What Happened
According to TechPowerUp, Intel is currently preparing two new processor stock-keeping units targeted at extremely low-power computing. These upcoming developments include a pure low-power efficiency core system-on-chip named "Moon Lake" alongside a planned "Wildcat Lake Refresh." Both processors are reportedly built on Intel's 18A node.
Processor Details and Specifications
The "Moon Lake" generation, officially known by the moniker MNL, features zero performance cores and includes up to four "Darkmont" low-power efficiency cores. According to TechPowerUp, it is designed as a much smaller layout for embedded devices like network-attached storage and could serve as a successor to the N-Series, such as the previous "Alder Lake-N" low-power processors. Its base power is reportedly rated at 6 W, comparable to processors typically used in smartphones. It utilizes the BGA1516 package platform, which is the same platform used by "Wildcat Lake." While the exact number of Xe3 cores in Moon Lake remains unknown, expectations suggest it may feature half of the up to two Xe3 cores found in Wildcat Lake to preserve its 6 W thermal design power.
Meanwhile, the upcoming "Wildcat Lake Refresh" overhauls the initial Core 300 Series "Wildcat Lake" processors launched earlier in the year. While the original Wildcat Lake featured up to two performance cores, four efficiency cores, up to two Xe3 GPU cores, and a package reaching up to 35 W, the refreshed version is expected to increase the performance core count to four. It will retain the same "Cougar Cove" base microarchitecture and four "Darkmont" low-power efficiency cores.