● Covered by 1 source · 2 reportsLow impact2 neutral
Intel Nova Lake CPU leaks increase, suggesting an upcoming launch
Key points
- Nova Lake CPU leaks have increased recently.
- Leaks include platform details and Z990 motherboards.
- Intel CEO stated a Q3/Q4 2026 launch for Nova Lake.
- Nova Lake is considered a very important launch for Intel.
- Nova Lake desktop CPUs have seven models in the initial NVL-S lineup.
- Three Nova Lake models have 'BFC' branding for big last level cache.
- The flagship Nova Lake Core Ultra 9 4970K BFC has 28 cores, 8 P-cores, 16 E-cores, and 4 LPE-cores.
- The flagship Nova Lake Core Ultra 9 4970K BFC has a 125W TDP.
- The flagship Nova Lake Core Ultra 9 4970K BFC has an integrated GPU with 32 Execution Units.
- The Core Ultra 5 4650KF lacks integrated graphics.
Increased Leaks for Nova Lake
Intel's upcoming Nova Lake CPUs are experiencing a surge in leaks, with details surfacing over the past week and a half. These leaks include a screenshot of high-level platform details, multiple Z990 motherboards appearing in shipping databases, and entries for an unknown Intel processor in the SiSoftware database within an HP EliteBook X.
Intel's Stated Timeline
Intel has previously discussed Nova Lake, with Intel's enthusiast channel VP Robert Hallock emphasizing its importance. Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan stated at the beginning of the year that Nova Lake would launch in the second half of 2026. This timeline remains Intel's official target.
Significance of the Leaks
The increase in concrete leaks, beyond general rumors, typically suggests an imminent product launch. While Nova Lake has been discussed for over two years, the recent appearance of specific details like shipping manifests and database entries points to the product nearing release. Two Z990 motherboards were also observed at Computex earlier this year.
Updates
- Nova Lake desktop CPUs have seven models in the initial NVL-S lineup.
- Three Nova Lake models have 'BFC' branding for big last level cache.
- The flagship Nova Lake Core Ultra 9 4970K BFC has 28 cores, 8 P-cores, 16 E-cores, and 4 LPE-cores.
- The flagship Nova Lake Core Ultra 9 4970K BFC has a 125W TDP.
- The flagship Nova Lake Core Ultra 9 4970K BFC has an integrated GPU with 32 Execution Units.
- The Core Ultra 5 4650KF lacks integrated graphics.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
The daily brief
One email each morning: the day's tech stories, clustered across outlets and summarized. No account needed.
One email a day. Unsubscribe in one click, any time.
Today's brief
Spend a few minutes, get the whole day. Every topic's top stories in one hands-free rundown — listen, watch, or read the transcript.
▶ Play today's brief
New every morning, and the back catalogue is archived by date.
How outlets covered it
A leaked SKU table for Intel's upcoming Nova Lake desktop CPUs shows seven models, including three with 'BFC' branding, indicating a large last-level cache. This move suggests Intel's strategy to compete with AMD's X3D chips in the gaming CPU market.
Recent leaks regarding Intel's Nova Lake CPUs, including platform details, Z990 motherboards, and database entries, indicate an approaching launch. Intel previously stated a second half of 2026 launch for Nova Lake, which is considered a significant product for the company.