Intel CPU microarchitecture codenames?

[haris262]

I have been hearing everywhere the names "broadwell", "haswell", "devil's canyon", "ivy bridge" etc, but could never really undestand why they are used. Do they describe different microarchitecture? Number of transistors? I really have no idea.

Thanks for your help.

 

[rgd1101]

cause a name is better then just a number.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

They are the internal names that refer to products that have not been released to the public yet. Sometimes the codename sticks around after the CPU is released and can be used to determine the fab and generation of a CPU. Here is a decent list of the different codenames and their associated fab/generation:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Core

Here's Intel's official policy on their codenames:

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/trademarks/codenames.html