It looks like the buzz around Intel’s Nova Lake CPUs is finally gaining traction with new details emerging about the core configurations for several upcoming variants.
Intel’s Nova Lake-S Desktop CPUs: A True Successor?
Intel’s Arrow Lake series didn’t quite hit the mark as expected, leaving enthusiasts a tad underwhelmed. Now, the spotlight shifts to Nova Lake. Although Intel has been tight-lipped about the new lineup, a recent leak from a Redditor known as @Exist50, shared by HXL, gives us a look into what the Nova Lake-S, HX, U, and H series might bring to the table. And trust me, the specs look promising.
According to these leaks, Intel is gearing up to unleash a beast of a CPU featuring up to 16 P-Cores and a whopping 32 E-Cores. This is a significant leap from Arrow Lake-S’s flagship, the Core Ultra 9 285K. In addition to the desktop line, it seems we’ll also see Nova Lake-H making its debut on mobile devices. Here’s a quick rundown of the configurations:
- NVL-SK: 2*8+16
- NVL-HX: 1*8+16
- NVL-S/NVL-H: 4+8
- NVL-U: 4+0
The dual compute tile is likely Intel’s secret weapon in boosting the core counts to match or even exceed AMD’s much-anticipated Zen 6 chips, which are rumored to feature up to 32 cores per CCD.
Positioned to truly succeed the Arrow Lake-S line, the Nova Lake-S CPUs will likely belong to the "Core Ultra 400" family. This series will incorporate Coyote Core P-Cores and Arctic Wolf E-Cores. While details are sparse, with the anticipated launch next year, we can expect more intel (no pun intended) to surface soon.
Comparing Intel’s Desktop CPU Generations
Here’s a look at how Intel’s desktop CPUs have evolved across different generations:
Alder Lake (12th Gen)
- Processor Process: Intel 7
- Architecture: Golden Cove (P-Core), Gracemont (E-Core)
- Graphics Architecture: HD 700 Series
- Maximum Cores/Threads: 16/24
- Platform: LGA 1700/1800
- Memory Support: DDR5 / DDR4
- PCIe Support: Gen 5.0
- Launch Year: 2021
Raptor Lake (13th Gen)
- Processor Process: Intel 7
- Architecture: Raptor Cove (P-Core), Gracemont (E-Core)
- Graphics Architecture: HD 700 Series
- Maximum Cores/Threads: 24/32
- Platform: LGA 1700/1800
- Memory Support: DDR5 / DDR4
- PCIe Support: Gen 5.0
- Launch Year: 2022
Raptor Lake Refresh (14th Gen)
- Launch Year: 2023
Arrow Lake (Core Ultra 200)
- Processor Process: TSMC N3B
- Architecture: Lion Cove (P-Core), Skymont (E-Core)
- Graphics Architecture: Xe1 (Alchemist)
- Maximum Cores/Threads: 24/24
- Platform: LGA 1851
- Memory Support: DDR5
- PCIe Support: Gen 5.0
- Launch Year: 2024
Nova Lake (Core Ultra 400?)
- Launch Year: 2026
Each new generation aims to bring something fresh to the table, and with Nova Lake potentially leading the charge towards PCIe Gen 6.0 compatibility, the future certainly looks exciting. The countdown to 2026 begins!
