Intel Nova Lake Leak Reveals Full Core Ultra 400-Series Roadmap

You can always tell when an exciting new bit of PC tech is getting nearer to launch because the leaks become increasingly comprehensive and detailed. That is very much the case with the latest drop for Intel's Nova Lake chips, as we now have a look at what the full range of Core Ultra 400-series processors will look like. According to Videocardz, this new roadmap for NVL-S (officially listed as Series 4 or Core Ultra 400S) ties together previous rumors with specific details on every SKU in the lineup. While much of this information echoes earlier reports, seeing the complete picture helps clarify what we can expect from Intel later this year.

Core Ultra 9 and 7 bLLC Variants Target Gaming Dominance

Just like the current Arrow Lake chips, the upcoming Core Ultra 400S CPUs will cover a wide range of segments with different power targets: 125 W for general scenarios and gaming, plus 65 W and 35 W models for office and embedded applications. PC gamers are most likely to focus on the standard Core Ultra 9, 7, and 5 chips, which appear to follow a familiar hierarchy at first glance.

The series-leading Core Ultra 9 models will sport nine Coyote Cove P-cores, sixteen Arctic Wolf E-cores, and four Low Power E-cores (LPE). Dropping down a tier to the Core Ultra 7 means saying goodbye to four E-cores, while moving further down to the Core Ultra 5 results in losing two P-cores as well.

However, where things get spicy are the bLLC variants, which feature one apiece in the 9 and 7-class tiers. These are generally expected to be Intel's answer to AMD's X3D processors, utilizing a monstrous slab of last-level cache purported to reach up to 144 MB. For comparison, the 3D V-Cache slice in the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is only 64 MB.

  • Core Ultra 9 816 (bLLC): Features a massive 144 MB last-level cache and retains the full core count of nine P-cores, sixteen E-cores, and four LPEs.
  • Core Ultra 7 812 (bLLC): Includes a substantial cache boost but drops two P-cores compared to the flagship model.
  • Standard SKUs: The standard Core Ultra 9 and 7 models will likely feature reduced or no bLLC support, capping their L3 at 44 MB or 144 MB depending on the specific configuration.

Whether a 7-class CPU gets that much additional L3 cache is anyone's guess, but Intel seems to be aiming for better separation between its Nova Lake SKUs than in Arrow Lake. It is possible the full 144 MB might be reserved purely for Core Ultra 9 processors to ensure they maintain an edge over AMD in the gaming space.

HEDT Skylights and Connectivity Features on the Horizon

So far, I have not said anything about the 'dual compute tile' models with 44 or 52 cores. Videocardz's source indicates that Intel has yet to declare the brand nomenclature for these massive chips, meaning they are unlikely to be sold as Core Ultra 9 chips. Instead, it is possible that Intel may choose to revive its X-series branding from 2017/2019.

The likes of the Core i9 10980XE Extreme Edition were huge, very expensive processors with up to 18 cores and quad-channel memory support. Purely for the HEDT (high-end desktop) market, such chips were designed for workstations requiring more threads than a normal CPU could offer but less than a full-blown Xeon chip. This is precisely what AMD's Threadripper chips are for, though as impressive as they are, they really aren't for gaming at all.

Regardless of the naming convention for these high-core-count models, the leak confirms other aspects about the Core Ultra 400-series:

  • PCIe Lanes: The processors will still have a maximum of 24 PCIe lanes available for graphics cards, SSDs, and other components, matching Arrow Lake.
  • Thunderbolt 5 Support: Nova Lake will support Thunderbolt 5 rather than version 4, offering up to 120 Gbps of transfer speed and 240 W of charging capability.

Assuming all of this is correct, the only important pieces of information that remain unknown are clock speeds, prices, and the all-important release date. Take your best guesses at those details as we wait for Intel to officially confirm the roadmap for this exciting new generation of desktop processors.