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| Intel's Nova Lake CPUs could pack some serious cache unlike the Arrow Lake desktop chip pictured here |
The CPU war is about to get a whole lot spicier. For months, whispers have been circulating about Intel’s next-generation Nova Lake desktop processors. But a fresh deluge of leaks has pulled back the curtain on something PC gamers and enthusiasts love most: raw cache numbers. And frankly, they are staggering.
We already knew from a previous leak that Intel was preparing at least a dozen Nova Lake desktop SKUs, with at least three of them slated to arrive with the mysterious and highly anticipated bLLC (big last-level cache). That feature alone positioned them as direct competitors to AMD’s dominant Ryzen X3D lineup, which has ruled the gaming roost for years thanks to its stacked 3D V-Cache.
Now, thanks to reliable industry leaker Jaykihn on X, we have the exact cache breakdown for the entire family—including the chips that don’t get the bLLC treatment. Some of these figures are so high they even surpass the recently unveiled (and still mythical) Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition. The only question left is: how much of that extra silicon real estate will actually translate into frame rates?
The Cache King is Here: Up to 288 MB
Forget everything you thought you knew about L3 cache limits on a mainstream desktop platform. The leaked specifications show a flagship part that is absolutely dripping with memory.
According to the data shared by Jaykihn, the top-tier Nova Lake SKU—tentatively called the Core Ultra DX9 400—will pack a massive 288 MB of total cache. To put that in perspective, that is more than double the L3 cache found on many current high-end chips. This isn't just a spec sheet bump; it is a declaration of war.
Here is the full leaked breakdown of the tentative SKUs, core counts, and whether they include the coveted bLLC cache:
| Tentative SKU Name | Core Count (P+E+LPE) | bLLC | Cache |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Ultra DX9 400 | 52 (16+32+4) | Yes | 288 MB |
| Core Ultra DX7 400 | 44 (8+24+4) | Yes | 264 MB |
| Core Ultra D9 400 | 28 (8+16+4) | Yes | 144 MB |
| Core Ultra 9 400 | 28 (8+16+4) | No | 36 MB |
| Core Ultra 9 400 | 22 (6+12+4) | Yes | 108 MB |
| Core Ultra D7 400 | 24 (8+12+4) | Yes | 132 MB |
| Core Ultra 7 400 | 24 (8+12+4) | No | 33 MB |
| Core Ultra 7 400 | 16 (4+8+4) | No | 18 MB |
| Core Ultra 5 400 | 22 (6+12+4) | No | 27 MB |
| Core Ultra 5 400 | 12 (4+4+4) | No | 15 MB |
| Core Ultra 5 400 | 8 (4+0+4) | No | 12 MB |
| Core Ultra 3 400 | 6 (2+0+4) | No | 6 MB |
Decoding Intel’s New Alphabet Soup
As if the current naming scheme wasn't confusing enough, Intel appears to be adding new prefixes to the mix. Jaykihn has revealed that the 52-core flagship will launch under the Core Ultra DX9 4xx banner, while the 44-core variant will be called the Core Ultra DX7 4xx. The 28-core and 24-core models with bLLC will use a single "D" (Core Ultra D9 and D7).
Essentially, we are looking at three Core Ultra 9 SKUs with bLLC and two Core Ultra 7 SKUs, all with wildly varying core counts. For a first-time buyer, this is a nightmare. The letter 'D' now joins the growing alphabet club of 'K,' 'F,' and 'KF' that you have to memorize before clicking "add to cart."
For continuous updates on Intel’s leak season, you can follow the source directly here:
Check out Jaykihn’s latest Intel cache leak on X
The Power Draw Puzzle: 125W vs. 175W
While the cache numbers are exciting, the rumor mill is currently spitting out conflicting data regarding power draw—and it is a pretty significant discrepancy.
According to a report by VideoCardz, which cites its own sources and roadmaps, the top-tier 52-core and 44-core "DX" chips are rated with a TDP of 175 Watts. This makes sense for a halo product designed to crush benchmarks.
However, looking at the table provided by Jaykihn, those same top-spec chips appear to have a base TDP headroom starting at 125 Watts. That is a massive difference in thermal output and cooling requirements.
Here is where it gets even weirder. The same leak suggests that the non-D / non-DX Core Ultra 9 model that does include bLLC is locked to just 65 Watts. Meanwhile, the top-spec Core Ultra 5 SKU gets a 125W budget.
VideoCardz has a detailed breakdown of the platform specs and dies here:
Read the full VideoCardz exclusive on Nova Lake-S
What Else is New? DDR5-8000 and Socket Compatibility
Beyond the core and cache chaos, the platform itself is getting a solid upgrade. The leaked roadmaps confirm that Nova Lake-S will officially support DDR5-8000 memory out of the box. This is a significant jump from current standards and will help feed those hungry 288 MB cache pools.
In a rare win for consumer sanity, Intel is also touting forward socket compatibility. The documentation explicitly mentions reusing "Socket V" cooling solutions and maintaining compatibility with the next generation. That means your expensive AIO cooler bought for a 2025 build should snap right onto your 2026 Nova Lake rig.
Other features confirmed in the leak include:
- NPU 6 for AI workloads.
- Integrated Wi-Fi 7 and Thunderbolt 5 support.
- Up to 8 SSDs across PCIe 5.0 and 4.0 lanes.
- Two Xe3 GPU cores included on all desktop dies.
The Bottom Line
See the full core configuration table and additional analysis from Jaykihn here:
Follow Jaykihn’s second post on SKU configurations
Nova Lake is shaping up to be Intel’s most aggressive desktop response to AMD in years. The decision to offer "bLLC" variants across multiple tiers (Ultra 9, Ultra 7, and even a 22-core Ultra 9) suggests that Intel isn't just making a one-off gaming chip—they are trying to bake the X3D-killing strategy into their entire mid-to-high-end stack.
Of course, we are still looking at early leaks. The power draw discrepancies need to be ironed out, and final SKU names could change before the launch window arrives later this year or early next.
But one thing is clear: if the 288 MB cache on the Core Ultra DX9 performs as well as the specs suggest, AMD’s Ryzen X3D series is about to have a real fight on its hands. Keep your eyes on the benchmark leaks; this is going to be fun.