EOL for Intel
Modern technology is a constantly evolving landscape. Due to constant innovation and improvement, upgrades are often necessary. Over time, newer models are introduced to replace older products. Each revision of a product is referred to as a generation. Often, several generations can pass before a product reaches what’s known as End-of-Life (EOL). When a product reaches EOL, the manufacturer no longer provides support for the product. This often means that the product will no longer receive any future updates and may not be compatible with future software or operating system updates.
Recently, the largest CPU manufacturer, Intel®, has reached EOL for the three earliest generations of their Core i3, i5, and i7 processors. So how does one know if they’re running an affected processor? The simplest way to determine a computer’s processor type is to click on the Start Menu (Windows logo in lower left-hand corner of screen), type “msinfo32” without the quotes, and press Enter or Return on your keyboard. This will bring up a window that says “System Information” at the top. The tenth item down the list on the right will be your processor. If your processor name begins with Intel® Core™ i3, i5, or i7 followed by a dash and series of numbers, take a closer look at the series of numbers following the dash. If there are only three digits following the dash, your product is a First-Generation Intel® Core™ processor and is no longer supported. In addition, if there are four digits following the dash and the first digit is a 2 or 3, you have a Second or Third-Generation Intel® Core™ processor which are also no longer supported. If either of these scenarios are the case, its time to replace your computer.
If you need any help determining your CPU generation or have just discovered that you’re running one of the EOL Intel® Core™ processors, give us a call! Our number is (540) 487-6330. We’re available from 9 AM to 6 PM Monday through Friday. Simply call or stop by the office at 1008 West Beverly Street in Staunton, across from Thornrose Cemetery.