Farewell to Core-i: Intel Introduces New CPU Names
The naming of the processor generation in the official brand name has been dropped. Instead, Intel classifies its processors into two performance classes: Core and Core Ultra.
Intel has announced new brand names for its PC processors. Starting with the upcoming 14th generation “Meteor Lake”, the company will do away with the name “Core-i”. The separate naming of the processor generation is also dropped.
According to the new naming scheme, Intel differentiates between mainstream and premium processors. CPUs for the mass market will be sold as Intel Core 3, Intel Core 5 and Intel Core 7 in the future. Intel still differentiates individual processors by means of a model number. However, this is now only four-digit, whereby the first two digits still reflect the respective processor generation. The successor of a Core i5 13xxx will be called Core 5 14xx.
Core Ultra: Intel’s new premium CPUs
Meanwhile, premium CPUs will receive the addition Ultra, namely for the Intel Core Ultra 5, Intel Core Ultra 7 and Intel Core Ultra 9 product ranges. This will also be supplemented by a processor-specific four-digit model number, whose first two digits reflect the generation.
The new naming scheme is intended to reflect important technical changes in the Meteor Lake generation, according to Intel. “Meteor Lake represents a turning point in Intel’s client processor roadmap. It will be the first client processor manufactured on the new Intel 4 process node. It is the first client chiplet design enabled by Fovero’s advanced 3D packaging technology, and will offer improved power efficiency and graphics performance. It is also the first Intel client processor to feature a dedicated AI engine: Intel® AI Boost,” the company announced.
Meanwhile, in the future, it should be easier for customers to find the Intel processor that is right for them. “In doing so, the Intel Core brand, which has been an integral part of the PC industry for nearly two decades, will be brought to the forefront,” Intel added.
In recent years, Intel has repeatedly struggled with problems when switching to new manufacturing processes with smaller structure widths. For example, the current Raptor Lake microarchitecture of the 13th Core-i generation is being manufactured in a 7-nanometer process for the first time. AMD has already been offering processors from a 7-nanometer production since 2020 – the Zen 4 architecture has even been using a 5-nanometer process since 2022. With Meteor Lake, Intel wants to catch up and offer CPUs with 4 nanometer small structures.
