Rumored Intel Nova Lake CPU Core Configurations: Up to 16 P-Cores and 32 E-Cores with Double the Performance

Recent leaks have unveiled details regarding Intel’s much-anticipated “next-gen”Nova Lake CPU series, shedding light on potential core configurations for various models within this lineup.

Nova Lake: A New Era for Intel’s Desktop CPUs

While the Arrow Lake processor series has not achieved the expected performance benchmarks, excitement is growing for the upcoming Nova Lake lineup. Although Intel has been tight-lipped about specific details, insights from a Reddit user known as @Exist50, shared through HXL, suggest intriguing specifications for the Nova Lake-S, HX, U, and H models.

Nova Lake Configuration Rumors

NVL-SK: 2*8+16 NVL-HX: 1*8+16 NVL-S/NVL-H: 4+8 NVL-U: 4+0https://t.co/olvUda0A2p

— HXL (@9550pro) January 31, 2025

Intel’s upcoming Nova Lake series is anticipated to offer a significant upgrade in core counts. The top configuration is rumored to support up to 2*8 Performance Cores (P-Cores) alongside 16 Efficiency Cores (E-Cores), presenting a robust advancement over the flagship Arrow Lake-S Core Ultra 9 285K. Additionally, the Nova Lake-H line is expected to focus on mobile performance. The potential configurations for the Nova Lake series are as follows:

Nova Lake-SK: 2*8 + 16
Nova Lake-HX: 1*8 + 16
Nova Lake-S/NVL-H: 4 + 8
New Lake-U: 4 + 0

This structure suggests that the top-end Nova Lake-S could achieve a maximum of 16 P-Cores and 32 E-Cores by leveraging dual compute tiles. This design strategy appears to be a strategic response to AMD’s forthcoming Zen 6 processors, which are also rumored to increase core counts considerably, reportedly reaching up to 32 cores per Chiplet (CCD).

The Strategic Transition: From Arrow Lake to Nova Lake

Categorized under the “Core Ultra 400″series, Intel’s Nova Lake-S Desktop CPUs are set to replace the previous Arrow Lake-S lineup. This transition highlights Intel’s commitment to evolving its offerings, as the “Core Ultra 300″series will employ the Panther Lake architecture, which is not anticipated to be available on typical desktop platforms. The architectural shift includes the introduction of Coyote Core P-Cores and Arctic Wolf E-Cores.

As the Nova Lake series is projected to launch within the next year, more information is likely to emerge, keeping enthusiasts and industry analysts keenly interested in the upcoming advancements in Intel’s CPU technology.

Comparison of Intel CPU Generations

Intel CPU Family	Process Technology	Architecture	Graphics Architecture	Max Cores/Threads	Platform	Memory Support	PCIe Support	Launch Year
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
Nova Lake (Core Ultra 400?)	TBA	Coyote Cove (P-Core), Arctic Wolf (E-Core)	TBA	TBA	TBA	DDR5?	PCIe Gen 6.0?	2026
Razer Lake (Core Ultra 500?)	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA	2027?