Friday, June 26th 2026

Intel "Nova Lake-S" 52-Core OC SKU to Draw 474 W in PL2 Mode

Jun 26th, 2026 12:03 Discuss (292 Comments)

Intel's next-generation "Nova Lake" CPU microarchitecture is shaping up to be quite power-hungry. According to the latest leak, confirmed by well-known Intel leaker Jaykihn, Intel's top-end, overclocking-focused, dual compute die "Nova Lake-S" CPU with 52 cores will feature a PL2 mode with a power level of 474 W. This is an unprecedented number for an Intel consumer desktop platform, typically expected from a high-end desktop (HEDT) design. However, since this is a 52-core design that can be overclocked, it represents the newest high CPU PL2 setting that Intel will be shipping with "Nova Lake-S." Previous rumors suggested that the Intel Z990 platform would be a power-hungry consumer design, but now we understand just how power-hungry it is.

Reportedly, Intel's reference Z990 motherboard design, which it provides to partners like ASUS, MSI, GIGABYTE, ASRock, and others, now includes the possibility of three 8-pin CPU power connectors. This is an intriguing design choice, considering that most enthusiast boards typically ship with two 8-pin EPS CPU connectors. The three 8-pin connectors are mainly intended for the highest-end overclocking designs, rather than being required to run the dual compute die designs. Motherboards equipped with either two or three EPS connectors are still expected to support Intel's upcoming high-end 44-core and 52-core processors on the 175 W platform, meaning that only the overclocking-focused models will feature three connectors for additional overclocking headroom.

According to current information, Intel is introducing a tiled approach to having more compute enabled across "Nova Lake-S" SKUs. Perhaps the most interesting news is the introduction of dual-die processors. These are SKUs with two compute tiles connected to the SoC tile, allowing Intel to achieve extremely high CPU core counts. Since this is essentially the same approach to high core counts as AMD, both compute tiles have equal access to memory and PCIe. A single compute tile SKU can yield a maximum of 28 cores, while a dual-compute SKU will carry up to 52 cores.

Source: via Jaykihn on X

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292 Comments on Intel "Nova Lake-S" 52-Core OC SKU to Draw 474 W in PL2 Mode

jesdals

Holy Moly that a lot

Bobaganoosh

that's the pre-overclock number. I wonder how high it'll go lol

BoggledBeagle

470W for 48 cores (not counting 4 low power cores) is not that much. That is just 10W per core.

If somebody needs so many cores, they probably want as well to utilise the potential.

Dr. Dro

If you're familiar with Raptor Lake KS, you'll find that these numbers aren't as outlandish as they sound. Still, this isn't a CPU you'll be running on air.

dgianstefani

TPU Proofreader

The 24 cores of current gen can be pushed over 300 W so for 52 less than double that is still an improvement I suppose. If you're doing something that needs work spread onto those 52 cores it seems to be the same power draw story as high core count Threadrippers and Xeons.

JustBenching

This chip might convince me to move from my 12900k.

Dr. DroIf you're familiar with Raptor Lake KS, you'll find that these numbers aren't as outlandish as they sound. Still, this isn't CPU you'll be running on air.

Im going to run it on my small single tower cooler

bug

I still don't understand why Intel is going the route it goes. They ship with aggressive PL1 and PL2 defaults and, on top of that, they allow motherboard makers to set even higher defaults. Which they do, presumably in a race to finish a few points ahead of the competition in superficial benchmarks.
Yet, as TPU has shown for a few generations now, you can safely shave 20-30% off Intel's defaults losing virtually no performance in the process. Which is also what most sane users do. But at the end of the day, Intel still gets labeled as power hungry and difficult to cool in the process.

sam_86314

Hopefully they've designed it in a way where it's actually possible to cool.

That's an issue I've had with my 5800X; due to the size and position of the compute die, most coolers can't effectively pull heat away from it, and even with my U14S, an undervolt, and a 95W power limit, it still sits right at the thermal limit I set (80C) when I hit it with a sustained load.

Compare that to my 12700, which has a low-profile Thermalright cooler that can keep its temps under control better even at 250W, presumably because of the monolithic die having a larger area to dissipate heat from.

ushirlo

lol.... maybe go with 12VHPWR connector for motherboard......
double jeopardy..........

#10

shuffy_losys

bugI still don't understand why Intel is going the route it goes. They ship with aggressive PL1 and PL2 defaults and, on top of that, they allow motherboard makers to set even higher defaults. Which they do, presumably in a race to finish a few points ahead of the competition in superficial benchmarks.
Yet, as TPU has shown for a few generations now, you can safely shave 20-30% off Intel's defaults losing virtually no performance in the process. Which is also what most sane users do. But at the end of the day, Intel still gets labeled as power hungry and difficult to cool in the process.

The main issue is that they have to set very conservative defaults so that any SKU that's a "Core Ultra 9 Electric Boogaloo edition" meets the specs. Even if most of the time, a given part can maintain the same specs on less power, it only takes a handful of samples that don't to cause a stink (assuming they somehow passed Intel's QA).

sam_86314Hopefully they've designed it in a way where it's actually possible to cool.

That's going to be a problem anyway given the heat density of these parts. They're already much higher than that of a clothing iron, which is already designed to vaporize water.

#11

ThomasK

ushirlomaybe go with 12VHPWR connector for motherboard

Yup, double fire hazard.

The home insurance policies will go up. Anyone buying shares from insurance companies these days?

#12

oxrufiioxo

I was expecting at least 400w for the 2 8+16 tiles so this makes sense.

Especially after seeing ES boards with 3 eps sockets.

I fully expect the Zen6 24 core flagship to use over 300w so we in for some warm ass computers lol.

#13

Hecate91

If true, then Intel having any advantage in power consumption efficiency was very short lived with Arrow Lake.

#14

MTS-C

bugI still don't understand why Intel is going the route it goes. They ship with aggressive PL1 and PL2 defaults and, on top of that, they allow motherboard makers to set even higher defaults. Which they do, presumably in a race to finish a few points ahead of the competition in superficial benchmarks.
Yet, as TPU has shown for a few generations now, you can safely shave 20-30% off Intel's defaults losing virtually no performance in the process. Which is also what most sane users do. But at the end of the day, Intel still gets labeled as power hungry and difficult to cool in the process.

Intel defaults are low, at least for Raptor Lake. It's motherboard defaults that are absurdly high and I have a feeling this will be a repeat case.

#15

Hecate91

ThomasKYup, double fire hazard.

The home insurance policies will go up. Anyone buying shares from insurance companies these days?

I'm sure people can afford this can also afford to hire someone to watch over their PC with a fire extinguisher.

#16

bug

MTS-CIntel defaults are low, at least for Raptor Lake. It's motherboard defaults that are absurdly high and I have a feeling this will be a repeat case.

That is true, but it's still Intel that designs PL2 for short bursts, yet the let manufacturers set PL2 to run indefinitely. I mean, sure, it's an engineering feat to keep that level of power draw up for a long time. But that's nit what you expect from a consumer CPU. Maybe keep that reserved for the top 1-2-3 SKUs and constrain everything else to saner defaults.

#17

zenlessyank

I want to see the cooler Intel will bundle with this bad boy /s

#18

MTS-C

bugThat is true, but it's still Intel that designs PL2 for short bursts, yet the let manufacturers set PL2 to run indefinitely. I mean, sure, it's an engineering feat to keep that level of power draw up for a long time. But that's nit what you expect from a consumer CPU. Maybe keep that reserved for the top 1-2-3 SKUs and constrain everything else to saner defaults.

They have their own default limits, and with 14900k it is 255W. The boards bypass that by default, and thus 300W+ power hungry headlines exist. I could bet money these rumors aren't the Intel established default PL2 but rather unlocked. We also have to assume default voltage is higher than it should be too, just like prior platforms in this case.

#19

JustBenching

bugI still don't understand why Intel is going the route it goes. They ship with aggressive PL1 and PL2 defaults and, on top of that, they allow motherboard makers to set even higher defaults. Which they do, presumably in a race to finish a few points ahead of the competition in superficial benchmarks.
Yet, as TPU has shown for a few generations now, you can safely shave 20-30% off Intel's defaults losing virtually no performance in the process. Which is also what most sane users do. But at the end of the day, Intel still gets labeled as power hungry and difficult to cool in the process.

But they already have power limited skus, t and non k lineup. Why pay any attention to people calling intel power hungry? They know it's not true and are kinda trolling, so just ignore them? I think everybody knows that amd needs a lot more power (3 times as much) for the same performance at similar price points. If I'm not mistaken you have a 270k, in order for a similarly priced 9700x to match your 270k it would need 1kw at the very minimum.

#20

Dr. Dro

MTS-CThey have their own default limits, and with 14900k it is 255W. The boards bypass that by default, and thus 300W+ power hungry headlines exist. I could bet money these rumors aren't the Intel established default PL2 but rather unlocked. We also have to assume default voltage is higher than it should be too, just like prior platforms in this case.

Headlines are mostly owed to the fact 13/14 KS models have a substantially higher default power limit, at 320 W with 400A ICCMax in the "Extreme" profile, this being an Intel-approved, vetted and officially supported configuration. The "Performance" profile is equal to "Extreme" mode on regular K CPUs - 125 W with 253 W PL2

#21

bonehead123

"Scotty, we needz moar powah" :D

And a top notch water cooling set-up might be nice too !

Sounds like those 2000W & 2500W PSU's that were announced earlier this week will be needed sooner than later, especially if a 5xxx/6xxx series GPU is paired with this CPU :(

#22

windwhirl

Honestly, completely understandable for a 52 core CPU. Sure, it's just 16 cores that are the performance ones, but there are still 36 other cores to feed as well. Might as well.

And if someone's buying a 52-core CPU that may be likely to hit the four digit price tag, then they can also afford to invest some money on a good power supply, a good motherboard and proper cooling.

#23

Hecate91

zenlessyankI want to see the cooler Intel will bundle with this bad boy /s

I remember the industrial water chiller Intel tried to hide with a 28 core CPU back in 2018, you'll probably need one to OC this.

#24

SiliconSeraph

Wow, that'll be a whole lotta Fahrenheit in a small package.

Someone already mentioned this, but I doubt this is within the capabilities of any air-cooling. Actually I take that back; just make one with a 10-lb heatsink that takes up most of your case... :laugh:

#25

ushirlo

JustBenchingBut they already have power limited skus, t and non k lineup. Why pay any attention to people calling intel power hungry? They know it's not true and are kinda trolling, so just ignore them? I think everybody knows that amd needs a lot more power (3 times as much) for the same performance at similar price points. If I'm not mistaken you have a 270k, in order for a similarly priced 9700x to match your 270k it would need 1kw at the very minimum.

tpucdn.com/review/amd-ryzen-9-9950x3d2-dual-edition/images/efficiency-multithread.png

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Intel "Nova Lake-S" 52-Core OC SKU to Draw 474 W in PL2 Mode

292 Comments on Intel "Nova Lake-S" 52-Core OC SKU to Draw 474 W in PL2 Mode

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