GoKawiilFollowing the recent launch of Core Ultra 200K Plus, next up in Intel's desktop lineup is finally Nova Lake-S. We're expecting dual-compute tile SKUs with up to 52 cores and 288 MB of bLLC, while single-tile variants are expected to get up to 28 cores and 144 MB of bLLC. Now, a cut-down version of that flagship 52-core SKU featuring 42 cores has been upgraded to 44 cores, according to reliable leaker Jaykihn.
42C -> 44CApril 3, 2026
This 42-core SKU was revealed last year when another leak confirmed that Nova Lake-S will have four configs — 52-core, 42-core, 28-core, and 24-core — all with big last level cache (bLLC) that's Intel's answer to AMD's X3D. The 52-core and 42-core SKUs feature two compute tiles with double the cores and bLLC, while the 28-core and 24-core SKUs feature a single tile. Every CPU will be binned from one of these four SKUs.
The 42-core silicon was supposed to feature 14 P-cores and 32 E-cores, and 4 LP-E cores, along with 288 MB of bLLC. This would be made possible by combining an 8P+12E tile with a binned-down 6P+12E tile. Now that this SKU has 44 cores, two identical 8P+12E tiles can be used instead. This shift, however, has freed up those 6P+12E tiles, and Jaykihn says they could make it to market as locked variants.
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All prior rumors have claimed that only K-series Nova Lake-S chips are going to feature bLLC, so this is a major departure. We could be looking at more non-K variants of Nova Lake CPUs with bLLC down the line that are cheaper, which would only increase competition versus AMD's Zen 6 (X3D). As it stands right now, a Core Ultra 7 SKU is likely where we'll see this new 22-core SKU (6P+12E+4LPE) with 144 MB bLLC.
Due to this extra cache being fabricated on the die instead of stacked under or over the core cluster, Nova Lake is expected to have a high manufacturing cost that should put bLLC-equipped SKUs above the unlocked variants. The flagship, dual-compute tile SKUs with 288 MB of bLLC might even be segregated into a new segment, possibly "Core Ultra X" to bring them to parity with the nomenclature introduced on Panther Lake.
Nova Lake is scheduled to be released in the second half of this year, but recent reports have claimed that the launch has been pushed to 2027 due to the ongoing component shortage, exacerbated by the global geopolitical climate. Between now and then, a lot could change, so take all this information with a grain of salt. Regardless of the specifics, though, a CPU battle for the ages is cooking up with Intel and AMD's next-gen desktop families.
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