Skylake

Skylake is the codename for Intel's 6th generation Core microarchitecture, introduced in 2015 and built on an improved 14-nanometer process. It succeeds Broadwell and precedes Kaby Lake, targeting higher performance per watt across desktop, mobile, and embedded platforms. The family forms the basis for both consumer CPUs and Xeon-class processors.

The architecture featured a unified platform that used the LGA 1151 desktop socket and 100-series chipsets, with mobile variants optimized for efficiency. Skylake supported DDR4 memory (and DDR3L where compatibility required) and offered updated PCIe lanes and I/O capabilities. Its integrated graphics unit provided improved performance and media processing, along with support for modern graphics APIs and accelerated video decoding. The design emphasized IPC improvements, lower power envelopes for laptops, and better security features.

Skylake enabled thinner and lighter devices without sacrificing performance, making it a common choice for mainstream desktops and laptops during its era. It also saw deployment in professional and server segments through Xeon variants, including later generations under the Skylake-SP lineage for servers and high-end desktops such as Skylake-X.

Impact and legacy: Skylake was widely adopted in consumer PCs and laptops, including devices from major manufacturers and some Apple systems around 2016–2017. It represented Intel’s transition to a mature 14 nm process for a broad range of products and set the stage for subsequent generations such as Kaby Lake. The Skylake family remains a reference point for discussions of Intel’s 14 nm era and platform evolution.