diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 60a2c8c822..f2657cb0ce 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ release.
 
 - Update `jvm.gc.duration` histogram buckets to `[ 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 ]`
   ([#317](https://github.com/open-telemetry/semantic-conventions/pull/317))
+- BREAKING: Change type of `host.cpu.model.id` and `host.cpu.model.family` to string.
+  ([#495](https://github.com/open-telemetry/semantic-conventions/issues/495))
 
 ### Features
 
diff --git a/docs/resource/host.md b/docs/resource/host.md
index f7e2286af5..3bfedb3715 100644
--- a/docs/resource/host.md
+++ b/docs/resource/host.md
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ To report host metrics, the `system.*` namespace SHOULD be used.
 | Attribute  | Type | Description  | Examples  | Requirement Level |
 |---|---|---|---|---|
 | `host.cpu.cache.l2.size` | int | The amount of level 2 memory cache available to the processor (in Bytes). | `12288000` | Opt-In |
-| `host.cpu.family` | int | Numeric value specifying the family or generation of the CPU. | `6` | Opt-In |
-| `host.cpu.model.id` | int | Model identifier. It provides more granular information about the CPU, distinguishing it from other CPUs within the same family. | `6` | Opt-In |
+| `host.cpu.family` | string | Family or generation of the CPU. | `6`; `PA-RISC 1.1e` | Opt-In |
+| `host.cpu.model.id` | string | Model identifier. It provides more granular information about the CPU, distinguishing it from other CPUs within the same family. | `6`; `9000/778/B180L` | Opt-In |
 | `host.cpu.model.name` | string | Model designation of the processor. | `11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-1185G7 @ 3.00GHz` | Opt-In |
 | `host.cpu.stepping` | int | Stepping or core revisions. | `1` | Opt-In |
 | `host.cpu.vendor.id` | string | Processor manufacturer identifier. A maximum 12-character string. [1] | `GenuineIntel` | Opt-In |
diff --git a/model/resource/host.yaml b/model/resource/host.yaml
index 9b63976db5..9665d09c58 100644
--- a/model/resource/host.yaml
+++ b/model/resource/host.yaml
@@ -106,17 +106,17 @@ groups:
         examples: [ 'GenuineIntel' ]
       - id: family
         requirement_level: opt_in
-        type: int
+        type: string
         brief: >
-          Numeric value specifying the family or generation of the CPU.
-        examples: [ 6 ]
+          Family or generation of the CPU.
+        examples: [ '6', 'PA-RISC 1.1e' ]
       - id: model.id
         requirement_level: opt_in
-        type: int
+        type: string
         brief: >
           Model identifier. It provides more granular information about the CPU, distinguishing it from
           other CPUs within the same family.
-        examples: [ 6 ]
+        examples: [ '6', '9000/778/B180L' ]
       - id: model.name
         requirement_level: opt_in
         type: string