Intel Nova Lake-S brings up to 52 cores and expanded cache to Core Ultra series

Intel is preparing a significant leap in desktop CPU performance with its next-generation ´Nova Lake´ microarchitecture, specifically targeting the desktop segment with the ´Nova Lake-S´ variants. This new processor line will offer up to 52 cores per socket by combining 16 ´Coyote Cove´ performance cores (P-cores), 32 ´Arctic Wolf´ efficiency cores (E-cores) organized into eight clusters, and four additional low-power efficiency cores (LPE) located in a dedicated, power-optimized region of the chip. This ambitious architecture mirrors some aspects of the prior ´Meteor Lake´ design, where only the P-cores and clustered E-cores share the L3 cache, while the LPE cores remain isolated for enhanced power management.

The flagship Core Ultra 9 SKUs will feature the full 16P+32E+4LPE core configuration, accompanied by a massive 144 MB L3 cache. Such a large aggregate of cores and cache positions the Ultra 9 as a potent choice for resource-intensive tasks, particularly gaming and high-throughput workloads. These top-tier chips are expected to operate with a processor base power rating of 150 W for both unlocked ´K´ and ´KF´ SKU versions, signaling a clear focus on maximizing raw performance for desktop enthusiasts and creators.

Beyond the headline Ultra 9, Intel is diversifying its Nova Lake-S lineup with various core configurations across the Ultra 7, 5, and 3 product tiers. The Ultra 7 models are slated to offer a slightly pared-down 14P+24E+4LPE configuration, for a total of 42 cores. This is achieved by disabling two performance cores and two efficiency core clusters, alongside a reduction in the L3 cache compared to the Ultra 9 flagship. Even with these cuts, the Ultra 7 K and KF models will reportedly retain the same 150 W processor base power, underlining Intel’s commitment to delivering robust multithreaded capabilities across a wider range of CPUs.