Frequently asked questions
What is a CPU?
CPU stands for Central Processing Unit, also simply called a processor.
Which generation is my Intel processor?
There are 4 processor variants: i3, i5, i7 and i9. To find out which generation your processor is, look at the first digit after the variant. For example, the i7-4770 is a 4th generation processor, recognizable by the 4 after “i7”.
Which motherboard do I need for my processor?
Intel has several processor “generations”, most of which also have a slightly different form factor. Below is an overview of which motherboard type is suitable for each processor.
| Processor generation | Codename | Motherboard type |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Generation | Nahalem | Socket 1156 Motherboard |
| 2nd Generation | Sandy Bridge | Socket 1155 Motherboard |
| 3rd Generation | Ivy Bridge | Socket 1155 Motherboard |
| 4th Generation | Haswell | Socket 1150 Motherboard |
| 5th Generation | Broadwell | Socket 1150 Motherboard |
| 6th Generation | Skylake | Socket 1151 motherboard (100 and 200 chipset only) |
| 7th Generation | Kaby Lake | Socket 1151 motherboard (100 and 200 chipset only) |
| 8th Generation | Coffee Lake | Socket 1151 motherboard (300 chipset only) |
| 9th Generation | Coffee Lake Refresh | Socket 1151 motherboard (300 chipset only) |
| 10th and 11th Generation | Socket 1200 motherboard (some models only support the 10th generation) | |