Details about Intel’s upcoming Nova Lake processors have recently come to light, revealing what we’re anticipating in terms of CPU core counts across various models.
Intel’s Nova Lake-S Desktop CPUs Poised to Succeed Arrow Lake-S with Potentially Doubling P and E Core Performance
Intel’s Arrow Lake series didn’t quite meet the bar that many had set for it. Given the lackluster performance of the ARL-S variants, attention now shifts to Nova Lake. While Intel has been tight-lipped about Nova Lake specifics, a leak from Reddit user @Exist50, shared via HXL, hints at intriguing specifications for the Nova Lake-S, HX, U, and H models.
In the leak, specifications are briefly outlined as follows:
- NVL-SK: 2*8+16
- NVL-HX: 1*8+16
- NVL-S/NVL-H: 4+8
- NVL-U: 4+0
The forthcoming lineup is projected to include a maximum configuration featuring 16 P-Cores and 32 E-Cores, significantly improving over the Arrow Lake-S flagship, the Core Ultra 9 285K. Additionally, the Nova Lake-H series is expected to make its mark in the mobile sector.
Intel appears to be tackling the competition head-on by potentially integrating a dual compute tile structure to expand core counts. This strategy is likely a countermeasure against AMD’s upcoming Zen 6 CPUs, which may also see core configurations reach up to 32 cores per CCD.
Nova Lake-S desktop processors are set to be the bona fide successors to Arrow Lake-S and are anticipated to belong to the "Core Ultra 400" series. Meanwhile, the "Core Ultra 300" series will likely adopt the Panther Lake CPU design, but these are not meant for mainstream desktop use. For now, we know Nova Lake will use Coyote Core P-Cores and Arctic Wolf E-Cores. As we approach the launch window next year, more detailed information should become available.
Intel Desktop CPU Generations Overview:
Here’s a quick comparison across Intel’s desktop CPU generations, highlighting processor architecture, graphical capabilities, supported memory, and PCIe support:
- Alder Lake (12th Gen): Introduced in 2021 with Intel 7, featuring Golden Cove P-Cores and Gracemont E-Cores, supporting PCIe Gen 5.0.
- Raptor Lake (13th Gen) and Refresh (14th Gen): Released in 2022 and 2023 respectively, maintaining similar core architecture and PCIe support.
- Arrow Lake (Core Ultra 200): Scheduled for 2024, debuting TSMC N3B process with Lion Cove and Skymont cores.
- Nova Lake (Core Ultra 400?): Predicted for a 2026 launch, potentially utilizing PCIe Gen 6.0 and DDR5 memory.
- Razer Lake (Core Ultra 500?): Already on the horizon for 2027.
We’ll be keeping an eye on these developments to see how Intel’s strategy unfolds, particularly as they aim to reclaim performance leadership with their next-generation CPUs.
