Intel's next-generation Nova Lake processors reportedly reach 700W power consumption in extreme configurations, according to hardware leaker Kopite7kimi. The February 10 leak suggests dual-compute tile flagship models could draw over 700 watts under full load.
The 52-core Nova Lake flagship would represent a significant power increase over current 24-core Arrow Lake designs. Intel's Core Ultra 9 285K currently operates with a 250W PL2 power limit, making the rumored 400W+ PL2 for Nova Lake a more than 60% increase.
However, these extreme power figures apply specifically to dual-compute tile versions with 16 performance cores and 32 efficiency cores. Single-tile configurations with eight P-cores and 16 E-cores will likely maintain more reasonable power envelopes for mainstream users.
Intel plans to release Nova Lake processors later this year, with both desktop and mobile variants expected. The architecture reportedly features up to 52 computing cores and 48 Xe graphics cores, representing Intel's response to AMD's Strix Halo chipsets.
For gaming systems, the power concerns are minimal. Current games rarely utilize more than a handful of cores simultaneously, making extreme multi-core configurations unnecessary for most users.
The Ryzen 9 9950X3D demonstrates this principle, using only 9% more power than the 9850X3D despite having twice as many cores.
Intel's power management includes multiple power limits (PL1, PL2, PL4) that regulate consumption based on workload duration. The highest ratings function as temporary bursts rather than sustained loads, with processors automatically throttling to lower power states after brief periods.
The company appears to be positioning high-core-count Nova Lake models for the HEDT (high-end desktop) market, competing against AMD's Threadripper series. Mainstream gaming systems will likely utilize more affordable single-tile configurations that balance performance with reasonable power consumption.
Nova Lake represents Intel's continued architectural evolution following Panther Lake, with manufacturing expected from the company's Arizona fabrication plant. The processors will require new motherboard sockets, necessitating platform upgrades for enthusiasts seeking the highest performance tiers.
