Performance details for Intel's next-generation desktop processors, Nova Lake-S, are beginning to emerge. Early engineering samples of the flagship CPU, the Core Ultra 9 4950K, have reportedly appeared in CPU-Z benchmarks. Based on tests conducted by LC Tech Leaks on a motherboard featuring the unreleased Intel Z990 chipset, we can get a glimpse of the performance potential offered by Intel's upcoming new platform.
However, performance data isn't the only interesting information. Nova Lake-S will also bring significant changes to Intel's naming scheme, shifting from the familiar three-digit model numbers to a four-digit system similar to AMD's approach.
The Nova Lake-S series CPUs will belong to the Intel Core Ultra Series 4 processor family, serving as the direct successor to Panther Lake (marketed as Core Ultra Series 3). Until now, it was assumed that the Core Ultra 400 series would be released, but all signs now point towards the Core Ultra 4000 series.
Gotou_3rd, who focuses on Intel leaks, suggests that the exact names may not yet be finalized, as qualification samples for Nova Lake-S have not started shipping according to his information. However, he confirmed that the transition to four-digit numbering is real. Another well-known leaker, Jinzhu Shengji Bao, also pointed out the Core Ultra 4000HX naming standard for laptop models, further supporting the possibility of a widespread renaming of processor brands.
In January 2016, Intel announced Nova Lake CPU simulation capabilities within its software development emulator. Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan stated that the company must accelerate the launch of Nova Lake to regain ground in the high-end desktop segment. Particularly given that AMD will introduce its Zen 6 architecture in the server space, AMD's response to these Core Ultra 4000 series CPUs may take some time.
In terms of performance, the Intel Core Ultra 9 4950K features a 28-core configuration. Most notably, it offers "only" 8 Performance cores (P-Cores) and 20 Efficient cores (E-Cores). Leaked CPU-Z scores show approximately 1000 points for single-core and around 20,000 points for multi-core, placing it far ahead as the current most powerful consumer-grade processor. This score significantly exceeds the roughly 17,300 points recorded by the Ryzen 9 9950X3D, giving the Ultra 9 4950K a 16% lead in this benchmark.
Furthermore, these 28 cores do not represent the top-tier specifications for Nova Lake-S. According to previously reported roadmaps, the 28-core processors will launch in Q1 and Q2 of 2027, with the unlocked "K" series variants expected to arrive between March and April 2027.
16-core and 8-core models will follow, while the more ambitious 52-core configuration, based on two Compute Tiles, is expected to launch between late May and September 2027. All these dates are unofficial and subject to change before release, especially considering Intel has expressed interest in advancing the launch schedule.