Intel Nova Lake-S processors may pack up to 52 cores
Fresh details surfaced regarding Intel’s Nova Lake-S processor series, painting a clearer picture of what to expect from the company’s next-generation desktop processors. While the official name remains unknown, the flagship model is rumoured to pack a significant punch with a whopping 52 cores: 16 P-cores, 32 E-cores, and 4 LP-cores.
Beyond the flagship, and according to chi11eddog, Intel is also reportedly developing a Core Ultra 7 SKU with a 14P+24E configuration, alongside various Core Ultra 5 options featuring 8P+16E, 8P+12E, and 6P+8E configs. The entry-level Core Ultra 3 lineup is expected to include 4P+8E and 4P+4E variants. Note that all desktop SKUs are projected to incorporate four P-Cores. This means the Nova Lake-S series could span a wide range of core counts, from 12 to 52, depending on which configurations Intel rolls out for consumers.
The table below shows the processors in more detail:
| Processor | Cores | TDP |
|---|---|---|
| Core Ultra 9 | 52 (16x P + 32 E + 4 LP) | 150W |
| Core Ultra 7 | 42 (14x P + 24 E + 4 LP) | 150W |
| Core Ultra 5 | 28 (8x P + 16 E + 4 LP) | 125W |
| Core Ultra 5 | 24 (8x P + 12 E + 4 LP) | 125W |
| Core Ultra 5 | 18 (6x P + 8 E + 4 LP) | 125W |
| Core Ultra 3 | 16 (4x P + 8 E + 4 LP) | 65W |
| Core Ultra 3 | 12 (4x P + 4 E + 4 LP) | 65W |
Jaykihn also stated that this next-generation series will support faster memory speeds right out of the box. While the current Arrow Lake-S series officially supports DDR5-6400 memory and can be overclocked to 9200 MT/s, the upcoming desktop series is expected to default to 8000 MT/s. This applies to configurations using 1 DIMM per channel (1DPC) and single-rank memory. Whether this enhanced memory support is due to improvements in the CPU’s integrated memory controllers or advancements in the new motherboard platforms remains unclear.
Intel Nova Lake-S, which will most likely be branded under the Core Ultra 300 series, is expected to launch next year.
KitGuru says: Will increasing the core count allow Intel to recover its position in the desktop CPU consumer market?
