As Intel plans to upend the desktop segment with its next-generation "Nova Lake-S" processor, it is also planning a generational increase in core counts for traditional notebook segments, according to Jaykihn, a reliable source with Intel leaks. By traditional mobile segments, we are referring to "Nova Lake-H" and "Nova Lake-U." The enthusiast-segment "Nova Lake-HX" is expected to come with core-counts resembling the desktop "Nova Lake-S," with the top Core Ultra 9 part offering up to 16 P-cores, up to 32 E-cores, and 4 low-power island E-cores. "Nova Lake-H," however, maxes out at 8 P-cores, 16 E-cores, 4 LPE cores, and an iGPU with 4 Xe3 cores.

Even with a core-configuration of 8P+16E+4LP, the top "Nova Lake-H" processor model should offer a significant core-count uplift over the current "Arrow Lake-H," which tops out at 6P+8E+2LP. What's interesting, though, is the iGPU. While "Arrow Lake-H" uses a Xe-LPG based integrated graphics solution with 8 Xe cores, "Nova Lake-H" sees its iGPU architecture jump by leaps to the Xe3 "Celestial" architecture, with only 4 Xe cores for the top part. The lineup is expected to feature a few SKUs that sacrifice CPU core-count in favor of a powerful iGPU. This particular chip is expected to have a 4P+8E+4LP CPU, but a massive iGPU with 12 Xe cores.