Key Takeaways
- The flagship Intel Nova Lake-S processor may draw over 700 W during full multi-core use, with a PL2 power limit exceeding 400 W.
- Power limit specifications for Nova Lake-S include PL1 at 150 W, PL2 at 496 W, PL3 at 498 W, and PL4 at 854 W.
- Conflicting reports exist, with some leakers suggesting the power limits may not apply to the 52-core model but rather to the 42-core variant.
- Intel's upcoming processors, including Nova Lake, are expected to have significantly higher power requirements compared to previous generations.
- Official announcements regarding Intel's next-gen processors are still months away, so leaked specifications should be viewed with caution.
Thanks to a steady stream of leaks and rumors, we’re learning quite a bit about Intel's upcoming Nova Lake desktop processors, particularly their expected power limits. Recently, it was reported that the flagship 52-core Nova Lake-S could draw over 700 W during full multi-core use. Additional reports have indicated that the PL2 power limit for these Nova Lake-S chips also exceeds 400 W.
Power Limit Specifications Revealed
Leaker HXL has shared a table with details about the PL1, PL2, PL3, and PL4 power limits for Nova Lake-S. According to the leaker, these numbers apply to the dual-compute-tile Nova Lake-S K-series models, which feature up to 52 cores.
From the leaked power limit data, it’s evident that the dual-compute-tile Intel Nova Lake desktop CPUs require significant power. The PL1 is set at 150 W, while PL2, PL3, and PL4 are 496 W, 498 W, and 854 W respectively. This makes the high-end Intel Core Ultra 400 series look extremely power-hungry. For example, the Intel Arrow Lake Core Ultra 9 285K has a PL1 of 125 W and a PL2 of 250 W. Meanwhile, the notorious 14th-gen Core i9-14900K, which runs at 6 GHz, shares the same PL1 and PL2 values as the Core Ultra 9 285K.
Conflicting Information from Other Leakers
However, another leaker, Jaykihn, has disputed HXL's claims, referring to the leaked Nova Lake power limits as “outdated,” a sentiment echoed by UNIKO's Hardware. More intriguingly, Jaykihn suggests that these figures may not pertain to the flagship 52-core Core Ultra 9 but rather to the 42-core Core Ultra 7 Nova Lake SKU, which includes 14 P-cores, 24 E-cores, and 4 LP E-cores.
In essence, it’s possible that Intel has adjusted, maybe even reduced, the power limits for the Core Ultra 7 variant to align more closely with our expectations for Arrow Lake CPUs.
That being said, it’ll be several months before we hear any official announcements regarding the next-gen Intel processors. Therefore, it’s wise to approach the leaked Nova Lake specifications, including power limits, with caution.
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