Intel's next-generation Nova Lake desktop processors have reportedly entered the engineering sample phase, with early units now shipping to partners. The chips are expected to launch in the second half of 2026, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Two compute tile variants revealed
The Nova Lake-S family will come in two variants. A single compute tile version offers up to 28 cores, while a dual compute tile version reaches up to 52 cores. Cache sizes are also substantial, with up to 144MB on single-tile models and up to 288MB on dual-tile models. The platform is rumored to use an LGA 1954 socket and a 900-series chipset. New instruction set extensions including AVX 10.2 and APX are expected.
Performance claims from leaker SiliconFly suggest up to a 2x multi-core improvement over current-generation Intel processors, along with roughly 20% better single-core performance. However, these figures are unverified and based on early engineering expectations rather than final retail silicon.
The high core count and cache configuration position Nova Lake as a potential competitor to AMD's upcoming Zen 6 desktop flagship, which is rumored to top out at 24 cores. SiliconFly has stated that against a 52-core Nova Lake, Zen 6 is "literally screwed." Intel has not confirmed the launch window or final specifications.
Source: TweakTown
