Intel drops Centrino, explains Core i3, i5, i7 branding

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The good old days...

With the mess Intel has created in their processor numbering and naming, I often long for the simple days when there were Pentium II's and Pentium III's. All III's were faster than all II's. Or 386 vs 486. Same thing.

Now, you could have an i5 that's faster than some i7's or an i3 that's faster than some i5's. Maybe even an i3 that beats an i7 model? Who knows? It makes no sense unless you know a LOT more specifics about each specific CPU than most care to learn. Then mix 4 cores vs 2 cores vs 8 cores vs 6 cores into that and it's a nightmare to all but the most avid tech heads.

Really, they need to rethink the entire bizarre variety they offer into a few more consistent lines where going up the line in numbers literally always means it's a bigger/badder/faster processor. Maybe all the CPUs should be grouped as simply Desktop, Low Power, and Server classes?

Even better would be if the numbering was consistently similar across the three processor classes. For example, a Server 3000 chip would be similar performance to a Desktop 3000 chip, with only tweaks to features. A Low Power 1000 chip would be similar performance to a Desktop 1000 chip in the same way. It would let you know that buying a laptop with a Low Power 2000 chip would give you similar performance to your desktop containing a 2000 chip.

If you want more performance, then you simply buy a higher number in the processor class you need for your application. When you buy a 5000 desktop chip, or a 5000 low power chip, you would know that it would be faster than all the 4000, 3000, 2000, etc., chips in all the classes. The number equals performance level.

Intel is long overdue for a more consistent product line numbering system organized into fewer categories. The way they number processors now, it's like 20 cooks in the kitchen with nobody coordinating their efforts. It makes you wonder if any of the various divisions have any clue what the others are building at any given moment. It also makes you wonder who is supposed to be managing them.

Posted by: BillDem   Posted on: 06/18/09 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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