Intel’s Nova Lake-S Processors Poised for Significant Performance Boost with Enhanced NPU
Intel’s forthcoming Core Ultra Series 4 “Nova Lake-S” processors are expected to deliver a substantial leap in performance, particularly in artificial intelligence tasks, with the integration of a significantly upgraded Neural Processing Unit (NPU). The modern processors could be the company’s first desktop series to natively accelerate Microsoft Copilot+ capabilities, according to recent reports.
The NPU within the “Nova Lake” processors boasts a throughput of 74 TOPS (Tera Operations Per Second), exceeding the 40 TOPS required for Copilot+ functionality. This represents a considerable improvement over Intel’s current “Arrow Lake-S” and “Arrow Lake-S Refresh” processors, which utilize an older generation NPU with a throughput of 13 TOPS. Intel previously achieved similar NPU performance with its “Lunar Lake” mobile processors.
While some “Nova Lake-S” models may offer lower NPU throughput, Intel has room for product segmentation to ensure even its most affordable retail models meet the 40 TOPS threshold for Copilot+ compatibility. The company is slated to launch the Core Ultra Series 4 desktop processors in late 2026, though AMD may potentially release its Ryzen AI 400 series “Gorgon Point” Socket AM5 APUs with Copilot+ capabilities sooner.
The “Nova Lake-S” processors will utilize the LGA 1954 socket and feature up to 52 cores – a combination of 16 Performance-cores (P-cores), 32 Efficient-cores (E-cores), and 4 Low-Power Efficient-cores (LP-E). They will also incorporate Xe3-LPG graphics architecture and a sixth-generation NPU. This advancement in processing power underscores the growing importance of AI capabilities in personal computing and the competitive landscape between Intel and AMD.
Intel’s Arrow Lake-S desktop processors, launched on October 24, 2024, integrated Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 support directly into the CPU, a feature that previously relied on PCIe connectivity. Arrow Lake utilizes TSMC’s N3B, N5P, and N6 fabrication processes.
Recent leaks also suggest a potential peak power draw exceeding 700W for certain 52-core variants of the “Nova Lake-S” series. Details on the specifications of the Core Ultra 400 series, including core configurations for Ultra 3, Ultra 5, Ultra 7, and Ultra 9 models, surfaced in July 2025.
The development of Nova Lake-S follows the release of Arrow Lake, which marked Intel’s transition to a disaggregated multi-chip module (MCM) design. Further details on the Nova Lake-S processors and their capabilities are expected to emerge as the launch date approaches.
