Sandy Bridge microarchitecture based

Main article: Sandy Bridge

In early 2011, a new microarchitecture named Sandy Bridge microarchitecture was introduced; whilst keeping all the existing brands from Nehalem, including Core i3/i5/i7, it introduces new model numbers. The initial set of Sandy Bridge processors includes dual- and quad-core variants, all of which use a single 32 nm die for both the CPU and integrated GPU cores, unlike the earlier microarchitectures. All Core i3/i5/i7 processors with the Sandy Bridge microarchitecture have a four-digit model number. With the mobile version, the thermal design power can no longer be determined from a one- or two-letter suffix but is encoded into the CPU number. Starting with Sandy Bridge, Intel no longer distinguishes the code names of the processor based on number of cores, socket or intended usage; they all use the same code name as the microarchitecture itself.

Ivy Bridge is the codename for Intel's 22 nm die shrink of the Sandy Bridge microarchitecture based on tri-gate ("3D") transistors, introduced in April 2012.

Core i3

Released on January 20, 2011, the Core i3-2xxx line of desktop and mobile processors is a direct replacement of the 2010 "Clarkdale" Core i3-5xx and "Arrandale" Core i3-3xxM models, based on the new microarchitecture. While they require new sockets and chipsets, the user-visible features of the Core i3 are largely unchanged, including the lack of support for Turbo Boost and AES-NI. Unlike the Sandy Bridge based Celeron and Pentium processors, the Core i3 line does support the new Advanced Vector Extensions.

The Ivy Bridge based Core-i3-3xxx line is a minor upgrade to 22 nm process technology and better graphics.

Codename (main article) Brand name (list) Cores L3 Cache Socket TDP I/O Bus Sandy Bridge (Desktop) Core i3-21xx 2 3 MB LGA 1155 65 W Direct Media Interface, Integrated GPU Core i3-21xxT 35 W Sandy Bridge (Mobile) Core i3-2xx0M rPGA-988B BGA-1023 Core i3-2xx7M BGA-1023 17 W Ivy Bridge (Mobile) Core i3-3xx0M rPGA-988B BGA-1023 35 W Core i3-3xx7U BGA-1023 17 W Core i3-3xx9Y 13 W Core i5

In January 2011, Intel released new quad-core Core i5 processors based on the "Sandy Bridge" microarchitecture at CES 2011. New dual-core mobile processors and desktop processors arrived in February 2011.

The Core i5-2xxx line of desktop processors are mostly quad-core chips, with the exception of the dual-core Core i5-2390T, and include integrated graphics, combining the key features of the earlier Core i5-6xx and Core i5-7xx lines. The suffix after the four-digit model number designates unlocked multiplier (K), low-power (S) and ultra-low-power (T).

The desktop CPUs now all have four non-SMT cores (like the i5-750), with the exception of the i5-2390T. The DMI bus is running at 5 GT/s.

The mobile Core i5-2xxxM processors are all dual-core chips like the previous Core i5-5xxM series and share most the features with that product line.

Codename (main article) Brand name (list) Cores L3 Cache Socket TDP I/O Bus Sandy Bridge (Desktop) Core i5-2xxx Core i5-2xxxK 4 6 MB LGA 1155 95 W Direct Media Interface, Integrated GPU Core i5-2xxxS 65 W Core i5-25xxT 45 W Core i5-23xxT 2 3 MB 35 W Ivy Bridge (Desktop) Core i5-3xxx Core i5-3xxxK 4 6 MB 77 W Core i5-3xxxS 65 W Core i5-35xxT 45 W Core i5-34xxT 2 3 MB 35 W Sandy Bridge (Mobile) Core i5-2xxxM 2 3 MB rPGA-988B BGA-1023 35 W Core i5-2xx7M BGA-1023 17 W Ivy Bridge (Mobile) Core i5-3xx0M rPGA-988B BGA-1023 35 W Core i5-3xx7U BGA-1023 17 W Core i5-3xx9Y 13 W Core i7

The Core i7 brand remains the high-end for Intel's desktop and mobile processors, featuring the Sandy Bridge models with the largest amount of L3 cache and the highest clock frequency. Most of these models are very similar to their smaller Core i5 siblings. The quad-core mobile Core i7-2xxxQM/XM processors follow the previous "Clarksfield" Core i7-xxxQM/XM processors, but now also include integrated graphics.

Codename (main article) Brand name (list) Cores L3 Cache Socket TDP Process I/O Bus Release Date Ivy Bridge (Desktop) Core i7-37xx 4 8 MB LGA 1155 77 W 22 nm Direct Media Interface, Integrated GPU April 2012 Core i7-37xxK Core i7-37xxS 65 W Core i7-37xxT 45 W Sandy Bridge-E (Desktop) Core i7-39xxX 6 15 MB LGA 2011 130 W 32 nm Direct Media Interface November 2011 Core i7-39xxK 12 MB Core i7-38xx 4 10 MB Sandy Bridge (Desktop) Core i7-2xxxK, i7-2xxx 8 MB LGA 1155 95 W Direct Media Interface, Integrated GPU January 2011 Core i7-2xxxS 65 W Ivy Bridge (Mobile) Core i7-3xx0QM, i7-3xx0QE rPGA-988B BGA-1023 45 W 22 nm April 2012 Core i7-3xx2QM, i7-3xx2QE 35 W Core i7-3xxxXM 55 W Sandy Bridge (Mobile) Core i7-2xxxXM 32 nm January 2011 Core i7-2xxxQM 6 or 8 MB 45 W Core i7-2xxxQE 6 MB Core i7-2xx0M 2 4 MB 35 W February 2011 Core i7-2xx9M BGA-1023 25 W Core i7-2xx7M 17 W