Intel Nova Lake 52‑core processors projected to draw up to 474 W power

Intel’s upcoming Core Ultra 400 “Nova Lake” desktop line will use the new LGA 1954 socket and feature two CPU chiplets, allowing configurations of up to 52 cores. The company has disclosed a maximum turbo power (PL2) of 474 W for the top models, far above the announced 175 W base TDP. In typical gaming and single‑thread workloads the draw is expected to be considerably lower, but multi‑threaded applications could approach the PL2 limit.

Premium motherboards equipped with the Z990 chipset may provide an “Extreme” power profile that could push consumption toward 600‑700 W, while standard boards will likely enforce a lower baseline limit. Intel’s guidelines permit three EPS power connectors on high‑end boards, though two are sufficient for normal operation. The unusually high power envelope raises concerns for cooling solutions and power‑supply sizing.