Confused about Intel's labeling system.

[NotSoHonestAbe]

Could someone please give me an explanation of Intel's labeling system for their CPUs? I get so confused with i3, i5, i7, and then there is the number after it like 980x or 3970k, what's the difference between x and k CPUs? And what do all the numbers mean?

 

[rolli59]

X= extreme edition
K= unlocked multiplier
The numbers represent series 9xx was I7 LGA1366 for example. 39xx is LGA2011 and so on.

 

[jaguarskx]

For all desktop CPUs:

i3 = dual core + hyper threading
i5 = quad core
i7 = quad core + hyper threading

1st generation = only three digits like the i7-920
2nd generation = four digits starting with "2" like the i3-2120
3rd generation = four digits starting with "3" like the i5-3450

 

[shanky887614]

simplist way to put it is.

3 = dual core + hyper threading
i5 = quad core
i7 = quad core + hyper threading

then the numbers after

the first generation was for example 980x

then then second generation was 2500k (sandy bridge)
then the third generation 3500k (ivy bridge)


the first number is the generation for example
2XXX is second
3XXX is third


now the first generation had more than one socket type. 1366 and 1156. the 1366 was for the very high end. while 1156 was for the normal user

for the second generation it went to the 1155 socket for the mainstream and 2011 for the highend

3rd gen is the same as second (except they are z/p/h77 instead of z/p/h68)