Intel Nova Lake-S Desktop Processors to Support DDR5-8000 Memory natively with Up to 36 PCIe Gen 5.0 Lanes

Recent insights have emerged regarding Intel’s upcoming Nova Lake-S Desktop CPUs, focusing on enhancements in memory capabilities and PCIe lanes.

Enhanced Memory Support in Intel Nova Lake-S CPUs with DDR5 Speeds Up to 8000 MT/s

Update – June 17, 2025: Tech enthusiast Jaykihn has divulged further specifications related to the Nova Lake-S Desktop platform’s PCIe and USB architecture. Notably, the platform will feature a total of 48 PCIe lanes, comprised of 24 CPU PCIe 5.0 lanes, 4 DMI PCIe 5.0 lanes, 8 chipset PCIe 5.0 lanes, and 16 lanes of PCIe 4.0. Furthermore, this advanced chipset will provide 8 SATA III lanes and support a wide array of USB ports: up to 14 USB 2.0 ports, 10 USB 3.2 ports at 5 Gbps, another 10 at 10 Gbps, and 5 capable of reaching 20 Gbps. The configuration options for the CPU PCIe 5.0 lanes will include arrangements of 1×16 + 2×4, 2×8 + 2×4, or 4×4 + 2×4.

Nova Lake Platform PCIE and USB Specifications pic.twitter.com/wgG2u5xINN

— Jaykihn (@jaykihn0) June 17, 2025

The information was shared by @jaykihn0, who unveiled the first definitive specs and WeU details for various Nova Lake-S Desktop CPUs just hours earlier. This next-generation lineup is set to offer an impressive core count of up to 52, more than doubling the existing 24-core capacity of the Arrow Lake-S offerings. As we delve deeper, insights into the platform specifications come to light.

Starting with memory performance, Intel’s Nova Lake-S is anticipated to achieve a substantial 50% increase in native memory support, upgrading from its predecessor Arrow Lake-S, which only managed DDR5-6400 as the baseline speed. The Nova Lake-S CPUs will natively support speeds of up to DDR5-8000 MT/s (1DPC 1R), showcasing the capabilities of its new memory controller.

Nova Lake -S

8000 MT/s 1DPC 1R

— Jaykihn (@jaykihn0) June 16, 2025

This significant bump in memory speeds sets a new standard, posing expectations for speeds exceeding 10, 000 MT/s as enthusiasts explore faster modules and CUDIMMs. As the memory ecosystem adapts, cutting-edge technologies like CUDIMMs and LPCAMM2 are likely to gain prominence in next-gen platforms, positioning them as preferred choices for enthusiasts and overclockers.

Additionally, Intel’s Nova Lake-S will feature a total of 36 PCIe 5.0 lanes—a noteworthy increase from the 24 lanes found in Arrow Lake-S CPUs. Of these, 4 lanes will be shared with the DMI interface, allowing for an ample 32 lanes designated for GPUs and SSDs—equating to two full x16 lanes or one x16 and four x4 for SSD connections. The platform will also include 16 PCIe 4.0 lanes.

While these specifications are preliminary, users can anticipate enhanced overclocking capabilities and additional features associated with the forthcoming 900-series motherboards set to debut alongside the Intel Nova Lake-S CPUs in 2026. Stay tuned for more developments!

Comparison: Nova Lake-S vs. Arrow Lake-S

Feature	Nova Lake-S	Arrow Lake-S
Max Core Count	52	24
Max Thread Count	52	24
Max Performance Cores	16	8
Max Efficiency Cores	32	16
Max LP-E Cores	4	0
DDR5 Support (1DPC 1R)	8000 MT/s	6400 MT/s
Max PCIe 5.0 Lanes	36	24
Max PCIe 4.0 Lanes	16	4
Socket Support	LGA 1954	LGA 1851
Max Thermal Design Power (TDP)	150W	125W
Expected Launch Year	2026	2nd Half 2024