Recent news suggests that Intel's next-generation processor, Nova Lake-S, may use a brand new socket. If this is true, it is not good news for players who have just bought an Intel 800 series motherboard.
Intel has just launched 800 series motherboards that support the LGA-1851 socket in the third quarter of 2024 (July-September), but now it seems that these motherboards may only be used on one processor. Many reviewers have asked Intel whether this LGA-1851 socket will support future processors, but Intel has never given a clear answer. Later, we (VideoCardz) heard that Intel might launch a processor called Arrow Lake Refresh as a small upgrade, but the performance would not be much improved.
Now, the situation is clearer: Intel may not have intended for Nova Lake-S to use the LGA-1851 socket at all. Recently leaked shipping information shows that Intel is testing a new socket called LGA-1954 specifically for Nova Lake-S. This means that users who buy an 800 series motherboard can only use it to run one processor (Arrow Lake series) and cannot upgrade to Nova Lake-S.
Intel Desktop Platform Socket Changes
LGA-1200 slot (old model):
Supports 12th generation Core (Alder Lake-S)
Supports 13th generation Core (Raptor Lake-S)
Supports 14th generation Core (Raptor Lake-S updated version)
LGA-1851 socket (current):
Supports Core Ultra 200 series (Arrow Lake-S)
May support Core Ultra 300 series (Arrow Lake-S updated version, to be confirmed)
LGA-1954 socket (future):
Supports Core Ultra 400 series (Nova Lake-S)
Strictly speaking, the LGA-1851 socket originally supported a processor called Meteor Lake-S. Intel originally planned to launch a Core Ultra 100 series for gamers, but due to unsatisfactory performance, Intel delayed it for nearly a year, and ultimately only used this processor in embedded devices (such as industrial equipment).
Nova Lake-S will have to wait
Nova Lake-S processors won't be available anytime soon. It may not appear on the market until 2026 at the earliest. The leaked shipping information also mentioned that the Nova Lake-S test equipment supports PCIe5.0 (a high-speed data transmission standard), indicating that the new slot will continue to use the latest technology.