Details about Intel’s entry-level processor family, Wildcat Lake, have been revealed. Previously rumored to be announced alongside the Panther Lake series, Wildcat Lake does not offer ray tracing support. This lack of support is explained by the fact that the graphics unit only has two RT units.
Wildcat Lake processors are appearing.
However, thanks to the processors’ XMX cores, limited XeSS technology will be available. However, the actual performance of these cores is not yet known and will be revealed through future tests.
Wildcat Lake is the direct successor to the Alder Lake-N and Twin Lake platforms currently on the market. This series is designed specifically for entry-level laptops, mini PCs, and some handheld consoles. Its architecture is quite similar to Panther Lake. The processor features Cougar Cove performance cores, Darkmont efficiency cores, and a Celestial Xe-LPG graphics architecture.
The series’ most powerful configuration features two Cougar Cove performance cores, four low-power efficiency cores, two Xe3 graphics cores, and a total compute capacity of 40 AI TOPS (4 for the CPU, 18 for the GPU, and 18 for the NPU).
On the hardware side, Wildcat Lake processors support LPDDR5X and DDR5 memory. The Thunderbolt 4 port and six PCIe lanes provide versatile connectivity options. The package is designed as a BGA 1516, resulting in a smaller and more cost-effective platform compared to the Panther Lake-H series. The TDP is planned to remain below 10 watts.
Details regarding Wildcat Lake are expected to be more definitive by the end of the year. Intel’s collaborations with handheld console and mini PC manufacturers will be among the key developments that will determine the series’ market position.
