Intel’s 28-core Nova Lake-S desktop CPU appears in Linux validation
Intel is already testing at least two Nova Lake-S desktop configurations with 24 and 28 cores. The processors appeared in Intel’s public graphics CI logs, where both systems are running Linux and expose AVX-512 support.
The systems were spotted by InstLatX64 in an Intel GFX CI test run dated August 16. Both identify themselves as “Intel Corporation Nova Lake Client Platform / NVL-S” and use CPUID 300F15 with the same July 16 BIOS build.
There are already two working desktop #NovaLake CPUID 300F15 among the #Intel test machines:
– 24c/24t 3400 MHz [1]
– 28c/28t 3200 MHz [2] #CoyoteCove #ArcticWolf #AVX512 #APX enabled
[1]: https://t.co/2lEwplAMCe
[2]: https://t.co/Sm8dxeCkXZ https://t.co/mR6Tx3cc1X pic.twitter.com/mdUw9It1RB— InstLatX64 (@InstLatX64) August 16, 2026
The first system, bat-nvls-1, uses an “NVL-S UDIMM 1DPC eDP CRB Fab2” board. It reports 24 cores and 24 threads with a 3.4 GHz base clock. The second, bat-nvls-2, runs on an “NVL-S UDIMM 1DPC OC EVCRB” platform with 28 cores , 28 threads and a lower 3.2 GHz base clock.
| Nova Lake-S test system | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| VideoCardz.com | Cores / Threads | Base clock | Board |
| bat-nvls-1 | 24C / 24T | 3.4 GHz | NVL-S UDIMM 1DPC eDP CRB Fab2 |
| bat-nvls-2 | 28C / 28T | 3.2 GHz | NVL-S UDIMM 1DPC OC EVCRB |
These core counts match configurations previously associated with Nova Lake-S. Earlier leaks pointed to a 24-core design with 8 P-Cores, 12 E-Cores and 4 LP E-Cores, while the 28-core version uses 8 P-Cores, 16 E-Cores and 4 LP E-Cores.
Both processors also expose AVX-512 and APX register states through XSAVE. This adds more evidence that AVX-512 is returning with Nova Lake client CPUs. We previously covered a Linux kernel patch that explicitly listed Nova Lake and newer Intel client processors as supporting the instruction set.
28-core Nova Lake-S is expected first
The appearance of a 28-core sample is also worth pointing out because our July exclusive revealed that this configuration is currently expected to lead Intel’s Nova Lake-S desktop rollout. The 28-core DS package was listed for late January through March 2027, followed by 28-core K-series models between March and April.
Sources: InstLatX64
