Intel has started shipping engineering samples of its next-generation Nova Lake desktop processors to partners, according to a report from SiliconFly. The chips are expected to launch in the second half of 2026.
Two variants with up to 52 cores
Nova Lake will come in two variants: a single-compute-tile version with up to 28 cores and a dual-compute-tile version with up to 52 cores. The single-tile models will pack up to 144MB of cache, while the dual-tile versions will offer up to 288MB. The processors are rumored to support AVX 10.2 and APX extensions and use a new LGA 1954 socket with a 900-series chipset.
Nova Lake-S Spec Comparison
| Spec | Single-Tile | Dual-Tile |
|---|---|---|
| Core Count | Up to 28 cores | Up to 52 cores |
| Cache | Up to 144MB | Up to 288MB |
| Socket | LGA 1954 | LGA 1954 |
| Chipset | 900-series | 900-series |

SiliconFly claims the dual-tile 52-core Nova Lake will deliver up to a 2x multi-core performance gain over current-generation Intel processors, along with roughly 20% better single-core performance. The source also stated that against Nova Lake 52C, AMD's Zen 6 is "literally screwed." However, these figures are unverified and based on early engineering expectations rather than final retail silicon.
Intel has not confirmed the performance claims or the launch window for Nova Lake.



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