Intel Nova Lake-S Leak Lists 7 Chips Up to 28 Cores [2026]

By Indie Kings | October 2, 2026

Updated October 2, 2026: The leak lists 7 Core Ultra 4000 SKUs for Nova Lake S per VideoCardz by WhyCry on October 2 2026 relaying LC Tech Leaks. The Core Ultra 9 4970K BFC leads as the 28 core top chip with bLLC noted at 125W [NEEDS VERIFICATION].

Image: Intel processor art. Credit: Intel.

The Leaked 7 Chip List

Per VideoCardz by WhyCry on October 2 2026 relaying LC Tech Leaks, the Nova Lake S desktop leak lists 7 Core Ultra 4000 series SKUs. That count is the first fact to lock in because it frames every other detail. Seven chips cover the range from an 18 core Core Ultra 5 class part up to a 28 core Core Ultra 9 class flagship. The leak status applies to every name, every core count, and every power figure in this section, and names may change before launch [NEEDS VERIFICATION].

The top chip is the Core Ultra 9 4970K BFC per VideoCardz by WhyCry on October 2 2026 relaying LC Tech Leaks. It is listed with 8P plus 16E plus 4LP E cores totalling 28 cores, with bLLC noted, at 125W, with a 32EU iGPU, and with vPro support. That combination makes it the halo part for the single tile Nova Lake S stack. The 8P plus 16E plus 4LP E layout shows three core types in one package, which is a step beyond the simpler P plus E splits that buyers know from earlier generations [NEEDS VERIFICATION].

The second chip is the Core Ultra 9 4950K per VideoCardz by WhyCry on October 2 2026 relaying LC Tech Leaks. It is listed with the same 8P plus 16E plus 4LP E layout but with a listed total of 24 and without the bLLC note. Readers will notice that 8 plus 16 plus 4 equals 28 in simple math, so the listed 24 total looks inconsistent on its face. We report the listed 24 total as shown in the relay because accuracy to the leak matters more than smoothing over a possible typo in the source table [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. The difference between the 4970K BFC and the 4950K therefore appears to center on the bLLC note, plus whatever clock or binning split the source table implies but does not spell out [NEEDS VERIFICATION].

The third chip is the Core Ultra 7 4900 BFC per VideoCardz by WhyCry on October 2 2026 relaying LC Tech Leaks. It is listed at 65W with a 22 core total and with BFC in the name. The 65W rating marks it as the lower power BFC option in the leaked set. That matters for buyers who want the BFC tag without the 125W K class power envelope [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. The exact P plus E plus LP E split for this SKU was not restated in the verified facts, so treat any split beyond the 22 total as unconfirmed [NEEDS VERIFICATION].

The fourth chip is the Core Ultra 7 4870K BFC per VideoCardz by WhyCry on October 2 2026 relaying LC Tech Leaks. It is listed with a 24 core total and with BFC in the name. The K suffix points to an unlocked part for tuning, while the BFC tag points to whatever special cache or die trait Intel plans for this tier. The pairing of K plus BFC on the same name suggests Intel may stack overclocking support and large cache behavior in one product [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. Final clocks, cache size in megabytes, and voltage behavior remain outside the verified facts [NEEDS VERIFICATION].

The fifth chip is the Core Ultra 7 4850K per VideoCardz by WhyCry on October 2 2026 relaying LC Tech Leaks. It is listed with a 20 core total and without a BFC tag in the provided facts. That makes it a possible step down path for buyers who want K class tuning without paying for the BFC tier. The 20 core total sits cleanly between the 24 core 4870K BFC and the 18 core Core Ultra 5 parts below it. The iGPU size, vPro support, and power rating for this SKU were not included in the verified facts, so those fields stay unconfirmed [NEEDS VERIFICATION].

The sixth and seventh chips are the Core Ultra 5 4650KF and Core Ultra 5 4650K per VideoCardz by WhyCry on October 2 2026 relaying LC Tech Leaks. Both are listed with an 18 core total. The KF model is listed with no iGPU, while the K model carries graphics. That KF versus K split follows the long standing Intel convention where F means no working integrated graphics and a small price or availability tradeoff [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. These two chips likely set the entry point for Nova Lake S unlocked desktop builds, at least within this leaked subset of seven [NEEDS VERIFICATION].

The table below restates the verified leak in one place. Every row carries leak status, and names may change. Fields that were not in the verified facts are marked to avoid filling gaps with guesses.

The 4970K BFC also carries two extra traits worth pulling out of the row. It is listed with a 32EU iGPU and with vPro support per VideoCardz by WhyCry on October 2 2026 relaying LC Tech Leaks. The 32EU figure describes the integrated graphics slice size in execution units. The vPro tag points to the business manageability and security feature set that Intel sells to commercial buyers [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. Most gaming readers will care more about cores and cache, but vPro matters for workstation buyers who run the same socket in office fleets. Whether vPro also appears on lower SKUs in this leak was not in the verified facts [NEEDS VERIFICATION].

Four digit naming is itself a signal. Per VideoCardz by WhyCry on October 2 2026 relaying LC Tech Leaks, the four digit scheme supports earlier 4950K engineering sample reports. In other words, the 4950K name had already appeared in prior engineering sample chatter, and this leak extends that naming to a full seven chip stack [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. That continuity raises confidence that the naming pattern is intentional rather than a one off typo, even though every name stays leak status until Intel confirms it. Buyers should still treat the exact retail names as movable because Intel has changed suffixes and numbers late in past cycles [NEEDS VERIFICATION].

Context helps explain why a 28 core single tile part matters. Per VideoCardz by WhyCry on October 2 2026 relaying LC Tech Leaks, the backdrop includes a single tile path to 28 cores with 144MB of bLLC, with a 28 core part coming first before any dual tile option. That ordering tells builders that the first Nova Lake S wave centers on one compute tile plus large cache, not on a doubled dual tile monster [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. A single tile design can simplify power delivery, cooling, and scheduling relative to a dual tile design, which is good news for mainstream boards and mainstream coolers [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. The 144MB figure should be read as context from the relay, not as a confirmed per SKU cache size for every BFC chip in the table [NEEDS VERIFICATION].

Gaming readers often ask where the iGPU fits in a desktop leak like this. The verified facts give a 32EU iGPU only for the 4970K BFC and no iGPU for the 4650KF. Every other iGPU size in this stack is unconfirmed [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. A 32EU slice is modest next to a discrete graphics card, but it still matters for troubleshooting, for Quick Sync style media work, and for office builds that never add a card [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. The KF tag on the 4650KF removes that fallback, which is the usual tradeoff for a slightly lower price or different bin supply [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. Builders who rely on integrated graphics for a first boot test should pick a K over a KF unless they keep a spare card on hand.

Power ratings need the same careful reading. Only two TDP figures are verified here, namely 125W for the 4970K BFC and 65W for the 4900 BFC. The other five SKUs have no verified TDP in the provided facts [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. A 125W tag on a K class halo chip is consistent with past Intel unlocked desktop practice, where the headline TDP describes base behavior and real turbo power runs higher under load [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. A 65W tag on the 4900 BFC points to a calmer cooler requirement and a calmer board requirement. Do not extrapolate those two numbers to the rest of the table without a source [NEEDS VERIFICATION].

What BFC And bLLC Could Mean

Three of the seven leaked names carry BFC, namely the 4970K BFC, the 4900 BFC, and the 4870K BFC per VideoCardz by WhyCry on October 2 2026 relaying LC Tech Leaks. The meaning of BFC is unconfirmed in the verified facts. Readers should treat every expansion of that acronym as rumor until Intel defines it. That caution matters because cache branding shapes buying decisions, and a wrong guess can push a builder toward the wrong SKU [NEEDS VERIFICATION].

The bLLC tag appears alongside the top chip in the verified facts. In plain terms, bLLC points to a large last level cache sitting close to the compute tiles, meant to cut trips to main memory in games and other latency sensitive work [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. The relay context mentions up to 144MB of bLLC on the single tile path per VideoCardz by WhyCry on October 2 2026 relaying LC Tech Leaks. That number gives a sense of scale, since 144MB is far larger than the few tens of megabytes found in a conventional desktop last level cache [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. It does not confirm that every BFC chip carries the full 144MB, and it does not confirm per core or per tile splits [NEEDS VERIFICATION].

Why would Intel add a big cache tile to only some SKUs. The likely product reason is segmentation [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. A large cache helps gaming frame consistency and helps some workstation loads that reuse data, but it adds die area and cost that not every buyer needs [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. By tagging only three SKUs with BFC in this leak, Intel can charge for the cache where it matters most while keeping entry SKUs leaner. That mirrors how the industry has used stacked cache as a premium gaming option in recent years [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. Until Intel confirms the mechanism, treat that parallel as context rather than proof.

Another open question is whether BFC means the cache is on package, on tile, or stacked vertically. Each method has different thermal and bandwidth tradeoffs [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. On package cache can be simpler to cool but slower to reach. Stacked cache can be faster to reach but harder to cool under a 125W unlocked chip. The leak as relayed does not settle that physical layout [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. Builders should not buy coolers or boards based on an assumed stack height or hotspot location until teardowns or official diagrams appear.

There is also the naming puzzle around the 4950K. It shares the 8P plus 16E plus 4LP E layout but lacks the bLLC note, at least in the verified facts. One reading is that the 4950K is the non BFC version of the same silicon, with the large cache disabled or absent [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. A second reading is that the source table simply omitted the bLLC field for that row by mistake [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. A third reading is that BFC marks a different bin with higher clocks plus cache, while the 4950K is a lower bin of the same tile [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. All three readings fit the current facts, which is why the table keeps the bLLC cell for the 4950K as no note rather than a firm no.

For shoppers, the practical takeaway is to wait for two numbers before ranking BFC chips. The first number is usable cache capacity in megabytes per SKU. The second number is gaming performance per dollar against non BFC chips at the same core count [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. A 28 core BFC halo may win large threaded work by core count alone, but its gaming edge over a cheaper non BFC chip will come mostly from cache behavior and clocks [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. Without those two numbers, any claim that BFC is automatically the best gaming pick is unsupported [NEEDS VERIFICATION].

System memory choice also interacts with large cache designs. In past cache heavy gaming chips, slower memory hurt less than expected because the large cache absorbed more requests before reaching RAM [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. If Nova Lake S BFC behaves the same way, builders could save on memory speed and put budget toward the GPU instead [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. That is a plausible planning idea, not a verified Nova Lake S result. Memory guidance should wait for tested reviews with matched kits on the LGA 1954 platform [NEEDS VERIFICATION].

LGA 1954 Socket And 900 Series Platform

Per VideoCardz by WhyCry on October 2 2026 relaying LC Tech Leaks, Nova Lake S is expected on the LGA 1954 socket with 900 series chipsets. Certifications have been seen in the relay context, which adds weight to the socket and chipset pairing even while the SKUs themselves stay leak status [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. A new socket number means builders should assume no drop in compatibility with older boards until Intel says otherwise [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. LGA 1954 boards will be a new purchase for anyone moving from LGA 1700 or LGA 1851 systems.

The 900 series chipset tag tells buyers to expect a new board stack from entry to enthusiast tiers [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. Past Intel launches have paired a Z class board for overclocking with B and H class boards for mainstream builds, and a similar split is likely here [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. K suffix chips like the 4970K, 4870K, 4850K, and 4650K will want a board that supports tuning to get full value. Non K or lower power options can live on cheaper boards where tuning is limited [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. Exact chipset names, lane counts, USB counts, and memory speeds remain outside the verified facts [NEEDS VERIFICATION].

Cooler mounting is the next practical question. A new socket often brings a new mounting pattern or at least a new backplate rule, even when hole spacing looks familiar [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. Owners of premium air or liquid coolers should wait for vendor compatibility lists before assuming old kits fit LGA 1954 [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. The 125W tag on the top BFC chip also signals real heat under sustained all core loads, so case airflow and cooler headroom deserve budget even if the large cache helps gaming efficiency [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. The 65W 4900 BFC should be kinder to compact builds, at least on paper.

Memory and storage expectations should stay conservative. New desktop platforms often move the baseline for memory speed and PCIe behavior, but the verified facts here do not confirm DDR5 speeds, CUDIMM support, or PCIe lane splits [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. The safest read is that 900 series boards will target current memory and storage standards with room for faster kits through vendor qualified lists [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. Buildersincrowded markets should not prebuy memory for LGA 1954 until board makers publish qualified vendor lists for the exact board model [NEEDS VERIFICATION].

The relay context also notes that the 28 core part comes first before any dual tile option per VideoCardz by WhyCry on October 2 2026 relaying LC Tech Leaks. That sequence matters for upgrade timing. Early adopters get the single tile stack with up to 28 cores and large cache context. Anyone waiting for a larger dual tile halo would be waiting for a second wave that is not part of this seven chip leak [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. Roadmaps can shift, and a dual tile part may arrive later, sooner, or never in desktop form [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. Buy based on the leaked single tile stack or wait with a clear trigger, such as an official Intel diagram that shows two compute tiles.

Certifications seen in the background add modest confidence to platform readiness [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. A certification entry usually means board or controller work is moving through labs, not that launch is next week [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. Combined with the four digit naming continuity to earlier 4950K engineering sample reports, the platform picture looks like steady progress rather than a sudden surprise [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. Steady progress still leaves room for name changes, spec trims, or staggered regional availability [NEEDS VERIFICATION].

For current PC owners, the upgrade math is simple to state and hard to finalize. Anyone on a recent platform with a strong GPU can wait for reviews that test BFC versus non BFC chips in real games [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. Anyone on an older platform who needs a full rebuild anyway should track LGA 1954 board pricing and cooler support before locking a parts list [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. No one should sell a working system based on a seven row leak table alone. Platform cost means board plus cooler plus possibly memory, not just the chip price [NEEDS VERIFICATION].

What Is Still Rumor

Every SKU in this article is leak status, and names may change. That sentence is the frame for the whole page. Per VideoCardz by WhyCry on October 2 2026 relaying LC Tech Leaks, the verified core is the seven chip list with the traits quoted above. Everything else in coverage of this leak, including clocks, prices, dates, and benchmark claims, sits outside the verified facts unless another primary source confirms it [NEEDS VERIFICATION].

The table below separates what the relay supports from what stays unconfirmed. Use it as a checklist when reading other posts that sound more certain than the source material.

Clock speeds are the largest gap. The verified facts include no base or turbo frequencies for any of the seven chips [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. Without clocks, core counts alone cannot rank gaming speed. A 24 core chip with higher clocks can beat a 28 core chip with lower clocks in lightly threaded games [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. Any post that quotes exact gigahertz for these names today is adding numbers beyond the relay captured here [NEEDS VERIFICATION].

Pricing is the second gap. The verified facts include no tray or retail prices [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. Cache heavy halos have carried premiums in past cycles, but that history does not set a Nova Lake S price [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. Builders should ignore placeholder retailer listings until Intel or large retailers post live purchasable pages with matching specs [NEEDS VERIFICATION].

Dates are the third gap. The relay is dated October 2 2026, but a leak date is not a launch date [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. Platform certifications and engineering sample names show movement, yet neither confirms a retail month [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. Treat any launch window attached to these seven names as rumor until Intel gives a quarter or a date [NEEDS VERIFICATION].

Benchmarks are the fourth gap. No verified performance figures are included here [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. Synthetic scores, gaming averages, and power measurements that appear under these names before launch should be treated as unverified engineering sample results at best [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. Engineering samples often run below final clocks with early firmware, so even a real score may not match retail behavior [NEEDS VERIFICATION].

The 4950K total deserves one more note because it tests how to read leaks well. The verified facts list 8P plus 16E plus 4LP E with a 24 total. Simple addition gives 28, not 24. Possible causes include a typo in the source row, a disabled block that the P plus E plus LP E shorthand does not show, or a different counting rule for LP E cores in that table [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. We keep the listed 24 visible and flag the tension rather than silently correcting it to 28. A careful reader can then watch whether later relays repeat 24, switch to 28, or publish a new split.

Name stability is the final caution. Leak status throughout means 4970K, 4950K, 4900, 4870K, 4850K, 4650KF, and 4650K may all change before retail [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. Intel has used different numbers for similar silicon across regions and channels in past launches [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. The four digit pattern looks deliberate because it matches earlier 4950K engineering sample chatter, but deliberate patterns can still shift by one digit at launch [NEEDS VERIFICATION]. Track the core plus cache plus power fingerprint, not just the model number.

FAQ

How many Nova Lake S chips appear in this leak?
Seven Core Ultra 4000 SKUs appear per VideoCardz by WhyCry on October 2 2026 relaying LC Tech Leaks, led by the 4970K BFC. Names may change and every spec stays leak status until Intel confirms it.

What are the verified specs of the 4970K BFC top chip?
It is listed with 8P plus 16E plus 4LP E cores totalling 28, with bLLC noted, at 125W, with a 32EU iGPU, and with vPro support. Clocks, cache megabytes, and price remain outside the verified facts [NEEDS VERIFICATION].

Why does the 4950K row look inconsistent?
It is listed with the same 8P plus 16E plus 4LP E layout but with a 24 total, which does not match simple addition. We report the listed 24 as shown and flag it as a possible source typo or disabled block detail [NEEDS VERIFICATION].

What do BFC and bLLC mean for buyers?
BFC meaning is unconfirmed, while bLLC points to a large last level cache concept with 144MB cited as single tile context in the relay. Wait for Intel to define BFC and to publish per SKU cache sizes before paying a premium [NEEDS VERIFICATION].

What socket and chipset do these chips use?
LGA 1954 with 900 series chipsets is expected per the relay, with certifications seen as background context. Assume a new board purchase is needed and wait for cooler and memory compatibility lists [NEEDS VERIFICATION].

Should buyers act on this leak now?
No purchase should rest on leak status names alone. Track official Intel specs, board prices, cooler support, and independent reviews, and use core plus cache plus power as the fingerprint if names change [NEEDS VERIFICATION].

Bottom Line

Seven Core Ultra 4000 SKUs led by the 28 core 4970K BFC set the shape of the Nova Lake S leak, with BFC tags on three chips and bLLC noted at the top. The four digit naming matches earlier 4950K engineering sample chatter, while LGA 1954 plus 900 series boards plus certifications seen give the platform context. BFC meaning, per SKU cache sizes, clocks, prices, dates, and benchmarks all stay unconfirmed. Wait for Intel specs and tested reviews before spending on boards, coolers, or memory for this socket.

Sources

Per VideoCardz by WhyCry published October 2 2026 relaying LC Tech Leaks for the seven SKU list, core layouts, BFC tags, bLLC note, power and iGPU and vPro details, four digit naming continuity, single tile 28 core plus 144MB context, LGA 1954 plus 900 series expectation, certifications background, 28 core first ordering, and leak status with names subject to change.

VideoCardz report by WhyCry on October 2 2026

LC Tech Leaks material via the VideoCardz relay