The 4'th gen series processors stickers looks like this
4th gen Intel processors stickers |
3rd gen Intel processors stickers |
Also you can identify the generation by processors model number
Model no below 1000 normally represent 1st Generation.
for example : i5-750
Model no 2000 normally represent 2nd Generation.
for example : i5-2500
Model no 3000 normally represent 3rd Generation.
for example : i5-3570
Model no 4000 normally represent 4th Generation.
for example : i5-4570
The difference between the generation is about the architecture, power consumption and speed.
Of course the latest 4th generation comes with latest architecture.
Anyhow I still believes that new generation always provide better performance.
But some case the lower gen processors works better than newest.