What are Intel processors?

Intel processors are the most popular CPUs for desktops and laptops in the world. They’re offered in
a range of model families, with names like Core, Xeon, Pentium, and Celeron. They come in multiple
generations like 9th, 10th, and 11th

THE PARTS OF AN INTEL PROCESSOR NAME:

Brand: The overall product line, such as Core, Xeon, Pentium, or Celeron.

Brand modifier: In the Core brand of Intel chips (and only there), you’ll find a brand modifier such as
i3, i5, i7, or i9 after the “Core” name. Higher modifier numbers generally mean better performance
and more features. (The Xeon, Pentium, and Celeron brand names don’t have these modifiers.)

Generation indicator: After the brand and modifier, you’ll find a generation indicator like 9, 10, or 11,
closely followed by an SKU number sequence. This indicates when the chip was made. (9th Gen Intel
chips came out in 2018-2019, 10th Gen in 2019-2020, and 11th Gen in 2020-2021.)

Intel processor generations

One of the stickiest parts of Intel processor names is the generations. The good news? It’s easy to
grasp, once you see it explained. Techies often talk about 9th Gen, 10th Gen, and 11th Gen
processors, and the different “Lake” processor families, like Whiskey, Ice, and Sky. But actually,
“lakes,” “generations,” and “microarchitectures” are the same thing.

Each generation delivers significant performance upgrades, increasing productivity and connectivity,
such as longer battery life, faster clock speeds at up to 5.3 GHz with Turbo Boost, Intel WiFi 6 (Gig+),
Thunderbolt™ 3 technology, and immersive 4K HDR.

1. Intel Core processors

Intel Core processors are Intel’s flagship family of CPUs. First released in 2006, they replaced the
popular Pentium line as the standard for high-end processor chips. They’re available in different
models like Core i3, i5, i7, i9, and X, and they bring a new generation to market every 1 to 2 years.

INTEL CORE PROCESSORS, RANKED BY PERFORMANCE:

11TH GENERATION

2021 Rocket Lake; Core i9-11

2020 Comet Lake Refresh; Core i7-11, Core i5-11, Core i3-11
10TH GENERATION

2019 Comet Lake; Core i9-10

2019 Ice Lake; Core i7-10, Core i5-10, Core i3-10

9TH GENERATION

2018 Coffee Lake Refresh; Core i9-9, Core i7-9, Core i5-9, Core i3-9

2. Intel Xeon processors

Intel Xeon processors are the brand’s line of business CPUs. They have comparable clock speeds to
the Core family of processors. Where they shine is their support for ECC error-correcting memory,
which is a must for critical computing applications, like financial or scientific computing.

INTEL XEON PROCESSOR GENERATIONS:

Cooper Lake, 2020 to 2021; Xeon Gold, Xeon Platinum

Comet Lake, 2020 to 2021; Xeon W

Cascade lake, 2019 to 2020; Xeon Platinum, Xeon Gold, Xeon Silver, Xeon Bronze

Coffee Lake, 2018 to 2019; Xeon E

3. Intel Pentium processors

Intel Pentium processors are mid-to-entry level CPUs that deliver high value at more modest price
points than the Core and Xeon processor lines. These chips manage similar clock speeds to the more
robust Core chips, keeping prices down by not including premium features like Turbo Boost and
HyperThreading. That means if you’re not running processor-guzzling applications for big data or
design, a Pentium processor can be an excellent choice.

INTEL PENTIUM PROCESSOR GENERATIONS:

Jasper Lake, 2021; Pentium Silver

Comet Lake, 2019 to 2020; Pentium Gold

Tiger Lake (Mobile), 2019 to 2020; Pentium Gold

Coffee Lake, 2018 to 2019; Pentium Gold

4. Intel Celeron processors

Intel Celeron processors are a line of desktop and laptop CPUs based on the Pentium 4-core chip.
They have less cache memory and reduced speeds, making them a much more affordable choice for
those who stick to browser-based activities and non-processor-heavy applications.

The first Intel Celeron processor appeared in 1998, with new generations regularly since then. The
newest Celeron processors are the Celeron N4500 and Celeron N5100, with clock speeds of 1.1 GHz
and 1.8 GHz, and burst speeds of 2.8 GHz.

INTEL CELERON PROCESSOR GENERATIONS

Jasper Lake, 2021; Celeron N

Comet Lake, 2019 to 2020; Celeron G5

Tiger Lake (Mobile), 2019 to 2020; Celeron 6305

Coffee Lake, 2018 to 2019; Celeron G4