Intel® CPU names explained

Intel® has changed the names of processors, and now use 3-digit numbers. The reason behind the changes is to provide the end user with a broader set of features contributing to the overall performance rather than users comparing on clock-speed alone.

Example:
Old: Intel® Pentium® M 1.60GHz
New: Intel® Pentium® M 725

The processor number indicates the following features:

Architecture
Cache
Clock Speed
Front Side Bus

Intel® Pentium® M 725 will often be followed by further description of the features, for example:
Intel® Pentium® M 725(2MB L2 cache, 1.60GHz, 400MHz FSB)

Architecture
Basic design of a microprocessor. May include process technology and/or other architectural enhancements.
Cache(MB/KB)
A temporary storage area for frequently accessed or recently accessed data. Having certain data stored in a cache speeds up the operation of the computer. Cache size is measured in megabytes(MB) or kilobytes(KB).
Clock Speed(GHz/MHz)
Speed of the processor's internal clock, which dictates how fast the processor can process data. Clock speed is usually measured in GHz (gigahertz, or billions of pulses per second).
Front Side Bus (GHz/MHz)
The connecting path between the processor and other key components such as the memory controller hub. FSB speed is measured in GHz or MHz

CPU name is

Information about the relative features within a processor family

A higher number within a processor family can indicate either more processor features; more of a specific processor feature; or a change in architecture. This means that a higher number processor may potentially have more of one feature and less of another.

CPU name is not

A higher number does not mean higher/better performance

A way to compare numbers across processor families. For example, 725 is not "better" than 325 because it is a higher number, they simply belong to different families.

Find out more on the Intel web site

Content on this page is reproduced from the Intel® web site