Core i3, i5, i7: Intel simplifies the presentation of its ranges

Celeron, Pentium, Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad, Core 2 Extreme, Core i7, Atom, Centrino... The names of Intel processors, classed by architecture, have been becoming a little complicated for the non-geeky consumer. Intel has therefore decided to simplify them, concentrating on level of performance.

Is the general consumer really interested in how many cores their processors have? In the built-in cache? In the artchitecture used? Maybe not, Intel seems to have decided, therefore giving the Core range a simpler naming system that seems to be giving it a favourable image.
In the long term, there will be three groups of Core processors: the entry level range, the i3, the mid-range, the i5 and the top end, the i7. The same architecture will be rolled out across several groups: the Lynnfields, quad cores with a dual channel memory controller and a DMI bus, will be classed as either i5 or i7 depending on the level of performance and the spec of each version.

The Core 2 brands should therefore gradually disappear from the market. The Celeron brand will however continue to designate affordable processors and Pentiums the basic processors. Note also that the Atoms, processors for netbooks and affordable PCs that aim to limit costs and energy consumption, will remain a group apart.

There is then a sort of double division: on one hand you’ll have Celeron – Pentium – Core to separate the main categories, with Atom a bit off to one side, and on the other, within the Core range, the i3, i5 and i7 to subdivide the flagship category.

The Centrino brand will also disappear from processor sector of the brand and be reorientated towards WiFi and WiMax products in 2010.

In the end, the overall picture should be clearer with a fewer number brands – Intel is insisting on the fact that the i3, i5 and i7 are not brands in themselves but are additions to the Intel Core brand that signify different specs. It is regrettable however that certain technologies not be systematically associated with a level of the range: vPro, for example, will be built in on some Core i5s and Core i7s, but not all of them.

It remains to be seen whether or not the consumer will identify i3s, i5s and i7s as separate branches as was the case with the Duo, Quad and Extreme, in which case the simplification might not work as well as hoped.