Processors aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution; selecting the right one can benefit your system and budget. This article will help you establish a baseline understanding and see which processors from Intel are recommended for your needs.
Intel® Core™ Ultra Processors
Intel’s premium family of processors, Intel Core Ultra processors, delivers performance for relentless gaming, productivity, creation, and entertainment, enabling you to push even further.
Featuring Intel’s latest architecture, they include neural processing units (NPUs) and may have an Intel® Arc™ GPU1 for graphics and AI acceleration2. Now, customers can enjoy exciting new AI capabilities natively on select processors—like video editing, collaboration, and game upscaling—while conserving more power.
Performance, SKU, and suffix for Intel Core Ultra Processors
The Intel Core Ultra processor family includes the Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, and Intel Core Ultra 5 processor, indicating a performance tier.
Intel Core Ultra processors have a SKU number 1 or 2, representing the generation, respectively.
Intel Core Ultra mobile processors have suffixes H, U, or V.
Intel Core Ultra desktop processors have suffixes K, F, KF, or T.
For example: Intel Core Ultra 7 processor 165H and Intel Core Ultra 7 processor 288V.
Intel® Core™ Processors (Series 1)
Intel Core processors deliver accessible performance for laptops and come with a shorter naming scheme that includes a 3-digit system for the processor number.
The Intel Core processor family includes Intel® Core™ 7 processor, Intel® Core™ 5 processor, and Intel® Core™ 3 processor.
Intel® Core™ Processors (14th gen)
The Intel Core processors (14th gen) delivers high performance and efficiency thanks to performance hybrid architecture.
This processor family includes the Intel® Core™ i9 processor, Intel® Core™ i7 processor, Intel® Core™ i5 processor, and Intel® Core™ i3 processor.3
Learn more about the Intel Core Desktop processors (14th gen) ›
Intel® Core™ Processors N-Series
The Intel Core processor N-Series provides a boost in performance for entry-level computing on both laptops and desktops. The N-Series naming convention is:
Suffixes for Intel Core Ultra and Intel Core Processors
Form/Function Type/Segment |
Suffix |
Optimized/Designed for |
|---|---|---|
Desktop |
K |
High performance, unlocked |
|
F |
Requires discrete graphics |
|
S |
Special edition |
|
T |
Power-optimized lifestyle |
Mobile (Laptop and 2 in 1) |
HX |
Highest performance, all SKUs unlocked |
|
HK |
Highest performance, all SKUs unlocked |
|
H |
Highest performance |
|
P |
Performance optimized for thin and light laptops |
|
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 |
Highest performance, in LGA package |
Intel® Processor
We also have processors for the value product space. The Intel Processor is an offering that builds on the Pentium® and Celeron® brands with updated features.
Note: The Intel Processor does not include any generation indicator in the number format. 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.
Pentium® Silver and Pentium® Gold Processors
While Intel continues to offer existing Pentium Silver and Pentium Gold processors, advancements to these offerings will be under the Intel Processor brand.
Higher numbers within the processor class indicate improved features and benchmarks, including cache, clock speed, or front-side bus.
Pentium Gold and Pentium Silver processors are distinguished by their overall CPU performance:
- Pentium Gold processors are optimized for performance.
- Pentium Silver processors are optimized for cost.
Intel® Celeron® Processors
The Celeron processor naming convention includes two different formats. Some Celeron processors may include a four-digit number, a prefix, or a suffix.
Higher numbers within the processor family typically indicate improved features and benchmarks, including cache, clock speed, or front-side bus.