What does mq mean for an intel processor. Specifications and decoding of processor markings from AMD

· 02/16/2017

Everyone knows what a processor (CPU) is, as well as its importance. The phrase that this is the “brain” of any computer stuck in my teeth. However, this is true, and the capabilities of a laptop or desktop PC are largely determined by this component. When planning to buy a new computer, you need to understand that one of the main characteristics is the processor. Each model indicates the name of the CPU used and the main characteristics. How can you determine at first glance which one is faster and which one is slower, which one to prefer if you often have to work autonomously, and which processor is better for games? This material is a kind of small guide in which I will tell you what Intel processor markings exist, how to decipher it, determine the generation and series of the processor, and give the main characteristics. Let's go.

Main characteristics of processors

In addition to the name, each processor has its own set of characteristics, reflecting the possibility of using it for a particular job. Among them the main ones can be noted:

• Number of cores. Shows how many physical processors are hidden inside the chip. Most laptops, especially those with “U” version processors, have 2 cores. More powerful options have 4 cores.
• Hyper-Threading. A technology that allows you to divide the resources of the physical core into several threads (usually 2) running simultaneously in order to increase performance. Thus, a 2-core processor in the system will appear as a 4-core processor.
• Clock frequency. Measured in gigahertz. In general, we can say that the higher the frequency, the more efficient processor. Let’s immediately make a reservation that this is far from the only criterion that reflects the performance of the CPU.
• Turbo Boost. A technology that allows you to increase the maximum processor frequency under high loads. The i3 versions do not have automatic frequency change, while the i5 and i7 have this technology.
• Cache. A small (usually 1 to 4 MB) amount of high-speed memory that is part of the processor. Allows you to speed up the processing of frequently used data.
• TDP (Thermal Design Power). A value indicating the maximum amount of heat that must be removed from the processor to ensure normal temperature conditions for its operation. Typically, the higher the value, the more powerful the processor and the hotter it is. The cooling system must cope with this power.

Intel processor markings

The first thing that catches your eye is the marking, consisting of letters and numbers.

What the name is is clear. The manufacturer produces its processors under this trade name. This can be not only “Intel Core”, but also “Atom”, “Celeron”, “Pentium”, “Xeon”.

The name is followed by the processor series identifier. This can be "i3", "i5", "i7", "i9" if we are talking about "Intel Core", or the characters "m5", "x5", "E" or "N" can be specified.

After the hyphen, the first digit indicates the processor generation. On at the moment the newest is the 7th generation Kaby Lake. The previous generation Skylake had serial number 6.

The next 3 digits are the serial number of the model. In general, the higher the value, the more powerful the processor. So, i3 has a value of 7100, I5 – 7200, i7 is marked as 7500.

The last character (or two) indicates the processor version. These may be "U", "Y", "HQ", "HK" or others.

Processor series

With the exception of budget models of laptops or desktop PCs, the rest use processors of the Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7 series. The higher the number, the more powerful the CPU. For most everyday work applications, an i5 processor will be optimal. A more productive one is needed if the computer is used as a gaming computer, or if it requires special computing power to work in “heavy” applications.

Processor generation

Intel updates generations of its processors approximately every year and a half, although this interval tends to increase to 2-3 years. From the “Tick-Tock” scheme they switched to the “Tick-Tock-Tock” release scheme. Let me remind you that this processor release strategy implies that in the “Tick” step there is a transition to a new technical process, and the changes made to the processor architecture are minimal. In the “So” step, a processor with an updated architecture is produced using an existing technical process.

The transition to a thinner technical process allows you to reduce power consumption and improve processor performance.

Processor version

This indicator may turn out to be almost more important than simply comparing, say, i3 with i5. If we talk about laptops, in most cases 4 versions of Intel Core processors are used, which have different TDP values ​​(from 4.5 W in the Y version to 45 W for the HQ), and, accordingly, different performance and power consumption. Long battery life depends not only on the processor, but also on the inherent capacity of the battery used.

I will give the versions of Intel Core processors, starting with the most low-power ones.

"Y" / "Core m" - low performance and passive cooling

Used in portable devices and small laptops. Passive cooling allows you to make your computer silent. However, it is not suitable for serious tasks. At the same time, even taking into account the TDP of 4.5 W, the compactness of the devices does not allow for a large battery, which negates all the advantages of low power consumption.

In general, if the task is not to buy something like Apple MacBook 12 or ASUS ZENBOOK UX305CA, then you should give preference to more powerful processors.

"U" - for everyday use

“U” series processors are the best choice for a laptop for every day. This is the best combination of performance, energy consumption and cost. TDP 15 W allows you to achieve both the ability to cope with almost any task and get good time autonomous work.

There are modifications of the 7th generation processors with a TDP of 28 W, which use an improved Intel Iris Plus 640 or 650 graphics subsystem.

It is not possible to get by with passive cooling, but this is compensated by performance. The difference from more powerful versions is the presence of only 2 cores, even in the “i7” series.

Examples of processors in the table.

"HQ" / "HK" - quad-core, high-performance

The best choice if you are looking for a laptop for gaming or working with resource-intensive applications. The “HQ” version has 4 cores, which in combination with Hyper-Threading technology gives 8 threads. Power consumption (TDP) of 45 W is bad for battery life. In order for the laptop to withstand several hours on battery power, it is advisable to choose batteries with a larger capacity, for example, with 6 cells.

“HK” differs from “HQ” in that it has an unlocked multiplier, which makes it possible to engage in “overclocking” by manually increasing the operating frequency of the processor. Similar versions of 7th generation processors were announced only in January 2017, so at the moment almost all laptop models are based on processors of the “HK” and “HQ” versions of the previous, 6th generation. However, we obviously won’t have to wait long for new models.

Examples of processors in the table.

“F”/“KF” - high-performance, without built-in video core

In the 9th generation of processors, Intel decided to do the same as its arch competitor - to offer mass processors without a built-in video core. These CPUs are intended exclusively for use with an external video card, or even several, operating in mode.

Otherwise, there are no differences from analogues that have built-in graphics. As usual, the presence of the letter “K” indicates a free multiplier, which allows you to do overclocking.

Examples of processors in the table.

Xeon E – for high-performance workstations

These processors are used in powerful laptops that serve as high-performance workstations. This technique is aimed primarily at those who are engaged in 3D modeling, animation, design, and perform complex calculations where required high power. The processors have 4 cores and Hyper-Threading technology.

Usually about ability for a long time There is no need to talk about running on batteries. Autonomy is not the strong point that laptops using such processors have.

Examples of processors in the table.

Now I will list the remaining processors that can be found in laptops, but which are not part of the “Intel Core” family.

“Celeron” / “Pentium” - for those who are economical and not in a hurry

You should forget about games (except for very simple), difficult tasks. The destiny of laptops with such processors is leisurely office work and surfing the Internet. You can only give preference to models with a CPU of this level if price is one of the main selection criteria, or if you plan to use Linux or OS from Google. Unlike Windows, the hardware requirements are noticeably lower.

Celeron processors have power consumption ranging from 4 to 15 watts, with those models starting with the letter “N” (for example, N3050, N3060, etc.) consuming between 4 and 6 watts. Models with the letter “U” at the end (for example, 2957U, 3855U, etc.) are more productive and their power already reaches 15 W. There is usually no gain in battery life when using the Celeron Nxxxx, since budget laptop models also save on batteries.

Pentium processors are more productive than Celeron, but still belong to the budget segment. Their TDP is at the same level. Battery life can last for several hours, which, while the performance is not as dull as that of the Celeron, allows you to get a very decent office laptop.

These processors come in both dual-core and quad-core variants.

Examples of processors in the table.

"Atom" - long battery life and dismal performance

Examples of processors in the table.

Integrated Graphics

All processors have a built-in video card, which is labeled as “Intel HD Graphics”. For 7th generation processors, the video core marking begins with “6” (for example, HD Graphics 610), for the 6th generation – with “5” (for example, HD Graphics 520). Some top-end processors have a more powerful built-in video card, labeled “Iris Plus”. Thus, the i7-7600U processor has an Intel HD Graphics 620 video card on board, and the i7-7660U has an Iris Plus 640.

We are not talking about serious competition with solutions from NVidia or AMD, however, for everyday work, watching videos, simple games or at low settings, you will still be able to have some fun. For more serious gaming requests, a discrete graphics card is required.

UPD. 2018. It's time to add to what has been said. Recently, models have appeared in the line of Intel processors that are marked with the letter “G” at the end. For example, i5-8305G, i7-8709G and others. What's special about them? To begin with, I will say that these CPUs are aimed at use in laptops and netbooks.

Their peculiarity is the use of a “built-in” graphics video processor produced by AMD. This is the joint creativity of two sworn competitors. It’s not for nothing that I put the word “built-in” in quotation marks. Although it is considered one with the processor, physically it is a separate chip, although located on the same substrate as the CPU. AMD supplies ready-made graphics solutions, and Intel only installs them on its processors. Friendship is friendship, but the chips are still apart.

“In short, Sklifosovsky!”

“So which processor is best for me,” many will probably ask. A lot has been written, you can get lost in the varieties, characteristics, etc., but you need to choose something. Well, for the impatient, I’ll put everything in one table, which will rank the processors according to their applicability for certain purposes.

Upd. 2018. Time does not stand still and after the emergence of the new, 8th generation of processors, we have to significantly reconsider the applicability of processors for certain tasks. In particular, particularly noticeable changes have occurred in the segment of energy-efficient "U" processors. In the 8th generation, these are finally full-fledged 4-core “stones” with significantly better performance than their predecessors, while maintaining the same TDP value. Therefore, I don’t see the point in choosing something like i7 7500U, i5 7200U, etc.

The only argument that can influence the decision to prefer these particular CPUs is a significant discount on laptops with them on board. In other cases, the old "U" has no chance against new processors.

I’ll say right away that this is an average classification that does not take into account financial costs or the need to choose one option or another. And overall performance depends not only on the processor. Even a powerful “stone” may not reveal its potential if a small amount of memory is installed, a budget one is used hard drive, and at the same time programs that are “greedy” for hardware resources are used.

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218 comments

The next 3 digits are the serial number of the model. In general, the higher the value, the more powerful the processor. So, i3 has a value of 7100, I5 – 7200, i7 is marked as 750; what does this mean? Why are the 7th generation processors listed?

1. Hi all!
   I wanted to know about Intel processors. I have long noticed that when buying a newly released processor, the year is indicated on its cover, but the year does not correspond to the year of purchase, for example, the processor was presented in 2018, and on the Intel processor “13.
   Is this the year of development?

2. Andrey, hello. help me choose a laptop for playing Dota 2. The amount is up to 70 thousand. Tomorrow I will go for a laptop, I still haven’t decided which one I want) I read a lot which one to get, etc. But since I don’t know much about this, it gave me almost nothing)) please help with advice, thanks in advance.

3. Hello. And I have this one on my desktop PC
   asustek computer inc motherboard M4A785T-M (AM3)
   amd phenom iix4 965 deneb 45nm technology. Is it possible to find a replacement motherboard?

4. Good article, informative :)
   But there is one remark and, subsequently, a question. The article does not contain a description of the T, K, S markings. There are also G-series Pentiums, but that doesn’t matter)
   And the next one is about marking k. As far as I know, k means the unlocked multiplier, i.e. The processor can be overclocked, is that true?
   Does k-multiplier have anything to do with Hyper-Threading technology?
   I can’t understand why the i7-3770k has 4 cores and 8 threads, and the similar performance i5-3570k has 4 cores and 4 threads, although both are labeled k.

5. Hello. I'm looking for a laptop to work with AutoCad 2016. Please help me with advice on which one to choose. There is a lot of information, but it’s impossible to put it all together. Thanks in advance.

6. Good afternoon. Super article. I have been interested for a long time and have a question... just about the letter M... I saw that you answered about mobility... but I would like to know whether the difference with U and HQ/HK is significant. What percentage, say, in terms of games and working with graphic editors?

7. Please tell me what is better: lenovo i5-7200U+mx130 8ram ddr4-2133 or acer i3-8130U+mx150 8ram ddr4-2133? Does it make sense to overpay for a more expensive Acer?

8. Hello, I have a laptop Acer Aspire 7750g intel core i5 2450M 2.50GHz +turbo boost I want to install an external video card via EXP GDC
   does it make sense and what is the optimal video card to take for games thanks

9. Hello!
   There are still questions.....
   I found three interesting options with an i7 8750H with a GTX 1070...and one with an i7 7700HQ with a GTX 1080.
   i7 7700HQ with GTX 1070 many options and lower price.
   Generally stuck with the choice of Acer, Asus or Del. All very cool (in my opinion)... in the same price niche.
   With a cool card it's ASUS ROG GL702VI.....does it make sense?
   Plus I found an option with an i7 7820HK processor (it seemed to be very popular before).
   And how many operational units are better for this matter?
   I take it mainly for games....what do you recommend?
   Until now I have used simpler technology. Muchooo.
   It’s not possible to change often, I want to spare. Thank you.

10. Good evening, thank you for providing some clarification on this topic, if it’s not too much trouble, can you recommend several gaming laptops in a budget of up to 45 thousand, I’ve looked at the HP 15-bs105ur 2PP24EA, but would like to hear your options.
    Thank you in advance.

11. Good afternoon Please tell me I need a laptop for programming. We are considering options like Aser swift 5 with 16 Gb of RAM and Intel Core i7 8550U. I know that ultrabooks limit the processor frequency to reduce overheating. Do you think this will greatly affect the operation of the laptop? Or is it better to consider heavier, but air-cooled laptop options?

12. Andrey, good evening. Thanks for the article, very informative. I would be grateful if you could clarify one point. I roughly narrowed the circle, taking into account my needs (diagonal 17, not for games, for AutoCAD 3D? budget up to 65tr) to ACER Aspire A717. But then I got confused in the modifications. There are two similar modifications with the only difference being the series. The first cheaper screen: 17.3"; screen resolution: 1920×1080; processor: Intel Core i5 7300HQ; frequency: 2.5 GHz (3.5 GHz, in Turbo mode); memory: 8192 MB, DDR4; HDD: 1000 GB, 5400 rpm; SSD: 128 GB; nVidia GeForce GTX 1050 - 2048 MB second more expensive by 6tr (65tr) Intel Core i7 7700HQ; frequency: 2.8 GHz (3.8 GHz, Turbo mode); memory: 8192 MB, DDR4; HDD: 1000 GB, 5400 rpm; SSD: 128 GB; nVidia GeForce GTX 1050 - 2048 MB;
    Is it worth overpaying for the series? and in general normal iron for my requirements? I’m also puzzled by the fact that these prices are relevant, provided that the Linux operating system on Windows will be 7-10 thousand more expensive.

    • Hello.
      Linux is, consider, without an operating system. They don't charge money for it. A licensed Windows- this is at least several thousand.
      AutoCAD loves processors with higher frequencies. In general, the i7 is better, but there is one thing - cooling. It’s not a fact that the laptop will cope with cooling the i7 under prolonged load. I mean, he can handle it, but how much faster the i7 will work in this mode compared to the i5 is a question. And it would be better to have more memory. I would still put in 16 GB of memory. There's probably no need for more. Although you can upgrade it yourself later if necessary. SSD is a must. 240-256 GB would be better, 128 is still not enough. I think i5 will be enough.
      Why a laptop? Wouldn't a hospital be better for such tasks? It’s easier to upgrade, and there are no problems with cooling.

      • Thank you very much. The specifics of the work are such that a laptop is more convenient. with cooling, I’ll buy a stand so that I don’t have to worry)) you can buy it cheaper without an ssd, but you need everything there back cover remove to add ssd? which is fraught with loss of warranty, and modifications with higher capacity come with more expensive components. There is a separate window for regular hard drive, maybe you can stuff a hybrid version of hhd+ssd in there? It’s also very interesting how much worse or better processor 8th generation but with U series (2 cores), than 7th series processor but HQ series?

13. The modification indicated on the box is NH.GTVER.006. I don’t see such an assembly at all on the manufacturer’s website. The city link doesn’t say anything about the matrix, but the phone managers say it’s ips. I looked in other stores, they also write ips. In any case, I will try to return or exchange, insisting that within 7 days I have the right by law and contract)

14. • Hello.
      As far as I know, they often use a MacBook for this purpose. In principle, anyone with an i5 processor or higher will do, an SSD is required for the system and all sorts of DAW programs to eliminate delays and stutters, and a hard drive for all sorts of rubbish. Ideally, the screen would be 17 inches, it would just be more convenient, but that’s how you like it. Well, the memory is still at least 8 GB, more is better. It definitely won't get any worse. The video card built into the processor is enough.

15. Andrey, tell me, for processing photos and sometimes videos, it’s better to use an i5 7300HQ with 4 threads or an i5 8300H with 8 threads, a video card 1050. I’m considering a laptop with a limited budget of 55-65.

16. Hello, could you comment on this unit:

    Dell Vostro 5568 (Intel i5-7200U 2500MHz / 8192MB / SSD 256GB / nVidia GeForce 940MX / gold)

17. Good day, Andrey!

    I'm looking for advice on choosing a laptop.

    Budget - up to 50-55. But if you can get it cheaper, then it’s much better.

    The main goal is to connect to a 4K TV and be able to view content (video) in this format. Games are not relevant, but the ability to run them (in 4K, or FullHD) would be a good addition. Working with documents, surfing.

    Nominees:
    1. Acer Aspire A715-71G-51J1 NX.GP8ER.008
    2. ASUS FX553VD-DM1225T 90NB0DW4-M19860
    3. Dell G3-3579 G315-7152 Blue

    Keep in mind that we will increase the HDD and SSD on our own, and we will install additional RAM in the future.

    Thanks in advance!

    PS From your publication and responses to comments, I found out that it is necessary to select a laptop without an OS. This significantly reduces its final cost.

18. Hello.
    Please tell me. The choice of laptop is for Asus and MSI models.
    Which model would be preferable?
    The main thing is computing power and RAM. For example, for working with data programs.

19. Hello. looking for gaming laptop V price category up to 70,000:
    In stores they advise
    - Asus VivoBook 15 K570UD
    - Lenovo IdeaPad 330 Series 330-15ICH
    Please rate and tell me which other models may be suitable. The company is preferable to Asus, but I won’t turn my nose up at others. I would like to choose the optimal selection of processor (i5 8300H/ i7 8550U/ i7 8750H and higher) and video card (GeForce® GTX 1050/ GeForce® GTX 1050 Ti and higher) + SSD. Screen 17 is preferable.
    Thanks in advance.

    P.S. Is it true that the i5 8300H will discharge faster and overheat the laptop? Should I focus on it or the i7 line within my budget?

20. Good afternoon. Please recommend a laptop for: development (with IDE - no problem), photoshop, illustrator. It is advisable to have ssd + hdd (but you can also just have a hdd, with the possibility of adding an ssd), 8GB of RAM (more is possible). I'm confused about the options...
    The previous one had a 2nd generation i5, 6 GB of RAM and an integrated + discrete video card. I want no worse, budget 50k.
    Thank you!

21. Hello, Andrey! I understand that the article is about processors, but I see that you are also helping with choosing a laptop. I will make the same request. I've already broken my head - I've read a lot of information, watched videos... everything is mixed up.)) The laptop is needed for use at home, mainly for my daughter for studying, but sometimes my husband and I will use it - for him to make presentations, for me - for working with photos, watch movies. My daughter has vision problems - we are only considering a 17-inch screen with good resolution. We are not gamers - we do not plan to play tanks. Maybe if only for light games, and even then for children. Budget up to $1500. Well +\- $200. We are considering the companies Asus, Aser and Dell. We give preference to the latter. We are not considering HP, there are no arguments, we just don’t intuitively want to. I would also like a metal laptop. The weight doesn't bother me - we'll only use it at home. Please recommend several models that you think are suitable for our family. Thank you so much in advance!

22. Hello.
    I'm looking for a laptop for work. I do accounting and look at the screen a lot. Budget about $850. I wanted to choose a laptop with good screen 15.6 inches and the ability to sometimes play games (at medium and low settings, but modern games). Of all the models for this money I liked Acer laptop Aspire 7 A715-72G-513X NH.GXBEU.010 Black and Lenovo laptop IdeaPad 330--5ICH 81FK00FMRA Onyx Black (https://ktc.ua/goods/noutbuk_lenovo_ideapad_330_15ich_81fk00fmra_onyx_black.html, https://ktc.ua/goods/noutbuk_acer_aspire_7_a715_72g_513x_nh_gxbeu_ 010_black.html). The filling seems to be the same. I can't decide. Help me make a choice. Maybe I missed something? Maybe there is a more interesting model? I'll install the OS myself. Can an SSD be delivered to any laptop or does it require a special connector?

23. Hello! Could you recommend a reliable laptop in the region under 40,000? Needed for watching movies, listening to music, Internet. I don’t play games. I previously looked at the HP 15-bw065ur 2BT82EA laptop, but it’s very confusing that there’s not much information about this company good reviews. (cooling problem). Now I’m looking at the ASUS R542UF-DM536T laptop. But what’s confusing about it now is that it has a 2.2 GHz Core i3-8130U processor. As I understand it, if the letter is U, then you shouldn’t take it. In general, I'm confused about the characteristics and don't know which one to choose. Please advise.

24. Hello from Kyrgyzstan, and I would like to know if I have a choice between an i5 8265U with 8 GB RAM, a 4 GB mx130 video card and an i5 7300HQ with 8 GB RAM, a GTX 1050 Ti video card. What to choose (the purpose of the purchase is programming and maybe in the future toys to play with), given that the second option is sold used? The price of the first is 43.5k, and the second is sold for 45k soms (at the rate of som and rubles almost 1 to 1). I will be grateful for your answer)

25. Good day!
    Please advise on budget RAM.
    I bought a laptop with 4GB RAM soldered on board. I checked the availability of a free slot for an additional bracket.
    In terms of volume and frequency, I will buy additional DDR4 2133 8GB.
    A search found the following brands:
    1. Apacer
    2. Goodram
    3. Foxline

    Which manufacturer? is it better to give preference? The price for all is around 3300-3700 rubles. Or maybe there are other manufacturers?
    Thanks in advance!

26. Hello. Tell me which laptop to choose for working and watching movies. I need something that’s not expensive, so far I’ve looked at two options: ASUS laptop F540BA-GQ193T (AMD A6 2.6GHz/15.6”/1366x768/4GB/500GB HDD/AMD Radeon R4/DVD no/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/Win10 Home x64) and Lenovo IdeaPad 330-15AST (81D600FQRU) (AMD A4- 9125 2.3GHz/15.6”/1366x768/4GB/500GB HDD/AMD Radeon 530/DVD no/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/Win10 Home x64). And also, what is the difference in two almost identical laptop models, but only different letters: Lenovo IdeaPad 330-15AST (81D6002GRU) and Lenovo IdeaPad 330-15AST Laptop (81D600FQRU). Designation in brackets. Info from the websites of two well-known retail chains. I would really appreciate your answer. Thank you.

    Andrey, hello, please tell me, is it possible to buy some kind of ultrabook for up to 100k rubles, which will have an HQ processor, which can be used for graphic modeling, or modern ultrabooks are not capable of this and you need to buy a gaming one?

27. Hello. My question is, will the Core i5-2400s processor work normally on the Gigabyte GA-H61M S2PV motherboard?? I don’t want to strengthen my computer much, but this confuses me = 1) Intel Core i5-2400S 2.50 GHz 6MB 1050 MHz Sandy Bridge 32nm (D2) 65W 100 FD. 2) Intel Celeron G530 2.40 GHz 2MB 1050 MHz Sand Bridge 32nm (Q0) 65W 100 FD. There is one difference in their descriptions, these are the letters in the core i5-2400s (D2), and in the celeron g-530 (Qo) The letters that confuse me are in parentheses. In the description it is referred to as STEP-BY-STEP. What is this designation? I currently have a Celeron 530, but I dream of installing a Core i5-2400s. This processor is present in the CPU support list on the official website of my motherboard. I ask you if anyone knows anything about these designations, write to me at my E-mail - I will be very grateful to you!!

28. Hello again Andrey! I have questions again. What role does REVISION play on motherboards, for example 2.0 or 1.0? Can it somehow affect the operation of the processor when changing to another without knowing which revision is on my motherboard? I want to change the percentage. Maybe I need to purchase a percentage for these revisions? Or is this complete nonsense? I looked at my AIDA-64 and CPU-Z motherboard, and could not see what revision was on my board. Naturally, I don’t have either a box or a book where this revision can be indicated. How else can you recognize her? Is it written somewhere on the board itself?

29. Good afternoon, I really liked your article!
    Please tell me which laptop is better to choose for working with 3D modeling, visualization and graphic editors
    15.6 I think is optimal and I would like to find one in the region of 60k+, but the gaming models with red lightning lights and all that scare me off - a fairly ordinary design would be ideal

30. Hello. I would like to ask, processors of the family, for example ntel Xeon E3-1220 V2, etc. do not have a built-in graphics core? They will no longer work without adding an additional video card to the motherboard, for example GIGABYTE GA-B75M-D3V? Thanks in advance for your answer.

When choosing a processor from Intel The question arises: which chip from this corporation to choose? Processors have many characteristics and parameters that affect their performance. And in accordance with it and some features of the microarchitecture, the manufacturer gives the appropriate name. Our task is to highlight this issue. In this article, you will learn what exactly the names of Intel processors mean, and also learn about the microarchitecture of chips from this company.

Note

It should be noted in advance that solutions before 2012 will not be considered here, since technology is moving at a fast pace and these chips have too little performance with high power consumption, and are also difficult to buy in new condition. Also, server solutions will not be considered here, since they have a specific scope and are not intended for the consumer market.

Attention, the nomenclature set out below may not be valid for processors older than the period indicated above.

And if you encounter any difficulties, you can visit the website. And read this article, which talks about. And if you want to know about integrated graphics from Intel, then you should.

Tick-Tock

Intel has a special strategy for releasing its “stones”, called Tick-Tock. It consists of annual consistent improvements.

• A tick means a change in microarchitecture, which leads to a change in socket, improved performance and optimized power consumption.
• This means that it leads to a reduction in power consumption, the possibility of placing a larger number of transistors on a chip, a possible increase in frequencies and an increase in cost.

This is what this strategy looks like for desktop and laptop models:

But for low-power solutions (smartphones, tablets, netbooks, nettops), the platforms look like this:

It should be noted that Bay Trail-D is made for desktops: Pentium and Celeron with the index J. And Bay Trail-M for is a mobile solution and will also be designated among Pentium and Celeron by its letter - N.

Judging by the company's latest trends, performance itself is progressing quite slowly, while energy efficiency (performance per unit of energy consumed) is growing year by year, and soon laptops will have the same powerful processors as large PCs (although such representatives still exists).

Choosing a processor is quite a serious task, which should be approached only after you have thoroughly familiarized yourself with all the nuances and characteristics. Much can be learned from the name of the processor, its markings, which contain information about the main characteristics of this model. What these characteristics mean is possible, and in this article we will talk about how to decipher the processor markings.

Intel processor markings

1. Intel processor series
   • I7– top processors that support all Intel technologies, have 4 cores, and are equipped with an 8 MB L3 cache memory.
   • I5– mid-price segment processors can have from 2 to 4 cores. Equipped with L3 cache memory with a capacity of 3 to 6 MB. There is no support for Trusted Execution, Hyper-Threading and Virtualization Technology.
   • I3– a budget series of processors, has 2 cores and an L3 cache with a capacity of 3 MB.
2. Indicates the generation of the processor series Core i-x . SandyBridje is marked with the number 2, IvyBridge is marked with the number 3.
3. Indicates position in the series. The higher the number, the faster the processor runs. Depends on the clock frequency.
4. Processor version
   • K– such a processor has an unlocked multiplier, which means it can be overclocked.
   • M– processor used in mobile devices(smartphone, tablet).
   • P– processor without automatic overclocking.
   • S– such processors have reduced power consumption to 65 W.
   • T– these processors have reduced power consumption to 45/35 W.

AMD processor markings

Processors without a GPU video core.

1. Indicates the processor series.
2. Talks about the number of cores in the processor.
3. Indicates the processor architecture: number 2 – Bulldozer , 3 – Piledriver.
4. Determines the position of the model in the family; in most cases, it depends on the processor clock speed.

Processors with a built-in GPU video core.

1. Talks about the number of processor cores and the presence of a GPU video core.
   • A10– there are 4 CPU cores and a Radeon HD 7660D video core (here and below for the Trinity architecture).
   • A8— 4 CPU cores and a Radeon HD 7560D video core.
   • A6— 2 CPU cores and a Radeon HD 7540D video core are available.
   • A4— 2 CPU cores and a Radeon HD 7480D video core are available.
2. Indicates the processor generation.
3. This marking depends on the frequency; the higher the frequency, the greater the value.

Labeling, positioning, use cases

This summer, Intel released to the market a new, fourth generation of Intel Core architecture, codenamed Haswell (processor markings begin with the number “4” and look like 4xxx). Intel now sees increasing energy efficiency as the main direction of development for Intel processors. Therefore, the latest generations of Intel Core do not show such a strong increase in performance, but their overall energy consumption is constantly decreasing - due to both the architecture, the technical process, and the effective management of component consumption. The only exception is integrated graphics, whose performance increases noticeably from generation to generation, albeit at the expense of worsening energy consumption.

This strategy predictably brings to the fore those devices in which energy efficiency is important - laptops and ultrabooks, as well as the nascent (because in its previous form it could only be attributed to the undead) class of Windows tablets, the main role in the development of which should be played by new processors with reduced energy consumption.

We remind you that we recently published brief overviews of the Haswell architecture, which are quite applicable to both desktop and mobile solutions:

Additionally, the performance of quad-core Core i7 processors was examined in an article comparing desktop and mobile processors. The performance of the Core i7-4500U was also examined separately. Finally, you can check out Haswell laptop reviews that include performance testing: the MSI GX70 is at its best powerful processor Core i7-4930MX, HP Envy 17-j005er.

In this material we will talk about the Haswell mobile line as a whole. IN first part We will look at the division of Haswell mobile processors into series and lines, the principles of creating indexes for mobile processors, their positioning and the approximate level of performance of different series within the entire line. In second part- Let’s take a closer look at the specifications of each series and line and their main features, and also move on to conclusions.

For those who are not familiar with the operating algorithm Intel Turbo Boost, at the end of the article we have placed brief description this technology. We recommend using it before reading the rest of the material.

New letter indices

Traditionally, all Intel Core processors are divided into three lines:

• Intel Core i3
• Intel Core i5
• Intel Core i7

Intel's official position (which company representatives usually voice when answering the question of why there are both dual-core and quad-core models among the Core i7) is that the processor is assigned to one or another line based on its overall performance level. However, in most cases there are architectural differences between processors of different lines.

But already in Sandy Bridge, and in Ivy Bridge, another division of processors became full - into mobile and ultra-mobile solutions, depending on the level of energy efficiency. Moreover, today this classification is the basic one: both the mobile and ultramobile lines have their own Core i3/i5/i7 with very different levels of performance. At Haswell, on the one hand, the division deepened, and on the other, they tried to make the line more slender, less misleading by duplicating indices. In addition, another class has finally taken shape - ultra-ultramobile processors with the index Y. Ultramobile and mobile solutions are still marked with the letters U and M.

So, in order not to get confused, let’s first look at what letter indices are used in the modern line of fourth-generation Intel Core mobile processors:

• M- mobile processor(TDP 37-57 W);
• U - ultramobile processor (TDP 15-28 W);
• Y - processor with extremely low consumption (TDP 11.5 W);
• Q - quad-core processor;
• X - extreme processor (top solution);
• H - processor for BGA1364 packaging.

Since we mentioned TDP (thermal package), let’s look at it in a little more detail. It should be taken into account that the TDP in modern Intel processors is not “maximum”, but “nominal”, that is, it is calculated based on the load in real problems when operating at the standard frequency, and when Turbo Boost is turned on and the frequency increases, the heat generation goes beyond the declared nominal heat package - there is a separate TDP for this. The TDP when operating at the minimum frequency is also determined. Thus, there are as many as three TDPs. In this article, the tables use the nominal TDP value.

• The standard nominal TDP for mobile quad-core Core i7 processors is 47 W, for dual-core processors - 37 W;
• The letter X in the name raises the thermal package from 47 to 57 W (there is currently only one such processor on the market - 4930MX);
• Standard TDP for U-series ultramobile processors is 15 W;
• Standard TDP for Y-series processors is 11.5 W;

Digital indexes

The indices of the fourth generation Intel Core processors with Haswell architecture begin with the number 4, which precisely indicates that they belong to this generation (for Ivy Bridge the indices began with 3, for Sandy Bridge - with 2). The second digit indicates the processor line: 0 and 1 - i3, 2 and 3 - i5, 5–9 - i7.

Now let's look at the last numbers in the processor names.

The number 8 at the end means that this processor model has an increased TDP (from 15 to 28 W) and a significantly higher nominal frequency. One more distinctive feature These processors feature Iris 5100 graphics. They are aimed at professional mobile systems that require stable high performance in any conditions for constant work with resource-intensive tasks. They also have overclocking using Turbo Boost, but due to the greatly increased nominal frequency, the difference between the nominal and maximum is not too great.

The number 2 at the end of the name indicates that the TDP of the processor from the i7 line has been reduced from 47 to 37 W. But you have to pay for lower TDP with lower frequencies - minus 200 MHz to the base and boost frequencies.

If the second from the end digit in the name is 5, then the processor has a GT3 graphics core - HD 5xxx. Thus, if the last two digits in the processor name are 50, then the graphics core GT3 HD 5000 is installed in it, if 58 is installed, then Iris 5100, and if 50H, then Iris Pro 5200, because only processors with BGA1364.

For example, let's look at a processor with the 4950HQ index. The processor name contains H - which means BGA1364 packaging; contains 5 - which means the graphics core is GT3 HD 5xxx; a combination of 50 and H gives Iris Pro 5200; Q - quad core. And since quad-core processors are only available in the Core i7 line, this is the mobile Core i7 series. This is confirmed by the second digit of the name - 9. We get: 4950HQ is a mobile quad-core eight-thread processor of the Core i7 line with a TDP of 47 W with GT3e Iris Pro 5200 graphics in BGA design.

Now that we have sorted out the names, we can talk about dividing processors into lines and series, or, more simply, about market segments.

4th generation Intel Core series and lines

So, all modern Intel mobile processors are divided into three large groups depending on power consumption: mobile (M), ultramobile (U) and “ultramobile” (Y), as well as three lines (Core i3, i5, i7) depending on productivity. As a result, we can create a matrix that will allow the user to select the processor that best suits his tasks. Let's try to summarize all the data into a single table.

For example: a buyer needs a laptop with high processor performance and a moderate cost. Since it’s a laptop, and a powerful one at that, an M-series processor is needed, and the requirement for moderate cost forces us to choose the Core i5 line. We emphasize once again that first of all you should pay attention not to the line (Core i3, i5, i7), but to the series, because each series may have its own Core i5, but the performance level of Core i5 from two different series will be significantly differ. For example, the Y-series is very economical, but has low frequencies, and the Y-series Core i5 processor will be less powerful than the U-series Core i3 processor. And the Core i5 mobile processor may well be more productive than the ultramobile Core i7.

Approximate performance level depending on the line

Let's try to go a step further and create a theoretical rating that would clearly demonstrate the difference between processors of different lines. For 100 points, we will take the weakest processor presented - the dual-core, four-threaded i3-4010Y with a clock frequency of 1300 MHz and a 3 MB L3 cache. For comparison, we take the highest-frequency processor (at the time of writing) from each line. We decided to calculate the main rating by overclocking frequency (for those processors that have Turbo Boost), in brackets - the rating for the nominal frequency. Thus, a dual-core, four-thread processor with a maximum frequency of 2600 MHz will receive 200 conditional points. Increasing the third level cache from 3 to 4 MB will bring it a 2-5% (data obtained based on real tests and research) increase in conditional points, and increasing the number of cores from 2 to 4 will accordingly double the number of points, which is also achievable in reality with good multi-threaded optimization.

Once again, we strongly emphasize that the rating is theoretical and is based largely on technical parameter ah processors. In reality, a large number of factors come together, so the performance gain relative to the weakest model in the line will almost certainly not be as large as in theory. Thus, you should not directly transfer the resulting relationship to real life - final conclusions can only be drawn based on the results of testing in real applications. However, this assessment allows us to roughly estimate the processor’s place in the lineup and its positioning.

So, some preliminary notes:

• Core i7 U-series processors will be about 10% faster than Core i5 thanks to slightly higher clock speeds and more L3 cache.
• The difference between Core i5 and Core i3 U-series processors with a TDP of 28 W without taking into account Turbo Boost is about 30%, i.e., ideally, performance will also differ by 30%. If we take into account the capabilities of Turbo Boost, the difference in frequencies will be about 55%. If we compare Core i5 and Core i3 U-series processors with a TDP of 15 W, then with stable operation at maximum frequency, Core i5 will have a frequency 60% higher. However, its nominal frequency is slightly lower, i.e. when operating at the nominal frequency, it may even be slightly inferior to the Core i3.
• In the M-series, the presence of 4 cores and 8 threads in the Core i7 plays a big role, but we must remember that this advantage only manifests itself in optimized software (usually professional). Core i7 processors with two cores will have slightly higher performance due to higher overclocking frequencies and a slightly larger L3 cache.
• In the Y series, the Core i5 processor has a base frequency of 7.7% and a boost frequency of 50% higher than the Core i3. But even in this case, there are additional considerations - the same energy efficiency, noise level of the cooling system, etc.
• If we compare processors of the U and Y series with each other, then only the frequency gap between the U- and Y-processors Core i3 is 54%, and for Core i5 processors it is 63% at the maximum overclocking frequency.

So, let's calculate the score for each line. Let us remind you that the main score is calculated based on maximum overclocking frequencies, the score in brackets is calculated based on nominal frequencies (i.e., without overclocking using Turbo Boost). We also calculated the performance factor per watt.

¹ max. - at maximum acceleration, nom. - at rated frequency
² coefficient - conditional performance divided by TDP and multiplied by 100
³ overclocking TDP data for these processors is unknown

From the table above, the following observations can be made:

• The dual-core Core i7 U and M series processors are only slightly faster than the Core i5 processors of similar series. This applies to comparisons for both base and boost frequencies.
• Core i5 processors of the U and M series, even at base frequency, should be noticeably faster than Core i3 of similar series, and in Boost mode they will go far ahead.
• In the Y series, the difference between the processors at minimum frequencies is small, but with Turbo Boost overclocking, the Core i5 and Core i7 should go far ahead. Another thing is that the magnitude and, most importantly, stability of overclocking is very dependent on the cooling efficiency. And with this, given the orientation of these processors towards tablets (especially fanless ones), there may be problems.
• The Core i7 U series is almost equal in performance to the Core i5 M series. There are other factors involved (it is more difficult to achieve stability due to less efficient cooling, and it costs more), but overall this is a good result.

As for the relationship between power consumption and performance rating, we can draw the following conclusions:

• Despite the increase in TDP when the processor switches to Boost mode, energy efficiency increases. This is because the relative increase in frequency is greater than the relative increase in TDP;
• Processors of various series (M, U, Y) are ranked not only by decreasing TDP, but also by increasing energy efficiency - for example, Y-series processors show greater energy efficiency than U-series processors;
• It is worth noting that with an increase in the number of cores, and therefore threads, energy efficiency also increases. This can be explained by the fact that only the processor cores themselves are doubled, but not the accompanying DMI, PCI Express and ICP controllers.

An interesting conclusion can be drawn from the latter: if the application is well parallelized, then a quad-core processor will be more energy efficient than a dual-core processor: it will finish calculations faster and return to idle mode. As a result, multi-core may be the next step in the fight to improve energy efficiency. In principle, this trend can be noted in the ARM camp.

So, although the rating is purely theoretical, and it is not a fact that it accurately reflects the real balance of power, it even allows us to draw certain conclusions regarding the distribution of processors in the line, their energy efficiency and the relationship between these parameters.

Haswell vs Ivy Bridge

Although Haswell processors have been on the market for quite some time, the presence of Ivy Bridge processors in ready-made solutions even now remains quite high. From the consumer’s point of view, no special revolutions occurred during the transition to Haswell (although the increase in energy efficiency for some segments looks impressive), which raises questions: is it worth choosing the fourth generation or can you get by with the third?

It is difficult to directly compare fourth-generation Core processors with the third, because the manufacturer has changed the TDP limits:

• the M series of the third generation Core has a TDP of 35 W, and the fourth - 37 W;
• the U series of the third generation Core has a TDP of 17 W, and the fourth - 15 W;
• the Y series of the third generation Core has a TDP of 13 W, and the fourth - 11.5 W.

And if for ultramobile lines TDP has decreased, then for the more productive M series it has even increased. However, let's try to make a rough comparison:

• The top-end quad-core Core i7 processor of the third generation had frequencies of 3 (3.9) GHz, the fourth generation had the same 3 (3.9) GHz, that is, the difference in performance can only be due to architectural improvements - no more than 10%. Although, it is worth noting that with heavy use of FMA3, the fourth generation will be 30-70% ahead of the third.
• Top dual core processors Core i7 of the third generation M-series and U-series had frequencies of 2.9 (3.6) GHz and 2 (3.2) GHz, respectively, and the fourth - 2.9 (3.6) GHz and 2.1 (3 ,3) GHz. As you can see, if the frequencies have increased, then only slightly, so the level of performance can increase only minimally, due to optimization of the architecture. Again, if the software knows about FMA3 and knows how to actively use this extension, then the fourth generation will receive a solid advantage.
• The top dual-core Core i5 processors of the third generation M-series and U-series had frequencies of 2.8 (3.5) GHz and 1.8 (2.8) GHz, respectively, and the fourth - 2.8 (3.5) GHz and 1.9(2.9) GHz. The situation is similar to the previous one.
• The top-end dual-core Core i3 processors of the third generation M-series and U-series had frequencies of 2.5 GHz and 1.8 GHz, respectively, and the fourth - 2.6 GHz and 2 GHz. The situation is repeating itself again.
• The top dual-core processors Core i3, i5 and i7 of the third generation Y-series had frequencies of 1.4 GHz, 1.5 (2.3) GHz and 1.5 (2.6) GHz, respectively, and the fourth - 1.3 GHz, 1.4(1.9) GHz and 1.7(2.9) GHz.

In general, clock speeds in the new generation have practically not increased, so a slight gain in performance is achieved only by optimizing the architecture. The fourth generation of Core will gain a noticeable advantage when using software optimized for FMA3. Well, don’t forget about the faster graphics core - optimization there can bring a significant increase.

As for the relative difference in performance within the lines, the third and fourth generations of Intel Core are close in terms of this indicator.

Thus, we can conclude that in the new generation Intel decided to reduce TDP instead of increasing operating frequencies. As a result, the increase in operating speed is lower than it could have been, but it was possible to achieve increased energy efficiency.

Suitable tasks for different fourth generation Intel Core processors

Now that we have figured out performance, we can roughly estimate what tasks this or that fourth-generation Core line is best suited for. Let's summarize the data in a table.

This table also clearly shows that first of all you should pay attention to the processor series (M, U, Y), and only then to the line (Core i3, i5, i7), since the line determines the ratio of processor performance only within the series, and Performance varies noticeably between series. This is clearly seen in the comparison between the i3 U-series and the i5 Y-series: the first in in this case will be more productive than the second.

So, what conclusions can be drawn from this table? Core i3 processors of any series, as we have already noted, are interesting primarily for their price. Therefore, it’s worth paying attention to them if you are short on funds and are willing to accept a loss in both performance and energy efficiency.

The mobile Core i7 stands apart due to its architectural differences: four cores, eight threads and noticeably more L3 cache. As a result, it is able to work with professional resource-intensive applications and show an extremely high level of performance for a mobile system. But for this, the software must be optimized for use large quantity kernels - it will not reveal its advantages in single-threaded software. And secondly, these processors require a bulky cooling system, i.e. they are installed only in large laptops with great thickness, and they do not have much autonomy.

Core i5 mobile series provide a good level of performance, sufficient to perform not only home-office, but also some semi-professional tasks. For example, for processing photos and videos. In all respects (power consumption, heat generation, autonomy), these processors occupy an intermediate position between the Core i7 M-series and the ultramobile line. Overall, this is a balanced solution suitable for those who value performance over a thin and light body.

Dual-core mobile Core i7s are about the same as the Core i5 M-series, only slightly more powerful and, as a rule, noticeably more expensive.

Ultramobile Core i7s have approximately the same level of performance as mobile Core i5s, but with caveats: if the cooling system can withstand prolonged operation at high frequencies. And they get quite hot under load, which often leads to strong heating of the entire laptop body. Apparently, they are quite expensive, so their installation is justified only for top models. But they can be installed in thin laptops and ultrabooks, providing a high level of performance in a thin body and good battery life. This makes them an excellent choice for frequently traveling professional users who value energy efficiency and light weight, but often require high performance.

Ultramobile Core i5s show lower performance compared to the “big brother” of the series, but cope with any office workload, have good energy efficiency and are much more affordable in price. In general, this is a universal solution for users who do not work in resource-intensive applications, but are limited office programs and the Internet, and at the same time would like to have a laptop/ultrabook suitable for travel, i.e. lightweight, light in weight and with long battery life.

Finally, the Y-series also stands apart. In terms of performance, its Core i7, with luck, will reach the ultra-mobile Core i5, but, by and large, no one expects this from it. For the Y series, the main thing is high energy efficiency and low heat generation, which allows the creation of fanless systems. As for performance, it’s quite minimal. permissible level, not causing irritation.

Briefly about Turbo Boost

In case some of our readers have forgotten how Turbo Boost overclocking technology works, we offer you a brief description of its operation.

Roughly speaking, the Turbo Boost system can dynamically increase the processor frequency above the set one due to the fact that it constantly monitors whether the processor goes beyond its normal operating modes.

The processor can only operate in a certain temperature range, i.e., its performance depends on heat, and heat depends on the ability of the cooling system to effectively remove heat from it. But since it is not known in advance which cooling system the processor will work with in the user’s system, two parameters are indicated for each processor model: operating frequency and the amount of heat that must be removed from the processor at maximum load at this frequency. Since these parameters depend on the efficiency and proper operation cooling system, as well as external conditions (primarily ambient temperature), the manufacturer had to lower the frequency of the processor so that even under the most unfavorable operating conditions it would not lose stability. Turbo Boost technology monitors the internal parameters of the processor and allows it, if external conditions are favorable, to operate at a higher frequency.

Intel originally explained that Turbo technology Boost uses the "thermal inertia effect". Most of the time, in modern systems, the processor is idle, but from time to time, for a short period, it is required to perform at its maximum. If at this moment you greatly increase the frequency of the processor, it will cope with the task faster and return to the idle state sooner. At the same time, the processor temperature does not increase immediately, but gradually, therefore, during short-term operation at a very high frequency, the processor will not have time to heat up enough to go beyond safe limits.

In reality, it quickly became clear that with a good cooling system, the processor is capable of operating under load even at an increased frequency indefinitely. Thus, for a long time, the maximum overclocking frequency was absolutely operational, and the processor returned to the nominal only in extreme cases or if the manufacturer made a poor-quality cooling system for a particular laptop.

In order to prevent overheating and failure of the processor, the Turbo Boost system in its modern implementation constantly monitors the following parameters of its operation:

• chip temperature;
• current consumption;
• power consumption;
• number of loaded components.

Modern Ivy Bridge systems are capable of operating at higher frequencies in almost all modes, except for simultaneous heavy load on the central processor and graphics. As for Intel Haswell, we do not yet have sufficient statistics on the behavior of this platform under overclocking.

Note author: It is worth noting that the temperature of the chip indirectly affects power consumption - this influence becomes clear upon closer examination of the physical structure of the crystal itself, since the electrical resistance of semiconductor materials increases with increasing temperature, and this in turn leads to an increase in electricity consumption. Thus, a processor at a temperature of 90 degrees will consume more electricity than at a temperature of 40 degrees. And since the processor “heats up” both the PCB of the motherboard with the tracks, and the surrounding components, their loss of electricity to overcome higher resistance also affects energy consumption. This conclusion is easily confirmed by overclocking both “in the air” and extreme. All overclockers know that a more efficient cooler allows you to get additional megahertz, and the effect of superconductivity of conductors at temperatures close to absolute zero, when electrical resistance tends to zero, is familiar to everyone from school physics. That is why when overclocking with liquid nitrogen cooling it is possible to achieve such high frequencies. Returning to the dependence of electrical resistance on temperature, we can also say that to some extent the processor also heats itself: as the temperature rises and the cooling system cannot cope, the electrical resistance also increases, which in turn increases power consumption. And this leads to an increase in heat generation, which leads to an increase in temperature... In addition, do not forget that high temperatures shorten the life of the processor. Although manufacturers claim fairly high maximum temperatures for chips, it is still worth keeping the temperature as low as possible.

By the way, it is quite likely that spinning the fan at higher speeds, when due to it the system's power consumption will increase, is more profitable in terms of power consumption than having a processor with high temperature, which will entail losses of electricity due to increased resistance.

As you can see, temperature may not be a direct limiting factor for Turbo Boost, that is, the processor will have a completely acceptable temperature and will not throttle, but it indirectly affects another limiting factor - power consumption. Therefore, you should not forget about temperature.

To summarize, Turbo Boost technology allows, under favorable conditions, external conditions work, increase the processor frequency above the guaranteed nominal and thereby provide a much higher level of performance. This property is especially valuable in mobile systems, where it allows for a good balance between performance and heating.

But it should be remembered that reverse side The main problem is the inability to estimate (predict) the pure performance of the processor, since it will depend on external factors. This is probably one of the reasons for the appearance of processors with “8” at the end of the model name - with “raised” nominal operating frequencies and an increased TDP because of this. They are intended for those products where consistent high performance under load is more important than energy efficiency.

The second part of the article provides detailed description all modern series and lines of Intel Haswell processors, including technical specifications all available processors. And also conclusions were drawn about the applicability of certain models.

The marking of AMD processors is called OPN(Ordering Part Number).

At first glance, it is quite complex and looks more like some kind of cipher, although if you understand it, you can get quite detailed information about their main technical parameters.

The first two letters indicate the processor type:

AX- Athlon XP (0.18 microns);
AD- Athlon 64, Athlon 64 FX, Athlon 64 X2;
SD- Sempron.

The third letter indicates the TDP of the processor

A- 89-125 W;
O- 65 W;
D- 35 W;
H- 45 W;
X- 125 W.

For Sempron processors, the third letter has a slightly different meaning:

A- Desktop;
D- Energy Efficient.

It is a number that (from AMD's point of view) characterizes the performance of a given CPU in abstract units.
Although there are some exceptions - in Athlon 64 FX processors, for example, instead of rating numbers, the letter index “FX (model index)” is indicated.

The first letter of the three-letter index indicates the type of processor case:

A- Socket 754;
D- Socket 939;
C- Socket 940;
I- Socket AM2;
G- Socket F.

The second letter of the three-letter index indicates the supply voltage of the processor core:

A- 1.35-1.4 V
WITH- 1.55 V;
E- 1.5 V;
I- 1.4 V;
K- 1.35 B;
M- 1.3 V;
Q- 1.2 V;
S- 1.15 V.

The third letter of the three-letter index indicates the maximum temperature of the processor core:

A- 71 °C;
K- 65 °C;
M- 67 °C;
O- 69 °C;
P- 70 °C;
X- 95 °C.

The next number indicates the size of the second level cache (total for dual-core processors):

2 - 128 KB;
3 - 256 KB;
4 - 512 KB;
5 - 1024 KB;
6 - 2048 KB.

The two-letter index indicates the type of processor core:

AX, A.W.- Newcastle;
AP, AR, AS, AT- Clawhammer;
A.K.- Sledge Hammer;
B.I.- Winchester;
BN- San Diego;
B.P., B.W.- Venice;
B.V.- Manchester;
CD- Toledo;
C.S., C.U.- Windsor F2; CZ- Windsor F3;
CN, CW- Orleans, Manila;
DE- Lima;
DD, D.L.- Brisbane;
D.H.- Orleans F3
AX- Paris (for Sempron);
B.I.- Manchester (for Sempron);
B.A., B.O., A.W., BX, B.P., B.W.- Palermo (for Sempron).

For example, the AMD Sempron 3000+ processor (Manila core) is labeled as SDA3000IAA3CN.

But nothing lasts forever in our world, and AMD is soon going to rename its processor lines, introducing a new, much more descriptive alphanumeric scheme.
The new system assumes, along with the traditional brand and class designation, an alphanumeric model code:

Phenom X4 GP-7xxx
Phenom X2 GS-6xxx
Athlon X2 BE-2xxx
Athlon X2 LS-2xxx
Sempron LE-1xxx

The first character in the processor model name determines its class:

G- High-end;
B- Mainstream;
L- Low-End.

The second character determines the processor's power consumption:

P- more than 65 W;
S- 65 W;
E- less than 65 W (Energy Efficient class).

The first digit indicates that the processor belongs to a specific family:

1 - single-core Sempron;
2 - dual-core Athlon;
6 - dual-core Phenom X2;
7 - quad-core Phenom X4.

The second digit will indicate the performance level of a specific processor within the family.

The last two digits will determine the processor modification.

Thus, the latest dual- and quad-core processors will be designated as AMD Phenom X2 GS-6xxx and Phenom X4 GP-7xxx.

Economical mid-class dual-core processors are Athlon X2 BE-2xxx, and budget AMD Athlon and Sempron will be called Athlon X2 LS-2xxx and Sempron LE-1xxx.
And the notorious number 64, indicating support for 64-bit architecture, will disappear from the name of the Athlon processor.

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