Intel just launched its Core 300 series of mobile CPUs, also known as Wildcat Lake, for the budget segment a couple of months ago. But rumors for a next-gen refresh are already surfacing, with the latest one claiming that it will be a noticeable upgrade. Reliable tipster Jaykihn has just suggested that the Wildcat Lake refresh due next year will move to an 8-core config, up from the 6-cores that Wildcat Lake has right now.

The post you can expand above says "4+0+4," in reference to a rumored Wildcat Lake Refresh chip with 4 P-cores, 0 E-cores, and 4 LP-E cores, totaling out to 8 cores. Wildcat Lake today also has 4 LP-E cores but only 2 P-cores, so we're looking at a doubling in this aspect, and that should translate to real-world performance improvements. Keep in mind that these are Cougar Cove P-cores along with Darkmont-based LP-E cores, borrowed from Panther Lake silicon.

After all, Wildcat Lake is essentially just a cost-efficient and downsized version of Panther Lake that has an infused, monolithic CPU+GPU tile instead of separate chiplets bonded together — both are manufactured using Intel's 18A process. Wildcat Lake is, therefore, branded as the "Core 300" series, with the "Ultra" moniker removed to specify its lower-end capabilities.

Just two days ago, a leak from the same insider claimed that a 6-core Nova Lake mobile part was cancelled because that slot would be better filled by the Wildcat Lake refresh instead. Intel likely didn't want the two to overlap, and now that we know about a potential 8-core config, it makes even more sense. Jaykihn also replied, saying that Wildcat Lake refresh will still have 2 Xe3 cores for integrated graphics.

In the replies to the post attached above, Videocardz separately claims the Wildcat Lake refresh would be part of the Core 400 series, but only for the Core 5 and Core 7 SKUs. The lowest-end Core 3 SKUs would still be branded as the Core 300 series, as they will not be getting refreshed. This could mean Intel is trying to target a more upscale audience with its Wildcat Lake refresh, while the cheapest parts remain unchanged.

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Hassam Nasir is a die-hard hardware enthusiast with years of experience as a tech editor and writer, focusing on detailed CPU comparisons and general hardware news. When he’s not working, you’ll find him bending tubes for his ever-evolving custom water-loop gaming rig or benchmarking the latest CPUs and GPUs just for fun.