A little feedback from Intel, where we learn that a logistics register is showing chips in pre-qualification. This is a good indicator that CPU development is on course and that the blueprints seem to be sticking to their roadmap. So far, only a 28-core model has been spotted.
Nova Lake-S: first 28-core model spotted in customs!
As you can see, the register contains several references to a Nova Lake-S processor. The 28C configuration refers to a hybrid configuration. As such, this CPU benefits from different types of cores: performance cores, efficient cores and low-power cores. Here, we can guess that the CPU benefits from 8 P-Cores, 16 E-Coresand 4 LPE’s.
One of the major assets of this Nova Lake series lies in the use of a TSMC N2 process, i.e. 2 nm. Another advantage of this series is the greater number of LPE cores. These will handle the lighter tasks in the background, leaving the heavier ones to the larger cores.
As things stand, there appear to be no records or other information concerning the 52-core flagship, or other more modest models with 18 cores, for example.
Meanwhile, Nova Lake-S is due to arrive next year, and this appearance as a pre-qualification sample is an indication that Intel is keeping to its schedule. At the same time, Lenovo is rumored to be testing Panther Lake-H processors for the mobile world. However, this series is expected to use Intel’s in-house 18A process. This situation is not exceptional, since desktop and mobile projects are often developed in parallel.
2026 promises to be an interesting year in terms of new products. In addition to Intel’s new series, AMD should be arriving with Zen 6. And that’s without mentioning the GPU news, which also promises to be very rich.
