Nova Lake: Intel's next desktop processor is said to receive a huge cache
Intel's suspected Core Ultra 400 is said to receive variants with particularly large cache. They would compete with AMD's Ryzen X3D processors.
(Image: Mark Mantel / heise medien)
Intel is apparently planning a competitor to AMD's Ryzen X3D processors with particularly large cache, which can increase frame rates, especially in games. According to leaks, several processor models from the upcoming Nova Lake generation will feature a so-called Big Last Level Cache (bLLC). The contributions from X members, who have been correct many times before.
We are talking about 144 MB in a chiplet with up to eight performance and 16 efficiency cores. Previous rumors spoke of four additional low-power efficiency cores, so a total of 28 cores. In a cut-down variant, four efficiency cores are said to be deactivated (8 + 12 + possibly 4).
Intel is allegedly also planning two variants with two compute dies each, meaning up to 48 or 56 CPU cores – depending on whether low-power efficiency cores are present or not. The leaks do not mention any cache amount there, but 288 MB would then only appear logical.
However, there is uncertainty whether such dual variants will actually appear. They also likely complicate power supply and thus present mainboard manufacturers with challenges.
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Integration into the Compute Die
Intel is apparently taking a different approach than AMD with the Ryzen X3D. The bLLC is to be located in the same chiplet as the CPU cores. AMD, on the other hand, outsources additional Level 3 cache to its own die, which the chip contract manufacturer TSMC attaches to the compute chiplet. Intel's variant would probably be more expensive to produce, but would simplify connectivity.
The bLLC is explicitly not to be located in the base die, which lies beneath the other chiplets. This is how Intel proceeds with its own server processor Clearwater Forest, which contains 288 CPU cores and 576 MB of additional cache.
The more cache a processor has available, the more data it can hold locally. This helps especially in latency-critical games: The CPU does not have to go the long way via RAM, which saves time and improves performance.
AMD currently integrates 64 MB of cache into its cache dies, in addition to 32 MB in the compute die. The eight-core Ryzen 7 9800X3D thus reaches 96 MB. With the next generation, the capacity could increase. AMD also still has the option to bring 12- and 16-core processors with a second cache die. These would then have 192 MB.
Nova Lake is scheduled for the second half of 2026. They will likely come as Core Ultra 400. For desktop PCs, Arrow Lake (Core Ultra 200) must suffice until then. The Core Ultra 300 alias Panther Lake will only be released for notebooks.
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