Intel Core

Intel Core
Logo since 2023
General information
LaunchedJanuary 2006 (2006-01)
Marketed byIntel
Designed byIntel
Common manufacturers
Performance
Max. CPU clock rate400 MHz to 6.2 GHz
Physical specifications
Cores
    • P-cores: 2–10
    • E-cores: 4–16
    • Total: 1-24
GPUIntel Graphics Technology
Sockets
Cache
L1 cacheUp to 112 KB per P-core
96 KB per E-core or LP E-core
L2 cacheCore and Core 2: Up to 12 MB
Nehalem-present: Up to 2 MB per P-core and up to 3 MB per E-core cluster
L3 cacheUp to 36 MB
Architecture and classification
Technology node65 nm to Intel 4 and TSMC N5
Microarchitecture
Instruction setx86-64
InstructionsMMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX, AVX2, AVX-512, TSX, AES-NI, FMA3, AVX-VNNI
Extensions
  • EIST, TXT, VT-x, VT-d, SHA, SGX
Products, models, variants
Brand names
  • Core
  • Core 2
  • Core i3/i5/i7/i9
  • Core 3/5/7
  • Core Ultra 3/5/7/9
Variant
  • Intel Processor (budget CPUs)
History
PredecessorCeleron

Intel Core is a line of multi-core (with the exception of Core Solo and Core 2 Solo) central processing units (CPUs) for midrange, embedded, workstation, high-end, enthusiast and gaming computer markets marketed by Intel Corporation. These processors displaced the existing mid- to high-end Pentium processors at the time of their introduction, moving the Pentium to the mid-range budget market. Identical or more capable versions of Core processors are also sold as Xeon processors for the server and workstation markets.

Core was launched in January 2006 as a mobile-only series, consisting of single-core and dual-core models. It was then succeeded later in July by the Core 2 series, which included both desktop and mobile processors with up to four cores, and introduced 64-bit support.

Since 2008, Intel began introducing the Core i3, Core i5, Core i7 and Core i9 lineup of processors, succeeding Core 2.

A new naming scheme was introduced in 2023, consisting of Core 3, Core 5, and Core 7 for mainstream processors, and Core Ultra 5, Core Ultra 7, and Core Ultra 9 for "premium" high-end processors.