Generations of Intel processors: description and characteristics of models

This article will detail the latest generation of Intel processors Based on the architecture of "Kor". This company occupies a leading position in the market of computer systems, and most PCs are currently assembled on its semiconductor chips.

Intel Development Strategy

All previous generations of Intel processors were subject to a two-year cycle. A similar strategy for the release of updates from this company was called "Tick-Tak". The first stage, called "Tick", consisted in transferring the CPA to a new technological process. For example, in terms of the architecture of the generation, "Sandy Bridge" (2nd generation) and "Ivi Bridge" (3rd generation) were almost identical. But the production technology of the first was based on the norms of 32 nm, and the second - 22 nm. The same can be said for "HasVell" (4th generation, 22 nm) and "BroadVell" (5th generation, 14 nm). In turn, the stage "So" means a radical change in the architecture of semiconductor chips and a significant increase in performance. Examples of such transitions are:

• The 1st generation of Westmere and the 2nd generation of the Sandy Bridge. The technological process in this case was identical - 32 nm, but the changes in the architecture plan of the chip are significant - the north bridge of the motherboard and the integrated graphics accelerator are transferred to the CPU.

• 3rd generation "Ivi Bridge" and 4th generation "HasVell". The energy consumption of the computer system is optimized, the clock frequencies of the chips are increased.

• The 5th generation of "BroadVell" and the 6th generation of "SkyLake". The frequency has been increased again, power consumption has been further improved, and several new instructions have been added that improve performance.

Segmentation of processor solutions based on Kor architecture

Intel's central processing units have the following positioning:

• The most affordable solutions are the chips "Celeron". They are suitable for assembling office computers that are designed to solve the most simple tasks.

• On a step above there are CPUs of the "Pentium" series. In architectural terms, they are almost identical to the younger models of Celeron. But here the increased cache of the 3rd level and higher frequencies give them a certain advantage in terms of performance. The niche of this CPU is entry-level gaming PCs.

• The middle segment of the CPU from Intel occupy decisions based on Cor Ai3. The previous two types of processors, as a rule, have only 2 computational units. The same can be said about "Kor Ai3". But the first two families of chips do not have the support of "HyperTrading" technology, and "Kor Ai3" does. As a result, at the software level, 2 physical modules are converted into 4 program processing flows. This provides a significant increase in performance. On the basis of such products, it is already possible to assemble a medium-level gaming PC, a graphics station or even an entry-level server.

• The niche of solutions is above the average level, but below the premium segment, the chips are filled with solutions based on Cor Ai5. This semiconductor crystal can boast of the presence of four physical nuclei. It is this architectural nuance that provides an advantage in terms of performance over Cor Ai3. More recent generations of Intel i5 processors have higher clock speeds and this allows you to constantly get a performance boost.

• The niche of the premium segment is occupied by products based on "Kor Ai7". The number of computing units in them is exactly the same as that of "Kor Ai5". But here they, just like Kor Ai3, have support for the technology, codenamed "Hyper Trading". Therefore, at the program level 4, the cores are converted into 8 processed threads. It is this nuance that provides a phenomenal level of performance that any Intel Core i7 processor can boast of . The price of these chips is appropriate.

Processor Connectors

Generations of Intel Core processors are installed in different types of sockets. Therefore, to install the first chips on this architecture in the motherboard for the CPU of the 6th generation will not work. Or, conversely, a chip with the code name "SkyLake" physically can not be put in the motherboard for the 1st or 2nd generation of processors. The first processor socket was called "Socket H", or LGA 1156 (1156 is the number of contacts). It was released in 2009 for the first CPUs manufactured at the tolerance standards of 45 nm (2008) and 32 nm (2009), based on this architecture. To date, it has become obsolete both morally and physically. In 2010, LGA 1156 is replaced by LGA 1155, or "Socket H1". Motherboards of this series support "Kor" chips of the 2nd and 3rd generations. Code names for them, respectively, "Sandy Bridge" and "Ivy Bridge". 2013 was marked by the release of the third socket for chips based on the Kor architecture - LGA 1150, or Socket H2. In this processor socket it was possible to install a CPU for the 4th and 5th generations. Well, in September 2015, LGA 1150 was replaced by the latest topical socket - LGA 1151.

The first generation of chips

The most affordable processor products of this platform were Celeron G1101 (2.27 GHz), Pentium G6950 (2.8 GHz) and Pentium G6990 (2.9 GHz). All of them had only 2 cores. The niche of middle-level solutions was occupied by "Kor Ai3" with the designation 5XX (2 cores / 4 logical streams of information processing). On the step above were "Kor Ai5" with the marking 6XX (they have the same parameters as "Kor Ai3", but the frequencies are higher) and 7XX with 4 real cores. The most productive computer systems were assembled on the basis of "Kor Ai7". Their models had the designation 8XX. The most high-speed chip in this case was labeled 875K. Due to the unlocked multiplier it was possible to overclock such an Intel Core i7 processor. The price was the same. Accordingly, you could get an impressive increase in performance. By the way, the presence of the prefix "K" in the designation of the CPU model meant that the multiplier is unlocked and this model can be overclocked. Well, the prefix "S" was added in the designation of energy-efficient chips.

Planned renovation of the architecture and the "Sandy Bridge"

In place of the first generation of chips based on the architecture of "Kor" in 2010 came solutions codenamed "Sandy Bridge". The key "chips" were the transfer of the north bridge and the built-in graphics accelerator to the silicon chip of the silicon processor. Niche of the most budgetary decisions was occupied by "Celerons" of series G4XX and G5XX. In the first case, the level 3 cache was cut and only one core was present. The second series, in turn, could boast of the presence of two computational units. Another step up is the Pentiums of the G6XX and G8XX models. In this case, the difference in performance was provided by higher frequencies. It was the G8XX due to this important characteristic that looked better in the eyes of the end user. The line "Kor Ai3" was represented by models 21XX (namely, the number "2" and indicates that the chip belongs to the second generation of Kor architecture). Some of them at the end added an index of "T" - more energy-efficient solutions with reduced performance.

In turn, the solutions of "Kor A5" had the designations 23XX, 24XX and 25XX. The higher the marking of the model, the higher the level of CPU performance. The index "T" at the end is the most energy-efficient solution. If the letter "S" is added at the end of the name, an intermediate version for power consumption between the "T" version of the chip and the nominal crystal. The "P" index - the graphics accelerator is disabled in the chip. Well, chips with the letter "K" had an unlocked multiplier. This marking is also relevant for the third generation of this architecture.

The appearance of a new more advanced technological process

In 2013, the third generation of CPUs on the basis of this architecture saw the light. Its key innovation is an updated technical process. Otherwise, they did not introduce any significant innovations. Physically they were compatible with the previous generation of CPUs and they could be put on the same motherboards. The structure of designations for them remained identical. "Celerons" had the designation G12XX, and "Pentiums" - G22XX. Only in the beginning instead of "2" was already "3", which indicated the belonging to the third generation. The ruler "Kor Ai3" had indices 32XX. More advanced "Cor A5" were designated 33XX, 34XX and 35XX. Well, the flagship solutions of "Kor Ai7" had the marking 37XX.

The fourth revision of the architecture "Kor"

The next stage was the 4th generation of Intel processors based on the Kor architecture. The marking in this case was this:

• The CPU of the economical class "Celerones" was designated G18XX.

• "Pentiums" also had indexes G32XX and G34XX.

• For "Cor Ai3" were fixed such designations - 41XX and 43XX.

• "Cor Ai5" could be recognized by the abbreviation 44XX, 45XX and 46XX.

• Well, to designate "Kor Ai7" were allocated 47XX.

Fifth Generation Chips

5 generation of Intel processors On the basis of this architecture was mainly focused on use in mobile devices. For desktop PCs, only the chips of "Ai 5" and "Ai 7" lines were released. And only a very limited number of models. The first of them were designated 56ХХ, and the second - 57ХХ.

The most recent and promising solutions

6 generation of Intel processors debuted in early autumn 2015. This is the most current processor architecture at the moment. The entry-level chips are designated in this case G39XX ("Celeron"), G44XX and G45XX (as Pentiums are labeled). The processors "Kor Ai3" have the designation 61XX and 63XX. In turn, "Kor Ai5" is 64XX, 65XX and 66XX. Well, the designation of flagship solutions is only marked 67ХХ. The new generation of Intel processors Resides Only at the beginning of its life cycle, and such chips will be relevant for quite a long time.

Acceleration Features

Almost all chips based on this architecture have a locked multiplier. Therefore, in this case, overclocking is possible only by increasing the frequency of the system bus. In the last, 6th generation, even this possibility of increasing the performance will have to be disabled in the BIOS by motherboard manufacturers. An exception in this respect are the processors of the "Kor Ai5" and "Kor Ai7" series with the "K" index. They have a multiplier unlocked and this allows to significantly increase the performance of computer systems on the bases of such semiconductor products.

Owners opinion

All the generations of Intel processors listed in this material have a high degree of energy efficiency and a phenomenal level of performance. The only drawback is the high cost. But the reason lies in the fact that the direct competitor of "Intel" in the person of the company "AMD", can not oppose it more or less worthwhile decisions. Therefore, Intel is already starting from its own considerations and sets a price tag for its products.

Results

In this article, generations of Intel processors for desktop computers were discussed in detail. Even this list is enough to be lost in notation and names. In addition, there are also options for computer enthusiasts (platform 2011) and various mobile sockets. All this is done only so that the end user can choose the most optimal solution for their tasks. Well, the most relevant now from the considered options are chips of the 6th generation. It is on them and you need to pay attention when buying or assembling a new PC.