Intel Nova Lake-S to Support Native DDR5-8000 Memory and Up to 36 PCIe 5.0 Lanes
Intel’s next-gen Nova Lake-S desktop platform promises massive improvements in memory speeds, PCIe lanes, and connectivity, set to launch in 2026 alongside 900-series motherboards.
Major memory upgrade: DDR5-8000 MT/s native support
Intel’s upcoming Nova Lake-S CPUs will natively support DDR5-8000 MT/s memory speeds (1DPC 1R), a 25% increase over the DDR5-6400 offered by Arrow Lake-S:
- Speeds could exceed 10,000 MT/s with faster modules and CUDIMM memory.
- This positions Nova Lake-S as a powerhouse for enthusiasts and overclockers, especially with emerging LPCAMM2 memory standards.
PCIe expansion and I/O enhancements
Nova Lake-S CPUs will feature up to 36 PCIe Gen 5.0 lanes, a 50% increase over the 24 Gen 5 lanes in Arrow Lake-S:
- CPU PCIe 5.0 lanes: Configurable in 1×16+2×4, 2×8+2×4, or 4×4+2×4.
- Total PCIe lanes: 48 across CPU and chipset:
- 24 CPU Gen 5.0 lanes
- 4 DMI Gen 5.0 lanes
- 8 chipset Gen 5.0 lanes
- 16 PCIe Gen 4.0 lanes
The 900-series chipsets will also offer:
- 8 SATA III lanes
- 14 USB 2.0, 10 USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps), 10 USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps), and 5 USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20 Gbps) ports
A generational leap in core counts
Nova Lake-S also delivers a 2x uplift in core and thread count:
- Up to 52 cores (16 P-Cores, 32 E-Cores, 4 LP-E Cores)
- Compared to 24 cores total on Arrow Lake-S
- Max TDP rises to 150W, supporting higher performance envelopes
Launch outlook and motherboard support
Nova Lake-S is expected to launch in 2026, supported by the LGA 1954 socket and new 900-series motherboards with improved overclocking capabilities and broader platform enhancements.
