Intel Nova Lake Leaked: Two 18-Core SKUs with Big LLC Cache, Up to 125W
Intel Nova Lake-S desktop CPUs have been leaked by Wccftech, revealing two 18-core models featuring Intel's exclusive 'Big LLC' cache. The chips run at 125W and 65W respectively, targeting the Core Ultra 5 lineup for an early 2027 launch — directly competing with AMD's Zen 6 (Olympic Ridge).
💡 What You Will Learn
Intel Nova Lake-S desktop CPUs have been leaked by Wccftech, revealing two 18-core models featuring Intel's exclusive 'Big LLC' cache. The chips run at 125W and 65W respectively, targeting the Core Ul
📜 Table of Contents
Intel Nova Lake-S desktop CPUs have been leaked by Wccftech, showcasing two 18-core models with Intel's exclusive Big LLC cache, running at 125W and 65W respectively, targeting the Core Ultra 5 lineup for an early 2027 launch — directly competing with AMD's Zen 6 (Olympic Ridge).
Two 18-Core Chips, Different Only in Power Draw
Both 18-core SKUs share the same configuration: - 6 P-cores (Coyote Cove architecture, big cores) - 8 E-cores (Arctic Wolf architecture, efficiency cores) - 4 LP-E cores (low-power cores for background tasks) - 18 cores / 18 threads (Intel continues disabling Hyper-Threading) - bLLC (Big LLC) cache, up to 144MB per compute tile
The only difference: one is a 125W K-series (unlocked), the other is a 65W non-K series (locked). Same silicon, different power targets.
bLLC Is Not Standard Across All SKUs
bLLC (Big LLC) is Nova Lake's key weapon — a massive last-level cache similar to AMD's 3D V-Cache, designed to reduce memory latency and improve hit rates in gaming and productivity scenarios. However, Wccftech's table shows it's not a standard feature:
| Cores | Compute Tile | Cache Scheme |
|---|---|---|
| 8C (4P+0E) | Single | Standard |
| 16C (4P+8E) | Single | Standard |
| 28C (8P+16E) | Single | Standard |
| 28C (8P+16E) | Single | bLLC |
| 52C (2x8P+16E) | Dual | bLLC |
The 18-core models sit between the 16C and 28C tiers, with bLLC enabled.
The 52-Core Flagship Is the Real Beast
Looking at the full Nova Lake SKU lineup, the real monster is the dual-tile 52-core flagship — two 8P+16E compute tiles stacked together with bLLC, power draw up to 700W with dual tiles fully active, paired with new Z990/Z970 motherboards. This is essentially a server-grade multi-die design crammed into an LGA 1954 socket. The dual-tile version will launch a few months after the single-tile SKUs.
Competition: AMD Olympic Ridge Also Arrives in 2027
| Dimension | Intel Nova Lake-S | AMD Olympic Ridge |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Coyote Cove + Arctic Wolf | Zen 6 |
| Process | TSMC N2P | TSMC N2P |
| Max Cores | 52 | 24 |
| Max Cache | 160-320 MB + 144-288 MB bLLC | 96 MB L3 |
| Memory | DDR5 8000 MT/s CUDIMM | DDR5 7200 MT/s |
| Launch | Early 2027 | 2027 |
Intel leads in core count and cache capacity — 52 vs 24 cores, 320MB vs 96MB — but the 700W power draw on the dual-tile SKU is a major concern.
Analysis: Nova Lake Is Intel's True Desktop Comeback
Three signals stand out: 1. Intel has stopped hesitating on brute force — 52 cores, dual tiles, bLLC approaching 300MB+ would have been unthinkable two years ago. 2. Moving to TSMC N2P production removes the process node bottleneck. 3. The platform (LGA 1954, DDR5 8000, PCIe 5.0 36 lanes, NPU6 74 TOPS) is a complete generational refresh.
Intel's biggest risk is timing. Early 2027 means AMD's Olympic Ridge (Zen 6) will likely launch in the same window. If Nova Lake slips to H2 2027, AMD will gain first-mover advantage. And the 700W flagship power draw raises serious questions about practical cooling solutions.
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