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---
title: Making sense of Intel and AMD CPUs naming
date: 2021-12-29
tags:
- amd
- intel
- cpu
---
# Intel
## Core
The line up for the core family is i3, i5, i7 and i9. As of December
2021, the current generation is Alder Lake (12th generation).
The brand modifiers are:
- **i3**: laptops/low-end desktop
- **i5**: mainstream users
- **i7**: high-end users
- **i9**: enthusiast users
How to read a SKU ? Let's use the
[i7-12700K](https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/134594/intel-core-i712700k-processor-25m-cache-up-to-5-00-ghz.html)
processor:
- **i7**: high end users
- **12**: 12th generation
- **700**: SKU digits, usually assigned in the order the processors
are developed
- **K**: unlocked
List of suffixes:
| suffix | meaning |
|--------|----------------------------------------|
| G.. | integrated graphics |
| E | embedded |
| F | require discrete graphic card |
| H | high performance for mobile |
| HK | high performance for mobile / unlocked |
| K | unlocked |
| S | special edition |
| T | power optimized lifestyle |
| U | mobile power efficient |
| Y | mobile low power |
| X/XE | unlocked, high end |
> **Unlocked,** what does that means ? A processor with the **K** suffix
> is made with the an unlocked clock multiplier. When used with some
> specific chipset, it's possible to overclock the processor.
### Sockets/Chipsets
For the Alder Lake generation, the supported socket is the
[LGA<sub>1700</sub>](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGA_1700).
For now only supported chipset for Alder Lake are:
| feature | [z690](https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/218833/intel-z690-chipset.html) | [h670](https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/218831/intel-h670-chipset/specifications.html) | [b660](https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/218832/intel-b660-chipset.html) | [h610](https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/218829/intel-h610-chipset/specifications.html) |
|-----------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| P and E cores over clocking | yes | no | no | no |
| memory over clocking | yes | yes | yes | no |
| DMI 4 lanes | 8 | 8 | 4 | 4 |
| chipset PCIe 4.0 lanes | up to 12 | up to 12 | up to 6 | none |
| chipset PCIe 3.0 lanes | up to 16 | up to 12 | up to 8 | 8 |
| SATA 3.0 ports | up to 8 | up to 8 | 4 | 4 |
### Alder Lake (12th generation)
| model | p-cores | e-cores | GHz (base) | GHz (boosted) | TDP |
|------------|---------|---------|------------|---------------|------|
| i9-12900K | 8 (16) | 8 | 3.2/2.4 | 5.1/3.9 | 241W |
| i9-12900KF | 8 (16) | 8 | 3.2/2.4 | 5.1/3.9 | 241W |
| i7-12700K | 8 (16) | 4 | 3.6/2.7 | 4.9/3.8 | 190W |
| i7-12700KF | 8 (16) | 4 | 3.6/2.7 | 4.9/3.8 | 190W |
| i5-12600K | 6 (12) | 4 | 3.7/2.8 | 4.9/3.6 | 150W |
| i5-12600KF | 6 (12) | 4 | 3.7/2.8 | 4.9/3.6 | 150W |
- support DDR4 and DDR5 (up to DDR5-4800)
- support PCIe 4.0 and 5.0 (16 PCIe 5.0 and 4 PCIe 4.0)
The socket used is the [LGA
1700](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGA_1700).
Alder lake is an hybrid architecture, featuring both P-cores
(performance cores) and E-cores (efficient cores). P-cores are based on
the [Golden Cove](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Cove)
architecture, while the E-cores are based on the
[Gracemont](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gracemont_(microarchitecture))
architecture.
This is a [good
article](https://www.anandtech.com/show/16881/a-deep-dive-into-intels-alder-lake-microarchitectures/2)
to read about this model. Inside the processor there's a microcontroller
that monitors what each thread is doing. This can be used by the OS
scheduler to hint on which core a thread should be scheduled on (between
performance or efficiency).
As of December 2021 this is not yet properly supported by the Linux
kernel.
## Xeon
Xeon is the brand of Intel processor designed for non-consumer servers
and workstations. The most recent generations are:
- Skylake (2017)
- Cascade lake (2019)
- Cooper lake (2020)
The following brand identifiers are used:
- platinium
- gold
- silver
- bronze
# AMD
## Ryzen
There are multiple generation for this brand of processors. They are
based on the [zen micro
architecture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen_(microarchitecture)).
The current (as of December 2021) generation is Ryzen 5000.
The brand modifiers are:
- ryzen 3: entry level
- ryzen 5: mainstream
- ryzen 9: high end performance
- ryzen 9:enthusiast
List of suffixes:
| suffix | meaning |
|--------|--------------------------------------------|
| X | high performance |
| G | integrated graphics |
| T | power optimized lifecycle |
| S | low power desktop with integrated graphics |
| H | high performance mobile |
| U | standard mobile |
| M | low power mobile |
## EPYC
EPYC is the AMD brand of processors for the server market, based on the
zen architecture. They use the
[SP3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socket_SP3) socket. The EPYC
processor is chipset free.
## Threadripper
The threadripper is for high performance desktop. It uses the
[TR4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socket_TR4) socket. At the moment
there's only one chipset that supports this process, the
[X399](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_AMD_chipsets#TR4_chipsets).
The threadripper based on zen3 architecture is not yet released, but
it's expected to hit the market in the first half of Q1 2022.
## Sockets/Chipsets
The majority of these processors use the [AM4
socket](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socket_AM4). The threadripper line
uses different sockets.
There are multiple
[chipset](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socket_AM4#Chipsets) for the AM4
socket. The more advanced ones are the B550 and the X570.
The threadripper processors use the TR4, sTRX4 and sWRX8 sockets.
## Zen 3
Zen 3 was released in November 2020.
| model | cores | GHz (base) | GHz (boosted) | PCIe lanes | TDP |
|---------------|---------|------------|---------------|------------|------|
| ryzen 5 5600x | 6 (12) | 3.7 | 4.6 | 24 | 65W |
| ryzen 7 5800 | 8 (16) | 3.4 | 4.6 | 24 | 65W |
| ryzen 7 5800x | 8 (16) | 3.8 | 4.7 | 24 | 105W |
| ryzen 9 5900 | 12 (24) | 3.0 | 4.7 | 24 | 65W |
| ryzen 9 5900x | 12 (24) | 3.7 | 4.8 | 24 | 105W |
| ryzen 9 5950x | 16 (32) | 3.4 | 4.9 | 24 | 105W |
- support PCIe 3.0 and PCIe 4.0 (except for the G series)
- only support DDR4 (up to DDR4-3200)
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