Intel® Core™ processors

Processor numbers for the Intel® Core™ i7 brand have the i7 identifier followed by a three digit numerical sequence.

Intel Core i7-940 processor
A higher number within a processor class or family generally indicates more features, including: cache, clock speed, Front Side Bus, Intel® QuickPath Interconnect, new instructions, or other Intel technolgies¹. A higher processor number may also have more of one feature and less of another.

Intel Core 2 Duo processor E8500
Processor numbers for the Intel® Core™2 processor family brands are categorized with an alpha prefix followed by a four digit numerical sequence. The table below explains the alpha prefixes used for the Intel Core 2 processor families.

Intel Core 2 Quad processor Q9550s
Processor numbers for the Intel® Core™2 Quad family have an alpha prefix followed by a four digit numerical sequence. Additionally, low power Intel Core 2 Quad processors are identifiable by an "S" suffix which represents processors having a lower thermal design power.