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Rumor mill: Intel has reportedly canceled its Arrow Lake-S Refresh desktop CPU family and will now focus on Nova Lake as the successor to the Core Ultra 200 lineup that's set to arrive in the coming weeks. While the Arrow Lake Refresh series was initially slated for a 2025 launch, Nova Lake is now expected to debut in 2026.
Intel is expected to launch new Arrow Lake desktop CPUs in October, alongside compatible Z890 motherboards. The new desktop lineup will consist of at least six K-series unlocked processors for overclockers and DIY enthusiasts including the Core Ultra 9 285K/KF, Core Ultra 7 265K/KF, and Core Ultra 5 245K/KF.
According to Intel's roadmap, these Arrow Lake-S CPUs (S is for desktops, we know, it's confusing) were to be followed by Arrow Lake-S Refresh a year after. Unlike previous "Refresh" families, Arrow Lake-S Refresh was expected to bring larger chips with more cores – up to 8 performance cores and 32 efficiency cores in a single chip (an 8P+32E configuration). However, if the latest rumors are accurate, Intel might keep Arrow Lake-S around for the next two years to compete with Ryzen until Nova Lake arrives in 2026.
In a discussion with a fellow forum member about Intel's future plans, Chiphell tipster Panzerlied claimed Arrow Lake-S Refresh has been canceled. Intel's strategy now appears to focus on competing with AMD using the original Arrow Lake lineup over the next few years until Nova Lake launches sometime in 2026.
Panzerlied did not provide further details, including why Intel might cancel the Arrow Lake Refresh. However, it's worth noting that he specifically mentioned the cancellation of the S-series for desktops, suggesting there is still a possibility that the H and HX variants for laptops could reach the market. That said, this remains an unverified rumor, so, as always, take it with a generous pinch of salt for now.
ARL-S Refresh is cancelled pic.twitter.com/NncQl3lDJS
– Everest (@Olrak29_) September 23, 2024
As for Nova Lake, rumors suggest that the processors will be compatible with the LGA 1851 socket. This means those looking to upgrade from Arrow Lake may not need to purchase a new motherboard. While Intel has yet to confirm this, maintaining LGA 1851 for Nova Lake rather than introducing a new socket could help the company compete more effectively with AMD and save enthusiasts some cash.
Older rumors about Nova Lake indicated it would feature Panther Cove P-cores and Arctic Wolf E-cores, but a more recent report suggests it may instead include "Royal Core" P-cores. Additionally, Intel is reportedly developing the "Cobra Core" CPU architecture for future products, such as Beast Lake.