Intel’s next-generation Nova Lake-S desktop CPUs are still a year away, but new leaks have provided more details on the upcoming processor. The flagship Nova Lake-S processor is expected to feature up to 52 cores and 144MB of Level 3 (L3) cache per Compute Core Die (CCD), with the entire system offering a massive 288MB of L3 cache.
The processor will be fabricated on TSMC’s N2P process node, which is considered bleeding-edge. The Nova Lake-S lineup includes five configuration options: premium gaming, mainstream, budget, and entry-level. The premium gaming configuration features 28 cores and 144MB of bLLC (Big Last Level Cache) cache, while the mainstream and budget configurations have 28 and 16 cores, respectively, with significantly less L3 cache.
The “entry” configuration will be fabricated on Intel’s in-house 18A process node with 8 cores and 12MB of L3 cache. There is also a high-performance variant called NVL-AX, which launches in 2027 and features up to 512 EU (Execution Units) on-package LPDDR5X.
The new processor is expected to offer significant performance upgrades over its predecessor, Arrow Lake. Leaker Moore’s Law is Dead claims that the non-bLLC version of Nova Lake-S will deliver a 16% single-threaded and 12% multi-threaded uplift over Arrow Lake, while the bLLC variant will see a 20% single-threaded and 23% multi-threaded boost.
The Nova Lake-S lineup also includes an “APO+” program that aims to add up to 15-25% gaming performance on top of existing gains. However, this raises concerns about DRM compatibility issues. Intel is reportedly working to improve gaming performance in popular titles, but it’s unclear if they will be able to match the performance of AMD’s Zen 6 architecture.
The upcoming Nova Lake-S desktop CPUs are expected to arrive in 2026 and offer significant upgrades over existing processors. With up to 52 cores and massive L3 cache, these processors promise to deliver impressive performance for gamers and content creators alike.
Source: https://www.tweaktown.com/news/106923/intel-nova-lake-cpu-full-leak-52-cores-bllc-is-intels-answer-to-x3d-cache-lga-1954-socket/index.html