For decades, Intel® has made the most trusted CPUs on the market, but the thicket of model numbers, names, and generations can make it challenging to choose the best Intel Core CPU for your PC.
Below, we explain the Intel processor brands, generations, and models in plain, easy-to-understand English. We’ll also look at naming conventions, so when you see Intel Core™ i3-8145U or
Intel Core i7-10510Y, you’ll know exactly what each part of the name means.
We also demystify the Intel CPU generations and “Lake” monikers, and the latest Intel processors – 11th Generation – and how they support the
new Evo platform (and why that’s exciting). Finally, we’ll clarify Intel’s Core, Xeon®, Pentium®, and Celeron® processors, with the generations, brand modifiers, and suffixes of each.
For a comprehensive list of all Intel processor model numbers, see the
Intel product specs site.
What are Intel processors?
Intel processors are the most popular CPUs for desktops and laptops in the world. They’re offered