What's the core layout format for mobile Intel CPUs?

[mikeymikec]

AFAIK, on desktop CPUs, Pentiums are dual-core only, i3's are dual-core with two additional threads for hyperthreading, i5s are quad-core, i7s are quad-core with four additional threads for hyperthreading.

I assumed the same was the case for mobile Intel CPUs until I encountered an i5 (3337U):
http://ark.intel.com/products/72055/Intel-Core-i5-3337U-Processor-3M-Cache-up-to-2_70-GHz

 

[coercitiv]

For mobile i5 is 2 cores with 4 threads, i7 can either be 2c/4t or 4c/8t.

Also, keep in mind there are desktop i7s with 8 cores / 16 threads. It may be a fancy platform, but they still name it Core i7.

 

[ElFenix]

i5s have not necessarily been quad core on desktop, but they have always been 4 thread with turbo. i3s don't have turbo. i7s on desktop have turbo and hyperthreading.


with mobile, because the processors are also based on power envelope, it gets much more complicated. within a given power envelope, the i7s will be best, but it may just be a dual core with turbo and hyperthreading.

 

[mikeymikec]

But a mobile i3 is 2c+2t, so is there a L3 cache size difference like there is typically between desktop i3/i5/i7 (4/6/8MB IIRC)?

There's got to be some reason for Intel's naming convention on the mobile side... I assume

 

[SPBHM]

normally the dual core i7s have more l3 cache (like 4MB while i5/i3 only have 3MB), i3 to i5 is just the difference in clock (turbo)

the IGPs also have some variations in clock, but they are pretty similar.

 

[ninaholic37]

There's got to be some reason for Intel's naming convention on the mobile side... I assume

Yes, it's so you'll think you're buying the best when you buy an i7 (segmentation).

 

[szatkus]

i7 usually are the best at given TDP and generation.