BGA 1516 socket: CPUs, chipsets and cooler fit
BGA 1516 is Intel's soldered package for Wildcat Lake mobile processors in the Core Series 3 family. It is a ball grid array with 1,516 contacts, and the package measures 35 × 25 mm. Intel announced the family in April 2026 for thin laptops and edge devices.
Quick facts
| Maker | Intel |
|---|---|
| Package type | BGA |
| Contacts | 1,516 |
| Package size | 35 × 25 mm |
| Introduced | April 2026 |
| Status | Current |
| Memory | Single-channel LPDDR5X up to 7467 MT/s or DDR5 up to 6400 MT/s, up to 64 GB |
| PCIe from the CPU | PCIe 4.0 with 6 lanes |
| Cooler mounting holes | Not applicable (soldered) |
| Replaces | None |
| Replaced by | None |
Overview
The package carries two Cougar Cove Performance-cores with Darkmont low-power Efficient-cores, Xe3 integrated graphics and a 16 TOPS NPU. Single-channel memory and 6 PCIe 4.0 lanes keep the footprint and power small, with a 4 MB memory-side cache softening the narrow memory pipe.
Wildcat Lake targets the entry tier below Panther Lake. Boards are vendor designs with soldered memory, so processor, memory and wireless are fixed at purchase.
Processor generations
| Codename | Marketing name | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wildcat Lake | Core Series 3 mobile | 2026 | Cougar Cove Performance-cores with Darkmont low-power Efficient-cores, Xe3 graphics and a 16 TOPS NPU. Announced in April 2026. |
Soldered package
BGA 1516 processors are soldered with 1,516 balls and cannot be removed or replaced. There is no socket, no retention and no cooler choice beyond the system heatsink, which is sized for the 15 W class with turbo power to 35 W.
The soldered design extends to memory on most boards. Check whether the specific laptop solders its LPDDR5X or offers a DDR5 slot before buying, since that decides later options.
Memory and I/O
The memory controller supports single-channel LPDDR5X up to 7467 MT/s or DDR5 up to 6400 MT/s, up to 64 GB. A 4 MB memory-side cache helps bandwidth-hungry graphics and media work despite the single channel.
PCIe connectivity is 6 lanes of PCIe 4.0 with Thunderbolt 4 on equipped designs. That suits one fast SSD and compact peripherals rather than large expansion.
CPUs on BGA 1516
7 processor pages in the database, newest first.
| Processor | Cores / threads | Base / boost | TDP | Launched |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core 3 304 | 5 / 5 | 1.5 / 4.3 GHz | 15 W | Apr 2026 |
| Intel Core 3 305 | 6 / 6 | 1.5 / 4.3 GHz | 15 W | Apr 2026 |
| Intel Core 5 315 | 6 / 6 | 1.5 / 4.4 GHz | 15 W | Apr 2026 |
| Intel Core 5 320 | 6 / 6 | 1.5 / 4.6 GHz | 15 W | Apr 2026 |
| Intel Core 5 330 | 6 / 6 | 1.5 / 4.6 GHz | 15 W | Apr 2026 |
| Intel Core 7 350 | 6 / 6 | 1.5 / 4.8 GHz | 15 W | Apr 2026 |
| Intel Core 7 360 | 6 / 6 | 1.5 / 4.8 GHz | 15 W | Apr 2026 |
Frequently asked questions
Can a BGA 1516 processor be upgraded?
No. The processor is soldered to the board, so an upgrade means replacing the board or the whole device.
Which processors fit BGA 1516?
Intel Core 3, 5 and 7 Series 3 Wildcat Lake processors with 5 or 6 cores, plus the Core 5 320 which shares the package. Twin Lake parts use BGA 1264 instead.
What memory does BGA 1516 use?
Single-channel LPDDR5X up to 7467 MT/s or DDR5 up to 6400 MT/s, up to 64 GB. The board decides which type is fitted.
Do Wildcat Lake processors have integrated graphics?
Yes, a small Intel Graphics unit with 32 execution units plus an NPU with 16 TOPS, which covers office work and entry AI features.
Sources and verification
- Intel Core 5 processor 330 specifications (Intel)
- Intel Core 5 330 Processor Benchmarks and Specs (Notebookcheck)
- Intel Core Series 3 Processors for the Edge, Wildcat Lake Overview (Intel)
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .