Intel Graphics 2 Xe-Cores (Wildcat Lake): Two Xe3 Cores at Iris Xe 96EU Level

Wildcat Lake uses the Xe3 architecture, but its graphics are limited to two Xe-cores and single-channel memory. In real-world tests, this configuration scores around 1350-1400 points in 3DMark Time Spy Graphics-roughly the level of Iris Xe 96EU. Office tasks, video playback, and undemanding games pose no problems. In Cyberpunk 2077, however, the resolution already has to be lowered to 720p to achieve 30+ FPS.

Intel Graphics 2 Xe-Cores is used in mobile Intel Core Series 3 processors from the Wildcat Lake family. The graphics frequency reaches 2.3 GHz in the Core 5 315, 2.5 GHz in the Core 5 320 and Core 5 330, and 2.6 GHz in the Core 7 350 and Core 7 360.

Two Xe-Cores and Single-Channel Memory

Wildcat Lake uses the same Xe3 architecture but has significantly fewer compute units than Panther Lake. Intel Graphics 2 Xe-Cores contains two Xe-cores, 256 ALU compute units, and two ray-tracing units.

For comparison, entry-level Intel Graphics variants in Panther Lake can have four Xe3 cores, while the Arc B390 has twelve.

There is also a second limitation: single-channel memory. DDR5-6400 and LPDDR5X-7467 are supported. This is particularly important for integrated graphics because the GPU uses the same memory as the processor.

Hardware AV1 decoding, Quick Sync, DirectX 12, OpenCL 3.0, and output to three displays are supported.

Intel Graphics 2 Xe-Cores in 3DMark Time Spy

The Core 7 350 scores 1401 points versus 1343 for the Core 5 320. The difference between the two laptops is around 4%.

Iris Xe 96EU paired with the Core 7 150U scores 1428 points-practically the same as Wildcat Lake. The Radeon 840M is approximately 10% faster, while the four-core Intel Graphics in the Core Ultra 7 155U is around 37% faster.

The four Xe-cores in the Core Ultra 7 355 score 2951 points, putting them more than twice ahead of the dual-core Wildcat Lake.

Gaming Performance

In Cyberpunk 2077 at 1920×1080 with low settings, the result is 19-21 FPS. At 1280×720, performance rises to around 34 FPS.

Dota 2 at 720p Low already runs at 79-99 FPS. This level of performance is sufficient for League of Legends, Valorant, Minecraft, and older games.

GTA V at 1080p Normal delivers around 78 FPS.

Baldur’s Gate 3 at 1080p Low runs at 15-17 FPS.

Ray tracing is supported in hardware, but there is not enough performance for RT in demanding games.

Which Processors Use It

The Core 3 304 and Core 3 305 are cut down even further, to a single Xe-core.

Buying a Core 7 instead of a Core 5 solely for the integrated graphics makes no sense. In Time Spy Graphics, the Core 7 350 is approximately 4% ahead of the Core 5 320, while in Cyberpunk 2077 the difference is around 2 FPS at 1080p Low.

Therefore, paying extra for a Core 7 solely for its iGPU is not worthwhile-the difference between the tested Core 5 320 and Core 7 350 is small.

Is a Laptop with Intel Graphics 2 Xe-Cores Worth Buying?

Intel Graphics 2 Xe-Cores is sufficient for work and study: browsers, office applications, video playback, and multiple displays do not require more powerful graphics.

Around 1350-1400 points in Time Spy Graphics and 19-21 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p Low put Wildcat Lake roughly on the level of Iris Xe 96EU.

The result for Xe3 in Wildcat Lake is not higher FPS, but Iris Xe 96EU-level performance with two Xe-cores.