The chip configuration and SKU planning of Intel's next-generation desktop processor Nova Lake (Core Ultra 400) have been fully exposed recently.This product will be equipped with a new architecture, up to 52 cores, a new LGA 1954 platform, and will introduce a large cache version for the first time to compete with AMD X3D technology.
In terms of architecture, Nova Lake's P core adopts Coyote Cove architecture, E core and low-power E core (LP-E) adopt Arctic Wolf architecture, and the core display is upgraded to Xe3/Xe3P.
The NPU has been upgraded to NPU6, and the AI computing power reaches 74 TOPS, which is significantly improved compared to the 13 TOPS of the Arrow Lake desktop version and the 50 TOPS of the Panther Lake mobile version.
According to current rumors, Nova Lake's single-threaded performance will be about 10% higher than AMD's upcoming Zen 6 architecture, while multi-threaded performance will widen the gap even further due to its core number advantage.
The chip configuration covers 6 cores to 52 cores. The entry-level is an 8-core configuration (4P+4LPE), followed by 16-core (4P+8E+4LPE), and the mid-range is two 28-core configurations (8P+16E+4LPE).One is the standard version, and the other is equipped with bLLC large cache, with a single-chip cache of 144MB.
The flagship version is a dual computing chip version. Each of the two chips is equipped with 8P+16E. The 4 LPE cores are not computing chips, so they will not be doubled with the dual chips, with a total of 52 cores. The bLLC version has a cache of up to 288MB. The standard computing chip area is 98mm², and the bLLC version is 154mm².
bLLC is Intel's corresponding version of AMD's X3D technology, but it does not use the same chip stacking method as AMD. Instead, it improves game performance by increasing the last-level cache capacity. The scale of 144MB for a single chip and 288MB for a dual chip is unprecedented among desktop processors.
At least 13 models are currently known, covering 35W to 175W. The product line is divided into four levels: Core Ultra 9, Ultra 7, Ultra 5 and Ultra 3.
Among them, the flagship 52-core and 44-core models are aimed at the enthusiast market, with a maximum TDP of 175W, the entry-level Ultra 3 and Ultra 5 are 35W, the unlocked version can reach 65W, the mainstream model is 125W, and some provide 65W optimized versions. The entire line includes F suffix models without core display.
In terms of graphics, the standard version of Nova Lake is equipped with 2 Xe3 graphics cores, but the latest news shows thatIntel has also planned a super core display version, equipped with up to 12 Xe3P cores, and the CPU part is 16 cores (4P+8E+4LPE), positioned at the Core Ultra 7 level.
For reference, the strongest core display of the Panther Lake mobile Core Ultra 300 series is 12 Xe3 units. The performance of the desktop version after upgrading to Xe3P is worth looking forward to. In order to support this powerful core display, the motherboard needs to provide an independent two-phase VCCGT power supply.
The platform uses the new LGA 1954, codenamed Socket V. Intel has promised to extend the interface support cycle. The three generations of Razor Lake, Titan Lake, and Hammer Lake processors after Nova Lake will use the same package.
The enthusiast-grade LGA 1954 motherboard will adopt a double-layer ILM design and be equipped with two pressure rods to provide stronger heat dissipation pressure and achieve efficient heat dissipation without the need for a third-party contact frame.
In terms of memory, DDR5 supports up to 8000 MT/s by default, and the overclocking package can further improve it. Intel will focus on promoting CUDIMM and CQDIMM memory standards, breaking through the 256GB capacity limit on 4-slot or even 2-slot motherboards.
The processor natively integrates Wi-Fi 7, Thunderbolt 5.0, low-power audio and ECC memory support, provides x16 Gen5 PCIe channels for independent graphics cards, and can be split into four groups of x4 to support four-card AI GPU parallelism.
In terms of storage, it supports up to 8 SSDs, of which three sets of Gen5 x4 channels come from the chipset and the rest are Gen4 channels.
Nova Lake is expected to be an important counterattack for Intel in the desktop market, but its actual performance still needs to wait for official release and third-party evaluation verification.