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Intel’s Nova Lake CPUs to boast up to 52 Cores and Enhanced DDR5 Support
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Intel is preparing to shake up the desktop processor market with its upcoming Nova lake series, expected to launch next year. Leaks suggest that the high-end Core Ultra 9 models will pack up to 52 cores, rivaling AMD’s multi-core offerings. This move signifies a major shift in Intel’s strategy, aiming to deliver unprecedented performance for demanding applications and gaming Intel.
Nova Lake Core Configurations and Specifications
According to leaked specifications, Intel plans to segment the Nova Lake series into several tiers, each offering a different core configuration and thermal design power (TDP). The details, initially shared by known leakers, details the core counts and expected performance characteristics of the various models.
Core Ultra 9: The 52-Core flagship
The core Ultra 9 series is set to be the flagship of the Nova Lake lineup. It is indeed rumored to feature 16 P-cores (Performance cores) and 32 E-cores (Efficient cores), along with an additional 4 LP E-cores (Low Power Efficient cores) integrated into the System-on-Chip (SoC), bringing the total core count to 52. This model is expected to have a TDP of 150W, with potentially higher turbo power consumption [1].
Core Ultra 7: Balanced Performance
Stepping down from the flagship, the Core Ultra 7 models are expected to feature 14 P-cores and 24 E-cores, plus the 4 LP E-cores, totaling 42 cores. This configuration aims to strike a balance between performance and power efficiency, also with a 150W TDP. This allows for potentially using CPU “cushions” with minor defects [3].
Core Ultra 5: Mainstream Options
The Core Ultra 5 series is positioned as the mainstream offering, based on a single CPU “threshing.” These models will likely come in multiple configurations, including options with 8 P-cores and 16 E-cores, or 8 P-cores and 12 E-cores, plus the standard 4 LP E-cores. All Core Ultra 5 variants are expected to have a 125W TDP.
Core Ultra 3: Entry-Level Efficiency
At the entry-level, the Core Ultra 3 processors are expected to offer either 4 P-cores and 8 E-cores, or a more economical 4 P-cores and 4 E-cores, plus the 4 LP E-cores. These models are designed for maximum power efficiency, with a TDP of just 65W.
Did You Know? The “LP” in LP E-cores stands for Low Power, indicating these cores are designed for maximum energy efficiency in light workloads.
Enhanced Memory Support
In addition to the new core configurations, the Nova Lake platform is expected to bring improvements to memory support.Leaks suggest that the Nova Lake Pro desktop processors will support DDR5-8000 memory by default, a significant increase over the DDR5-6400 support on current-generation Arrow Lake processors. However, this speed is expected to be officially supported only when using a single single-rank module on each channel.
Pro Tip: Check your motherboard’s QVL (Qualified Vendor List) for officially supported memory modules to ensure optimal performance and stability.
New Socket and Platform
The Nova Lake processors are expected to use a new LGA 1954 socket, requiring a new motherboard. This change is likely due to the increased core counts and the need for additional power delivery and connectivity options. The new platform is expected to be branded as the Ultra generation 400, skipping the 300 series designation.
| Processor Series | P-Cores | E-Cores | LP E-Cores | Total Cores/Threads |
|---|
