Intel is preparing to launch its Core Ultra Series 4 ‘Nova Lake’ processor generation toward the end of 2026, CEO Lip-Bu Tan confirmed. This new generation will target multiple form factors, with a particular emphasis on desktop, signaling a significant refresh of Intel’s high end consumer platform. Intel is building its next-generation ‘Nova Lake-S’ desktop processor around the new Socket LGA1954 platform that replaces the current LGA1851. The company is planning to release Core Ultra Series 3 ‘Arrow Lake Refresh’ for LGA1851 in the run-up to ‘Nova Lake-S’ by yearend, positioning the refresh as a bridge generation before the more radical nova lake overhaul.
With ‘Nova Lake,’ Intel is expected to make fundamental changes to its processor design to help the company claw back performance leadership over AMD in the desktop segment. The company is planning changes that include a doubling in CPU core counts going up to 16P+32E, directly targeting higher parallel performance. Graphics and on-chip acceleration are also in line for an upgrade, with a new iGPU based on the Xe3 ‘Celestial’ graphics architecture, and a new NPU that meets Copilot+ requirements, indicating a focus on integrated Artificial Intelligence workloads and modern operating system features. Intel also plans the introduction of special SKUs with BLLC (big last-level cache), described as Intel’s answer to AMD’s 3D V-Cache, to improve performance in cache sensitive applications and games.
On the core architecture front, Intel will update the CPU complex with new ‘Coyote Cove’ P-cores, and ‘Arctic Wolf’ E-cores, both of which are expected to improve IPC over the current ‘Lion Cove’ and ‘Skymont’ combo. ‘Coyote Cove’ does not feature HyperThreading, something the Intel CEO wants to see restored on the company’s P-cores, but ‘Nova Lake’ will make up for it with a numerical increase in P-core counts. The combined package of more cores, bigger last-level cache variants, enhanced integrated graphics, and a Copilot+ capable NPU suggests nova lake is being positioned as a comprehensive platform upgrade built to compete aggressively with AMD in the next desktop cycle.
