1. The Intel Core Ultra 400 Nova Lake lineup will feature 12 SKUs, with top models boasting up to 52 cores and 400W power consumption.
2. Several SKUs will include large L3 cache (bLLC), competing with AMD’s X3D lineup.
3. All CPUs will support Thunderbolt 5.0, two-channel DDR5 RAM, and 24 PCIe Gen5 lanes, with integrated Xe3 iGPU and a dedicated NPU.
Upcoming Intel Core Ultra 400 Nova Lake Lineup
Leaked info about Intel’s next generation chips shows that the Core Ultra 400 Nova Lake series is shaping up to be quite a puncher. It’s expected to directly go head-to-head with AMD’s X3D series, mainly because of its significant L3 cache, known by Intel as bLLC. What’s really crazy is that the highest-end chip might pack as many as 52 cores and be able to draw over 400 Watts when it’s pushing hard. But hey, what about the other models? Thanks to Videocardz, we got some first insights into the whole lineup.
Lineup Breakdown and Core Configurations
Nova Lake desktop CPUs will carry the Core Ultra 400 branding and will offer a total of twelve different SKUs. Out of these, three are expected to include bLLC, giving them a key edge in cache size. The flagship Core Ultra 9 will boast 52 cores, with a TDP of around 125 Watts. Following that, there’s a Core Ultra 7 with 48 cores, also rated at 125 Watts. Another Core Ultra 9 variant is on the list, but with only 22 cores (8+12+4), and it’s supposed to be more energy-friendly with a 65 Watt power limit. Notably, the 52-core and 48-core CPUs are designed for high performance, while the 22-core kind is aimed at efficiency.
SKUs and Power Variations
Seems like Intel plans a few versions of the Core Ultra 7 and Ultra 5 with the same core counts but different power specifications. The higher TDP models probably will be the K and KF series chips, dedicated for overclockers and power users. Confusingly, there’s some debate about how much power the Core Ultra 5 K/KF models consume. According to leaked data, these could either be capped at 65 Watts or able to go up to 125 Watts depending on the cooling and setup. This variance might influence how users pick their chips based on their cooling setups and power needs.
Features and Connectivity
All of the new Intel Nova Lake desktop processors are expected to include the latest Thunderbolt 5.0 controller — supporting up to two TB5 ports, although these might be limited to premium X-series motherboards. On the graphics side, each CPU will feature a dual-core Xe3 integrated GPU and even an NPU for AI workloads. The platform is designed for high-end performance with support for DDR5 dual-channel RAM and a hefty 24 PCIe Gen5 lanes, making it suitable for demanding gaming, content creation, and server tasks.
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