"Twin Lake" Processors by Intel
"Twin Lake" is the codename for a series of low-power x86-64 processors developed by Intel. These processors are the successors to the Core i3 N-series and N200 series "Alder Lake-N" processors. They are non-socketed (BGA) chips that are used in a variety of devices ranging from entry-level notebooks and mini PCs to consumer NAS servers and other embedded applications. The chips are equipped with E-cores only. While the "Alder Lake-N" processors used "Gracemont" cores, the "Twin Lake" processors utilize the new "Skymont" cores, which also serve as E-cores in the "Lunar Lake" and "Arrow Lake" hybrid processors. The "Skymont" cores offer significant improvements in IPC and clock speed, with gains of nearly 50% over the "Gracemont" cores. This brings their performance levels closer to the "Golden Cove" and "Raptor Cove" P-cores found in the "Alder Lake" and "Raptor Lake" processors, although they do not reach speeds of up to 5.00 GHz. The first mention of "Twin Lake" was back in May 2024 when Jaykihn leaked details about the processor lineup.
The "Twin Lake" silicon consists of two "Skymont" E-core clusters that share an L3 cache. The sizes of the shared L2 caches of the E-core clusters and the shared L3 cache are currently unknown. In comparison, the "Alder Lake-N" processors had each "Gracemont" cluster with 2 MB of L2 cache, and the two clusters shared a 6 MB L3 cache. The silicon also features an integrated GPU based on the Xe-LPG graphics architecture, with four Xe cores totaling 32 execution units (EU). The flagship model in the series is the Intel N355, which features an 8-core/8-thread CPU configuration with a base frequency of 3.00 GHz and a boost frequency of 3.90 GHz. The chip has a configurable TDP of 9 W and 15 W. The iGPU on this chip has all 32 EU enabled with a graphics frequency of 1.35 GHz. The Intel N350 is a lower-tier model compared to the N355, designed for power-constrained applications. It has a TDP of 7 W and retains all 8 CPU cores and 32 EU on the iGPU. However, the clock speeds are lower with a base frequency of 2.60 GHz. The iGPU boost frequency remains at 1.35 GHz.
Next in line is the N250, which features a CPU core count of 4 with one "Skymont" cluster disabled. It has a base frequency of 3.20 GHz and a boost frequency of 3.80 GHz. The iGPU retains all 32 EU but boosts up to 1.25 GHz, with a TDP of 6 W.
Lastly, the Intel N150 is an entry-level chip with a CPU core count of 4, also from disabling an E-core cluster. The iGPU has 3 Xe cores or 24 EU enabled, with a base frequency of 2.90 GHz and a boost frequency of 3.60 GHz. The iGPU boosts up to 1.00 GHz, and the chip has a TDP of 6 W.
