Friday, February 7th 2025
Intel "Nova Lake" to Appear with up to 52 Cores: 16P+32E+4LPE Configuration
Intel's upcoming "Nova Lake" desktop processors are taking shape slowly, featuring a three-tier core design that could reach 52 total cores. Set for 2026, the flagship SKU combines 16 "Coyote Cove" P-cores with 32 "Arctic Wolf" E-cores, supplemented by 4 LPE-cores for background task management. Intel is reportedly also considering 28-core (8P + 16E + 4LPE), and 16-core (4P + 8E + 4LPE) SKUs too. The architectural design choice centers on Intel's hybrid manufacturing approach, leveraging both its internal 14A node and TSMC's 2 nm process technology. This strategic decision addresses supply chain resilience while potentially enabling higher yields for critical compute tiles. Intel's interim co-CEO Michelle Johnston Holthaus noted that Intel Foundry will need to earn Intel Product's trust with each new node, so if a node is not the best for their in-house IP, Intel will move to TSMC for production.
Initial engineering samples are already circulating among developers, according to shipping documentation from NBD, suggesting the validation phase is proceeding on schedule. Some specifications point to significant cache improvements, with documentation suggesting a 144 MB L3 cache implementation. However, the cache topology—whether unified or segmented—remains unspecified. The platform is expected to support PCIe Gen 6.0, though Intel has yet to confirm socket compatibility or memory specifications. However, we need to hold our expectations low. Previously unrealized configurations in Intel's roadmaps, like 40-core "Arrow Lake," never materialized, and instead, we got an eight-P-core version with 16 E-cores, totaling 24 cores. Final specifications may evolve as the platform progresses through development phases.
Sources:
@jaykihn0 on X, via Tom's Hardware
Initial engineering samples are already circulating among developers, according to shipping documentation from NBD, suggesting the validation phase is proceeding on schedule. Some specifications point to significant cache improvements, with documentation suggesting a 144 MB L3 cache implementation. However, the cache topology—whether unified or segmented—remains unspecified. The platform is expected to support PCIe Gen 6.0, though Intel has yet to confirm socket compatibility or memory specifications. However, we need to hold our expectations low. Previously unrealized configurations in Intel's roadmaps, like 40-core "Arrow Lake," never materialized, and instead, we got an eight-P-core version with 16 E-cores, totaling 24 cores. Final specifications may evolve as the platform progresses through development phases.
33 Comments on Intel "Nova Lake" to Appear with up to 52 Cores: 16P+32E+4LPE Configuration
Of course people with some basic knowledge will be looking at IPC, number of P cores and the implementation of X3D cache on the CPUs they are buying. But big OEMs will be advertising "32/40/48/52 cores CPUs".
which is supposed to launch h2 2025
maybe m6 will be 2nm but that's not going to launch until 2026
I don't know who's going to be taking up the first generation of 2nm but it's not going to be Apple this time.
Probably still reeling from n3b like intel is.
I could not find any specs for those E cores for those intel processors on intel homepage. I could not find any cpuinfo for that. I doubt my box will boot or can execute the code i compiled on that intel cpu. Maybe when i optimise the code, downgrade compability for i686, for a ~15 year old cpu generation, which I do not want for a new platform.The vram "fairy tale"
2GB VRAM is enough
8GB VRAM is enoughI want a cpu with big cache. That never changed.How is the operating system support? Does the customer have to pay for every single extra cpu core in software ?
www.techpowerup.com/cpu-specs/xeon-6780e.c3664