Intel’s next desktop platform is starting to look far more defined, and the latest Nova Lake leak suggests a broad Core Ultra 400-series lineup is being shaped with gaming and high-end performance in mind. The most notable detail is Intel’s reported use of large cache variants, a move that appears designed to meet AMD more directly in the desktop CPU race.
The information points to NVL-S, the desktop successor that is expected to arrive as Series 4 or Core Ultra 400S. According to the leaked roadmap cited by VideoCardz, Intel is not only preparing multiple performance tiers, but also separate power classes so the same family can cover gaming rigs, efficient mainstream systems, and lower-power office or embedded use.
A familiar tier structure, but with wider coverage
The leaked Core Ultra 400S family is said to include Core Ultra 9, Core Ultra 7, and Core Ultra 5 models. Each class is then split into different power targets, with 125 W parts aimed at regular desktop and gaming use, 65 W models for more efficient systems, and 35 W versions for office PCs and embedded devices.
That structure shows Intel is still leaning on a mainstream-friendly lineup rather than focusing only on halo products. At the same time, the spread indicates a bigger attempt to cover more market segments with one generation.
Core counts show clear separation between tiers
The top model in the leak, Core Ultra 9, is described with 8 P-cores, 16 E-cores, and 4 LPE-cores. Core Ultra 7 keeps the same 8 P-core count but drops to 12 E-cores, while Core Ultra 5 is listed with 6 P-cores and 12 E-cores.
That tiering matters because it suggests Intel wants each class to feel distinct, not just in price but also in workload focus. By keeping the Core Ultra 9 and Core Ultra 7 closer to the top of the stack, Intel appears to reserve the strongest gaming-facing configurations for the higher-end models.
bLLC looks like Intel’s answer to AMD’s gaming advantage
The biggest attention in the leak goes to bLLC, short for big Last Level Cache. This feature is reportedly being prepared for Core Ultra 9 and Core Ultra 7, and it is widely seen as Intel’s response to AMD’s X3D approach.
The reported cache size reaches as high as 144 MB, which is unusually large for a mainstream desktop processor. The comparison drawn in the source material makes the intent clear, since AMD’s Ryzen 7 9800X3D is referenced with a 64 MB 3D V-Cache slice, underscoring how aggressively Intel may be targeting gaming performance.
Dual-tile models may expand the lineup further
The leak also mentions two higher-end models based on a dual compute tile design. These versions are described as 44-core and 52-core chips, although the final naming has not been settled.
Two possible configurations were listed in the source material:
- 8 + 8 P-cores, 16 + 16 E-cores, 4 LPE-cores, with bLLC and a 175 W TDP
- 8 + 8 P-cores, 12 + 12 E-cores, 4 LPE-cores, with bLLC and a 175 W TDP
If accurate, these chips would push Nova Lake beyond the standard mainstream desktop space and back into extreme-performance territory.
Connectivity remains modern, but not unlimited
Beyond core layout and cache, the leak also points to a few platform-level details. Intel is said to keep the maximum of 24 PCIe lanes for graphics cards, storage, and other components, matching the Arrow Lake limit.
Nova Lake is also reported to support Thunderbolt 5 instead of Thunderbolt 4. The newer standard offers transfer speeds of up to 120 Gbps and charging power up to 240 W, adding another layer of appeal for high-speed peripherals and workstation-style setups.
For now, several key pieces remain missing, including clock speeds, pricing, and the official release date. Even so, the leaked Core Ultra 400-series roadmap suggests Intel is preparing Nova Lake as a much more deliberate desktop refresh, with a stronger focus on gaming, clearer product segmentation, and a wider range of options than before.
