Get ready for some exciting news in the world of mobile gaming! A significant leak has just uncovered details about Intel’s upcoming Panther Lake CPU lineup, specifically designed for laptops. We’re talking about at least 12 new processors, with the most potent ones reportedly launching under the brand-new Intel Core Ultra X designation. Whispers of this powerful new branding have been circulating for a while, and now it seems we’re on the cusp of an official reveal.
While it’s still uncertain if Intel plans to extend the Core Ultra X branding to its desktop gaming CPUs, this leak strongly indicates a laptop-first approach for the Panther Lake series. Regardless, Intel is undoubtedly aiming for these new chips to fiercely compete with AMD’s offerings in the gaming arena. We fully expect the most powerful of these processors to power the next generation of top-tier gaming laptops.
This tantalizing new information surfaced on the Chinese industry forum, Chiphell, thanks to a user named Sly. Their post included a screenshot revealing a comprehensive list of upcoming Intel Core Ultra gaming CPU names and their detailed configurations, organized into three distinct tiers. Subsequent analysis from tech news outlet Videocardz further corroborates that the four powerful new Core Ultra X CPUs are specifically earmarked for premium gaming laptops.
Delving into the specifics, three of these high-end processors – the Intel Core Ultra 9 X338H, Core Ultra 7 X368H, and Core Ultra 7 X358H – are said to boast four performance (P) cores, which are crucial for exceptional gaming experiences. These will be complemented by eight efficiency (E) cores for robust multi-threaded tasks, an additional four low-power (LP) E-cores, and a formidable 12 Xe2 GPU cores. Not to be outdone, another chip, the Intel Core Ultra 5 X338H, is also expected to offer four P-cores, four E-cores, four LP cores, and 10 Xe2 GPU cores.
Beyond the elite Core Ultra X models, four other CPUs are rumored to appear in gaming laptops, albeit without the new X branding. These include the Intel Core Ultra 9 375H, Core Ultra 7 355H, and Core Ultra 7 345H. Each of these is expected to house four P-cores, eight E-cores, four LP-cores, and four Xe2 GPU cores. The Intel Core Ultra 5 325H, while sharing similar core counts, will reportedly feature only four E-cores, making it a slightly less powerful option in this segment.
Finally, the leak mentions four additional CPUs targeting lower-powered laptops. These specific chips are noted for their absence of E-cores, meaning they’re not designed for heavy multi-threaded workloads. While they won’t offer much for serious gaming, they’re likely destined for more affordable, entry-level laptop configurations.
Intriguingly, this news comes despite earlier whispers of potential production challenges for Intel’s Panther Lake lineup, particularly concerning its advanced 18A semiconductor manufacturing process. However, it appears Intel is forging ahead with its plans. Videocardz indicates that Intel is poised to release more details about Panther Lake later this week, though we might have to wait until early next year for the full, confirmed specifications.
As with all leaks, it’s wise to treat this information with a degree of skepticism until official announcements are made. Nevertheless, we’re eagerly anticipating what Intel has in store. The big question remains: will Panther Lake provide Intel with the necessary punch to truly challenge AMD’s formidable chips, especially those leveraging their game-changing 3D V-cache technology?
AMD’s innovative 3D V-cache has certainly given them a significant edge in recent performance battles. If you’re considering an upgrade for your desktop gaming PC, we recommend exploring our guide to the best gaming CPUs, which offers top recommendations for new processors, including excellent choices from Intel.
Do you have strong thoughts on Intel’s laptop gaming CPU performance, or are you particularly excited about the potential of Panther Lake? Join the conversation with fellow readers and our team on our Discord server to discuss this and other PC gaming hardware topics!