Intel Nova Lake-S Desktop Processors Launch Late 2026, Flagship Model PL2 Power Reaches 474W
Intel will launch its Nova Lake-S desktop processors in late 2026. The lineup includes a 52-core flagship with PL2 power consumption of 474W, requiring triple 8-pin CPU power connectors on Z990 motherboards. Some models feature a large integrated GPU with 12 Xe3P cores drawing 65W alone, necessitating a dual-phase VCCGT power rail. Base models launch first, with the 28-core DS version and K-series overclocking models arriving in early 2027.
Intel's next-generation Nova Lake-S desktop processors, scheduled for launch in late 2026, are undergoing major adjustments. Some models equipped with large integrated graphics will place extremely high demands on power delivery, thereby raising overall TDP and peak power consumption. A Nova Lake-S processor chip with 16 CPU cores and 12 Xe3P graphics cores has an integrated graphics power consumption of 65W alone. The CPU part of this processor adopts a 4+8+4 architecture consisting of four performance cores (P-Core), eight efficiency cores (E-Core), and four low-power efficiency cores (LPE-Core). To meet the strong performance demands of this 12-core Xe3P iGPU, Intel breaks from traditional design. Ordinary processors' integrated graphics typically require only a single-phase VCCGT power rail, but this special specification product will become one of the very few desktop processors that need dual-phase VCCGT power phases.
Furthermore, information on the flagship product of the Nova Lake-S series further demonstrates the power consumption flexibility of this architecture. The top-tier 52-core model, designed with dual compute tiles, exhibits power consumption as high as 474W in PL2 mode. Consequently, high-end Z990 motherboards are equipped with up to three 8-pin CPU auxiliary power connectors. Although this extreme three-connector design is primarily aimed at enthusiast overclockers, major motherboard manufacturers are already comprehensively adjusting VRM power designs to cope with the arrival of high-power platforms.
Base and low-end models will be launched first. Nova Lake-S will offer a variety of combinations, including single compute tile (up to 28 cores) and dual compute tile (up to 52 cores). The CPU cores are built on Coyote Cove performance cores and Arctic Wolf efficiency cores, with an additional four LPE cores integrated into the I/O tile. The new 28-core Nova Lake-S DS version will debut in the first quarter of 2027. The K-series regular models, aimed at mainstream overclocking enthusiasts, will officially launch in March to April 2027.
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