● Covered by 1 source · 3 reportsMedium impact3 neutral
Intel's Nova Lake desktop CPUs to use 18A-P node, more details at CES
Key points
- Nova Lake will be the first client product with Intel's 18A-P node.
- Intel will share more Nova Lake details at CES in January.
- Panther Lake capacity is being used for Granite Rapids data center CPUs.
- 18A-P offers 9% speed improvement or 18% power reduction over 18A.
- Nova Lake desktop CPUs limit core frequency to 5.1 GHz above 90°C.
- Nova Lake's thermal junction maximum (Tjmax) is reportedly 100°C.
- Nova Lake-S CPUs will begin mass production in Q4 2026.
- Nova Lake-S CPUs will launch in Q1 2027.
- Nova Lake will require new motherboards due to increased I/O and power.
- Nova Lake will introduce the LGA 1954 socket.
- Nova Lake will use Nova Point chipsets, including Z990, Z970, B960, W980, and Q970.
- The LGA 1851 socket reaches end-of-life with Core Ultra Series 2 processors.
- Mid-range Nova Lake SKUs, including a 28-core product, will launch first in Q1 2027.
- Flagship Nova Lake models will launch later in 2027 with up to 52 cores.
- Nova Lake is Intel's first bLLC (big last-level cache).
Nova Lake to Feature 18A-P Node
Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan confirmed during the Q3 2026 earnings call that the upcoming Nova Lake desktop processors will be the first client products to utilize Intel's enhanced 18A-P node. This announcement clarifies previous speculation regarding the manufacturing process for Nova Lake chips.
Intel plans to release additional details about Nova Lake at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January. Tan stated that Nova Lake is tracking ahead of schedule and is expected to have double the design wins of Panther Lake at launch.
Production Shift for Data Center CPUs
Intel's chief financial officer indicated that the company will reallocate manufacturing capacity from Panther Lake to increase the production of Granite Rapids data center CPUs. This strategic shift aims to meet demand for its server products.
18A-P Node Enhancements
The 18A-P node is an enhanced version of the 18A process, offering a 9% improvement in speed at iso-power or an 18% reduction in power at iso-speed. Intel describes 18A-P as a drop-in replacement for 18A, allowing existing 18A designs to transition without additional engineering.
Intel previously announced that 18A-P entered risk production in June, and its Xeon 7 Diamond Rapids server products will also use this enhanced node.
Current 18A Product Performance
Intel's current 18A products, such as Wildcat Lake, are experiencing high demand, with supply reportedly outstripping demand. These products now account for one-third of Intel's client CPU revenue, a significant increase from less than 5% in Q1.
Updates
- Nova Lake-S CPUs will begin mass production in Q4 2026.
- Nova Lake-S CPUs will launch in Q1 2027.
- Nova Lake will require new motherboards due to increased I/O and power.
- Nova Lake will introduce the LGA 1954 socket.
- Nova Lake will use Nova Point chipsets, including Z990, Z970, B960, W980, and Q970.
- The LGA 1851 socket reaches end-of-life with Core Ultra Series 2 processors.
- Mid-range Nova Lake SKUs, including a 28-core product, will launch first in Q1 2027.
- Flagship Nova Lake models will launch later in 2027 with up to 52 cores.
- Nova Lake is Intel's first bLLC (big last-level cache).
- Nova Lake desktop CPUs limit core frequency to 5.1 GHz above 90°C.
- Nova Lake's thermal junction maximum (Tjmax) is reportedly 100°C.
✨ 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 →
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How outlets covered it
Intel's upcoming Nova Lake-S CPUs, expected to begin mass production in Q4 2026 for a Q1 2027 launch, will necessitate new motherboards due to increased I/O and power requirements. These CPUs will introduce the LGA 1954 socket and a new series of Nova Point chipsets, including Z990, Z970, B960, W980, and Q970. The new platform will replace the LGA 1851 socket, which reaches its end-of-life with Core Ultra Series 2 processors.
A leaker claims Intel's upcoming Nova Lake desktop CPUs will limit maximum core frequency to 5.1 GHz when temperatures exceed 90°C. This suggests that achieving higher clock rates will require advanced cooling solutions, as the chips' thermal junction maximum (Tjmax) is reportedly 100°C.
Intel confirmed its Nova Lake desktop processors will be the first client products to use the enhanced 18A-P node, with more information expected at CES in January. The company is also reallocating Panther Lake production capacity to increase Granite Rapids data center CPU output.