an i5, and outperform i3.
Generation Indicator
After the brand and brand modifier comes the processor’s generation indicator. Intel® Processor generations are identified in the processor number in most Intel® Core™ processor brands, with the generation being listed after the dash. 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 one labeled 12800 is a 12th Gen processor.
*Note: Intel® Processor and Intel® Core™ i3 N-series will follow the current N-series naming convention which does not include a generation indicator in the number format.
For 10th Generation mobile Intel® Core™ processors, the Intel naming scheme differs slightly (see below). However, the first two digits in the product number will be 10.
SKU Numeric Digits
For the majority of Intel® processors, the final three digits of the product number are the SKU. SKUs are generally assigned in the order in which processors in that generation and product line are developed. A higher SKU within otherwise-identical processor brands and generations will generally have more features. However, SKU numbers are generally not the best indicator for comparison across different generations or product lines.
Product Line Suffix
The SKU suffix is another key indicator of the processor’s capabilities. These remaining differences are indicated by a letter-based product line suffix. For example, within the Intel® Core™ processor series, U indicates a processor that has been designed for power-efficient laptops or 2 in 1s. Meanwhile, XE indicates an “extreme edition” processor for desktops designed for maximum performance.
Intel® Core™ Processors
To learn more about Intel® Core™ processor numbers, refer to the appropriate generation below.
Intel® Core™ Processor Family
Intel® Core™ processor family advances performance hybrid architecture with up to eight P-cores and up to 16 E-cores offering a superior creating and gaming experience. These processors deliver highly flexible architecture and industry-leading tools for the ultimate performance customization.
For more information, visit the Intel Core Processor Family page.
12th Generation Intel® Core™ Processor Family
12th Gen Intel® Core™ processors introduced performance hybrid architecture delivering superior performance where you need it most. They combined Performance-cores and Efficient-cores to elevate gaming, productivity, and creation.
For more information, visit the 12th Gen page.
11th Generation Intel® Core™ Processor Family
11th Gen Intel® Core™ processors introduced a core and graphics architecture with IPC gains enabling AI-assisted acceleration, best-in-class wireless and wired connectivity, and advanced tuning features for performance boosts so you can do more.
For more information, visit the 11th Gen page.
10th Generation Intel® Core™ Processor Family
10th Gen Intel® Core™ processors balance frequency, cores and threads for advanced tuning support, and blazing connectivity enabling improved experiences and productivity for gamers, content creators, and mainstream users.
For more information, visit the 10th Gen page.
Intel® Core™ Processor Suffixes
To understand what a processor suffix indicates, consult the list below. Not all processor generations or families include all product suffixes.
| Form/Function Type/Segment | Suffix | Optimized/Designed For |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop | K | High performance, unlocked |
| F | Requires discrete graphics | |
| S | Special edition | |
| T | Power-optimized lifestyle | |
| X/XE | Highest performance, unlocked | |
| Mobile (Laptop2, 2 in 1) | HX | Highest performance, all SKUs unlocked |
| HK | High performance, unlocked | |
| H | High performance | |
| P | Performance for thin & light | |
| U | Power efficient | |
| Y | Extremely low-power efficient | |
| G1-G7 | Graphics level (processors with newer integrated graphics technology) | |
| Embedded | E | Embedded |
| UE | Power efficient | |
| HE | High performance | |
| UL | Power efficient, in LGA package | |
| HL | High performance, in LGA package |
Intel® Core™ i3 N-Series
Intel is adding new Intel® Core™ i3 processors for N-series to enable a step up in performance in the entry-level computing space for laptops and desktops. Intel® Core™ i3 N-series processors uses a simple and different processor number format than U, P, H, S, etc series. The brand and brand modifier are followed by the N prefix and then 3 digits. The Intel® Core™ i3 N-series processors follow the current N-Series naming convention which do not include any generation indicator in the number format.
Generic format: Intel® Core™ i3-N### processor
An example of this format is Intel® Core™ i3-N305 processor.
Intel® Processor
Intel is introducing a new processor brand for the entry-level computing space: Intel® Processor. Though existing Intel Pentium® and Intel Celeron® products will still be produced, Intel Processor will replace Intel Pentium® and Intel Celeron® in the new product stack starting in 2023. In its naming convention, “Intel® Processor” is followed by an alphanumeric prefix indicating the series, which is then followed by 3 digits. Intel® Processor follows the current N-Series naming convention which do not include any generation indicator in the number format.
Generic format: Intel® Processor N###. An example of this format is Intel® Processor N200.
*Note: The Intel® Processor alphanumeric prefix will start with an N or U.” Additionally, the Intel® Processor also includes other variations outside of N-series processors.
Intel® Pentium® Processors
The Intel® Pentium® Silver processors naming convention includes a single-letter prefix followed by a four-digit SKU number. Intel® Pentium® Gold processors, on the other hand, have no letter prefix and instead contain a SKU number followed by a suffix.
Higher numbers within the processor class or family indicate improved features and benchmarks, including cache, clock speed, or front-side bus. Intel® Pentium® Gold and Silver processors are distinguished by the overall CPU performance. Intel® Pentium® Gold processors are optimized for performance, while Intel® Pentium® Silver processors are optimized for cost.
Intel® Celeron® Processors
The Intel® Celeron® processors naming convention includes two different formats. Some Intel® Celeron® processors have a three-digit numerical SKU with no alphabetical prefix. Others include a single-letter prefix followed by a four-digit SKU number.
Higher numbers within the processor class or family typically indicate improved features and benchmarks, including cache, clock speed, or front-side bus.