[Custom PC] What Do CPU Suffixes Mean? Performance, Integrated GPU, and CPU Cooler Presence Explained

When choosing a CPU for a custom-built PC, many people wonder what the letters at the end of the model number mean.

These letters have specific meanings and can affect which parts should be selected, so it is important to understand them well.

Key Points of This Article

The CPU’s suffix indicates its performance, whether it has an integrated GPU or CPU cooler, its power model, and whether it supports overclocking.
If there is no integrated GPU, a graphics card is required.
If there is no CPU cooler, a separate CPU cooler is required.
If overclocking, pay attention to the motherboard chipset.

This article explains the basics such as how to read CPU manufacturers and model numbers, performance indicators, and how to choose a CPU from the perspective of performance and compatibility.

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About the Meaning of the Letters at the End of CPU Model Numbers

At the end of CPU model numbers, there are letters such as “K” or “KF.”

These are also called suffixes.

These suffix letters tell the following things:

Whether the CPU is for desktop or for notebook/mobile
Whether it has graphics function (integrated GPU)
Whether a CPU cooler is included
Whether the CPU supports overclocking
Whether it is a power-saving model with reduced heat output

Especially, knowing whether the CPU has an integrated GPU and whether a CPU cooler is included is essential when building a custom PC.

CPUs used in custom PCs are mainly from Intel and AMD, and both companies use letters at the end of their model numbers.

However, the letters used by each company are different, and even the same letter can have a different meaning, so be careful.

Meaning of CPU Suffix Letters

This section explains the meaning of CPU suffix letters, divided into Intel and AMD CPUs.

Meaning of CPU Suffix Letters

Intel CPU Suffixes
AMD CPU Suffixes

Intel CPU Suffixes

This explanation focuses on the Core i series, Intel’s main brand.

At first glance, there seem to be many suffixes, but if limited to those mainly used recently, there are not so many.

Suffix	Example	Overview
None	Core i9 14900	Standard version
K	Core i9 14900K	Overclockable model The CPU clock frequency can be controlled. By running at higher clock speeds than the official specification, higher processing performance can be achieved. However, this puts more load on the CPU, so it is for advanced users, and may not be covered by warranty for pre-built PCs.
F	Core i9 12490F	Model without integrated graphics Normally, CPUs with integrated graphics can output video, but with this suffix, a graphics card is required.
KF	Core i9 13900FK	Model combining K and F Supports overclocking. No graphics function, so a graphics card is required.
KS	Core i9 12900KS	Higher clock speed than K
T	Core i9 12900T	Ultra power-saving model Lower performance than S, with reduced heat and power consumption.
X, XE	Core i9 9960X Core i9 10980XE	Extreme Edition top-end model Overclockable. Very high performance and price. EE or XE may also be used. *Up to 10th generation
S	Core i5 4770S	Power-saving model Lower performance than standard, with reduced heat and power consumption. *Up to 4th generation

Minor suffixes used in only a few models are omitted.

AMD CPU Suffixes

This explanation focuses on the Ryzen series, AMD’s main brand.

Suffix	Example	Overview
None	Ryzen 9 5900	Standard version
X	Ryzen 9 7950X	High-end model in the Ryzen series Overclockable.
XT	Ryzen 9 3900XT	Higher performance version of X Slightly higher maximum clock speed than X
PRO	Ryzen 9 PRO 5945	Business (enterprise) CPU Improved security Better quality, reliability, and lifespan
G	Ryzen 7 5700G	Model with integrated GPU For small PCs (TDP 65W) *For AMD, models other than “G” require a graphics card
GE	Ryzen 7 5700GE	Model with integrated GPU For ultra-small PCs (TDP 35W) *For AMD, models other than “G” require a graphics card
WX	Ryzen Threadripper 3990X	Top-end model in the Ryzen Threadripper series
E	A12-9800E	Power-saving model Lower performance than standard, with reduced heat and power consumption.

Minor suffixes used in only a few models are omitted.

Important Points When Building a Custom PC

When building a custom PC, depending on the CPU suffix and other parts, there may be compatibility issues that prevent assembly or operation, so be careful.

For CPUs with the following suffixes, pay attention to the configuration of PC parts.

Important Points When Building a Custom PC

Except for Intel “F” and AMD “G”, a graphics card is required
Intel “K”, “X” and AMD “X” require a separate CPU cooler
If Overclocking, Check the Motherboard Chipset

Except for Intel “F” and AMD “G”, a graphics card is required

If the Intel CPU suffix is “F” or the AMD CPU suffix is not “G”, there is no integrated GPU, so a graphics card is required.

If there is no graphics card and the CPU also lacks an integrated GPU, there will be no graphics function at all, so video output is not possible.

It is possible to assemble the PC and turn on the power, but nothing will be displayed on the monitor, making it unusable.

If the PC is for gaming and a graphics card is included in the build, there is no problem.

By connecting an HDMI or other cable to the graphics card’s video output port, video will be displayed.

However, for everyday use or business PCs, a graphics card is often not included.

In that case, check the CPU suffix to see if the CPU has an integrated GPU function.

Intel “K”, “X” and AMD “X” require a separate CPU cooler

If the Intel CPU suffix is “K” or “X”, or the AMD CPU suffix is “X”, a genuine CPU cooler is not included, so a third-party CPU cooler is required.

The CPU handles all processing in the PC and generates a lot of heat, so a dedicated CPU cooler is essential for cooling.

Normally, a CPU cooler is included with the CPU, called a “genuine CPU cooler” or “retail cooler.”

AMD genuine CPU cooler

Genuine CPU coolers are generally small in size, and Intel’s are similar.

However, high-end CPUs for overclocking, such as Intel’s “K” and “X” and AMD’s “X”, do not come with a CPU cooler, so a third-party CPU cooler must be prepared separately.

In other words, “Genuine coolers cannot cool the heat of high-end CPUs, so prepare your own!”

(Third-party air CPU cooler)

(Third-party water CPU cooler)

Therefore, when buying a CPU without a cooler, also choose a third-party CPU cooler.

Third-party coolers usually have larger fans, making them quieter, and larger heat sinks for better cooling performance.

Different products support different CPU sockets, so check the supported sockets for the CPU and motherboard.

Most third-party CPU coolers support multiple sockets, so check if the CPU or motherboard socket is included.

Also, if the cooler is too large, it may not fit in the PC case, so pay attention to the size (mainly height) of the PC case and CPU cooler.

Check the PC case specifications to see what height of CPU cooler is supported.

If this is not known and a CPU is purchased, it may be surprising to find that there is no CPU cooler included.

At worst, another one can be bought at a store or online, so there is no financial loss, just extra effort.

If Overclocking, Check the Motherboard Chipset

If the Intel CPU suffix is “K” or “X”, or the AMD CPU suffix is “X”, and overclocking (OC) is planned, check if the motherboard chipset supports OC.

OC means running the CPU at a higher clock speed than its rated frequency. For example, running a CPU rated at 4.2GHz at 4.7GHz.

Main motherboard chipsets include the following:

[Intel Motherboards]

Z: High-end model

H: Mid-range model

B: Entry-level model

[AMD Motherboards]

X: High-end model

B: Mid-range model

A: Entry-level model

When looking at the motherboard model number, such as “Z790” or “H670”, the letter indicates the grade.

Among these, for OC, a high-end “Z” or “X” model is required.

However, recent Intel motherboards with mid-range “H” or entry-level “B” chipsets also support OC.

Therefore, if the Intel CPU suffix is “K” or “X”, or the AMD CPU suffix is “X”, and the motherboard does not support OC, overclocking is not possible.

Also, even without OC, the rated clock speed is higher for “K” or “X” models than for standard models, so their performance is higher.

For example, compare Intel Core i7 12700″K” and 12700″F”:

12700″K”: P-core 3.6 – 4.9GHz, E-core 2.7 – 3.8GHz

12700″F”: P-core 2.1 – 4.8GHz, E-core 1.6 – 3.6GHz

Intel CPUs from the 12th generation have performance cores (P-cores) for heavy loads and efficiency cores (E-cores) for efficiency, each with lower and upper limits, so there are four numbers.

The lower limit is about 1.0–1.5GHz higher, and the upper limit is about 0.1–0.2GHz higher.

Some users say, “If not overclocking, there’s no point in buying a ‘K’ model!” but even without OC, it is reasonable to use a “K” model because of its higher clock speed and basic performance.

The author does not overclock, but uses an Intel CPU with a “K” suffix, and explains this topic in detail in another article.

Summary: The CPU Suffix Indicates Performance, GPU Presence, and Power Consumption

This article explained the meaning of CPU suffix letters for Intel and AMD, and the compatibility issues to watch for when building a custom PC.

Here is a summary of the key points:

Key Points of This Article

The CPU’s suffix indicates its performance, whether it has an integrated GPU or CPU cooler, its power model, and whether it supports overclocking.
If there is no integrated GPU, a graphics card is required.
If there is no CPU cooler, a separate CPU cooler is required.
If overclocking, pay attention to the motherboard chipset.

In particular, be careful because the presence or absence of an integrated GPU and CPU cooler changes depending on the CPU suffix.

This affects the configuration of parts, so be sure to understand what can be read from the CPU suffix in advance.

This article also explains the basics such as how to read CPU manufacturers and model numbers, performance indicators, and how to choose a CPU from the perspective of performance and compatibility.