Intel ’s upcoming Nova Lake - S background CPUs , rumored to launch in 2026 , could introduce a mark - new LGA 1954 socket , marking yet another socket change for the company ’s consumer platform . allot to leak shipping manifests and documentation from NBD.ltd apportion byVideoCardz , Intel has begin distributing early trial kits labeled “ NVL - S ” — a warm denotation that motherboard vendors and married person are already preparing for the next contemporaries of CPUs .
The LGA 1954 socket would feature 1,954 electrically alive contact pins , which is a notable jump from the current LGA 1851 socket used with Arrow Lake desktop processor . The total pin count could exceed 2,000 when debug or non - functional pins are debate , and the larger socket may brook new I / O features , increased power delivery , and more advanced chiplet designs .
While Intel has not sustain any detail , this shift suggests that users who adoptArrow Lakemay find themselves needing a new motherboard once Nova Lake arrives . This may frustrate enthusiasts who go for that LGA 1851 would have a multi - generation lifespan , like to LGA 1700 that tender support for 12th , 13th and 14th - gen mainframe .
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Intel has n’t officially shared specifications for its upcomingNova Lake CPUs , but former outflow and rumors indicate some major blueprint changes . fit in to a report from originally this year , the flagship Nova Lake chip could feature up to 52 burden combining 16 - performance nub , 32 - efficiency nucleus , and 4 - down power efficiency ( LPE ) cores . Even modest - tier models are expected to retain a substantial telephone number of efficiency and LPE essence , with some reportedly including just 4 - performance cores .
Some leaks also level to a dual - CCX ( core complex ) layout , similar to AMD ’s chiplet - free-base Ryzen CPUs . This may be paired with a magnanimous 144 M L3 stash tile , potentially offer a gaming performance boost similar toAMD ’s 3D V - Cache .
As for core computer architecture , the performance cores are rumored to use Coyote Cove , while the efficiency cores will take up a new Arctic Wolf design , both succeeding the Panther Lake multiplication ’s Cougar Cove and Darkmont cores .
There ’s also speculation that Nova Lake may feature an off - die memory controller , which could introduce bring latency . However , reports evoke that Intel has engineering solution in place to countervail any negative public presentation impact .
Although official spec persist unannounced , the intromission of LGA 1954 alongside a wholly make over CPU architecture hints at a significant evolution for Intel ’s desktop lineup . More item are require to surface as we approach 2026 .
