Intel’s Nova Lake-S Leak Reveals Two 18-Core Chips With Big Cache, 125W and 65W Variants

Fresh details about Intel’s upcoming Nova Lake-S desktop processors have surfaced, pointing to two new 18-core models that will pack the company’s large last-level cache technology. According to a report from Wccftech, these chips are expected to belong to the Core Ultra 5 family and will ship in both 125W and 65W power configurations.

The leak comes from hardware leaker Jaykihn and was highlighted by Wccftech’s Hassan Mujtaba, who has been tracking Intel’s next-generation desktop lineup for months. Nova Lake-S, officially branded as the Core Ultra 400S series, is shaping up to be one of Intel’s most segmented desktop launches yet, with configurations spanning single-compute tile and dual-compute tile designs alongside various cache and power options.

What the New 18-Core Chips Bring

Per the leaked information, the two 18-core Nova Lake-S chips will each carry a 6 P-Core, 8 E-Core, and 4 LP-E Core arrangement, adding up to 18 cores and 18 threads. The Performance cores are said to use Intel’s Coyote Cove architecture, while the Efficiency cores rely on the newer Arctic Wolf design.

Both variants reportedly include Intel’s bLLC, or “Big Last Level Cache,” technology, which on single-compute tile models can reportedly scale up to 144MB. One version is listed at 125W and unlocked for overclocking, while the other is a 65W, non-K part aimed at more power-conscious builds. Wccftech notes these sit within a broader single-compute tile family that also includes 8-core and 16-core configurations, some with bLLC and some without.

How Nova Lake-S Compares to AMD’s Next Chips

Looking at the full picture painted by Wccftech’s die configuration breakdown, Nova Lake-S will top out with a 52-core dual-compute tile flagship, combining two 28-core dies each with 8 P-Cores, 16 E-Cores, and bLLC. That top-end part is said to support up to 320MB of combined L2 and L3 cache and up to 288MB of bLLC cache specifically.

Wccftech’s comparison table also pits Nova Lake-S against AMD’s rumored Ryzen “Olympic Ridge” lineup built on Zen 6. Intel’s chips reportedly max out at 52 cores and 52 threads versus AMD’s 24 cores and 48 threads, though both platforms are said to be manufactured on TSMC’s N2P process node. Nova Lake-S is expected to use Intel’s new LGA 1954 socket, while AMD’s next chips are expected to stick with the existing AM5 platform, and both companies’ new CPUs are currently pegged for a 2027 launch window.

A Longer Road Before Launch

Wccftech points out that single-compute tile Nova Lake-S models are expected to arrive in early 2027, with dual-compute tile parts following several months later. That means enthusiasts still have a considerable wait ahead before these chips reach retail, though leaks like this one are expected to keep trickling out throughout the rest of 2026.

For PC gamers watching the CPU market, the timing matters. With both Intel and AMD apparently readying substantial architectural upgrades for roughly the same window, the next desktop CPU generation could bring one of the more competitive matchups in recent memory, assuming both companies deliver on their current roadmaps.

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