Intel Core

Intel Core is Intel's brand name for various mid-range to high-end home and business microprocessors. These processors displaced the existing mid-to-high end Pentium processors of the time, moving the Pentium to the entry level, and bumping the Celeron series of processors to low end. Identical or more capable versions of Core processors are also sold as Xeon processors for the server and workstation market.

As of 2015 the current lineup of Core processors included the Intel Core i7, Intel Core i5, Intel Core i3, and Core M.^[1]

Overview

Brand	Desktop				Mobile
	Code-named	Cores	Fab	Date released	Code-named	Cores	Fab	Date released
Core Solo	Desktop version not available				Yonah	1	65 nm	January 2006
Core Duo	Desktop version not available				Yonah	2	65 nm	January 2006
Core 2 Solo	Desktop version not available				Merom-L Penryn-L	1 1	65 nm 45 nm	September 2007 May 2008
Core 2 Duo	Conroe Allendale Wolfdale	2 2 2	65 nm 65 nm 45 nm	August 2006 January 2007 January 2008	Merom Penryn	2 2	65 nm 45 nm	July 2006 January 2008
Core 2 Quad	Kentsfield Yorkfield	4 4	65 nm 45 nm	January 2007 March 2008	Penryn	4	45 nm	August 2008
Core 2 Extreme	Conroe XE Kentsfield XE Yorkfield XE	2 4 4	65 nm 65 nm 45 nm	July 2006 November 2006 November 2007	Merom XE Penryn XE Penryn XE	2 2 4	65 nm 45 nm 45 nm	July 2007 January 2008 August 2008
Core M	Desktop version not available				Broadwell Skylake	2	14 nm	September 2014[2] August 2015
Core i3	Clarkdale Sandy Bridge Ivy Bridge Haswell Skylake	2 2 2 2 2	32 nm 32 nm 22 nm 22 nm 14 nm	January 2010 February 2011 September 2012 September 2013 September 2015	Arrandale Sandy Bridge Ivy Bridge Haswell Broadwell Skylake	2 2 2 2 2 2	32 nm 32 nm 22 nm 22 nm 14 nm 14 nm	January 2010 February 2011 June 2012 June 2013 January 2015 September 2015
Core i5	Lynnfield Clarkdale Sandy Bridge Sandy Bridge Ivy Bridge Ivy Bridge Haswell Haswell Broadwell Skylake	4 2 4 2 4 2 4 2 4 4	45 nm 32 nm 32 nm 32 nm 22 nm 22 nm 22 nm 22 nm 14 nm 14 nm	September 2009 January 2010 January 2011 February 2011 April 2012 April 2012 June 2013 June 2013 June 2015 September 2015	Arrandale Sandy Bridge Ivy Bridge Haswell Broadwell Skylake Skylake	2 2 2 2 2 4 2	32 nm 32 nm 22 nm 22 nm 14 nm 14 nm 14 nm	January 2010 February 2011 May 2012 June 2013 January 2015 September 2015 September 2015
Core i7	Bloomfield Lynnfield Gulftown Sandy Bridge Sandy Bridge-E Sandy Bridge-E Ivy Bridge Haswell Ivy Bridge-E Ivy Bridge-E Haswell-E Broadwell Skylake	4 4 6 4 6 4 4 4 4 6 6 4 4	45 nm 45 nm 32 nm 32 nm 32 nm 32 nm 22 nm 22 nm 22 nm 22 nm 22 nm 14 nm 14 nm	November 2008 September 2009 July 2010 January 2011 November 2011 February 2012 April 2012 June 2013 September 2013 September 2013 August 2014 June 2015 September 2015	Clarksfield Arrandale Sandy Bridge Sandy Bridge Ivy Bridge Ivy Bridge Haswell Haswell Broadwell Broadwell Skylake Skylake	4 2 4 2 4 2 4 2 2 4 4 2	45 nm 32 nm 32 nm 32 nm 22 nm 22 nm 22 nm 22 nm 14 nm 14 nm 14 nm 14 nm	September 2009 January 2010 January 2011 February 2011 May 2012 May 2012 June 2013 June 2013 January 2015 June 2015 September 2015 September 2015
Core i7 Extreme Edition	Bloomfield Gulftown Sandy Bridge-E Ivy Bridge-E Haswell-E	4 6 6 6 8	45 nm 32 nm 32 nm 22 nm 22 nm	November 2008 March 2010 November 2011 September 2013 August 2014	Clarksfield Sandy Bridge Ivy Bridge Haswell	4 4 4 4	45 nm 32 nm 22 nm 22 nm	September 2009 January 2011 May 2012 June 2013
List of Intel Core microprocessors List of Intel Core 2 microprocessors List of Intel Core M microprocessors List of Intel Core i3 microprocessors List of Intel Core i5 microprocessors List of Intel Core i7 microprocessors

Clock speed slowest 1.2 GHz to the fastest 4.0 GHz (Intel Core i7-4790K) (or 4.4 GHz via Intel Turbo Boost Technology)^[3]

Enhanced Pentium M based

The original Core brand refers to Intel's 32-bit mobile dual-core x86 CPUs, which derived from the Pentium M branded processors. The processor family used a more enhanced version of the Intel P6 microarchitecture. It emerged in parallel with the NetBurst microarchitecture (Intel P68) of the Pentium 4 brand, and was a precursor of the 64-bit Core microarchitecture of Core 2 branded CPUs. The Core brand comprised two branches: the Duo (dual-core) and Solo (Duo with one disabled core, which replaced the Pentium M brand of single-core mobile processor).

Intel launched the Core brand on January 6, 2006 with the release of the 32-bit Yonah CPU – Intel's first dual-core mobile (low-power) processor. Its dual-core layout closely resembled two interconnected Pentium M branded CPUs packaged as a single die (piece) silicon chip (IC). Hence, the 32-bit microarchitecture of Core branded CPUs – contrary to its name – had more in common with Pentium M branded CPUs than with the subsequent 64-bit Core microarchitecture of Core 2 branded CPUs. Despite a major rebranding effort by Intel starting January 2006, some companies continued to market computers with the Yonah core marked as Pentium M.

The Core series is also the first Intel processor used as the main CPU in an Apple Macintosh computer. The Core Duo was the CPU for the first generation MacBook Pro, while the Core Solo appeared in Apple's Mac mini line. Core Duo signified the beginning of Apple's shift to Intel processors across their entire line.

In 2007, Intel began branding the Yonah core CPUs intended for mainstream mobile computers as Pentium Dual-Core, not to be confused with the desktop 64-bit Core microarchitecture CPUs also branded as Pentium Dual-Core.

September 2007 and January 4, 2008 marked the discontinuation of a number of Core branded CPUs including several Core Solo, Core Duo, Celeron and one Core 2 Quad chip.^[4][5]

Core Duo

Intel Core Duo^[6] (product code 80539) consists of two cores on one die, a 2 MB L2 cache shared by both cores, and an arbiter bus that controls both L2 cache and FSB (front-side bus) access.

Codename (main article)	Brand name (list)	L2 Cache	Socket	TDP
Yonah	Core Duo T2xxx	2 MB	Socket M	31 W
	Core Duo L2xxx			15 W
	Core Duo U2xxx			9 W

Core Solo

Intel Core Solo^[7] (product code 80538) uses the same two-core die as the Core Duo, but features only one active core. Depending on demand, Intel may also simply disable one of the cores to sell the chip at the Core Solo price—this requires less effort than launching and maintaining a separate line of CPUs that physically only have one core. Intel used the same strategy previously with the 486 CPU in which early 486SX CPUs were in fact manufactured as 486DX CPUs but with the FPU disabled.

Codename (main article)	Brand name (list)	L2 Cache	Socket	TDP
Yonah	Core Solo T1xxx	2 MB	Socket M	27–31 W
	Core Solo U1xxx			5.5–6 W

64-bit Core microarchitecture-based

The successor to Core is the mobile version of the Intel Core 2 line of processors using cores based upon the Intel Core microarchitecture,^[8] released on July 27, 2006. The release of the mobile version of Intel Core 2 marks the reunification of Intel's desktop and mobile product lines as Core 2 processors were released for desktops and notebooks, unlike the first Intel Core CPUs that were targeted only for notebooks (although some small form factor and all-in-one desktops, like the iMac and the Mac Mini, also used Core processors).

Unlike the Intel Core, Intel Core 2 is a 64-bit processor, supporting Intel 64. Another difference between the original Core Duo and the new Core 2 Duo is an increase in the amount of Level 2 cache. The new Core 2 Duo has tripled the amount of on-board cache to 6 MB. Core 2 also introduced a quad-core performance variant to the single- and dual-core chips, branded Core 2 Quad, as well as an enthusiast variant, Core 2 Extreme. All three chips are manufactured at a 65 nm lithography, and in 2008, a 45 nm lithography and support Front Side Bus speeds ranging from 533 MHz to 1600 MHz. In addition, the 45 nm die shrink of the Core microarchitecture adds SSE4.1 support to all Core 2 microprocessors manufactured at a 45 nm lithography, therefore increasing the calculation rate of the processors.

Core 2 Solo

The Core 2 Solo,^[9] introduced in September 2007, is the successor to the Core Solo and is available only as an ultra-low-power mobile processor with 5.5 Watt thermal design power. The original U2xxx series "Merom-L" used a special version of the Merom chip with CPUID number 10661 (model 22, stepping A1) that only had a single core and was also used in some Celeron processors. The later SU3xxx are part of Intel's CULV range of processors in a smaller µFC-BGA 956 package but contain the same Penryn chip as the dual-core variants, with one of the cores disabled during manufacturing.

Codename (main article)	Brand name (list)	L2 Cache	Socket	TDP
Merom-L	Mobile Core 2 Solo U2xxx	1 MB	FCBGA	5.5 W
Penryn-L	Mobile Core 2 Solo SU3xxx	3 MB	BGA956	5.5 W

Core 2 Duo

The majority of the desktop and mobile Core 2 processor variants are Core 2 Duo^[10][11] with two processor cores on a single Merom, Conroe, Allendale, Penryn, or Wolfdale chip. These come in a wide range of performance and power consumption, starting with the relatively slow ultra-low-power Uxxxx (10 W) and low-power Lxxxx (17 W) versions, to the more performance oriented Pxxxx (25 W) and Txxxx (35 W) mobile versions and the Exxxx (65 W) desktop models. The mobile Core 2 Duo processors with an 'S' prefix in the name are produced in a smaller µFC-BGA 956 package, which allows building more compact laptops.

Within each line, a higher number usually refers to a better performance, which depends largely on core and front-side bus clock frequency and amount of second level cache, which are model-specific. Core 2 Duo processors typically use the full L2 cache of 2, 3, 4, or 6 MB available in the specific stepping of the chip, while versions with the amount of cache reduced during manufacturing are sold for the low-end consumer market as Celeron or Pentium Dual-Core processors. Like those processors, some low-end Core 2 Duo models disable features such as Intel Virtualization Technology.

Codename (main article)	Brand name (list)	L2 Cache	Socket	TDP
Merom	Mobile Core 2 Duo U7xxx	2 MB	BGA479	10 W
	Mobile Core 2 Duo L7xxx	4 MB		17 W
	Mobile Core 2 Duo T5xxx	2 MB	Socket M Socket P BGA479	35 W
	Mobile Core 2 Duo T7xxx	2–4 MB
Conroe and Allendale	Core 2 Duo E4xxx	2 MB	LGA 775	65 W
	Core 2 Duo E6xxx	2–4 MB
Penryn	Mobile Core 2 Duo SU7xxx	3 MB	BGA956	10 W
	Mobile Core 2 Duo SU9xxx
	Mobile Core 2 Duo SL9xxx	6 MB		17 W
	Mobile Core 2 Duo SP9xxx			25 W
	Mobile Core 2 Duo P7xxx	3 MB	Socket P FCBGA6	25 W
	Mobile Core 2 Duo P8xxx
	Mobile Core 2 Duo P9xxx	6 MB
	Mobile Core 2 Duo T6xxx	2 MB		35 W
	Mobile Core 2 Duo T8xxx	3 MB
	Mobile Core 2 Duo T9xxx	6 MB
	Mobile Core 2 Duo E8xxx	6 MB	Socket P	35-55 W
Wolfdale	Core 2 Duo E7xxx	3 MB	LGA 775	65 W
	Core 2 Duo E8xxx	6 MB

Core 2 Quad

Core 2 Quad^[12][13] processors are multi-chip modules consisting of two dies similar to those used in Core 2 Duo, forming a quad-core processor. This allows twice the performance of a dual-core processors at the same clock frequency in ideal conditions.

Initially, all Core 2 Quad models were versions of Core 2 Duo desktop processors, Kentsfield derived from Conroe and Yorkfield from Wolfdale, but later Penryn-QC was added as a high-end version of the mobile dual-core Penryn.

The Xeon 32xx and 33xx processors are mostly identical versions of the desktop Core 2 Quad processors and can be used interchangeably.

Codename (main article)	Brand name (list)	L2 Cache	Socket	TDP
Kentsfield	Core 2 Quad Q6xxx	2×4 MB	LGA 775	95–105 W
Yorkfield	Core 2 Quad Q7xxx	2×1 MB		95 W
	Core 2 Quad Q8xxx	2×2 MB		65–95 W
	Core 2 Quad Q9xxx	2×3–2×6 MB
Penryn-QC	Mobile Core 2 Quad Q9xxx	2×3–2×6 MB	Socket P	45 W

Core 2 Extreme

Core 2 Extreme processors^[14][15] are enthusiast versions of Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Quad processors, usually with a higher clock frequency and an unlocked clock multiplier, which makes them especially attractive for overclocking. This is similar to earlier Pentium processors labeled as Extreme Edition. Core 2 Extreme processors were released at a much higher price than their regular version, often $999 or more.

Codename (main article)	Brand name (list)	L2 Cache	Socket	TDP
Merom	Mobile Core 2 Extreme X7xxx	4 MB	Socket P	44 W
Conroe	Core 2 Extreme X6xxx	4 MB	LGA 775	75 W
Kentsfield	Core 2 Extreme QX6xxx	2×4 MB	LGA 775	130 W
Penryn	Mobile Core 2 Extreme X9xxx	6 MB	Socket P	44 W
Penryn-QC	Mobile Core 2 Extreme QX9xxx	2×6 MB	Socket P	45 W
Yorkfield	Core 2 Extreme QX9xxx	2×6 MB	LGA 775 / LGA 771	130–150 W

Nehalem microarchitecture-based

With the release of the Nehalem microarchitecture in November 2008,^[16] Intel introduced a new naming scheme for its Core processors. There are three variants, Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7, but the names no longer correspond to specific technical features like the number of cores. Instead, the brand is now divided from low-level (i3), through mid-range (i5) to high-end performance (i7),^[17] which correspond to three, four and five stars in Intel's Intel Processor Rating^[18] following on from the entry-level Celeron (one star) and Pentium (two stars) processors.^[19] Common features of all Nehalem based processors include an integrated DDR3 memory controller as well as QuickPath Interconnect or PCI Express and Direct Media Interface on the processor replacing the aging quad-pumped Front Side Bus used in all earlier Core processors. All these processors have 256 KB L2 cache per core, plus up to 12 MB shared L3 cache. Because of the new I/O interconnect, chipsets and mainboards from previous generations can no longer be used with Nehalem-based processors.

Core i3

Intel intended the Core i3 as the new low end of the performance processor line from Intel, following the retirement of the Core 2 brand.^[20][21]

The first Core i3 processors were launched on January 7, 2010.^[22]

The first Nehalem based Core i3 was Clarkdale-based, with an integrated GPU and two cores.^[23] The same processor is also available as Core i5 and Pentium, with slightly different configurations.

The Core i3-3xxM processors are based on Arrandale, the mobile version of the Clarkdale desktop processor. They are similar to the Core i5-4xx series but running at lower clock speeds and without Turbo Boost.^[24] According to an Intel FAQ they do not support Error Correction Code (ECC) memory.^[25] According to motherboard manufacturer Supermicro, if a Core i3 processor is used with a server chipset platform such as Intel 3400/3420/3450, the CPU supports ECC with UDIMM.^[26] When asked, Intel confirmed that, although the Intel 5 series chipset supports non-ECC memory only with the Core i5 or i3 processors, using those processors on a motherboard with 3400 series chipsets it supports the ECC function of ECC memory.^[27] A limited number of motherboards by other companies also support ECC with Intel Core ix processors; the Asus P8B WS is an example, but it does not support ECC memory under Windows non-server operating systems.^[28]

Codename (main article)	Brand name (list)	Cores	L3 Cache	Socket	TDP	I/O Bus
Clarkdale	Core i3	2	4 MB	LGA 1156	73 W	Direct Media Interface, Integrated GPU
Arrandale	Core i3-3xxM		3 MB	rPGA-988A	35 W
	Core i3-3xxUM		3 MB	BGA-1288	18 W

Core i5

The first Core i5 using the Nehalem microarchitecture was introduced on September 8, 2009, as a mainstream variant of the earlier Core i7, the Lynnfield core.^[29][30] Lynnfield Core i5 processors have an 8 MB L3 cache, a DMI bus running at 2.5 GT/s and support for dual-channel DDR3-800/1066/1333 memory and have Hyper-threading disabled. The same processors with different sets of features (Hyper-Threading and other clock frequencies) enabled are sold as Core i7-8xx and Xeon 3400-series processors, which should not be confused with high-end Core i7-9xx and Xeon 3500-series processors based on Bloomfield. A new feature called Turbo Boost Technology was introduced which maximizes speed for demanding applications, dynamically accelerating performance to match the workload.

The Core i5-5xx mobile processors are named Arrandale and based on the 32 nm Westmere shrink of the Nehalem microarchitecture. Arrandale processors have integrated graphics capability but only two processor cores. They were released in January 2010, together with Core i7-6xx and Core i3-3xx processors based on the same chip. The L3 cache in Core i5-5xx processors is reduced to 3 MB, while the Core i5-6xx uses the full cache and the Core i3-3xx does not support for Turbo Boost.^[31] Clarkdale, the desktop version of Arrandale, is sold as Core i5-6xx, along with related Core i3 and Pentium brands. It has Hyper-Threading enabled and the full 4 MB L3 cache.^[32]

According to Intel "Core i5 desktop processors and desktop boards typically do not support ECC memory",^[33] but information on limited ECC support in the Core i3 section also applies to Core i5 and i7.

Codename (main article)	Brand name (list)	Cores	L3 Cache	Socket	TDP	I/O Bus
Lynnfield	Core i5-7xx	4	8 MB	LGA 1156	95 W	Direct Media Interface
	Core i5-7xxS				82 W
Clarkdale	Core i5-6xx	2	4 MB		73–87 W	Direct Media Interface, Integrated GPU
Arrandale	Core i5-5xxM		3 MB	rPGA-988A	35 W
	Core i5-4xxM
	Core i5-5xxUM			BGA-1288	18 W
	Core i5-4xxUM[34]

Core i7

Intel Core i7 as an Intel brand name applies to several families of desktop and laptop 64-bit x86-64 processors using the Nehalem, Westmere, Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge, Haswell, Broadwell and Skylake microarchitectures. The Core i7 brand targets the business and high-end consumer markets for both desktop and laptop computers,^[35] and is distinguished from the Core i3 (entry-level consumer), Core i5 (mainstream consumer), and Xeon (server and workstation) brands.

Intel introduced the Core i7 name with the Nehalem-based Bloomfield Quad-core processor in late 2008.^{[36][37][38][39]} In 2009 new Core i7 models based on the Lynnfield (Nehalem-based) desktop quad-core processor and the Clarksfield (Nehalem-based) quad-core mobile were added,^[40] and models based on the Arrandale dual-core mobile processor (also Nehalem-based) were added in January 2010. The first six-core processor in the Core lineup is the Nehalem-based Gulftown, which was launched on March 16, 2010. Both the regular Core i7 and the Extreme Edition are advertised as five stars in the Intel Processor Rating.

In each of the first three microarchitecture generations of the brand, Core i7 has family members using two distinct system-level architectures, and therefore two distinct sockets (for example, LGA 1156 and LGA 1366 with Nehalem). In each generation, the highest-performing Core i7 processors use the same socket and QPI-based architecture as the medium-end Xeon processors of that generation, while lower-performing Core i7 processors use the same socket and PCIe/DMI/FDI architecture as the Core i5.

"Core i7" is a successor to the Intel Core 2 brand.^{[41][42][43][44]} Intel representatives stated that they intend the moniker Core i7 to help consumers decide which processor to purchase as Intel releases newer Nehalem-based products in the future.^[45]

Code name	Brand name	Cores	L3 Cache	Socket	TDP	Process	Busses	Release Date
Gulftown	Core i7-9xxX Extreme Edition	6	12 MB	LGA 1366	130 W	32 nm	QPI, 3 × DDR3	Mar 2010
	Core i7-970							Jul 2010
Bloomfield	Core i7-9xx Extreme Edition	4	8 MB			45 nm		Nov 2008
	Core i7-9xx (except Core i7-970/980)
Lynnfield	Core i7-8xx			LGA 1156	95 W		DMI, PCI-e, 2 × DDR3	Sep 2009
	Core i7-8xxS				82 W			Jan 2010
Clarksfield	Core i7-9xxXM Extreme Edition			rPGA-988A	55 W			Sep 2009
	Core i7-8xxQM				45 W
	Core i7-7xxQM		6 MB
Arrandale	Core i7-6xxM	2	4 MB		35 W	32 nm	DMI, PCI-e, FDI, 2 × DDR3	Jan 2010
	Core i7-6xxLM			BGA-1288	25 W
	Core i7-6xxUM				18 W

Sandy Bridge microarchitecture-based

In early 2011, Intel introduced a new microarchitecture named Sandy Bridge microarchitecture. It kept all the existing brands from Nehalem, including Core i3/i5/i7, and introduced new model numbers. The initial set of Sandy Bridge processors includes dual- and quad-core variants, all of which use a single 32 nm die for both the CPU and integrated GPU cores, unlike the earlier microarchitectures. All Core i3/i5/i7 processors with the Sandy Bridge microarchitecture have a four-digit model number. With the mobile version, the thermal design power can no longer be determined from a one- or two-letter suffix but is encoded into the CPU number. Starting with Sandy Bridge, Intel no longer distinguishes the code names of the processor based on number of cores, socket or intended usage; they all use the same code name as the microarchitecture itself.

Ivy Bridge is the codename for Intel's 22 nm die shrink of the Sandy Bridge microarchitecture based on tri-gate ("3D") transistors, introduced in April 2012.

Core i3

Released on January 20, 2011, the Core i3-2xxx line of desktop and mobile processors is a direct replacement of the 2010 "Clarkdale" Core i3-5xx and "Arrandale" Core i3-3xxM models, based on the new microarchitecture. While they require new sockets and chipsets, the user-visible features of the Core i3 are largely unchanged, including the lack of support for Turbo Boost and AES-NI. Unlike the Sandy Bridge-based Celeron and Pentium processors, the Core i3 line does support the new Advanced Vector Extensions. This particular processor is the entry-level processor of this new series of Intel processors.

Codename (main article)	Brand name (list)	Cores	L3 Cache	Socket	TDP	I/O Bus
Sandy Bridge (Desktop)	Core i3-21xx	2	3 MB	LGA 1155	65 W	Direct Media Interface, Integrated GPU
	Core i3-21xxT				35 W
Sandy Bridge (Mobile)	Core i3-2xx0M			rPGA-988B BGA-1023
	Core i3-2xx7M			BGA-1023	17 W

Core i5

In January 2011, Intel released new quad-core Core i5 processors based on the "Sandy Bridge" microarchitecture at CES 2011. New dual-core mobile processors and desktop processors arrived in February 2011.

The Core i5-2xxx line of desktop processors are mostly quad-core chips, with the exception of the dual-core Core i5-2390T, and include integrated graphics, combining the key features of the earlier Core i5-6xx and Core i5-7xx lines. The suffix after the four-digit model number designates unlocked multiplier (K), low-power (S) and ultra-low-power (T).

The desktop CPUs now all have four non-SMT cores (like the i5-750), with the exception of the i5-2390T. The DMI bus is running at 5 GT/s.

The mobile Core i5-2xxxM processors are all dual-core and hyper-threaded chips like the previous Core i5-5xxM series, and share most of the features with that product line.

Codename (main article)	Brand name (list)	Cores	L3 Cache	Socket	TDP	I/O Bus
Sandy Bridge (Desktop)	Core i5-2xxx Core i5-2xxxK	4	6 MB	LGA 1155	95 W	Direct Media Interface, Integrated GPU
	Core i5-2xxxS				65 W
	Core i5-25xxT				45 W
	Core i5-23xxT	2	3 MB		35 W
Sandy Bridge (Mobile)	Core i5-2xxxM			rPGA-988B BGA-1023
	Core i5-2xx7M			BGA-1023	17 W

Core i7

The Core i7 brand remains the high-end for Intel's desktop and mobile processors, featuring the Sandy Bridge models with the largest amount of L3 cache and the highest clock frequency. Most of these models are very similar to their smaller Core i5 siblings. The quad-core mobile Core i7-2xxxQM/XM processors follow the previous "Clarksfield" Core i7-xxxQM/XM processors, but now also include integrated graphics.

Codename (main article)	Brand name (list)	Cores	L3 Cache	Socket	TDP	Process	I/O Bus	Release Date
Sandy Bridge-E (Desktop)	Core i7-39xxX	6	15 MB	LGA 2011	130 W	32 nm	Direct Media Interface	November 2011
	Core i7-39xxK		12 MB
	Core i7-38xx	4	10 MB
Sandy Bridge (Desktop)	Core i7-2xxxK, i7-2xxx		8 MB	LGA 1155	95 W		Direct Media Interface, Integrated GPU	January 2011
	Core i7-2xxxS				65 W
Sandy Bridge (Mobile)	Core i7-2xxxXM			rPGA-988B BGA-1023	55 W
	Core i7-28xxQM				45 W
	Core i7-2xxxQE, i7-26xxQM, i7-27xxQM		6 MB
	Core i7-2xx0M	2	4 MB		35 W			February 2011
	Core i7-2xx9M			BGA-1023	25 W
	Core i7-2xx7M				17 W

Ivy Bridge microarchitecture-based

Core i3

The Ivy Bridge-based Core-i3-3xxx line is a minor upgrade to 22 nm process technology and better graphics.

Codename (main article)	Brand name (list)	Cores	L3 Cache	Socket	TDP	I/O Bus
Ivy Bridge (Desktop)	Core i3-32xx	2	3 MB	LGA 1155	55 W	Direct Media Interface, Integrated GPU
	Core i3-32xxT				35 W
Ivy Bridge (Mobile)	Core i3-3xx0M			rPGA-988B BGA-1023
	Core i3-3xx7U			BGA-1023	17 W
	Core i3-3xx9Y				13 W

Core i5

Codename (main article)	Brand name (list)	Cores	L3 Cache	Socket	TDP	I/O Bus
Ivy Bridge (Desktop)	Core i5-3xxx Core i5-3xxxK	4	6 MB	LGA 1155	77 W	Direct Media Interface, Integrated GPU
	Core i5-3xxxS				65 W
	Core i5-35xxT				45 W
	Core i5-34xxT	2	3 MB		35 W
Ivy Bridge (Mobile)	Core i5-3xx0M			rPGA-988B BGA-1023
	Core i5-3xx7U			BGA-1023	17 W
	Core i5-3xx9Y				13 W

Core i7

Codename (main article)	Brand name (list)	Cores	L3 Cache	Socket	TDP	Process	I/O Bus	Release Date
Ivy Bridge-E (Desktop)	Core i7-4960X	6	15MB	LGA2011	130 W	22 nm	Direct Media Interface	September 2013
	Core i7-4930K		12MB
	Core i7-4820K	4	10MB
Ivy Bridge (Desktop)	Core i7-37xx, i7-37xxK		8 MB	LGA 1155	77 W		Direct Media Interface, Integrated GPU	April 2012
	Core i7-37xxS				65 W
	Core i7-37xxT				45 W
Ivy Bridge (Mobile)	Core i7-3xxxXM				55 W
	Core i7-38xxQM				45 W
	Core i7-36x0QM, i7-3xx0QE, i7-36x5QM, i7-3xx5QE, i7-37xxQM		6 MB
	Core i7-3xx2QM, i7-3xx2QE				35 W
	Core i7-3xxxM	2	4 MB
	Core i7-3xxxLE				25 W
	Core i7-3xx7U, i7-3xx7UE				17 W
	Core i7-3xx9Y				13 W			January 2013

Haswell microarchitecture-based

From 2013

Core i3

Codename (main article)	Brand name (list)	Cores	L3 Cache	GPU Model	Socket	TDP	Process	I/O Bus	Release Date
Haswell-DT (Desktop)	Core i3-43xx	2	4 MB	HD 4600	LGA 1150	54 W	22 nm	Direct Media Interface, Integrated GPU	September 2013
	Core i3-43xxT, Core i3-4xxxTE					35 W
	Core i3-41xx		3 MB	HD 4400		54 W
	Core i3-41xxT					35 W
Haswell-MB (Mobile)	Core i3-4xx2E			HD 4600	BGA 1364	25 W
	Core i3-4xx0E					37 W
	Core i3-4xxxM				Socket G3
	Core i3-4xx8U			Iris 5100	BGA 1168	28 W			June 2013
	Core i3-4xx0U, Core i3-4xx5U			HD 4400		15 W
	Core i3-4xxxY			HD 4200		11.5 W

Core i5

Codename (main article)	Brand name (list)	Cores	L3 Cache	GPU Model	Socket	TDP	Process	I/O Bus	Release Date
Haswell-DT (Desktop)	Core i5-4xxx, i5-46xxK	4	6 MB	HD 4600	LGA 1150	84 W	22 nm	Direct Media Interface, Integrated GPU	June 2013
	Core i5-4xxxS					65 W
	Core i5-46xxT					45 W
	Core i5-45xxT, Core i5-45xxTE	2	4 MB			35 W
	Core i5-4xxxR	4		Iris Pro 5200	BGA 1364	65 W
Haswell-MB (Mobile)	Core i5-4xxxH	2	3 MB	HD 4600		47 W			September 2013
	Core i5-4xx2E					25 W
	Core i5-4xx0E					37 W
	Core i5-4xxxM				Socket G3
	Core i5-4xx8U			Iris 5100	BGA1168	28 W			June 2013
	Core i5-4x50U			HD 5000		15 W
	Core i5-4x00U			HD 4400
	Core i5-4xxxY			HD 4200		11.5 W

Core i7

Codename (main article)	Brand name (list)	Cores	L3 Cache	GPU Model	Socket	TDP	Process	I/O Bus	Release Date
Haswell-E (Desktop)[46]	Core i7-5960X	8	20 MB	None	LGA 2011-3	140 W	22 nm	Direct Media Interface	September 2014
	Core i7-5930K	6	15 MB
	Core i7-5820K
Haswell-DT (Desktop)	Core i7-47xx, i7-47xxK	4	8 MB	HD 4600	LGA 1150	84 W		Direct Media Interface, Integrated GPU	June 2013
	Core i7-47xxS					65 W
	Core i7-47x0T					45 W
	Core i7-47x5T					35 W
	Core i7-47xxR		6 MB	Iris Pro 5200	BGA 1364	65 W
Haswell-MB (Mobile)	Core i7-4x50HQ, Core i7-4x60HQ Core i7-4x50EQ, Core i7-4x60EQ					47 W
	Core i7-47x2HQ, Core i7-47x2EQ Core i7-470xHQ, Core i7-470xEQ			HD 4600		37 W 47 W
	Core i7-47x2MQ Core i7-470xMQ				Socket G3	37 W 47 W
	Core i7-49xxMQ, Core i7-4xxxXM		8 MB			57 W
	Core i7-4xxxM	2	4 MB			35 W			September 2013
	Core i7-4xx8U			Iris 5100	BGA 1168	28 W			June 2013
	Core i7-4x50U			HD 5000		15 W
	Core i7-4x00U			HD 4400
	Core i7-4xxxY			HD 4200		11.5 W

Broadwell microarchitecture-based

The Broadwell microarchitecture was released by Intel on September 6, 2014, and began shipping in late 2014. It is the first to use a 14 nm chip.^[47] Additionally, mobile processors were launched in January 2015^[48] and Desktop Core i5 and i7 processors were released in June 2015.^[49]

Core i3

Codename (main article)	Brand name (list)	Cores	L3 Cache	GPU Model	Socket	TDP	Process	I/O Bus	Release Date
Broadwell-U (Mobile)	Core i3-5xx7U	2	3 MB	Iris 6100	BGA 1168	28 W	14 nm	Direct Media Interface, Integrated GPU	January 2015
	Core i3-5xx0U, Core i3-5xx5U			HD 5500		15 W

Core i5

Codename (main article)	Brand name (list)	Cores	L3 Cache	GPU Model	Socket	TDP	Process	I/O Bus	Release Date
Broadwell-DT (Desktop)[49]	Core i5-5675C	4	4 MB	Iris 6200	LGA 1150	65 W	14 nm	Direct Media Interface, Integrated GPU	June 2015
	Core i5-5675R
	Core i5-5575R
Broadwell-U (Mobile)	Core i5-5xx7U	2	3 MB	Iris 6100	BGA 1168	28 W	14 nm	Direct Media Interface, Integrated GPU	January 2015
	Core i5-5x50U			HD 6000		15 W
	Core i5-5x00U			HD 5500

Core i7

Codename (main article)	Brand name (list)	Cores	L3 Cache	GPU Model	Socket	TDP	Process	I/O Bus	Release Date
Broadwell-DT (Desktop)[49]	Core i7-5775C	4	6 MB	Iris 6200	LGA 1150	65 W	14 nm	Direct Media Interface, Integrated GPU	June 2015
	Core i7-5775R
Broadwell-U (Mobile)	Core i7-5xx7U	2	4 MB	Iris 6100	BGA 1168	28 W	14 nm	Direct Media Interface, Integrated GPU	January 2015
	Core i7-5x50U			HD 6000		15 W
	Core i7-5x00U			HD 5500

Core M

Codename (main article)	Brand name (list)	Cores	L3 Cache	GPU Model	Socket	TDP	Process	I/O Bus	Release Date
Broadwell-Y (Mobile)	Core M-5Yxx	2	4 MB	HD 5300	BGA 1234	4.5 W	14 nm	Direct Media Interface, Integrated GPU	September 2014

Skylake microarchitecture

Skylake is the 6th generation Core processor microarchitecture, and was launched in August 2015.

See also

• Centrino

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Intel Core 2 Duo|Intel Core 2 Quad|Intel Core i5|Intel Core i7.

• Intel Core technical specifications at the Wayback Machine (archived August 9, 2007)
• CPU Database. TechPowerUp.
• Intel Core Duo (Yonah) Performance Preview – Part II vs AMD 64 X2 and Intel Pentium M. Anandtech.
• Intel Core i7-3960X CPU Performance Comparison.
• Intel Centrino Duo Mobile Technology papers. Intel.
• Intel Product Information, providing a list of various processor generations

Intel processors   Discontinued BCD oriented (4-bit) 4004 (1971) 4040 (1974) pre-x86 (8-bit) 8008 (1972) 8080 (1974) 8085 (1977) Early x86 (16-bit) 8086 (1978) 8088 (1979) 80186 (1982) 80188 (1982) 80286 (1982) x87 (external FPUs) 8/16-bit databus 8087 (1980) 16-bit databus 80187 80287 80387SX 32-bit databus 80387DX 80487 IA-32 (32-bit) 80386 SX 376 EX 80486 SX DX2 DX4 SL RapidCAD OverDrive A100/A110 Celeron (1998) M D (2004) Pentium Original OverDrive Pro II II OverDrive III 4 M Dual-Core Core Solo Duo x86-64 (64-bit) Celeron D Dual-Core Pentium 4 D Extreme Edition Dual-Core Core 2 i7 (some) Other CISC iAPX 432 RISC i860 i960 StrongARM XScale   Current IA-32 (32-bit) EP80579 Atom CE SoC Quark x86-64 (64-bit) Atom CE SoC Celeron Pentium Core i3 i5 i7 m3 m5 m7 Xeon E7 E5 E3 Phi EPIC Itanium Lists Atom Celeron Core 2 i3 i5 i7 M Itanium Pentium Pro II III 4 D M Dual-Core Xeon Related Chipsets PCHs SCHs ICHs PIIXs GPUs Codenames GMA HD and Iris Graphics   Microarchitectures P5 800 nm P5 600 nm P54C 350 nm P54CS P55C 250 nm Tillamook P6 / Pentium M / Enhanced Pentium M 500 nm P6 350 nm P6 Klamath 250 nm Mendocino Dixon Tonga Covington Deschutes Katmai Drake Tanner 180 nm Coppermine Coppermine T Timna Cascades 130 nm Tualatin Banias 90 nm Dothan Stealey Tolapai Canmore 65 nm Yonah Sossaman NetBurst 180 nm Willamette Foster 130 nm Northwood Gallatin Prestonia 90 nm Tejas and Jayhawk Prescott Smithfield Nocona Irwindale Cranford Potomac Paxville 65 nm Cedar Mill Presler Dempsey Tulsa Core / Penryn 65 nm Merom-L Merom Conroe-L Allendale Conroe Kentsfield Woodcrest Clovertown Tigerton 45 nm Penryn Penryn-QC Wolfdale Yorkfield Wolfdale-DP Harpertown Dunnington Bonnell / Saltwell 45 nm Silverthorne Diamondville Pineview Lincroft Tunnel Creek Stellarton Sodaville Groveland 32 nm Cedarview Penwell Cloverview Berryville Centerton Nehalem / Westmere 45 nm Clarksfield Lynnfield Jasper Forest Bloomfield Gainestown (Nehalem-EP) Beckton (Nehalem-EX) 32 nm Arrandale Clarkdale Gulftown (Westmere-EP) Westmere-EX Sandy Bridge / Ivy Bridge 32 nm Sandy Bridge Sandy Bridge-E Gladden 22 nm Ivy Bridge Ivy Bridge-EP Ivy Bridge-EX Haswell / Broadwell 22 nm Haswell 14 nm Broadwell Silvermont / Airmont 22 nm Valleyview Tangier Anniedale 14 nm Cherryview Skylake/Kaby Lake/Cannonlake 14 nm Skylake Kaby Lake 10 nm Cannonlake