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Intel CPUs have been on the cutting edge of technology for some decades, and the processors have become gradually stronger over the years. Perhaps you want to purchase an Intel processor, and the vendor confuses you by talking about its generation and performance. It can be tricky to understand the Intel CPU generations and their differences. Furthermore, the Intel Core i3, i5, and i7 are not processor generations but models of processors from Intel.
This article will discuss Intel's significant processors and features from 2017 to the latest generations.
Intel CPU names and numbers explained
Before we jump into the Intel processors' timeline, let's learn the precise information an Intel CPU model can provide. There are countless numbers and letters in a model name, so it can be pretty confusing.
The name of an Intel processor has the following information:
- Brand: It indicates the overall product line, such as Core, Pentium, Xeon, and Celeron.
- Brand modifier: It indicates the processor's performance in that particular brand. The performance of a brand modifier increases with its value. Example: i3, i5, i7, i9.
- Generation indicator: In the processor number, the first or first two digits indicate the generation of the processor. If it's a 12th-generation processor, the first two digits are the indicator. Similarly, if it's a 9th-generation number or any number starting with one integer, the first digit is the indicator. Example: 7XXX, 11XXX, etc.
- SKU: It's the last three digits of the processor number. The higher the SKU, the more features are likely to be included in the processor.
- Product line suffix: It's the alphabet at the end. It indicates the critical features of the CPU.
Here is a list of all of Intel Core's product line suffixes and their features:
Intel CPU generations timeline
All of the CPU generations produced by Intel, their code names, and release dates are given below:
Intel CPU generations: From Coffee Lake to Raptor Lake
In recent times, Intel has produced enhanced and powerful Core processors. However, after the release of Coffee Lake in 2017, the world saw a generational revolution; following that, the Intel CPU generations are progressively improving.
Let's discuss everything about the Intel processors, their performance, and improvements after the release of Coffee Lake.
9th generation Intel CPU - Coffee Lake
The first introduction of the Intel Core i-9 processors occurred after the release of Coffee Lake in 2017. These processors break the typical limit of four cores per CPU. It can carry up to eight cores.
However, Intel knew the increased number of cores would produce more heat, so they added an integrated heat spreader (IHS) to the processor instead of the usual thermal paste. It supports more than 4 cores and up to 16 MB of L3 cache, as it uses 1151 LGA sockets along with altered pinouts.
Some of the best 9th-generation chips are:
- Intel Core i9 9900K - Best for gaming and overclocking
- Intel Core i7 9700K - Best i7 processor
- Intel Core i5 9600K - Best budget processor
10th generation Intel CPU - Cannon Lake/Ice Lake
Intel's 10th-generation processor, Canon Lake, was properly introduced in 2018 with brand-new 10-nm technology. The Ice Lake was also produced as the second generation of 10-nm CPUs.
These processors utilize BGA1526 sockets and support DDR4 3200 and LPDDR4X 3733. Furthermore, these were the first processors with integrated Wi-Fi 6 and Thunderbolt 3 support.
Some of the best 10th-generation chips are:
- Intel Core i7 10700K - Best overall
- Intel Core i5 10400 - Best value for money
- Intel Core i9 10900X - Best performance
11th generation Intel CPU - Tiger Lake
The third generation of 10-nm technology, Intel's 11th-generation CPU, was launched in September 2020. Its code name is Tiger Lake, and it has up to a 19% performance boost compared to the previous Ice Lake processors. Furthermore, an L4 cache was introduced in these processors for an additional performance boost.
Significantly, the well-known Intel Xe graphics were introduced with the release of the 11th generation. This feature remarkably increased the FPS in games.
Some of the best 11th-generation chips are:
- Intel Core i9 11900K - Best overall
- Intel Core i5 11400F - Best budget processor for gaming
- Intel Core i7 11700K - Best i7 processor
12th generation Intel CPU - Alder Lake
The 12th generation processors are known as Alder Lake and boast 10-nm transistor technology with hybrid capabilities. It was released in November 2021. These processors are designed for speed and power with their P and E cores. The "P" refers to power cores, and the "E" indicates efficiency cores.
These processors support DDR5 memory, Wi-Fi 6E (Gig+), and Thunderbolt 4. Intel asserts that the 12th generation processor can deliver an average 13% performance boost in gaming.
Some of the best 12th-generation chips are:
- Intel Core i9 12900K - Best overall
- Intel Core i7 12700KF - Best i7 processor
- Intel Core i5 12600KF - Best budget-friendly processor
13th generation Intel CPU - Raptor Lake
The 13th generation of Intel CPUs is known as Raptor Lake. It's the most recent version and was released in October 2022. It boasts 10-nm enhanced SuperFin technology. The improvements are astronomical compared to its predecessor.
Notably, the DDR4 and DDR5 memory modules are both supported by Raptor Lake. However, DDR4 can support up to 3200 MHz, whereas DDR5 supports up to 5600 MHz.
The Core i9 13900K is the only model with 24 cores and 32 threads. Alternatively, the Core i5 13400 will feature 6 P-cores and 4 E-cores.
Some of the best 12th-generation chips are:
- Intel Core i9 13900K - Best overall processor
- Intel Core i5 13500 - Best value for money
- Intel Core i5 13600KF - Best budget gaming processor
The upcoming generations of Intel CPU
The times are changing, and Intel's technology and efficiency are gradually improving with them. The next generations of Intel CPUs will launch, as the 14th and 15th will be named Meteor Lake and Arrow Lake, respectively. Intel is planning to launch them in 2023 and 2024.
