This article will examine in detail the latest generations of Intel processors. based on the Kor architecture. This company occupies a leading position in the computer systems market, and most PCs are currently assembled on its semiconductor chips.
Intel Development Strategy
All previous generations of Intel processors have been subject to a two-year cycle. A similar strategy for releasing updates from this company was called “Tick-Tak”. The first stage, called “Tick”, was to transfer the CPU to a new process. For example, in terms of architecture, the Sandy Bridge generation (2nd generation) and Ivey Bridge (3rd generation) were almost identical. But the production technology of the former was based on the norms of 32 nm, and the latter - 22 nm. The same can be said about Khaswell (4th generation, 22nm) and BroadWell (5th generation, 14nm). In turn, the “So” stage means a radical change in the architecture of semiconductor crystals and a significant increase in productivity. An example of such transitions is:
1st generation Westmere and 2nd generation Sandy Bridge. The technological process in this case was identical - 32 nm, but the changes in terms of chip architecture were significant - the north bridge of the motherboard and the integrated graphics accelerator were transferred to the CPU.
3rd generation Ivy Bridge and 4th generation Haswell. Optimized power consumption of the computer system, increased clock frequencies of the chips.
5th generation of BroadWell and 6th generation of SkyLike. Frequency is again increased, power consumption is even more improved and several new instructions are added that improve performance.
Segmentation of processor solutions based on the Kor architecture
Intel central processing units have the following positioning:
The most affordable solutions are Celeron chips. They are suitable for assembling office computers, which are designed to solve the most simple tasks.
Pentium CPUs are one notch. In architectural terms, they are almost completely identical to the younger Celeron models. But the increased level 3 cache 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 CPUs from Intel is occupied by solutions based on Kor Ay3. The previous two types of processors, as a rule, have only 2 computing units. The same can be said about “Cor Ay3”. But the first two families of chips lack support for HyperTrading technology, while Cor Ay3 has it. As a result, at the software level, 2 physical modules are converted into 4 program processing threads. This provides a significant increase in performance. On the basis of such products it is already possible to assemble a mid-level gaming PC, graphic station or even an entry-level server.
The niche of solutions is above the average level, but below the premium segment the chips fill in; they occupy solutions based on Cor Ay5. This semiconductor crystal boasts the presence of 4 physical nuclei at once. It is this architectural nuance that provides an advantage in terms of performance over Cor Ay3. 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 “Cor Ay7”. The number of computing units they have is exactly the same as that of “Cor Ai5”. But they, just like Cor Ay3, have technology support, code-named Hyper Trading. Therefore, at the software level, 4 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.
CPU Sockets
Generations of Intel Core processors are installed in different types of sockets. Therefore, installing the first chips on this architecture in the motherboard for the 6th generation CPU will fail. Or, conversely, a chip codenamed SkyLike cannot physically be put on the motherboard for the 1st or 2nd generation processors. The first processor socket was called "Socket N", or LGA 1156 (1156 is the number of contacts). It was released in 2009 for the first CPUs manufactured according to the tolerance standards of 45 nm (2008) and 32 nm (2009), based on this architecture. Today it is outdated both morally and physically. In 2010, the LGA 1156 was replaced by the LGA 1155, or Socket H1. Motherboards of this series support Kor chips of the 2nd and 3rd generations. The code names for them are, respectively, “Sandy Bridge” and “Ivy Bridge”. The year 2013 was marked by the release of the third socket for chips based on the Kor architecture - LGA 1150, or Socket H2. It was possible to install CPUs of the 4th and 5th generations in this processor socket. Well, in September 2015, LGA 1150 was replaced by the last current socket - LGA 1151.
The first generation of chips
The most affordable processor products on 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 Cor Ay3 with the designation 5XX (2 cores / 4 logical information processing flows). A notch was “Cor Ay5” labeled 6XX (they have identical parameters to “Cor Ay3”, but the frequencies are higher) and 7XX with 4 real cores. The most productive computer systems were assembled on the basis of Kor Ay7. Their models were designated 8XX. The fastest chip in this case was marked 875K. Due to the unlocked multiplier, it was possible to overclock such an Intel Core i7 processor. His price was corresponding. Accordingly, it was possible to 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 architecture update and Sandy Bridge
The first generation of chips based on the Kor architecture was replaced in 2010 with solutions codenamed Sandy Bridge. Their key "chips" were the transfer of the north bridge and the integrated graphics accelerator to the silicon crystal of the silicon processor. The niche of the most budgetary solutions was occupied by the Celerons of the G4XX and G5XX series. In the first case, the cache of the 3rd level was cut and there was only one core. The second series, in turn, could boast of having two computing units at once. The Pentiums of the G6XX and G8XX are even a notch. In this case, the difference in performance was provided by higher frequencies. It was the G8XX that, because of this important feature, looked preferable in the eyes of the end user. The “Cor Ay3” line was presented by 21XX models (the figure is “2” and indicates that the chip belongs to the second generation of the “Cor” architecture). For some of them, the “T” index was added at the end - more energy-efficient solutions with reduced performance.
In turn, the decisions of “Kor Ay5” were designated 23XX, 24XX and 25XX. The higher the marking of the model, the higher the level of CPU performance. The T index at the end is the most energy-efficient solution. If the letter “S” is added at the end of the name - an intermediate option for energy consumption between the “T” - version of the chip and the standard crystal. Index "P" - the graphics accelerator is disabled in the chip. Well, the chips with the letter "K" had an unlocked multiplier. Such marking is also relevant for the 3rd generation of this architecture.
The advent of a new, more advanced process
In 2013, the 3rd generation of CPUs based on this architecture saw the light of day. Its key innovation is an updated manufacturing process. The rest was not introduced in them any significant innovations. Physically, they were compatible with the previous generation of CPUs and could be put in the same motherboards. The structure of the notation has remained identical. The Celerons were designated G12XX, while the Pentiums were designated G22XX. Only at the beginning, instead of “2” was already “3”, which indicated belonging to the 3rd generation. The line “Cor Ay3” had 32XX indices. More advanced “Cor Ay5” were designated 33XX, 34XX and 35XX. Well, the flagship solutions of “Cor Ay7” were marked 37XX.
Fourth revision of the Kor architecture
The next step was the 4th generation of Intel processors based on the Kor architecture. The marking in this case was as follows:
CPU class economy "Celerons" were designated G18XX.
"Pentiums" also had the indices G32XX and G34XX.
For “Cor Ay3” such designations were assigned - 41XX and 43XX.
“Cor Ay5” could be recognized by the abbreviation 44XX, 45XX and 46XX.
Well and for designation "Cor Ay7" 47XX have been allocated.
Fifth generation chips
5th generation Intel processors Based on this architecture, it was mainly focused on use in mobile devices. For desktop PCs, only “Ay 5” and “Ay 7” ruler chips were released. And only a very limited number of models. The first of them were designated 56XX, and the second - 57XX.
The most recent and promising solutions
The 6th generation of Intel processors debuted in the early fall of 2015. This is the most current processor architecture at the moment. Entry level chips are indicated in this case by G39XX (Celeron), G44XX and G45XX (Pentiums are labeled this way). Processors "Cor Ay3" are designated 61XX and 63XX. In turn, “Cor Ay5” is 64XX, 65XX and 66XX. Well, only 67XX marking is highlighted for flagship solutions. The new generation of Intel processors abides only at the beginning of its life cycle and such chips will be relevant for quite a long time.
Overclocking Features
Almost all chips based on this architecture have a locked multiplier. Therefore, overclocking in this case is possible only by increasing the frequency of the system bus. In the last, 6th generation, even the possibility of increasing performance should be disabled in the BIOS by motherboard manufacturers. An exception in this regard are processors of the Kor Ay5 and Kor Ay7 series with the K index. Their multiplier is unlocked and this allows to significantly increase the performance of computer systems based on such semiconductor products.
Owners opinion
All generations of Intel processors listed in this article have a high degree of energy efficiency and a phenomenal level of performance. Their only drawback is the high cost. But the reason here lies in the fact that the direct competitor of Intel, represented by AMD, cannot contrast it with more or less worthwhile solutions. Therefore, Intel, based on its own considerations, is setting a price tag for its products.
Summary
This article examined in detail the generations of Intel processors for desktop PCs only. Even this list is enough to get lost in the designations 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 one for solving their problems. Well, the most relevant of the options currently considered are the 6th generation chips. It is on them that you need to pay attention when buying or assembling a new PC.