Tipster Jaykihn posted today the core configurations for Intel’s upcoming Nova Lake-HX laptop processors, and the numbers are hard to ignore. The top SKU packs 8 P-Cores, 16 E-Cores, and 4 LP-E cores based on the Coyote Cove and Arctic Wolf architectures, landing at a total of 28 cores. That’s a 16.6% jump over Intel’s current 24-core HX SKUs, and it also edges out AMD’s upcoming Zen 6 lineup, which is expected to top out at 24 cores on similar desktop-class mobile chips.
A second Nova Lake-HX SKU was also confirmed, coming in at 4 P-Cores, 8 E-Cores, and 4 LP-E cores for a total of 16 cores. Both configurations carry 2 Xe3P iGPU cores based on the Celestial architecture. The whole Nova Lake-HX family is being built on a single compute tile design, which makes engineering sense given the thermal and space constraints that come with laptop form factors. Intel’s desktop lineup scales up to 52 cores using dual compute tiles, but on mobile, single tile is the way to go.
The Nova Lake-HX family is expected to launch at CES 2027, alongside NVIDIA’s next-generation RTX 60 GPUs based on the Rubin architecture.
NVL-HX
4+8+4+2
8+16+4+2— Jaykihn (@jaykihn0) April 1, 2026
Nova Lake mobile: The full lineup
Beyond the two HX SKUs, the complete Nova Lake mobile stack covers six die configurations spread across the HX, H, and U tiers. Here’s the full breakdown as reported by WCCFTech based on Jaykihn’s leak:
| Die SKU | P-Cores (Coyote Cove) | E-Cores (Arctic Wolf) | LP-E Cores (Arctic Wolf) | Xe3 GPU Cores (Celestial) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nova Lake-HX | 8 | 16 | 4 | 2 |
| Nova Lake-HX | 4 | 8 | 4 | 2 |
| Nova Lake-H | 4 | 8 | 4 | 12 |
| Nova Lake-H | 4 | 8 | 4 | 4 |
| Nova Lake-U | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Nova Lake-U | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
Specs based on leaks from tipster Jaykihn as reported by WCCFTech on April 1. Subject to change before official launch.
Something worth paying attention to in that table is how Intel distributes the GPU cores across tiers. The HX chips keep the Xe3 count at just 2, clearly prioritizing raw CPU throughput for workstation and heavy-duty tasks. The H tier is where things get interesting for GPU performance: the high-end H configuration jumps to 12 Xe3 GPU cores, which could make it a better option than the HX for users who rely on integrated graphics for gaming or creative work.
At the bottom of the stack, the entry-level U SKU strips out E-Cores entirely from the compute tile, relying on 2 P-Cores and 4 LP-E cores alongside 2 Xe3 GPU cores, a configuration clearly built around battery life and efficiency above everything else.
Razer Lake-AX, not Nova Lake-AX, Is Intel’s answer to AMD’s Halo
For months, Nova Lake-AX was the chip everyone expected to go up against AMD’s Strix Halo-class APUs. That story just changed. Jaykihn confirmed that it’s actually Razer Lake-AX that Intel is positioning as its direct competitor to AMD’s Halo-class APUs, with a launch expected by the end of 2027 or early 2028. Nova Lake-AX, which had generated plenty of buzz with its rumored specs, was reportedly put on pause internally as Intel restructured its client roadmap, according to tipster Raichu.
AMD currently has Strix Halo at the top of its AI PC SoC lineup, with a Gorgon Halo refresh expected later this year and Medusa Halo slated for sometime in 2027-2028. By the time Razer Lake-AX actually ships, it will be going up against Medusa Halo rather than Strix Halo. The launch of Razer Lake-AX could also coincide with Intel’s custom SoCs that fuse x86 core architectures with NVIDIA’s RTX GPUs, a project known under the Serpent Lake codename.
Razer Lake itself is built around Griffin Cove P-Cores and Golden Eagle E-Cores, with both architectures expected to deliver meaningful IPC gains over Nova Lake. Following Razer Lake, Intel is reportedly working on Hammer Lake, which would introduce a unified core architecture and is expected around 2029, moving away from the separate P-Core and E-Core approach entirely.
Intel is playing a long game here, and the Nova Lake-HX lineup is just the first move. The core counts are competitive, the architecture is new, and the timing lines up with NVIDIA’s next GPU generation. Whether Razer Lake-AX actually ships on schedule and manages to close the gap against whatever AMD has ready by then is the bigger question.
AMD has dominated the high-end APU space with Strix Halo, and NVIDIA is also moving into that territory with its own solutions. Intel has a clear roadmap now, but roadmaps only matter when the hardware delivers. All eyes will be on CES 2027.
Are you excited about what Intel has cooking with Nova Lake-HX and Razer Lake-AX, or do you think AMD already has too big of a lead to catch up? Tell us in the comments!