Intel Nova Lake-S CPUs Offer Support for New LGA 1954 Socket, While LGA 1851 Exclusively Supports Arrow Lake and Refresh Desktop Processors

Intel is set to introduce its upcoming Nova Lake-S Desktop CPU series, which will utilize a new socket design known as LGA 1954. This shift highlights the company’s commitment to advancing its processor technology and enhancing performance capabilities.

Future of Intel’s Socket Architecture: LGA 1954 vs. LGA 1851

Initially launched last year, Intel’s LGA 1851 socket was part of the Arrow Lake-S “Core Ultra Series 2″CPUs. This socket was integrated into the latest 800-series motherboards, but early performance outcomes, particularly in gaming, did not meet the industry’s high expectations. Nevertheless, this generation showed marked improvements in multi-threading capabilities and overall efficiency for desktop systems.

Looking ahead, there are indications that Intel plans to refresh the Arrow Lake-S lineup, focusing on enhancements in the neural processing unit (NPU) and additional features. However, following these updates, the company appears poised to transition to the LGA 1954 socket for its next CPU family.

Intel LGA 1954 Socket — Image Source: NBD. LTD

According to shipping manifest data from nbd.ltd, Intel is gearing up for a significant launch with its Nova Lake-S series, anticipated to replace the current Arrow Lake CPUs by the second half of 2026.

Reports suggest that the Nova Lake architecture will feature a substantial increase in core counts, potentially offering up to 16 performance cores (P-Cores) and an impressive 32 efficiency cores (E-Cores) across both desktop and laptop versions. The LGA 1954 socket has already been integrated into reference platforms for these upcoming CPUs.

While the specifics regarding the socket for Nova Lake-S have yet to be officially confirmed, Intel’s pattern of socket evolution every two generations suggests that this change is highly probable. Moreover, the subsequent chip family, Razer Lake, is also expected to adopt the LGA 1954 socket. The new socket may be paired with motherboards featuring the 900-series chipset, with the Nova Lake-S slated to be categorized under the Core Ultra Series 4 lineup, as the Core Ultra Series 3 will be exclusively used for the mobile-oriented Panther Lake launch.

Comparison of Intel Desktop CPU Generations

Intel CPU Family	Processor Process	Processor Architecture	Graphics Architecture	Processor 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 (TBD)	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	52/52?	LGA 1954?	DDR5?	PCIe Gen 6.0?	2026
Razer Lake (Core Ultra 500?)	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA	LGA 1954?	TBA	TBA	2027?