Intel’s Next‑Gen Desktop Chips
Intel appears confident about its upcoming desktop processors. The company’s leadership discussed modest earnings but highlighted that the next‑generation Nova Lake chips will use the 18A‑P node, delivering about 9% more performance at the same power or up to 18% lower power for the same performance. Design advances are expected to be twice those of the previous Panther Lake generation, and the chips aim to close a long‑standing gap in Intel’s high‑end desktop lineup.
Fact Sheet
| Header cell: column 0 | P/E/LP-E cores | GPU EU | TDP (PL1) | bLLC cache |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core Ultra 9 4970K BFC | 8/16/4 | 32 | 125 | Yeah |
| Ultra 9 4950K core | 8/16 | 23 | 125 | No |
| Core Ultra 9 4900 BFC | 6/12/4 | 32 | 65 | Yeah |
| Core Ultra 7 4870K BFC | 8/12/4 | 32 | 125 | Yeah |
| Ultra 7 4850K core | 8/12 | 32 | 125 | No |
| Ultra 5 4650K core | 6/12 | 32 | 125 | No |
| Ultra 5 4650KF core | 6/12 | 0 | 125 | No |
Intel’s “Big Last Level Cache” (BLLC) is seen as its answer to AMD’s 3D V‑Cache technology, with rumors pointing to a Core Ultra 9 4970K BFC leading the segment. Analyst David Zinsner believes the new lineup will help Intel regain market share, noting a year of gaining share with the Nova Lake portfolio. The Las Vegas CES show, where the chips are expected to be announced, runs from January 6 to 9.
