Finally, we’re starting to see some specifics about Intel’s “next-gen” Nova Lake lineup, with rumors suggesting some interesting core counts for various CPU models.
Intel’s Nova Lake-S Desktop CPUs Set to Replace Arrow Lake-S with Potentially Spectacular Performance Upgrades Through Doubling P & E Cores
Let’s be honest, Intel’s Arrow Lake didn’t really make the splash everyone hoped it would. The performance of ARL-S variants was more underwhelming than anticipated, which leaves us with Nova Lake to get excited about. Intel has been quite tight-lipped about Nova Lake, but a fresh leak from a Reddit user, @Exist50 (spotted by HXL), has laid out possible specs for the Nova Lake-S, HX, U, and H series, and they’re certainly intriguing.
Here’s the breakdown of the rumored configurations:
- NVL-SK: 2*8+16
- NVL-HX: 1*8+16
- NVL-S/NVL-H: 4+8
- NVL-U: 4+0
If these rumors hold any weight, Intel’s forthcoming CPUs could feature a top core setup of 2*8 P-Cores alongside 16 E-Cores, representing a noticeable leap from Arrow Lake-S’s leading Core Ultra 9 285K. Additionally, Nova Lake’s release in the mobile domain, particularly the Nova Lake-H edition, is something to keep an eye on.
Going by the leaked information, it looks like the Intel Nova Lake-S variant might allow up to 16 P-Cores coupled with 32 E-Cores. It seems Intel is opting for a dual compute tile to boost these core numbers, potentially to compete head-on with AMD’s anticipated Zen 6 CPUs, which might also hit a 32-core configuration per CCD.
The upcoming Nova Lake-S Desktop CPUs are poised to be the genuine successor to the Arrow Lake-S lineup, with the looming "Core Ultra 400" series stepping in, as the "Core Ultra 300" series plans to incorporate the Panther Lake chip design, though those won’t be a fixture in the mainstream desktop market. We know they’ll pack Coyote Core P-Cores and Arctic Wolf E-Cores, but more details should emerge soon, since Nova Lake is on track to hit the shelves next year.
Quick Intel Desktop CPU Generations Rundown:
| Intel CPU Family | Processor Process | Processor Architecture | Graphics Architecture | Processors Cores/Threads (Max) | Platform | Memory Support | PCIe Support | Launch | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alder Lake (12th Gen) | Intel 7 | Golden Cove (P-Core) | Gracemont (E-Core) | HD 700 Series | 16/24 | LGA 1700/1800 | DDR5 / DDR4 | PCIe Gen 5.0 | 2021 |
| Raptor Lake (13th Gen) | Intel 7 | Raptor Cove (P-Core) | Gracemont (E-Core) | HD 700 Series | 24/32 | LGA 1700/1800 | DDR5 / DDR4 | PCIe Gen 5.0 | 2022 |
| Raptor Lake Refresh (14th Gen) | Intel 7 | Raptor Cove (P-Core) | Gracemont (E-Core) | HD 700 Series | 24/32 | LGA 1700/1800 | DDR5 / DDR4 | PCIe Gen 5.0 | 2023 |
| Arrow Lake (Core Ultra 200) | TSMC N3B | Lion Cove (P-Core) | Skymont (E-Core) | Xe1 (Alchemist) | 24/24 | LGA 1851 | DDR5 | PCIe Gen 5.0 | 2024 |
| Arrow Lake Refresh (Canceled) | TSMC N3B? | Lion Cove (P-Core) | Skymont (E-Core) | Xe1 (Alchemist) | TBD | LGA 1851 | DDR5 | PCIe Gen 5.0 | 2025 |
| Nova Lake (Core Ultra 400?) | TBA | Coyote Cove (P-Core) | Arctic Wolf (E-Core) | TBA | TBA | TBA | DDR5? | PCIe Gen 6.0? | 2026 |
| Razer Lake (Core Ultra 500?) | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | 2027? |
This release seems like a packed head-to-head with AMD, and with Nova Lake looming on the horizon, the CPU market battle is only heating up.
