What is the Difference in Intel processor generations?

Different Generation of Intel processors means when processors upgrade to the newer generation, also increase efficiency, Cores, Clock Speed, Integrated Graphics, threads, cache memory, and many more essential components on CPU. Generally, our conception of different generations of processors means speed increases when generation increases, but deep inside of CPU along with motherboard many things upgrade,

If you are serious about your PC performance, then you must concern about things like the of Cores, Clock Speed, cache memory, threads and etc. These are the actual differences in Intel processor generations. So, Don’t carry misconception like latest generation processors are faster. You must see essential specifications over the processor is no of cores, clock speed, Integrated Graphics Card, and cache memory.

Intel Different Generation of Processors

Each and every year Intel upgrades Intel launches its newer process generation with decreasing size and increasing number of IC(Integrated Circuit) on processor cheap. You must know that Intel Core i3, i5, and i7 are the processor models, not generations.

1. Intel 1st Generation Processor

Nehalem was the first microprocessor from Intel, which was used in the first generation of Intel core microprocessors. Nehalem was launched in 2008. It was successor processor of Intel Core microarchitecture and was based on the subsequent design.

Performance

Nehalem is able to deliver 15-20% faster clock speed per core. It has 30% lesser power consumption, and it has 10-25% better single-threaded performance and 20-100%better for multithreaded performance at the same power.

2. Intel 2nd Generation Core

Sandy Bridge was the second Intel generation processor launched in 2011. This Core Processor (Core i7, i5, i3). It is the succer to Nehalem microarchitecture. Sandy Bridge is based on the 32nm process.

Performance

The average performance is better than 1^st generation Nehalem processor, and uses 256-bit/cycle ring bus interconnect between cores, it has Intel turbo Boost 2.0 for clock speed, 32KB + 32KB data instruction. Cache memory for L1 and L2 is same as Nehalem.

Performance

The average performance is better than 1^st generation Nehalem processor and uses 256-bit/cycle ring bus interconnect between cores, it has Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 for clock speed, 32KB + 32KB data instruction. Cache memory for L1 and L2 is the same as Nehalem.

3. Intel 3rd Generation Processor

Ivy Bridge is another 3^rd Generation Intel processor launched in 2012. It is based on 22nm architecture. This processor is shrink from Sandy Bridge, which is developed by Haifa Israel. it consumes 50% less power than 3D technology.

3. Intel 3rd Generation Processor

Ivy Bridge is another 3^rd Generation Intel processor launched in 2012. It is based on 22nm architecture. This processor is shrink from Sandy Bridge, which is developed by Haifa Israel. it consumes 50% lesser power at 3D technology.

Performance

It’s clock speed was 3% – 6% faster, and 25% to 68% increases GPU performance. Design power reduced to 50w and 155w. Ivy Bridge has also F16C, RDRAND, PCI Express 3.0, Max CPU multiplier.

Later on, there are many new models came. Ivy Bridge-M-2, Ivy Bridge-H-2, Ivy Bridge-HM-4.

4. Intel 4th Generation Processor

Intel 4^th generation processor is Haswell, which was developed in 2013. It is the successor to the Ivy Bridge. Haswell is based on the 22nm process, specially designed to optimize power consumption. It is 8% faster vector processing.

Launch Year: 2013

• Cache: L1 64KB per core, L2 256 KB, L3 2-45 MB, L4 128 MB
• Architecture: Haswell x86
• Cores: 2-4 (mainstream), 6-8 (enthusiast), 2-18 (Xeon)
• GPUs: HD Graphics 4200, 4400, 4600, 5000
• Models: Hswell Refresh, E, EP, EX
• Predecessor: Sandy Bridge (Tock), Ivy Bridge(Trick)
• Successor: Broadwell (Tick/Process)

Performance

It provides 5% higher single-thread performance, 6% higher multi-thread performance, and 8% faster vector performance. It has also better performance over Integrated HD4000 GPU. So overall performance increases by 3%.

5. Intel 5th Generation Processor

Broadwell is the Intel 5^th generation processor launched in 2014. It is based on 14-nm architecture. Broadwell could improve battery life as 1 hour.

Launch: 2014

• Cache: L1-64KB, L2-256 KB, L3-2-6 MB, L4-128 MB
• Architecture: Broadwell x86
• Cores: 2-4 (mainstream), 6010( enthusiast), 4-24 (Xeon)
• Predecessor:  Haswell (Tock/Architecture), Haswell Refresh
• Successor: Skylake (Tock/Architecture)

6. Intel 6th Generation Processor

Skylake is the Intel 6^th Generation processor launched in 2015. It is succeeding the Broadwell Microarchitecture. Skylake is based on 14nm manufacturing technology. Skylake is developed in Haifa, Israel. The development team had been working for four years, faced many challenges.

Launch: 2015

• Cache: L1-64 KiB, L2-256 KiB, L3-Up to 2 MiB 1.375 MiB
• Architecture: Skylake x86
• Transistors: 14 nm bulk Silicon 3D
• Core: 2-28
• Predecessor: Broadwell
• Successor: Kaby Lake (Optimization), Cascade Lake-SP (Skylake-SP)

7. Intel 7th Generation Processor

Kaby Lake is the Intel 7^th Generation processor launched in 2016. It is based on 14nm Technology. It has the optimization of process-architecture-optimization. KAby Lake was developed by Intel’s Israel team.

In 2017 Intel officially announced to Kaby Lake as an 8^th generation mobile CPUs.

Launch: 2016

• Clock Speed: 1.00 – 4.5 GHz
• Cache: L1 cache 64 KiB, L2 256 KiB, L3 up to 9MiB
• Architecture: x86-64
• Transistors: 14nm transistors
• Core: 2-4
• Predecessor: Skylake ( Architecture)

8. Intel 8th Generation Processor

Refresh of Kaby Lake is the Intel 8^th Generation processor launched in 2016. It is based on 14nm technology. Kaby Lake’s development process was done by Intel’s Israeli team in Haifa. This processor increases clock speeds on every CPU models.

Launch: 2017

• Clock rate: 1.00 – 4.5 GHz
• Cache: L1 cache- 64 KiB, L2 cache- 256 KiB, L3 cache up to 8MiB
• Architecture: x86-64
• Transistors: 14nm (Tri-Gate) transistors

Cores: 2-4

Predecessor: Skylake (Architecture)

In 2017 This Kaby Lake Refresh (Kaby Lake R) marketed as the 8^th generation mobile CPUs. These processors have also improved on clock speed over CPUs models. Faster clock speed helps to transition from one frequency to another and increases performance.

9. Intel 9th Generation Processor

Coffee Lake is the Intel 9^th Generation processor launched in 2018. It is the successor of the same generation Cannon Lake and Whiskey Lake. It has up to 8 cores. Intel soldered the integrated heat spreader (HIS) to CPU die instead of using thermal paste.

Launch: 2018

• Cache: L1 cache- 64 KiB, L2 cache-256 KiB. L3 Cache up to 16 MiB
• Architecture: x86-64
• Cores: 2-8
• Transistors: 14 nm (tri-Gate) transistors
• CPUs: GT2, GT3e
• Predecessor: Kaby Lake (Optimization)

10. Intel 10^th Generation Processor

Canon Lake is the Intel 10^th Generation processor. It is based on the 10 nm (tri Gate) Transistors technology.  The successor of this Canon Lake is Ice Lake. Canon Lake is first which has AVX-512 instruction set.

Launch: 2018

• Clock Speed: 3.2 GHZ
• Cache: L1 cache 64 KiB, L2 cache 256 KiB, L3 4 MiB
• Architecture: x86-64
• Instructions: x86-64, Intel 64
• Transistors: 10nm

Cores: 2

Predecessor: Desktop, Coffee Lake, Kaby Lake Refresh

Successor: Ice Lake

11. Intel 11^th Generation Processor

Tiger Lake is the coming Intel 11^th Generation Processor. Which would arrive in mid of 2020. It is specially built for mobility. It is based on 10nm architecture technology and integrated with Xe graphics architecture.

Tiger Lake-H comes with 8 cores and 16 threads.

Launch: mid of 2020

Cores: 8 core

Clock Speed: 4.5 GHz

Cache: L1 Cache 48/32 KB, L2 10 MB, L3 cache – 34 MB

Performance:

Tiger Lake CPUs would beat AMD’s 7nm Zen 2 Ryzen 4000. It also supports  DDR4 speeds up to 3200 MHz, DDR4-3200 / LPDDR4x 4266 and Tiger Lake-Y, LPDDR4X RAM.

12. Intel UpComing Generation Processor

Sapphire Rapids is the Intel upcoming processor. It is based on the 7 nm or 10 nm technology architecture. It has the feature of DDR5 and SDRAM support. It is the predecessor of Server Ice Lake SP.

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