Don’t say Intel Core i7, say Intel Core Ultra 7 🪄

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If you’ve ever used a computer running Windows or macOS, you’ve probably come across the Intel Core i3, i5, i7 or i9 processors. However, you’ll have to forget these names, as Intel has decided to drop the « i ».

Intel and the changing market

Launched in the early 2000s to replace the Intel Pentium and Intel Celeron processors, the Intel Core processor range is one of the best-known in the history of modern PCs. The first Intel Core Duo chips were so powerful at the time that even Apple decided to switch from IBM’s PowerPC chips to those from Intel. However, the market has evolved considerably, particularly over the last three years: AMD has really returned to the processor market, and Apple has abandoned Intel chips for its own.

Intel, aware of this situation, is preparing its fightback, which involves a name change. In an interview with The Verge, Christopher Hirsch, Intel’s Director of Brand Strategy, revealed that, according to studies carried out by the company, it is the term « Core », and not « i5 » or « i7 », that is associated with Intel.

Does ‘I’ represent Apple with iPhone and iPod? Was it simply an unknown? That was one of the costs of people not knowing they’re our products », saysM. Hirsch.

Intel, Intel Core and Intel Core Ultra processors 🚀

The next generations of processors from the Intel Core range will receive a new branding: goodbye Intel Core « i » processors, hello Intel Core and Intel Core Ultra processors. From now on, there will be two ranges of Intel Core processors, a « normal » version and an « Ultra » version, a commercial term currently in vogue among manufacturers. Generation distinctions such as « 13th Gen » will also disappear with this new branding.

New Intel Core processors // Source : Intel

New Intel Core Ultra processors // Source: Intel

If you’ve been paying attention to the images above, you’ll notice that there isn’t always an Ultra version for every Intel Core processor. Within the Intel Core range, you’ll be able to get a Core 3, Core 5 or Core 7. As for the Ultra versions, you can choose between a Core 5 Ultra, a Core 7 Ultra and a Core 9 Ultra. However, the processors will retain the same nomenclature for the detailed model names:

• Intel Core Ultra 9 processor 1490H
• Intel Core Ultra 7 processor 1470K
• Intel Core 5 processor 1450U

For the moment, we have no further details on the specific features of each processor model. But we can imagine that some will be designed for laptops, while others for desktops. So we’ll have to wait and see until the next Intel processors are unveiled.

What do you think of the name change? Tell us in the comments section.

Source : The Verge