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

4th generation Intel® Core™ processor family

Processor numbers for the 4th generation Intel® Core™ processors use an alphanumeric scheme
based on generation and product line following the brand and its modifier. The first digit in the
four-number sequence indicates the generation of processor, and the next three digits are SKU
numbers. Where applicable, an alpha suffix appears at the end of the processor name, which
represents the processor line.

Intel® High End Desktop Processors follow a different numbering scheme due to the difference
in their feature set. Get the details >

 
 

Alpha Suffix Description Example

Desktop
K Unlocked Intel® Core™ i7-4770K processor
Desktop processor based on
R BGA1364 (mobile) package with Intel Core i7-4770R processor
high performance graphics
S Performance-optimized lifestyle Intel Core i7-4770S processor
T Power-optimized lifestyle Intel Core i7-4770T processor
Mobile
HQ High performance graphics Intel® Core™ i7-4700HQ processor
Intel Core i7-4940MX processor
MX Mobile extreme edition
Extreme Edition
Intel Core i7-4900MQ processor
MQ Quad-core mobile
Intel Core i7-4702MQ processor
Intel Core i7-4600M processor
M Mobile
Intel Core i5-4300M processor
U Ultra-low power Intel Core i7-4550U processor
Y Extremely low power Intel Core i7-4610Y processor

3rd generation Intel® Core™ processor family

Processor numbers for the 3rd generation Intel® Core™ processors use an alphanumeric scheme
based on generation and product line following the brand and its modifier. The first digit in the
four-number sequence indicates the generation of processor, and the next three digits are SKU
numbers. Where applicable, an alpha suffix appears at the end of the processor name, which
represents the processor line.

Intel® High End Desktop Processors follow a different numbering scheme due to the difference
in their feature set. Get the details >
                      

  

Alpha Suffix Description Example

Desktop
Intel® Core™ i7-3370K processor
K Unlocked
Intel Core i5-3570K processor
Intel Core i7-3770S processor
S Performance-optimized lifestyle
Intel Core i5-3550S processor
Intel Core i7-3770T processor
T Power-optimized lifestyle
Intel Core i5-3570T processor
Mobile
M Mobile Intel® Core™ i7-3520M processor
QM Quad-core mobile Intel Core i7-3820QM processor
U Ultra-low power Intel Core i7-3667U processor
Y Extremely low power Intel Core i7-3689Y processor

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.

Alpha Suffix Description Example

Desktop
 Intel® Core™ i7-2600K processor
K Unlocked
Intel Core i5-2500K processor
Intel Core i5-2500S processor
S Performance-optimized lifestyle
Intel Core i5-2400S processor
Intel Core i5-2500T processor
T Power-optimized lifestyle
Intel Core i5-2390T processor
Mobile
M Mobile Intel® Core™ i7-2677M processor
QM Quad-core mobile Intel Core i7-2860QM processor  

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 Core 2 processor family.

Alpha Prefix Description

QX Desktop or mobile quad-core extreme performance processors
X Desktop or mobile dual-core extreme performance processors
Q Mobile quad-core high performance processors
Desktop energy efficient dual-core processors with TDP greater
E
than or equal to 55 W
T Mobile highly energy efficient processors with TDP 30-39 W
P Mobile highly energy efficient processor with TDP 20-29 W
L Mobile highly energy efficient with TDP 12-19 W
Mobile ultra high energy efficient with TDP less than or equal
U
to 11.9 W
S Mobile small form-factor with 22x22 BGA package
Processor numbers for the Intel® Core™2 Quad family have an alpha prefix followed by a four-
digit numerical sequence. Additionally, low power Intel Core 2 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 65 W.

A higher number within a processor class or family generally indicates more features such as
cache, clock speed, Front Side Bus or other Intel technologies.¹ 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 technologies.¹ A higher number processor may
also have more of one feature and less of another.