Intel CPU Naming Explained

Wading through dozens of Intel processor model numbers and clock speeds can be a confusing process. This guide discusses the Intel CPU naming system and how it works.

There was a time, not so long ago, that it was easy to figure out how good a computer's processor (CPU) was just by looking at the megahertz number. A 200 megahertz processor was less powerful than a 400 megahertz processor. A pentium 4 was better than a pentium 3 with the same speed rating. All of this changed when in 2004 Intel changed the way it labeled its chips. The new naming system has been much less intuitive for the lay person to understand and make objective buying decisions with. This article will attempt to cut through the geek speak to explain what the inherant value is in each of the various models.

Intel Processor Family Names

In order from oldest to newest these are some of the most recent Intel processor families:

pentium

celeron

celeron cpu

centrino

centrino duo

centrino processor

core duo (32 bit)

core 2 duo t5670

core 2 duo (64 bit)

core 2 quad (64 bit)

core 2 extreme vs core i7

Within each of these processor families there are a great number of variables, only one of which is the clock speed of the chip. The secret issue is that in many cases (since the advent of the new naming system) the same exact chip may be sold with a different model and speed rating based on how it tests out during manufacture.

Same Chip, Different Clock Speed

As an example of this, in a lot of 100 new CPU's, 50 of them may test out perfectly and be able to perform at the highest rated clock speed. They will be so labeled and sold at a premium price. Others in the same batch may fail to perform at the highest speeds and will be altered to lock them down to slighly slower speeds and sold under a different model name and clock speed designation.

Because of this fact the actual clock speed of a chip is no longer the only guiding principal in building a new high power computer system, just as important is the architecture and abilities of the chip. The model number that accompanies the family name in a chip's designation can also not be trusted to be numerically representative of the abilities of the chip. A processor with a higher number is not necessarily better than a chip with a lower number.

The best way to find out what the capabilities of a specific CPU are is to visit the Intel Processor Number page on the Intel web site. Here a user will find a comprehensive list of every CPU manufactured and its capabilities. Using this guide and a little common sense a person can quickly determine what processor is the best deal when purchasing a new computer.

Company profiles: IBM

Based in Armonk, North Castle, NY, the International Business Machines (IBM) is a widely recognized key player in the information technology (IT) sector. It has been in business for a long time and some refer to the organization as the 'Big Blue', the multinational corporation is a proud recipient of many accolades awarded by reputable powerhouses such as the Forbes Magazine. Founded in 1896 as the Tabulating Machine Company by Herman Hollerith and later switched International Business Machines in 1924. The company runs a website for software developers and information technology professionals on which they can access various software downloads, podcasts, wikis, and tutorials in relation to computer languages, operating systems and web services. These include PHP, Java, Ajax, Linux, XML and countless IBM offerings like Lotus, Tivoli and Websphere among others. One of IBM core areas of expertise is the development of high quality microprocessors, whose reputation precedes them.

The gaming market in particular utilizes IBMs microprocessor and a good example is Xbox 360 which brandishes a PowerPC tri-core processor while Sony's Playstation 3 comes with a Cell BE microprocessor (a collaboration product by IBM, Sony and Toshiba). The company derives its strength from the power of collective intelligence by involving their huge staff base dotted around the globe in determining some strategic decisions. This influence has in the past been harnessed to find ideas in connection with company values, the ambitious project saw over 50,000 of IBM worldwide employees taking part. As can be expected, such a conscientious IT entity would be keen on the activities of the Open source initiative, and indeed IBM has been in the forefront of not only supporting releases but also unleash their own code.

Some of the open source licenses released under the platform include independent software Eclipse and the Java based relational database management system (RDBMS) Apache Derby. Under alphaWorks the International Business Machines corporation derives technologies such as Fair UCE - which serves spam filtering purposes; the accessibility browser - a web browser meant for people with visual impairment. The flexible internet evaluation report architecture - covering architectural aspects of internet surveys; the IBM history flow visualization application - designed for visualizing dynamic documents and authors' reactions. While the IBM Linux on power performance simulator is responsible for the provision of a set of performance tools for 'Linux on Power' users, and the archiving and restoration functions of hard disk files are covered by the database file archive and restoration management application.