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Details are finally emerging on Intel’s highly anticipated "next-gen" Nova Lake lineup, offering insight into the rumored core configurations across several CPU variants.
Intel’s Nova Lake-S Desktop CPU Lineup to Succeed Arrow Lake-S, Expected to Double P & E Core Counts
It’s no secret that Intel’s Arrow Lake series didn’t quite hit the mark as expected. With the Arrow Lake-S models delivering lackluster performance, all eyes are now on the Nova Lake lineup. Intel has been tight-lipped about Nova Lake specifics, but a new leak from Reddit user @Exist50, highlighted by HXL, has given us a sneak peek at the potential specs for the Nova Lake-S, HX, U, and H series. These details are certainly stirring interest.
Nova Lake Configuration Rumors
NVL-SK: 2*8+16 NVL-HX: 1*8+16 NVL-S/NVL-H: 4+8 NVL-U: 4+0
— HXL (@9550pro) January 31, 2025
Tentatively, Intel’s upcoming CPUs will boast a maximum core setup of 2*8 P-Cores alongside 16 E-Cores, which is a notable step up from Arrow Lake-S’s top model, the Core Ultra 9 285K. Additionally, Nova Lake-H is expected to make waves in the mobile sector. Here’s a glimpse of Nova Lake’s core configuration lineup:
- NVL-SK: 2*8+16
- NVL-HX: 1*8+16
- NVL-S/NVL-H: 4+8
- NVL-U: 4+0
From these details, it’s evident that Intel’s top-spec Nova Lake-S could feature up to 16 P-Cores and 32 E-Cores. The company looks to be adopting a dual compute tile approach to achieve these boosted core counts, potentially as a strategy to outpace AMD’s forthcoming Zen 6, which is anticipated to also scale up with 32 cores per CCD.
The Nova Lake-S Desktop CPUs are set to be the true successors to the Arrow Lake-S series, likely falling under the "Core Ultra 400" series moniker. Meanwhile, the "Core Ultra 300" range will employ Panther Lake CPU architecture, but those chips aren’t expected to target mainstream desktop users. Expect a mix of Coyote Core P-Cores and Arctic Wolf E-Cores. While these are early days yet, with Nova Lake’s release expected next year, more details will undoubtedly trickle out as we move forward.
Intel Desktop CPU Generations Comparison:
| 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? |
Stay tuned for more updates as Intel continues to push the envelope with their groundbreaking innovations in the CPU space.
