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Rumor mill: Intel's next-generation Nova Lake-S desktop processors are rapidly taking shape, with leaks pointing to a major architectural leap for the company's consumer CPUs. According to well-known leakers @chi11eddog and @jaykihn0, Nova Lake-S is expected to launch in the second half of 2026 and will introduce a sweeping overhaul in both design and performance targets.
The flagship Core Ultra 9 385K model could feature a staggering 52 cores, comprising 16 high-performance P-cores, 32 efficiency-focused E-cores, and four 4 low-power LPE-cores – making it the most powerful desktop chip Intel has ever produced. This more than doubles the core count of today's Core Ultra 9 285K, which tops out at 24 cores and lacks LPE-cores entirely.
The Nova Lake-S lineup is expected to span a wide range of configurations, from entry-level quad-core models to the 52-core flagship. The Core Ultra 7 SKU will reportedly offer 14 P-cores, 24 E-cores, and four LPE-cores for a total of 42 cores.
Meanwhile, the Core Ultra 5 series is rumored to include three variants: a 28-core version with 8 P-cores and 16 E-cores, a 24-core version with 8 P-cores and 12 E-cores, and an 18-core option with 6 P-cores and 8 E-cores.
Even the entry-level Core Ultra 3 chips are expected to feature either 16 or 12 cores, both including four LPE-cores and a 65W power envelope.
Core Ultra 9 - 16 P-Cores + 32 E-Cores + 4 LP-E Cores. 150W
Core Ultra 7 - 14 P-Cores + 24 E-Cores + 4 LP-E Cores. 150W
Core Ultra 5 - 8 P-Cores + 16 E-Cores + 4 LP-E Cores. 125W
Core Ultra 5 - 8 P-Cores + 12 E-Cores + 4 LP-E Cores. 125W
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