Intel is set to boost CPU core counts with its upcoming “Nova Lake” client processor architecture. The desktop variant, “Nova Lake-S,” will support configurations up to 16P+32E+4LPE—totaling an impressive 52 cores per socket. This includes:
- 16 Performance Cores (P-cores) based on “Coyote Cove”
- 32 Efficiency Cores (E-cores) across eight clusters using “Arctic Wolf”
- 4 Low-Power Efficiency Cores (LPE) in a separate SoC island, similar to “Meteor Lake”
The top-tier Core Ultra 9 SKUs will feature this full configuration, along with a massive 144 MB L3 cache, ideal for gaming and high-performance workloads. These unlocked K/KF variants are expected to carry a 150 W base power.
| Specification | Core Ultra 9 | Core Ultra 7 | Core Ultra 5 K/KF | Core Ultra 5 Non-K Med | Core Ultra 5 Non-K Value | Core Ultra 3 Med | Core Ultra 3 Entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Performance Cores | 16 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 4 |
| Efficiency Cores | 32 | 24 | 16 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 4 |
| Low-Power Island Cores | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| L3 Cache | 144 MB | 120 MB (?) | 72 MB (?) | 33 MB (?) | 24 MB (?) | 18 MB (?) | 12 MB (?) |
| Base Power | 150 W | 150 W | 125 W | 125 W | 65 W | 65 W | 65 W |
| Socket | LGA1954 | LGA1954 | LGA1954 | LGA1954 | LGA1954 | LGA1954 | LGA1954 |
| PCIe Gen 5 Lanes | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 |
| PCIe Gen 4 Lanes | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| Chipset Bus | DMI 5.0 x8 | DMI 5.0 x8 | DMI 5.0 x8 | DMI 5.0 x8 | DMI 5.0 x8 | DMI 5.0 x8 | DMI 5.0 x8 |
| iGPU Architecture | Xe3 Celestial | Xe3 Celestial | Xe3 Celestial | Xe3 Celestial | Xe3 Celestial | Xe3 Celestial | Xe3 Celestial |
| NPU | NPU4 | NPU4 | NPU4 | NPU4 | NPU4 | NPU4 | NPU4 |
Core Ultra 7: Balanced Performance
Intel’s Core Ultra 7 chips will scale down slightly to a 14P+24E+4LPE setup, totaling 42 cores. This involves disabling two P-cores and two E-core clusters, along with a reduced L3 cache. The K/KF models will maintain the same 150 W base power as the Ultra 9.
Core Ultra 5: Mid-Range Gets a Boost
The Core Ultra 5 series introduces three configurations:
- Top K/KF SKUs: 8P+16E+4LPE (28 cores)
- Non-K/KF SKUs: 8P+12E+4LPE
- Entry-Level SKU: 6P+8E+4LPE
It’s unclear whether these use the same die as the Ultra 9 or a smaller Compute tile, but the SoC tile with 4 LPE cores remains consistent.
Core Ultra 3: Value Segment
Intel will target budget users with two Core Ultra 3 variants:
- Upper SKU: 4P+8E+4LPE (16 cores, 65 W base power)
- Entry SKU: 4P+4E+4LPE (12 cores, 65 W base power)
Platform I/O and Graphics
Across the lineup, Intel will maintain consistent I/O, with differentiation handled by chipset tiers. The top “Nova Lake-S” chipset is expected to offer:
- 32 PCIe 5.0 lanes
- 16 PCIe 4.0 lanes
- DMI 5.0 for high-bandwidth chipset communication (PCIe 5.0 x8 for top-tier, x4 for mid-tier)
The integrated GPU will use the Xe3 “Celestial” architecture, offering generational performance improvements. All models will include an NPU that meets Microsoft Copilot+ local acceleration standards.
Intel is expected to launch the Nova Lake-S platform in 2026, marking a significant leap in desktop CPU performance and efficiency.
Panther Lake Mobile Rumor Specs
Consumer are expecting a decent performace upgrade over Intel Lunar Lake, as the alleged specs are leaked for upcoming mobile processors.
| Die SKU | P-Cores (Cougar Cove) | E-Cores (Darkmont) | LP-E Cores (Skymont?) | Xe3 GPU Cores (Celestial) | PL1 TDP | PL2 TDP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panther Lake-H | 4 | 8 | 4 | 12 | 25W | 45W |
| Panther Lake-H | 4 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 25W | 45W |
| Panther Lake-H | 4 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 25W | 45W |
| Panther Lake-U | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 15W | 28-30W? |
Nova Lake Mobile Rumor Specs
| Die SKU | P-Cores (Coyote Cove) | E-Cores (Arctic Wolf) | LP-E Cores (Arctic Wolf) | Xe3 GPU Cores (Celestial) | TDP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nova Lake-HX | 8 | 16 | 4 | 4 | ~55W |
| Nova Lake-H | 4 | 8 | 4 | 12 | ~28W |
| Nova Lake-H | 4 | 8 | 4 | 4 | ~28W |
| Nova Lake-U | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4 | ~28W |
| Nova Lake-U | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | ~15W |
Source: Expreview
