Suggestion for Intel: Reconsidering the "Lake" Naming Strategy

[Sachin313]

Dear Intel Team,

Since 2015, when Intel introduced the "Lake" series naming convention (starting with Skylake, 6th Gen), AMD has gained significant market traction. By 2017, AMD's Ryzen series became a serious competitor, and today, it has either matched or surpassed Intel in various performance and value segments.

I would like to present a strategic perspective on why this may have happened and how Intel could potentially improve its branding and product perception.

The "Lake" (Water) vs. CPU Heat Paradox
A CPU is fundamentally a high-heat-generating component, requiring advanced cooling solutions. However, the term "Lake" evokes a sense of coolness, calmness, and slowness—which is opposite to what a high-performance CPU represents.

AMD's "Zen" branding conveys stability, power, and balance.
Intel's "Lake" branding does not instinctively signal speed, power, or dominance.

This psychological contrast may have contributed to AMD’s stronger market perception over time.

Intel's Market Shift Before and After "Lake" Naming
Before 2015 (Strong Branding & Market Leadership):
Intel used powerful, technology-focused names that felt robust and performance-driven:
✔ Nehalem, Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge, Haswell, Broadwell

After 2015 ("Lake" Naming & AMD's Rise):
Intel adopted Lake-based names, and AMD Ryzen started gaining momentum:
✔ Skylake (2015), Kaby Lake (2017), Coffee Lake (2018)...

Coincidentally, AMD’s market dominance grew during this period.
In 2017, Ryzen (Zen 1) matched Intel, and by 2020, Ryzen 5000 (Zen 3) surpassed Intel in gaming and multi-threaded performance.

AMD’s Branding Success with "Zen"
AMD strategically chose "Zen", which conveys:
✔ Balance, Strength, and Stability
✔ "Ryzen" = Rise + Zen (Symbolizing power and evolution)
✔ A sense of innovation and controlled performance

In contrast, "Lake" lacks the aggressive branding appeal that high-performance computing demands.

Suggested Improvements for Intel
Instead of continuing with "Lake" names, Intel could consider stronger and more performance-driven naming conventions, such as:

"Titan Core" (Strength & Power)
"Neural Boost" (AI & Performance)
"Thunder Core" (Speed & Impact)
"Quantum Edge" (Futuristic & Cutting-Edge)

Such branding would align better with Intel’s high-performance legacy and make a stronger psychological impact on consumers.

Conclusion: Should Intel Reconsider the "Lake" Naming Strategy?
The "Lake" naming convention does not effectively reflect the power and performance of Intel CPUs.
Since the adoption of "Lake," AMD has significantly grown in market share and brand perception.
Intel should explore more aggressive and performance-focused branding to strengthen its market leadership.

Would Intel consider a new naming strategy that better aligns with its technological prowess and competitive edge?

Looking forward to your thoughts on this!

Best regards,
Sachin Gupta

@intel #Intel #AMDvsIntel #ProcessorWars #Innovation #TechStrategy #Branding

[DhannielM_Intel]

Hi Sachin313,

Thank you for sharing your thoughts in the community about the codenames Intel has been using. I truly appreciate your suggestions regarding naming conventions and will certainly take note of them. Your ideas for potential names for future processors are valuable, and I appreciate your contribution.

For now, I will close this inquiry. If you need further assistance, please feel free to submit a new question, as this thread will no longer

Best regards,

Dhanniel M.

Intel Customer Support Technician