Intel’s Next-Gen Nova Lake-S: A 52-Core Powerhouse
Intel’s next-generation Nova Lake-S desktop CPUs are shaping up to be monsters, with leaked specs revealing a flagship 52-core model (16P+32E+4LP) and a 150W TDP.
This follows Intel’s Arrow Lake-S refresh (coming late 2024) and suggests a major leap in core counts for high-end desktops in 2025.
Nova Lake-S Lineup: 7 Variants Leaked
According to reliable leaks, Nova Lake-S will include at least 7 SKUs, ranging from 12 to 52 cores:
| Model | Cores (P+E+LP) | TDP |
|---|---|---|
| Core Ultra 9 (385K?) | 16P + 32E + 4LP | 150W |
| Core Ultra 7 (365K?) | 14P + 24E + 4LP | 150W |
| Core Ultra 5 (345K?) | 8P + 16E + 4LP | 125W |
| Core Ultra 5 (335?) | 8P + 12E + 4LP | 125W |
| Core Ultra 5 (325?) | 6P + 8E + 4LP | 125W |
| Core Ultra 3 | 4P + 8E + 4LP | 65W |
| Core Ultra 3 | 4P + 4E + 4LP | 65W |
Key Notes:
- No Hyper-Threading (thread count = core count, like Arrow Lake)
- All models include 4 Low-Power (LP) cores (likely on a separate die)
- New socket required (again!)
How Does This Compare to AMD & Current Intel CPUs?
- AMD’s Ryzen 9 9950X has 16 cores (no E-cores)
- Intel’s Core Ultra 9 285K (Arrow Lake-S) has 24 cores (8P+16E)
- Nova Lake-S’s 52-core chip would double Intel’s current top core count
This suggests Intel is aggressively pushing core scaling to compete with AMD’s Threadripper and next-gen Ryzen CPUs.
New Intel Desktop CPUs coming..🧐🧐🧐
— chi11eddog (@g01d3nm4ng0) June 16, 2025
150W for Core Ultra 9/7. Core Ultra 5 125W. pic.twitter.com/mW0MS2lKM9
When Will Nova Lake-S Launch?
- Arrow Lake-S refresh arrives Q4 2024
- Nova Lake-S expected in 2025 (possibly late 2025)
- New motherboard socket required (LGA-1851 successor?)
Will Gamers Need 52 Cores?
For gaming, even 24 cores (Arrow Lake-S) is overkill—most games still favor single-threaded performance. However, content creators, streamers, and workstation users could benefit from the extra cores.
Potential Use Cases:
4K/8K video editing
3D rendering & AI workloads
Heavy multitasking & virtualization
Overkill for pure gaming
Also, Read
- AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT Shows Promise in Early Benchmarks – 25% Faster Than Predecessor
- NVIDIA N1X CPU Leak – 20-Core ARM Processor Outperforms Ryzen & Intel in Early Tests
- $6,000 PC With Twisted Cables Sparks Outrage Among Gamers
Intel’s Nova Lake-S looks like a core-count monster, but real-world performance will depend on:
- Clock speeds & IPC improvements
- Power efficiency (150W is a lot!)
- Software optimization for E-cores
Would you upgrade to a 52-core CPU, or is this overkill? Let us know! 👇