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A June 2025 leak claimed Intel’s desktop Nova Lake flagship could combine 52 cores with 150W of Processor Base Power (PBP). Neither figure is confirmed by Intel, and later leaks disagree on power: one repeats 150W, while another lists 175W. A newer leaked lineup shows models up to 28 cores and omits the 52-core chip.
What the 52-core Nova Lake leak claimed
Tom’s Hardware reported on June 16, 2025, citing hardware leaker chi11eddog, that a potential Nova Lake desktop flagship could have 16 P-cores, 32 E-cores and four LPE-cores, for 52 cores in total. The report described Nova Lake as the expected desktop successor to Core Ultra 200S, codenamed Arrow Lake. Its specification table carries the note “Specifications are unconfirmed.” Read the June 2025 report.
The same report gives the rumored flagship 150W PBP. The headline’s “TDP” wording should not be read as an official Intel TDP specification: the table labels the figure PBP, and Intel has not confirmed it. For comparison, that table lists the Core Ultra 9 285K with eight P-cores, 16 E-cores and 125W PBP.
Why the reported power figure is disputed
Subsequent leak reporting does not settle the number. Tom’s Hardware repeated 150W PBP for the 52-core part in a July 17, 2026 article, which also reported 253W Maximum Turbo Power (MTP). Club386, relaying a preliminary VideoCardz SKU list on April 13, 2026, instead gave the 52-core dual-die configuration a 175W rating. These are conflicting leak claims, not evidence of an Intel-confirmed revision.
#1 Best Overall
- Next‑Gen Platform Support: Compatible with Intel 800 Series Chipset‑based motherboards with LGA1851 Socket enabling PCIe 5.0/4.0 and high‑speed DDR5 memory (up to 7200 MT/s).
- High‑Performance Core Configuration: Features up to 24 cores (8 P‑cores + 16 E‑cores) for demanding gaming and creator
- Ultra‑Fast Boost Clocks: Reaches up to 5.5 GHz max turbo frequency for top‑tier responsiveness and performance
- Built for Enthusiasts: Unlocked for performance tuning when paired with Intel Z‑series chipsets, making it ideal for overclockers and power users.
- Robust Power & Thermal Design: Engineered with 125W base power and 250W max turbo power to sustain high‑intensity
| Report | Claim for the 52-core model | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Tom’s Hardware, June 16, 2025 | 52 cores; 150W PBP | Unconfirmed leak; its table explicitly says specifications are unconfirmed. |
| Club386 relaying VideoCardz, April 13, 2026 | 52-core dual-die configuration; 175W | Preliminary leaked SKU information, not an official Intel specification. |
| Tom’s Hardware, July 17, 2026 | 150W PBP; 253W MTP | Later reporting of rumored figures; Intel had not confirmed a launch date. |
PBP and MTP are different power figures, so 150W PBP and 253W MTP in the July report are not competing measurements of the same thing. The 175W claim is a separate leak and its reporting should not be treated as an official correction to the earlier 150W figure. See Tom’s Hardware’s July 2026 report and Club386’s account of the preliminary list.
What the newer leaked lineup does—and does not—show
A Tom’s Hardware report dated October 2, 2026, covers a leaked initial desktop SKU table whose largest listed model is a 28-core Core Ultra 9 4970K BFC: eight P-cores, 16 E-cores and four LPE-cores, at 125W. The table does not include the rumored 52-core model. The report says dual-tile models such as the 52-core part are expected later than the main range based on prior rumors, not confirmed launch plans. It also cautions against treating model names as final. Read the October 2026 report.
Rank #2
- Game Without Compromise. Play harder and work smarter with Intel Core 14th Gen processors
- 20 cores (8 P-cores plus 12 E-cores) and 28 threads. Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 770 included
- Up to 5.6 GHz with Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 gives you smooth game play, high frame rates, and rapid responsiveness
- Compatible with Intel 600-series (with potential BIOS update) or 700-series chipset-based motherboards
- DDR4 and DDR5 platform support cuts your load times and gives you the space to run the most demanding games
A separate July 2026 report relayed a possible late May–September 2027 window for the 52-core SKU, while noting Intel had not officially confirmed a Nova Lake launch date. Treat that window as a rumor, not a release commitment.
Does 52 cores mean Nova Lake will beat AMD Zen 6?
No performance conclusion follows from the core count alone. The available reporting does not provide verified Nova Lake benchmarks, pricing or an apples-to-apples comparison with AMD Zen 6. Core counts also do not establish performance for a particular workload. Any comparison will need confirmed specifications and comparable testing, including workload, power behavior and platform costs.
Rank #3
- Get ultra-efficient with Intel Core Ultra desktop processors that improve both performance and efficiency so your PC can run cooler, quieter, and quicker.
- Core and Threads 24 cores (8 P-cores plus 16 E-cores) and 24 threads. Integrated Intel Graphics included
- Performance Hybrid Architecture Integrates two core microarchitectures, prioritizing and distributing workloads to optimize performance
- Performance Unlocked Up to 5.7 GHz unlocked. 40MB Cache
- Compatibility Compatible with Intel 800 series chipset-based motherboards
For a future buying or upgrade decision, compare confirmed core configurations and workload results alongside power limits, memory and I/O support, motherboard and socket costs, cooling requirements, and launch and retail availability. The Nova Lake socket and cooler details discussed in leaks are not official compatibility guidance. Do not assume an existing board or cooler will work until Intel and motherboard makers publish support information.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Game without compromise. Play harder and work smarter with Intel Core 14th Gen processors
- 24 cores (8 P-cores plus 16 E-cores) and 32 threads. Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 770 included
- Leading max clock speed of up to 6.0 GHz gives you smoother game play, higher frame rates, and rapid responsiveness
- Compatible with Intel 600-series (with potential BIOS update) or 700-series chipset-based motherboards
- DDR4 and DDR5 platform support cuts your load times and gives you the space to run the most demanding games
Rank #4
- Game Without Compromise. Play harder and work smarter with Intel Core 14th Gen processors
- 20 cores (8 P-cores plus 12 E-cores) and 28 threads. Discrete graphics required
- Up to 5.6 GHz with Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 gives you smooth game play, high frame rates, and rapid responsiveness
- Compatible with Intel 600-series (with potential BIOS update) or 700-series chipset-based motherboards
- DDR4 and DDR5 platform support cuts your load times and gives you the space to run the most demanding games
What is safe to conclude now
- “Up to 52 cores” is an old, unconfirmed leak claim: 16 P-cores, 32 E-cores and four LPE-cores.
- The 150W figure was reported as PBP, not confirmed by Intel as TDP.
- Later leaks disagree, citing 150W PBP and 253W MTP in one report, and 175W for the 52-core configuration in another.
- The October 2026 leaked initial lineup lists models up to 28 cores; it omits the rumored 52-core chip.
- Intel has not confirmed the 52-core model, its power specifications, launch timing or platform compatibility in the reporting cited here.
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