Intel is reportedly preparing two new processor SKUs focused on extremely low-power computing. The first, called "Moon Lake," is designed as a pure low-power efficiency (LPE) core SoC. The "Moon Lake" generation features no P-Cores and up to 4 "Darkmont" LPE-Cores on the Intel 18A die. Unlike "Wildcat Lake," which includes at least 2 P-Cores, "Moon Lake" is intended to be a much smaller design for embedded devices like NAS. The base power of "Moon Lake" is reportedly rated at 6 W, similar to an SoC typically used in smartphones. The number of Xe3 cores in this SKU is unknown, but since "Wildcat Lake" has up to 2 Xe3 cores, we expect "Moon Lake" to have half of that to maintain its 6 W TDP. Intel has manufactured "Moon Lake" on its 18A node and placed it on the BGA1516 package, the same platform used by "Wildcat Lake." The official moniker for "Moon Lake" is MNL, and it could be a successor to the N-Series, like the previous "Alder Lake-N" series of low-power processors. Additionally, Intel is preparing an overhaul of "Wildcat Lake" with the new "Wildcat Lake Refresh." When Intel launched the Core 300 Series "Wildcat Lake" earlier this year, these processors came with up to 2 P-Cores, 4 E-Cores, and up to 2 Xe3 GPU cores, with a package reaching up to 35 W. However, the new "Wildcat Lake Refresh" is expected to increase the number of P-Cores to 4 while keeping the same base microarchitecture of "Cougar Cove" and maintaining 4 "Darkmont" LPE-Cores. The integrated graphics remain similar, with up to 2 Xe3 cores. Importantly, this refresh adds support for Intel's vPro technology, meaning that enterprise customers are in for a surprise with a new low-cost option for their PCs. All three platforms—"Wildcat Lake," "Wildcat Lake Refresh," and "Moon Lake"—are reportedly well-received in the low-power computing space, as Intel is actively pushing their development. All three are based on the 18A node for manufacturing, with Intel Foundry handling the work, and they share the BGA1516 package.
