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Intel Nova Lake-AX appears in shipping manifest featuring LGA 4326 socket
Thursday, April 2, 2026 at 01:38 PM
A shipping manifest has revealed Intel Nova Lake-AX processors featuring a massive LGA 4326 socket. This suggests a high-performance desktop or mobile enthusiast architecture designed to compete with high-end rivals, potentially utilizing advanced packaging and a significantly larger footprint than current consumer chips.
Context
A recent shipping manifest leak has revealed Intel's Nova Lake-AX processor, featuring a massive LGA 4326 socket. This hardware discovery provides the first physical evidence of a high-performance architecture designed to rival AMD’s Strix Halo and Apple’s M-series silicon. The large pin count suggests a significant power delivery system and a wide memory bus, likely a 256-bit interface, required to support heavy integrated graphics and AI workloads. This development marks a strategic shift for Intel as it seeks to reclaim the high-end mobile and small-form-factor desktop markets.
Technological rumors for the Nova Lake platform include a CPU layout of up to 52 cores, utilizing Coyote Cove P-cores and Arctic Wolf E-cores. The AX variant is specifically expected to feature an enhanced GPU tile combining Xe3 and Xe4 architectures to deliver discrete-level gaming performance on an integrated chip. With Intel's 18A process node reaching critical milestones, these chips are positioned as the flagship products for 2026, aiming to solve the current lack of a competitive high-bandwidth APU in the company's lineup.
Sources (5)
OFC 2023 | TE ConnectivityIntel's rumored 'Nova Lake-AX' allegedly packs insane specs but might never launch — reportedly featured 28 CPU cores, 48 Xe3 GPU cores, and an upgraded 256-bit memory bus to counter AMD Strix Halo | Tom's Hardwareproduct/usr/srec/en-US/TERSE_LSTM_LM.lstm_lm.syms · 3367ea0c343d57ec09fc04a10f73d9c99189931f · Jean Rivera Ramos / ASUS_AI2201 · GitLabIntel Nova Lake: Everything we know so far - Laptop MagIntel Allegedly Readies Nova Lake-AX To Challenge AMD's Strix Halo | HotHardware
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