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Intel Core Ultra 400 processors for desktops and laptops should arrive with their Nova Lake codename, following Panther Lake. Nova Lake is a codename for future generations of Intel processors for desktop PCs and laptops, following the usual "Lake" pattern as its predecessors. Meteor Lake represented a shift to a new naming system for Intel chips, which began with Core Ultra Series 1 mobile processors, including the Core Ultra 7 155H found in HP's highly rated Spectre x360 14 (2024) laptop. Now, Arrow Lake covers the current generation of Core Ultra Series 2 desktop processors, such as the efficiency-focused Core Ultra 9 285K, while Lunar Lake is the codename for its mobile counterparts, like the Core Ultra 7 258V in the phenomenal HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 (2024) laptop. So far, everything I know about Nova Lake is based on speculation, leaks, and rumors, aside from a confirmation from Intel regarding its codename. Still, this future generation will likely follow upcoming Core Ultra Series 3 "Panther Lake" mobile processors, with Intel positioning Nova Lake as Core Ultra Series 4. Intel's Arc graphics in Nova Lake-S (desktop) processors are rumored (according to reliable leaker @jaykihn0 on X) to use a combination of next-generation Xe3 (codenamed Celestial) and its future successor Xe4 (Druid) tiles on the system-on-chip (SoC), the former handling real-time graphics rendering and the latter dedicated to display and media. The remaining mobile processors are rumored (by InstLatX64 on X) to be Nova Lake-U for low-power devices, Nova Lake-H for high performance , and Nova Lake-HX for maximum performance enthusiast devices, usually gaming laptops. Otherwise, Nova Lake-S and Nova Lake-SK represent desktop PCs, which could shift to a new socket, despite Core Ultra Series 2 recently adopting LGA1851, but there isn't any concrete evidence in one way or the other. As more information develops, this page will update to reflect confirmations or disprovals of previous rumors, and coverage of any new information. When is Nova Lake launching? Intel Nova Lake processors are rumored to launch in 2026. Source Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. News posts... 2023: 5,800+ | 2024: 5,700+ | 2025 (till end of May): 2,377 RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend

Back in 2021, when Intel began struggling to keep up with AMD's Zen processors in efficiency and value, the company was rumored to be working on a "Zen 5 killer" that would land in 2025. According to that report, legendary chip architect Jim Keller, who had also helped shape Zen and K12 (ARM-based), was at the helm of Intel when designing this purported Zen 5 killer known as the "Royal Core." The report also added that Royal Core would debut inside the Nova Lake lineup of processors in its "full" glory. While the initial plan for Nova Lake was a 2025 debut, the company confirmed earlier this year that this was not happening and that Nova Lake is a year late, as it is expected to land in 2026. During its Q4 2024 earnings call, Michelle Johnston Holthaus, the interim co-chief executive officer of Intel and CEO of Intel Products, said (PDF😞 Thus, in order to be competitive, Nova Lake must be significantly better than AMD's Zen 5 which is already available in Ryzen 9000 series parts. Nova Lake-S, the desktop variant of Nova Lake, will apparently require a new socket dubbed LGA1954. This will succeed Intel's current LGA1851 socket (compatible with Ultra Series 2 desktop CPUs like the 285K, 265K, among others). X user Everest noticed the presence of an Interposer for Gen 5 VR (voltage regulator) test tool. For those wondering, this tool is meant for testing and validating of the new LGA1954 socket that's meant to be paired up with the Intel Nova Lake-S desktop chips. VR test tools help assess CPU power delivery and load line before actual CPU samples are placed in sockets. It is essentially a safety measure such that healthy working chips aren't burned up due to excess voltage or current. If you recall, we had also learned about LGA1700 from a leak of a similar nature. That was back in 2020. In terms of core specs of Nova Lake-S, rumor has it that there could be up to 52 cores with the following configuration: 16 P-cores, 32 E-cores, and 4 LP E-cores (via Jaykihn on X), which equates to a 52-core 52-thread flagship Nova Lake-S SKU (remember that Intel no longer uses hyperthreading or SMT). Source Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. News posts... 2023: 5,800+ | 2024: 5,700+ | 2025 (till end of March): 1,357 RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend