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It seems that Intel is not planning to slow down and is preparing something really interesting for desktops. New leaks suggest that in addition to the standard processors from the Core Ultra 400 "Nova Lake-S" series, the company is working on a special variant of APU that could significantly raise the bar for integrated graphics. We are talking about a chip equipped with as many as 12 Xe3P graphics cores, which could translate to performance close to dedicated budget GPUs. This is a clear signal that Intel wants to strengthen its position in a segment that has so far been the domain of AMD.
Unusual configuration and emphasis on graphics
The new APU is expected to offer a configuration of 4 performance cores (P-core), 8 power-efficient cores (E-core), and 4 LPE cores, totaling 16 CPU cores in a 4+8+4 arrangement. However, the most interesting element is the graphics, which feature 12 cores of Xe3P, designed to be an enhanced version of the Xe3 architecture. In practice, this means that Intel can target users who want to game or work without the need to buy a separate graphics card. This approach resembles AMD's strategy with their popular Ryzen G series APU, which have dominated the "all-in-one" segment for years. Intel seems to want to respond to this advantage by offering a more balanced setup with fewer CPU cores, but significantly stronger integrated graphics.
Ambitions greater than before
Interestingly, this is not the only configuration that Intel is working on. Previous leaks talked about a much more extreme variant “Nova Lake-AX” with as many as 48 Xe3 cores and a huge number of CPU cores. This project had the potential to become one of the most powerful APUs in history, but it seems to have been temporarily put on hold. The current direction suggests a more realistic approach; instead of one "monster," Intel may release several different variants tailored to different needs. If the new APU actually offers performance close to the level of Arc B390 in the integrated version, it could be a significant breakthrough for the desktop market, especially for budget-conscious gamers.
The new APU from the Nova Lake series could be one of Intel's most important moves in recent years, especially when it comes to competing with AMD in the integrated graphics segment.
source: techpowerup.com
