# Tick–tock model

Tick–tock was a production model adopted in 2007 by chip manufacturer Intel. Under this model, every new process technology was first used to manufacture a die shrink of a proven microarchitecture (tick), followed by a new microarchitecture on the now-proven process (tock). It was replaced by the process–architecture–optimization model, which was announced in 2016 and is like a tick–tock cycle followed by an optimization phase. More generally, tick–tock is an engineering model which refreshes one half of a binary system each release cycle.

## History

Every "tick" represented a shrinking of the process technology of the previous microarchitecture (with minor changes, commonly to the caches, and rarely introducing new instructions, as with Broadwell in late 2014) and every "tock" designated a new microarchitecture. These occurred roughly every year to 18 months.
Due to the slowing rate of process improvements, in 2014 Intel created a "tock refresh" of a tock in the form of a smaller update to the microarchitecture not considered a new generation in and of itself. In March 2016, Intel announced in a Form 10-K report that it would always do this in future, deprecating the tick–tock cycle in favor of a three-step process–architecture–optimization model, under which three generations of processors are produced under a single manufacturing process, with the third generation out of three focusing on optimization.
After introducing the Skylake architecture on a 14 nm process in 2015, its first optimization was Kaby Lake in 2016. Intel then announced a second optimization, Coffee Lake, in 2017 making a total of four generations at 14 nm before the Palm Cove die shrink to 10 nm in 2018.

## Roadmap
### Pentium 4 / Core / Xeon roadmap

Pentium 4 / Core / Xeon roadmap :
| Change (step) | Fabri­cation process | Micro- architecture | Code names for step | Intel Generation Desktop/Mobile | Intel Generation Xeon | Intel Microcode shortcut(s) Desktop/WS | Intel Microcode shortcut(s) Xeon/Server | Release date | Processors | Processors | Processors | Processors | Processors | Processors | Processors |
| Change (step) | Fabri­cation process | Micro- architecture | Code names for step | Intel Generation Desktop/Mobile | Intel Generation Xeon | Intel Microcode shortcut(s) Desktop/WS | Intel Microcode shortcut(s) Xeon/Server | Release date | 8P/4P Server | 4P/2P Server/WS | Embedded Xeon | 1P Xeon | Enthusiast/WS | Desktop | Mobile |
| Tick (new fabrica- tion process) | 65 nm | P6, NetBurst | Yonah (P6), Presler (NetBurst), Cedar Mill (NetBurst) | — | — | — | — | 1995-11-1 (P6), 2000-11-20 (NetBurst) | — | — | — | — | Presler (NetBurst) | Cedar Mill (NetBurst) | Yonah (P6) |
| Tock (new micro- architecture) | 65 nm | Core | Merom | — | — | — | — | 2006-07-27 | Tigerton | Woodcrest Clovertown | — | — | Kentsfield | Conroe | Merom |
| Tick | 45 nm | Core | Penryn | — | — | — | — | 2007-11-11 | Dunnington | Harpertown | — | — | Yorkfield | Wolfdale | Penryn |
| Tock | 45 nm | Nehalem | Nehalem | 1 | — | NHM | — | 2008-11-17 | Beckton | Gainestown | — | Lynnfield | Bloomfield | Lynnfield | Clarksfield |
| Tick | 32 nm | Nehalem | Westmere | 1 | — | WSM | — | 2010-01-04 | Westmere-EX | Westmere-EP | — | — | Gulftown | Clarkdale | Arrandale |
| Tock | 32 nm | Sandy Bridge | Sandy Bridge | 2 | 1 (E3/E5) | SNB | JKT (Jaketown) | 2011-01-09 | Skipped | Sandy Bridge-EP | Gladden | Sandy Bridge | Sandy Bridge-E | Sandy Bridge | Sandy Bridge-M |
| Tick | 22 nm | Sandy Bridge | Ivy Bridge | 3 | 2 (E3/E5/E7) | IVB | IVT (Ivytown) | 2012-04-29 | Ivy Bridge-EX | Ivy Bridge-EP | Gladden | Ivy Bridge | Ivy Bridge-E | Ivy Bridge | Ivy Bridge-M |
| Tock | 22 nm | Haswell | Haswell | 4 | 3 (E3/E5/E7) | HSW, CRW (Crystal Well) with Iris Pro | HSX | 2013-06-02 | Haswell-EX | Haswell-EP | — | Haswell-DT | Haswell-E | Haswell-DT | Haswell-MB (notebooks) Haswell-LP (ultrabooks) |
| Refresh | 22 nm | Haswell | Haswell Refresh, Devil's Canyon | 4 | — | HSW, CRW (Crystal Well) with Iris Pro | — | 2014-05-11, 2014-06-02 | No server version released | No server version released | No server version released | No server version released | No server version released | Devil's Canyon | No mobile version released |
| Tick (Process) | 14 nm | Haswell | Broadwell | 5 | 4 (E3/E5/E7) | BDW | BDX | 2014-09-05 | Broadwell-EX | Broadwell-EP | Broadwell-DE | Broadwell-DT | Broadwell-E | Broadwell-DT | Broadwell-H Broadwell-U Broadwell-Y |
| Tock (Architecture) | 14 nm | Skylake | Skylake | 6 | 5 (E3) 1 (SP) W-2100 W-31xx | SKL SKL-S SKL-X SKL-H SKL-U SKL-Y SKL-D SKL-DT | SKX | 2015-08-05 | Skylake-SP | Skylake-SP | Skylake-DE | Skylake-D/DT/H | Skylake-X | Skylake | Skylake-H Skylake-U Skylake-Y |
| Optimization (Refresh) | 14 nm | Skylake | Kaby Lake | 7 | 6 (E3) | KBL | — | 2017-01-03 | Only 1P server (Xeon E3) version released | Only 1P server (Xeon E3) version released | Only 1P server (Xeon E3) version released | Kaby Lake-DT/H cores: 4 (4/8) | Kaby Lake-X | Kaby Lake | Kaby Lake-H Kaby Lake-U Kaby Lake-Y |
| Optimization (Refresh) | 14 nm | Skylake | Kaby Lake R | 8 | — | KBL-R | — | 2017-08-21 | Only mobile version released | Only mobile version released | Only mobile version released | Only mobile version released | Only mobile version released | Only mobile version released | Kaby Lake R |
| Optimization (Refresh) | 14 nm | Skylake | Coffee Lake | 8 | E-2100 | CFL CFL-S CFL-E CFL-H CFL-U | — | 2017-10-05 | Only 1P server (Xeon E) version released | Only 1P server (Xeon E) version released | Coffee Lake-H | Coffee Lake-S WS (Coffee Lake-E) | No WS version released | Coffee Lake-S | Coffee Lake-H Coffee Lake-U |
| Optimization (Refresh) | 14 nm | Skylake | Whiskey Lake, Amber Lake | 8 | — | WHL AML | — | 2018-08-28 | Only mobile version released | Only mobile version released | Only mobile version released | Only mobile version released | Only mobile version released | Only mobile version released | Whiskey Lake-U Amber Lake-Y |
| Optimization (Refresh) | 14 nm | Skylake | Skylake (Skylake-X Refresh) | 9 | — | ? | — | 2018-10-08 | Only WS version released | Only WS version released | Only WS version released | Only WS version released | Skylake X | Only WS version released | Only WS version released |
| Optimization (Refresh) | 14 nm | Skylake | Coffee Lake (Coffee Lake Refresh) | 9 | E-2200 | CFL-R CFL-ER CFL-HR | — | 2018-10-08, 2019-04-23 | Only 1P server (Xeon E) version released | Only 1P server (Xeon E) version released | Only 1P server (Xeon E) version released | Coffee Lake-S WS (Coffee Lake-ER) | No WS version released | Coffee Lake-R | Coffee Lake-H Refresh |
| Optimization (Refresh) | 14 nm | Skylake | Cascade Lake | 10 | 2 (SP) W-2200 W-3200 | CSL | CXL | 2019-04-02 | Cascade Lake-SP | Cascade Lake-SP | Cascade Lake-AP | — | Cascade Lake-W Cascade Lake-X | Only server / WS version released | Only server / WS version released |
| Optimization (Refresh) | 14 nm | Skylake | Comet Lake, Amber Lake | 10 | — | CML AML | — | 2019-08-21 | No server version released | No server version released | No server version released | No server version released | Comet Lake-W | Comet Lake-S | Comet Lake-H Comet Lake-U Amber Lake-Y |
| Optimization (Refresh) | 14 nm | Skylake | Cascade Lake (Cascade Lake Refresh) | — | 2 (SP) | — | ? | 2020-02-24 | Cascade Lake R | Cascade Lake R | Only server version released | Only server version released | Only server version released | Only server version released | Only server version released |
| Optimization (Refresh) | 14 nm | Skylake | Cooper Lake | — | 3 (SP) | — | CPL CPL-SP | 2020-06-18 | Cooper Lake-SP | Only 8P/4P server version released | Only 8P/4P server version released | Only 8P/4P server version released | Only 8P/4P server version released | Only 8P/4P server version released | Only 8P/4P server version released |
| Architecture | 14 nm | Cypress Cove | Rocket Lake | 11 | E-2300 | RKL | — | 2021-03-30 | — | — | — | Rocket Lake-E | Rocket Lake-W | Rocket Lake-S | — |
| Process | 10 nm | Palm Cove | Cannon Lake | 8 | — | CNL | — | 2018-05-16 | Only mobile version released | Only mobile version released | Only mobile version released | Only mobile version released | Only mobile version released | Only mobile version released | Cannon Lake-U |
| Architecture | 10 nm | Sunny Cove | Ice Lake | 10 | 3 (SP) | ICL | ICX ICL-SP | 2019-08-01 | — | Ice Lake-SP (2021-04-06) | Ice Lake-D (April 2021) | — | — | — | Ice Lake-U Ice Lake-Y |
| Optimization | 10 nm | Willow Cove | Tiger Lake | 11 | — | TGL | — | 2020-09-02 | Only mobile version released | Only mobile version released | Only mobile version released | Only mobile version released | Only mobile version released | Only mobile version released | Tiger Lake-H35 Tiger Lake-UP3 Tiger Lake-UP4 |
| Architecture | Intel 7 | Golden Cove | Alder Lake | 12 | — | ADL | — | 2021-11-04 | No server / WS version released | No server / WS version released | No server / WS version released | No server / WS version released | No server / WS version released | Alder Lake-S | Alder Lake-HX Alder Lake-H Alder Lake-P Alder Lake-U |
| Architecture | Intel 7 | Golden Cove | Sapphire Rapids | — | 4 (SP) W-2400 W-3400 | — | SPR | 2023-01-10 | Sapphire Rapids-SP | Sapphire Rapids-HBM Sapphire Rapids-SP | — | — | Sapphire Rapids-WS | Only server / WS version released | Only server / WS version released |
| Optimization | Intel 7 | Raptor Cove | Raptor Lake | 13 | — | RPL | — | 2022-10-20 | No server / WS version released | No server / WS version released | No server / WS version released | No server / WS version released | No server / WS version released | Raptor Lake-S | Raptor Lake-HX Raptor Lake-H Raptor Lake-P Raptor Lake-U |
| Optimization | Intel 7 | Raptor Cove | Raptor Lake (Raptor Lake Refresh) | 14 | E-2400 | RPL-R | — | 2023-10-17 | Only 1P server (Xeon E) version released | Only 1P server (Xeon E) version released | Only 1P server (Xeon E) version released | Raptor Lake-E | — | Raptor Lake-S Refresh | — |
| Optimization | Intel 7 | Raptor Cove | Raptor Lake (Raptor Lake Refresh) | 14 | — | RPL-R | — | 2024-01-08 | Mobile processors refreshed | Mobile processors refreshed | Mobile processors refreshed | Mobile processors refreshed | Mobile processors refreshed | Mobile processors refreshed | Raptor Lake-HX Refresh |
| Optimization | Intel 7 | Raptor Cove | Raptor Lake (Raptor Lake Refresh) | Core Series 1 | — | RPL-R | — | 2024-01-08 | Mobile processors refreshed | Mobile processors refreshed | Mobile processors refreshed | Mobile processors refreshed | Mobile processors refreshed | Mobile processors refreshed | Raptor Lake-U Refresh |
| Optimization | Intel 7 | Raptor Cove | Emerald Rapids | — | 5 (SP) | — | EMR | 2023-12-14 | Emerald Rapids-SP | Emerald Rapids-SP | Only server version released | Only server version released | Only server version released | Only server version released | Only server version released |
| Tick | Intel 4 | Redwood Cove | Meteor Lake | Core Ultra (Series 1) | — | MTL | — | 2023-12-14 | Only mobile version released | Only mobile version released | Only mobile version released | Only mobile version released | Only mobile version released | Only mobile version released | Meteor Lake-H Meteor Lake-U |
| Tick | Intel 3 | Redwood Cove | Granite Rapids | — | Xeon 6 (SP) | — | GNR | 2024-09-24 | — | Granite Rapids-AP | — | Only server / WS version released | Only server / WS version released | Only server / WS version released | Only server / WS version released |
| Tick | Intel 3 | Redwood Cove | Granite Rapids | — | Xeon 6 (SP) | — | GNR | 2025 Q1 | Granite Rapids-SP | Granite Rapids-SP | | — | Only server / WS version released | Only server / WS version released | Only server / WS version released | Only server / WS version released |
| Tick | Intel 3 | Redwood Cove | Granite Rapids | — | Xeon 6 (SP) | — | GNR | 2025 | — | — | Granite Rapids-D | Only server / WS version released | Only server / WS version released | Only server / WS version released | Only server / WS version released |
| Tick | Intel 20A | Lion Cove | Arrow Lake | 15 (informally) Core Ultra 200S Core Ultra (Series 2) | — | ARL | — | 2024-10-03 | No server / WS version released | No server / WS version released | No server / WS version released | No server / WS version released | No server / WS version released | Arrow Lake-S | — |
| Tick | Intel 20A | Lion Cove | Arrow Lake | Core Ultra 200H Core Ultra 200HX Intel Core Ultra H & HX Series | — | ARL | — | 2025 Q1 | No server / WS version released | No server / WS version released | No server / WS version released | No server / WS version released | No server / WS version released | — | Arrow Lake-HX Arrow Lake-H |
| Tick | Intel 18A | Lion Cove | Lunar Lake | Core Ultra 200V Core Ultra (Series 2) | — | LNL | — | 2024-09-03 | Only mobile version released | Only mobile version released | Only mobile version released | Only mobile version released | Only mobile version released | Only mobile version released | Lunar Lake-V |
| Change (step) | Fabri­cation process | Micro- architecture | Code names for step | Intel Generation Desktop | Intel Generation Xeon | Intel Microcode shortcut(s) Desktop/WS | Intel Microcode shortcut(s) Xeon/Server | Release date | 8P/4P Server | 4P/2P Server/WS | Embedded Xeon | 1P Xeon | Enthusiast/WS | Desktop | Mobile |
| Processors |||||||

### Atom roadmap

With Silvermont Intel tried to start Tick-Tock in Atom architecture but problems with the 10 nm process did not allow to do this. In the table below instead of Tick-Tock steps Process-Architecture-Optimization are used. There is no official confirmation that Intel uses Process-Architecture-Optimization for Atom but it allows us to understand what changes happened in each generation.
Atom roadmap :
| Change | Fabri­cation process | Micro- architecture (Abbr.) | Code names for step | Release date | Processors/SoCs | Processors/SoCs | Processors/SoCs | Processors/SoCs | Processors/SoCs | Processors/SoCs | Processors/SoCs |
| Change | Fabri­cation process | Micro- architecture (Abbr.) | Code names for step | Release date | MID, Smartphone | Tablet | Netbook | Nettop | Embedded | Server | CE |
| Process / Architecture | 45 nm | Bonnell (BNL) | Bonnell | 2008 | Silverthorne | — | Diamondville | Diamondville | — | — | — |
| Optimization | 45 nm | Bonnell (BNL) | Bonnell | 2010 | Lincroft | Lincroft | Pineview | Pineview | Tunnel Creek Stellarton | — | Sodaville Groveland |
| Process | 32 nm | Bonnell (BNL) | Saltwell | 2011 | Medfield (Penwell & Lexington) & Clover Trail+ (Cloverview) | Clover Trail (Cloverview) | Cedar Trail (Cedarview) | Cedar Trail (Cedarview) | — | Centerton & Briarwood | Berryville |
| Process / Architecture | 22 nm | Silvermont (SLM) | Silvermont | 2013 | Merrifield (Tangier) & Moorefield (Anniedale) & Slayton | Bay Trail-T (Valleyview) | Bay Trail-M (Valleyview) | Bay Trail-D (Valleyview) | Bay Trail-I (Valleyview) | Avoton Rangeley | Un­known |
| Process | 14 nm | Silvermont (SLM) | Airmont | 2014 | Binghamton & Riverton | Cherry Trail-T (Cherryview) | Braswell | Braswell | Braswell | Denverton Cancelled | Un­known |
| Architecture | 14 nm | Goldmont (GLM) | Goldmont | 2016 | Broxton Cancelled | Broxton Cancelled Apollo Lake | Apollo Lake | Apollo Lake | Un­known | Denverton | Un­known |
| Architecture | 14 nm | Goldmont Plus (GLM+, GLP) | Goldmont Plus | 2017 | Un­known | Gemini Lake | Gemini Lake | Gemini Lake | Un­known | Un­known | Un­known |
| Optimization | 14 nm | Goldmont Plus (GLM+, GLP) | Goldmont Plus | 2019 | Un­known | Gemini Lake Refresh | Gemini Lake Refresh | Gemini Lake Refresh | Un­known | Un­known | Un­known |
| Process / Architecture | 10 nm | Tremont | Tremont | 2020 | Un­known | Jasper Lake | Jasper Lake | Jasper Lake | Elkhart Lake | Snow Ridge | Un­known |
| Architecture | Intel 7 | Gracemont | Gracemont | 2021 | Un­known | Un­known | Alder Lake & Raptor Lake (hybrid) | Alder Lake & Raptor Lake (hybrid) | Alder Lake & Raptor Lake (hybrid) | Un­known | Un­known |
| Process / Architecture | Intel 4 | Crestmont | Crestmont | 2023 | Un­known | Un­known | Meteor Lake (hybrid) | Meteor Lake (hybrid) | Meteor Lake (hybrid) | Sierra Forest-SP Sierra Forest-AP | Un­known |
Note: There is further the Xeon Phi. It has up to now undergone four development steps with a current top model that got the code name Knights Landing (shortcut: KNL; the predecessor code names all had the leading term Knights in their name) that is derived from the Silvermont architecture as used for the Intel Atom series but realized in a shrunk 14 nm (FinFET) technology. In 2018, Intel announced that Knights Landing and all further Xeon Phi CPU models were discontinued. However, Intel's Sierra Forest and subsequent Atom-based Xeon CPUs are likely a spiritual successor to Xeon Phi.

### Both

vteIntel CPU core roadmaps from P6 to Panther Lake :
Atom (ULV)
Node name
Pentium/Core
Microarch.
Step
Microarch.
Step
600 nm
P6
Pentium Pro (133 MHz)
500 nm
Pentium Pro (150 MHz)
350 nm
Pentium Pro (166–200 MHz)
Klamath
250 nm
Deschutes
Katmai
NetBurst
180 nm
Coppermine
Willamette
130 nm
Tualatin
Northwood
Pentium M
Banias
NetBurst(HT)
NetBurst(×2)
90 nm
Dothan
Prescott
Prescott‑2M
Smithfield
Tejas
Cedarmill (Tejas)
65 nm
Yonah
Nehalem (NetBurst)
Cedar Mill
Presler
Core
Merom
4 cores on mainstream desktop, DDR3 introduced
Bonnell
Bonnell
45 nm
Penryn
Nehalem
Nehalem
HT reintroduced, integrated MC, PCH L3-cache introduced, 256KB L2-cache/core
Saltwell
32 nm
Westmere
Introduced GPU on same package and AES-NI
Sandy Bridge
Sandy Bridge
On-die ring bus, no more non-UEFI motherboards
Silvermont
Silvermont
22 nm
Ivy Bridge
Haswell
Haswell
Fully integrated voltage regulator
Airmont
14 nm
Broadwell
Skylake
Skylake
DDR4 introduced on mainstream desktop
Goldmont
Goldmont
Kaby Lake
Coffee Lake
6 cores on mainstream desktop
Amber Lake
Mobile-only
Goldmont Plus
Goldmont Plus
Whiskey Lake
Mobile-only
Coffee Lake Refresh
8 cores on mainstream desktop
Comet Lake
10 cores on mainstream desktop
Sunny Cove
Cypress Cove (Rocket Lake)
Backported Sunny Cove microarchitecture for 14nm
Tremont
Tremont
10 nm
Skylake
Palm Cove (Cannon Lake)
Mobile-only
Sunny Cove
Sunny Cove (Ice Lake)
512 KB L2-cache/core
Willow Cove (Tiger Lake)
X$^e$ graphics engine
Gracemont
Gracemont
Intel 7 (10nm ESF)
Golden Cove
Golden Cove (Alder Lake)
Hybrid, DDR5, PCIe 5.0
Raptor Cove (Raptor Lake)
Crestmont
Crestmont
Intel 4
Redwood Cove
Meteor Lake
Mobile-only NPU, chiplet architecture
Skymont
Skymont
N3B (TSMC)
Lion Cove
Lunar Lake
Low power mobile only (9-30W)
Arrow Lake
Darkmont
Darkmont
18A
Cougar Cove
Panther Lake
Strike-through indicates cancelled processors
Bold names are microarchitectures
Italic names are future processors :