Intel Nova Lake-S Specs: 16 Cores, 154W PL2, and 40W iGPU Power

Intel's upcoming Nova Lake-S desktop processors shift the balance of power in the mid-range market by pairing a modest 16-core CPU with a surprisingly potent integrated graphics engine. This configuration challenges the dominance of AMD's Ryzen APUs, which have long held the crown for capable built-in graphics on standard desktop platforms. Buyers looking to build compact gaming rigs or efficient office machines without a discrete GPU will find this architecture particularly relevant.

Leaked specifications reveal power limits and core counts for the upcoming desktop processor

The specific Nova Lake-S SKU we are tracking features a Core Ultra 400S configuration that combines 4 Performance-cores, 8 Efficient-cores, and 4 Low-Power Efficient-cores. This hybrid stack delivers a total of 16 cores and 16 threads for multitasking workloads. The integrated graphics unit relies on the new Xe3P architecture, which introduces 12 cores designed to handle modern gaming and creative tasks more effectively than previous generations.

Specifications

• CPU Core Configuration: 4 P-Cores, 8 E-Cores, 4 LP-E Cores (16 Cores, 16 Threads)
• iGPU Architecture: 12 Xe3P Cores
• iGPU PL2 Power Limit: 40W
• Chip-wide PL2 Power Limit: 154W
• Base TDP (PL1): 65W

Power delivery for this chip requires specific motherboard support, as the iGPU needs two dedicated VCCGT power phases to run at full capacity. The processor itself carries a base TDP of 65W, but the graphics subsystem can draw up to 40W under load. The entire chip can reach a peak power limit of 154W, which is a significant allocation for a processor in this segment. Leaker Jaykihn confirms these power figures, noting that the iGPU-specific PL2 is currently 40W while the chip-wide PL2 sits at 154W.

The integrated graphics also boasts 20 MB of L2 cache, which is 25% more than the 16 MB found in Panther Lake's 12 Xe3 iGPU. This cache increase suggests improved texture handling and lower latency for graphics-intensive applications. We've been tracking Nova Lake-S closely — see our earlier coverage on Intel Nova Lake-S Gains Xe3P Graphics for more details on driver support.

Intel has not yet set a specific launch date, but the product is currently slated for an early 2027 release. Pricing information remains unavailable at this time, leaving the final value proposition to be determined closer to launch. The hardware details confirm a clear push toward high-performance integrated graphics for mainstream desktop users.