Intel fully unveils Wildcat Lake Core Series 3 processors

Intel Wildcat Lake joins Core Series 3 (without Ultra)

Intel has at last given a proper launch to the Wildcat Lake processors, which make up the Core Series 3 range (without the Ultra branding). From an architectural standpoint, they are essentially the same as Panther Lake, but implemented on a separate, compact die with a small number of cores.

Model line-up and core configurations

There are seven processors in the family, and five of them share the same headline specifications, including identical CPU and GPU core counts.

At most, the die carries just two performance cores and four LP cores. It does not include the usual efficiency cores at all, and it pairs that with an iGPU featuring two Xe3 cores. As a result, five of the six main models come in a full 2+0+4 configuration, while one model uses a 1+0+4 layout. On the two entry-level CPUs in the range, the iGPU is cut to a single core; the remaining chips keep two.

Almost all models are effectively identical

With so many shared configurations across the stack, most of the line-up ends up looking very similar on paper, especially among the five models that match on CPU and GPU core counts.

Platform features: NPU 5, memory, connectivity, and process

These processors also include an NPU 5 block rated at only 17 TOPS. Notable specifications include boost clocks up to 4.8 GHz, support for DDR5-6400 and LPDDR5X-7467, a 15 W TDP with a maximum of 35 W, 6 MB of cache, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, and Intel’s 18A process technology.

Performance and efficiency comparisons

Performance from CPUs like these is not expected to be particularly high, but the focus is strong energy efficiency. Intel itself compares the Core 7 360 with the Core Ultra 7 150U (2+8+0), and under the same operating modes the newer CPU uses 52–64% less power. In terms of performance, within that same pairing the new processor is 10–111% faster. In AI workloads the gap is even larger, although that is unlikely to matter for most users. Against the Core i7-1185G7, the new processor is, on average, 41% quicker in multi-threaded operation.

Overall, these are relatively low-performance yet highly power-efficient processors, which should be inexpensive to manufacture and aimed at affordable laptops. Intel has already provided a list of a couple of dozen models expected to ship with the new CPUs.