Intel's upcoming "Panther Lake" architecture has just popped up in a perfmon platform update, which now recognizes its core codenames and CPUID via the InstLatX64 lookup table. Tagged "GenuineIntel-6-CC" (Family 6, Model 204), the patch confirms that Panther Lake will combine "Cougar Cove" P-cores with Darkmont E-cores and even hints at a third tier of LPE cores in some configurations. It's the clearest sign yet that Intel is sticking firmly to its hybrid-core strategy. We've also got our first look at the actual SKUs. On the high-performance side (PTL-H), there's a 45 W model with 4 P-cores, 8 E-cores, no LP-E-Cores, and 4 Xe3 graphics cores. Two 25 W models share the same 4 P-cores and 8 E-cores but differ in the rest: one adds 4 LP-E-Cores plus 12 Xe3 cores, while the other pairs 4 LP-E-Cores with just 4 Xe3 cores.

The PTL-U series will offer a 15 W chip with 4 P-cores, 4 LPE-Cores, and 4 Xe3 graphics cores for ultralight devices, dropping the traditional E-cores entirely. Intel plans to move Panther Lake into mass production later this year, lining it up behind the risk production of its cutting-edge 18A process. If things follow the Meteor Lake timeline, we'll likely see most Panther Lake chips hitting shelves in Q1 2026. This isn't Lunar Lake 2.0—Lunar Lake was a niche effort aimed at extreme efficiency with on-package memory. Panther Lake, by contrast, seems built for real-world mobile performance. Most laptops will stick with standard SODIMM or soldered LPDDR memory, though a few OEMs are talking up next-generation LP-CAMM slots for easy RAM upgrades. With a rumored maximum TDP of 64 W, Panther Lake can power everything from budget notebooks and handheld gaming devices to serious gaming laptops and even car infotainment systems.