Intel Nova Lake Desktop CPU Could Pair 16 Cores With a 40W Xe3P Integrated GPU

Intel's upcoming Nova Lake desktop processors could bring a much more powerful integrated GPU to desktop PCs, with one reported configuration allowing the graphics section alone to consume up to 40W.

The chip is expected to be part of the Core Ultra 400S family and combine 16 CPU cores with 12 Xe3P graphics cores. Its reported maximum package power reaches 154W, considerably higher than the 65W base power rating.

The configuration appears designed for systems where integrated graphics performance matters more than usual, giving Intel a stronger option against AMD's desktop processors with capable built in Radeon graphics.

Since Nova Lake has not launched, these specifications should still be treated as preliminary.

Reported Nova Lake 16 core configuration

Specification	Reported detail
CPU family	Core Ultra 400S Nova Lake
Total CPU cores	16
P cores	4
E cores	8
LP E cores	4
Threads	16
Integrated GPU	12 Xe3P cores
Base power	65W
Maximum package power	154W
iGPU maximum power	40W
iGPU L2 cache	20 MB
Expected launch	Early 2027

The CPU configuration consists of four performance cores, eight efficiency cores and four low power efficiency cores.

That gives the processor 16 cores in total. The integrated graphics section is more unusual, with 12 Xe3P cores based on Intel's newer graphics architecture.

The 65W base power suggests this particular model may not be part of Intel's unlocked K series. However, its reported 154W maximum power limit is still relatively high for a mainstream desktop processor.

A large part of that additional power budget appears to be reserved for graphics.

Xe3P graphics could use up to 40W

The 12 core Xe3P integrated GPU reportedly has a maximum power limit of 40W.

Its lower sustained operating range could sit closer to 15W to 25W, but the higher limit would allow the graphics section to boost further when cooling and motherboard power delivery permit it.

That is a substantial amount of power for integrated graphics and helps explain the high overall package limit.

Intel is also reportedly requiring two dedicated VCCGT power phases for the graphics section. This could make motherboard design more important than it has traditionally been for desktop processors with integrated graphics.

If the power delivery is not designed for the required graphics load, the processor may not be able to reach its intended iGPU performance.

This means motherboard compatibility could involve more than simply having the correct CPU socket and chipset.

Nova Lake gets more graphics cache

The Xe3P graphics configuration is also expected to carry 20 MB of L2 cache.

That represents a 25% increase over the 16 MB reportedly available on Panther Lake processors with 12 Xe3 graphics cores.

More local cache can reduce the amount of data that needs to travel through system memory, which is useful for integrated graphics because the GPU does not have its own dedicated VRAM.

Intel is expected to use several Xe3P configurations across desktop, mobile and edge products. Some Nova Lake H mobile processors may also use two separate four core Xe3P graphics blocks.

The larger 12 core version appears to be the model designed to push integrated graphics performance much further.

Intel is putting more emphasis on desktop integrated graphics

Desktop integrated GPUs have traditionally focused on display output, media processing and basic graphics workloads. AMD's stronger APUs have shown that there is also demand for processors capable of useful gaming performance without a discrete graphics card.

Intel appears to be responding with a much larger GPU allocation inside Nova Lake.

A 40W graphics budget does not guarantee that the chip will outperform AMD's competing integrated graphics solutions. Architecture efficiency, memory bandwidth, clock speeds and software support will all affect final performance.

Still, the reported specifications show that Intel is treating the iGPU as a significant part of the processor rather than a small supporting component.

Nova Lake is currently expected in early 2027. If the 12 core Xe3P desktop configuration reaches the market with these specifications, it could give Intel one of its most capable desktop integrated graphics solutions yet while also raising power delivery requirements for systems built around it.