The Intel Core processor number system changes with every generation, including the new 10th Gen Ice Lake and 10th Gen Comet Lake processors!
In this guide, we will share with you exactly what those letters and numbers mean!
10 Generations, 10 Number Systems!
Every Intel Core processor generation varies in how they are numbered. We will go through each generation from the latest 10th Gen Core all the way to the first-generation Core processors.
- 10th Gen Intel Core Processor Number System
- 9th Gen Intel Core Processor Number System
- 8th Gen Intel Core Processor Number System
- 7th Gen Intel Core Processor Number System
- 6th Gen Intel Core Processor Number System
- 5th Gen Intel Core Processor Number System
- 4th Gen Intel Core Processor Number System
- 3rd Gen Intel Core Processor Number System
- 2nd Gen Intel Core Processor Number System
- 1st Gen Intel Core Processor Number System
10th Gen Intel Core Processor Number Systems
Even though they are both part of the same 10th Gen Intel Core processor family, the Ice Lake and Comet Lake processors have different processor number systems.
10th Gen Intel Ice Lake Processors
Brand Modifier
This is what most people think of as the performance category.
- i7 : enthusiast class, with many processing cores
- i5 : mainstream processors
- i3 : entry-level processors
Gen Indicator
This is now a 2-digit number 10 for the 10th Generation Intel Core processor.
SKU Numeric Digits
This is what we consumers use as a rough indicator of the processor’s overall performance.
Instead of three digits, it now uses just two digits, but the concept is the same – the higher the number, the better the processor’s performance in general.
For example, the Core i7-1068 is faster than Core i7-1065.
Level of Graphics
Replacing the Product Line Suffix, this gives us a rough indication of the processor graphics’ performance level.
- G7 : Intel Iris Plus Graphics with 64 Execution Units
- G4 : Intel Iris Plus Graphics with 48 Execution Units
- G1 : Intel UHD Graphics with 32 Execution Units
Intel started using this graphics indicator in the 10th Gen Intel Core processor number system, because this will be a major model differentiator.
For example, they announced three Intel Core i5-1035 models, differentiated only by their processor graphics :
- Intel Core i5-1035G7 : Intel Iris Pro Graphics (64 EUs)
- Intel Core i5-1035G4 : Intel Iris Pro Graphics (48 EUs)
- Intel Core i5-1035G1 : Intel UHD Graphics (32 EUs)
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10th Gen Intel Comet Lake Processors
Brand Modifier
This is what most people think of as the performance category.
- Core i7 : enthusiast class
- Core i5 : mainstream processors
- Core i3 : entry-level processors
Gen Indicator
This is now a 2-digit number 10 for the 10th Generation Intel Core processor.
SKU Numeric Digits
This is what we consumers use as a rough indicator of the processor’s overall performance.
Instead of two digits that Ice Lake uses, Comet Lake uses three digits, but the concept is the same – the higher the number, the better the processor’s performance in general.
For example, the Core i7-10710 is faster than Core i7-10510.
Product Line Suffix
This tells us more about the processor features, for a particular model :
- U : Ultra-low power (mobile only)
- Y : Extremely-low power (mobile only)
Recommended : 10th Gen Intel Comet Lake : 1 Step Forward, 1 Step Back!
9th Gen Intel Core Processor Number System
Brand Modifier
This is what most people think of as the performance category.
- i9 : prosumer class, with the most processing cores
- i7 : enthusiast class, with many processing cores
- i5 : mainstream processors
- i3 : entry-level processors
Gen Indicator
The first number – 9 – quickly tells us that this is a 9th Generation Intel Core processor.
SKU Numeric Digits
This is what we consumers use as a rough indicator of the processor’s overall performance.
The higher the number, the better the processor’s performance in general. For example :
- Core i9-9900 is faster than Core i9-9880
- Core i7-9850 is faster than Core i7-9750
Product Line Suffix
This tells us more about the processor features, for a particular model :
- K : Unlocked processor multiplier
- F : Does not come with processor graphics, requires discrete graphics
- T : Power-optimised
- S : Special Edition
- H : High performance graphics (mobile only)
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8th Gen Intel Core Processor Number System
Brand Modifier
This is what most people think of as the performance category.
- i9 : prosumer class, with the most processing cores
- i7 : enthusiast class, with many processing cores
- i5 : mainstream processors
- i3 : entry-level processors
Gen Indicator
The first number – 8 – quickly tells us that this is an 8th Generation Intel Core processor.
SKU Numeric Digits
This is what we consumers use as a rough indicator of the processor’s overall performance.
The higher the number, the better the processor’s performance in general. For example :
- Core i7-8750 is faster than Core i7-8700
- Core i5-8500 is faster than Core i5-8400
Product Line Suffix
This tells us more about the processor features, for a particular model :
- K : Unlocked processor multiplier (desktop only)
- G : Includes discrete graphics on package (mobile only)
- U : Ultra-low power (mobile only)
Next Page > 5th to 7th Gen Intel Core Processors
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7th Gen Intel Core Processor Number System
Brand Modifier
This is what most people think of as the performance category.
- i7 : enthusiast class, with the most processing cores
- i5 : mainstream processors
- i3 : entry-level processors
Gen Indicator
The first number – 7 – quickly tells us that this is a 7th Generation Intel Core processor.
SKU Numeric Digits
This is what we consumers use as a rough indicator of the processor’s overall performance.
The higher the number, the better the processor’s performance in general. For example :
- Core i7-7700 is faster than Core i7-7600
- Core i5-7Y57 is faster than Core i5-7Y54
Product Line Suffix
This tells us more about the processor features, for a particular model :
- K : Unlocked processor multiplier
- H : High performance graphics
- Q : Quad-core processor
- U : Ultra-low power
- Y : Extremely low power
6th Gen Intel Core Processor Number System
Brand Modifier
This is what most people think of as the performance category.
- i7 : enthusiast class, with the most processing cores
- i5 : mainstream processors
- i3 : entry-level processors
Gen Indicator
The first number – 6 – quickly tells us that this is a 6th Generation Intel Core processor.
SKU Numeric Digits
This is what we consumers use as a rough indicator of the processor’s overall performance.
The higher the number, the better the processor’s performance in general. For example :
- Core i7-6700 is faster than Core i7-6600
- Core i5-6600 is faster than Core i5-6500
Product Line Suffix
This tells us more about the processor features, for a particular model :
- K : Unlocked processor multiplier (desktop only)
- T : Power-optimised (desktop only)
- H : High performance graphics (mobile only)
- HK : High performance graphics, unlocked multiplier (mobile only)
- HQ : High performance graphics, quad-core processor (mobile only)
- U : Ultra-low power (mobile only)
5th Gen Intel Core Processor Number System
Brand Modifier
This is what most people think of as the performance category.
- i7 : enthusiast class, with the most processing cores
- i5 : mainstream processors
- i3 : entry-level processors
- M : ultra-low power mobile processors
Gen Indicator
The first number – 5 – quickly tells us that this is a 5th Generation Intel Core processor.
SKU Numeric Digits
This is what we consumers use as a rough indicator of the processor’s overall performance.
The higher the number, the better the processor’s performance in general. For example :
- Core i7-5700 is faster than Core i7-5600
- Core i5-5300 is faster than Core i5-5200
Product Line Suffix
This tells us more about the processor features, for a particular model :
- C : Unlocked LGA1150 processor with high-performance graphics (desktop only)
- R : BGA1364 processor with high-performance graphics (desktop only)
- H : High performance graphics (mobile only)
- HQ : High performance graphics, quad-core processor (mobile only)
- U : Ultra-low power (mobile only)
- Y : Extremely low power (mobile only)
Next Page > 1st to 4th Gen Intel Core Processors
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4th Gen Intel Core Processor Number System
Brand Modifier
This is what most people think of as the performance category.
- i7 : enthusiast class, with the most processing cores
- i5 : mainstream processors
- i3 : entry-level processors
- M : ultra-low power mobile processors
Gen Indicator
The first number – 4 – quickly tells us that this is a 4th Generation Intel Core processor.
SKU Numeric Digits
This is what we consumers use as a rough indicator of the processor’s overall performance.
The higher the number, the better the processor’s performance in general. For example :
- Core i7-4900 is faster than Core i7-4800
- Core i5-4400 is faster than Core i5-4300
Product Line Suffix
This tells us more about the processor features, for a particular model :
- K : Unlocked processor multiplier (desktop only)
- R : BGA1364 processor with high-performance graphics (desktop only)
- S : Performance-optimised model (desktop only)
- T : Power-optimised (desktop only)
- M : Mobile processor
- MQ : Quad-core mobile processor
- MX : Extreme Edition mobile processor
- U : Ultra-low power (mobile only)
- Y : Extremely low power (mobile only)
3rd Gen Intel Core Processor Number System
Brand Modifier
This is what most people think of as the performance category.
- i7 : enthusiast class, with the most processing cores
- i5 : mainstream processors
- i3 : entry-level processors
- M : ultra-low power mobile processors
Gen Indicator
The first number – 3 – quickly tells us that this is a 3rd Generation Intel Core processor.
SKU Numeric Digits
This is what we consumers use as a rough indicator of the processor’s overall performance.
The higher the number, the better the processor’s performance in general. For example :
- Core i7-3770 is faster than Core i7-3720
- Core i5-3470 is faster than Core i5-3450
Letter Suffix
This primarily tells us whether it is an Extreme Edition processor or not :
- X : Extreme Edition processor
Product Line Suffix
This tells us more about the processor features, for a particular model :
- K : Unlocked processor multiplier (desktop only)
- S : Performance-optimised model (desktop only)
- T : Power-optimised (desktop only)
- M : Mobile processor
- QM : Quad-core mobile processor
- U : Ultra-low power (mobile only)
- Y : Extremely low power (mobile only)
2nd Gen Intel Core Processor Number System
Brand Modifier
This is what most people think of as the performance category.
- i7 : enthusiast class, with the most processing cores
- i5 : mainstream processors
- i3 : entry-level processors
Gen Indicator
The first number – 2 – quickly tells us that this is a 2nd Generation Intel Core processor.
SKU Numeric Digits
This is what we consumers use as a rough indicator of the processor’s overall performance.
The higher the number, the better the processor’s performance in general. For example :
- Core i7-2860 is faster than Core i7-2820
- Core i5-2700 is faster than Core i5-2600
1st Gen Intel Core Processor Number System
Brand Modifier
This is what most people think of as the performance category.
- i7 : enthusiast class, with the most processing cores
- i5 : mainstream processors
- i3 : entry-level processors
Gen Indicator
The lack of a Gen Indicator of 1 tells us that this is a 1st Generation Intel Core processor.
SKU Numeric Digits
This is what we consumers use as a rough indicator of the processor’s overall performance.
The higher the number, the better the processor’s performance in general. For example :
- Core i7-990 is faster than Core i7-980
- Core i5-660 is faster than Core i5-650
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