Intel Moon Lake Could Offer SKU With Zero P-Cores

Intel’s upcoming low-end, budget consumer CPU, named Moon Lake, may potentially lack Performance cores (P-Cores) in at least one SKU, according to leaked information. This particular model is expected to feature only four low-power efficiency cores (LP E-Cores), possibly based on the Darkmon LP-E silicon. In contrast, the current generation budget CPU from Intel, Wildcat Lake, offers a minimum of two P-Cores in its lowest configuration and up to four cores with the Wildcat Lake-R variant.

Furthermore, Moon Lake appears to have a significantly lower base power rating of 6W, with an estimated operating wattage ranging between 6W and 16W if Jaykihn's rumors hold true. Additionally, as with Wildcat Lake, the budget Moon Lake will not include a vPro variant due to its budget classification.

Despite these intriguing details, important aspects are missing from the leaked information, including base and boost clock speeds. However, it is believed that Moon Lake's architecture upgrades will be the primary driver of performance gains, rather than clock speeds. Both Panther Lake and Wildcat Lake share the same 18A process, with Panther Lake having demonstrated superior performance and power efficiency.

For a better understanding of the CPU's potential capabilities, readers can refer to reviews of the CPU in the Asus Zenbook DUO and the MSI Claw EX 8 AI+, with the latter powered by the Arc G3 Extreme, a version of the top-tier Panther Lake. However, as with any rumors, it is advisable to remain cautious and await official confirmation from Intel.