Intel’s Nova Lake Expected to Feature Hybrid GPU Architecture Utilizing Both Xe3 and Xe4 for Integrated Graphics

Intel’s Nova Lake S is reportedly breaking new ground with the introduction of two distinct GPU architectures, marking it as the first to incorporate Xe4-based capabilities.

Intel Nova Lake-S: Embracing Dual GPU Architectures

Intel appears to be equally enthusiastic about deploying both the Xe3 and Xe4 architectures in its upcoming CPU and GPU offerings. Although not yet officially confirmed, well-known leaker @jaykihn0 suggests that the Nova Lake-S will be the pioneering product to utilize the Xe4 framework.

However, there’s an intriguing twist. Unlike prior Intel CPUs that typically relied on a single architecture for integrated graphics, the Nova Lake-S will integrate two architectures to fulfill different functions. Specifically, it will merge Xe3 and Xe4 technologies within its desktop processors to manage graphics tasks and display and media functions separately.

Xe3 graphics + Xe4 display & media

— Jaykihn (@jaykihn0) June 4, 2025

The Xe3 architecture, codenamed Celestial, is designed to efficiently handle essential graphical tasks, whereas the Xe4 architecture, referred to as Druid, will focus on display output and video processing functions, such as encoding and decoding. This division of labor suggests that Intel is keen to harness the capabilities of Xe3 for demanding graphical tasks while allowing Xe4 to maintain power efficiency, thereby alleviating the load on the CPU.

This strategic architecture pairing not only boosts performance but also enhances power efficiency, making it particularly advantageous for budget processors. These chips can utilize fewer Xe3 cores, making them well-suited for general computing tasks. The deployment of Xe4 is notably anticipated as early as 2026, coinciding with the expected launch of the Nova Lake S processors. In contrast, Intel’s Panther Lake for mobile devices will be the first to employ the Xe3 architecture, with an unveiling expected by the end of this year.

Intel Xe3 GPUs Are Confirmed To Be Fully Developed, Hardware Team Has Already Transitioned To Next -Gen

Meanwhile, Intel will continue to support the desktop market with its Arrow Lake Refresh chips and the Barlett Lake-S series, which exclusively features P-Cores based on the Raptor Lake Refresh design. Importantly, the Nova Lake-S will adopt a new LGA 1954 socket, which is reported to be similar in dimensions to the previous LGA 1700 and LGA 1851 sockets. Although the Xe4-based Druid graphics cards are not expected to debut until 2027, Intel is reportedly advancing in their development, as indicated by recent industry reports.

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