Intel's next flagship CPU could be the 28-core Core Ultra 9 4950K

[Skye Jacobs]

Rumor mill: A leak tied to Intel's next desktop processor lineup points to a high-end Nova Lake chip with 28 cores and benchmark results that could place it ahead of recent flagship CPUs. The unverified results suggest Team Blue may be targeting stronger single-core performance and a sizable jump in multithreaded output as it prepares its next desktop platform.

The processor appeared in a CPU-Z screenshot posted on X by leaker @laurentschoice. It is listed as the Intel Core Ultra 9 4950K, a name that may signal Intel is returning to four-digit model numbers after using three-digit Core Ultra designations beginning in 2024.

The screenshot lists eight performance cores and 20 efficiency cores, for 28 cores in total. Intel has not confirmed the chip, its specifications or its branding, so the information remains unverified.

The reported CPU-Z scores are about 1,000 points in the single-threaded test and 20,000 points in the multi-threaded test. If the numbers are accurate, the chip would show meaningful gains over some current high-end processors in the same benchmark.

For comparison, public CPU-Z submissions show Intel's Core i9-14900KS reaching roughly 950 points in the single-threaded test. AMD's Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 has recorded multi-threaded results of about 17,000 points. But it's worth remembering that real-world results will depend on final clock speeds, cache design, memory support, power limits, and software scheduling.

– LC Tech Leaks (and News) (@laurentschoice) August 19, 2026

The name in the leak is also worth watching. Intel introduced Core Ultra branding and a three-digit naming structure in 2024. The apparent Core Ultra 9 4950K identifier suggests Nova Lake desktop processors may use a different scheme, but Intel could still change the name before launch.

Nova Lake desktop chips are expected to arrive in late 2026 or early 2027. Engineering samples are often tested well ahead of release, and early benchmark results do not always reflect final performance.

For now, the Core Ultra 9 4950K is only a leaked entry. But the reported core count and CPU-Z scores offer an early look at the level of desktop performance Intel may be targeting with Nova Lake.

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Intel's next flagship CPU could be the 28-core Core Ultra 9 4950K

 

[yRaz]

That won't cause any confusion. It seems like Intel is following AMDs naming scheme for Radeon graphics and just making **** up as they go. In actually really looking forward to see what nVidia is going to do with their naming system once they get to the 80 series. AMD has the 80 series for the APU graphics and 90 for dGPUs.

 

[Vixiy]

They should stick with 3 digits to keep the branding consistent and avoid looking like 4th gen Core I.

I thought the whole point of Core Ultra's branding was to communicate a fresh start with new and efficient architectures without Core I's baggage.

Also, 1st gen Core Ultra is from 2023 and had 3 digits. It did not start in 2024.

 

[poshflamingos]

I hope I'm wrong, but I'm anticipating that Intel will once again make the mistake of only offering their stand-out features (bLLC in this case) on the flagship. Assuming this will launch at around $650 like the previous top i9 models, they're gonna slap bLLC on it (despite the fact that 28 cores are a waste for gaming, returns in gaming drop off a cliff after 8 cores) and charge close to $1000 for it, instead of adding bLLC on a smaller chip that makes more sense for gaming. Then AMD will do a single-CCD with 3D cache for $450 again and Intel will be puzzled as to why everyone is buying the AMD one.

Hopefully they prove me wrong and do 4P10E (half of this chip), 8P4E, or even just 8P for the bLLC chip and make something that's actually good value.

 

[yRaz]

I hope I'm wrong, but I'm anticipating that Intel will once again make the mistake of only offering their stand-out features (bLLC in this case) on the flagship. Assuming this will launch at around $650 like the previous top i9 models, they're gonna slap bLLC on it (despite the fact that 28 cores are a waste for gaming, returns in gaming drop off a cliff after 8 cores) and charge close to $1000 for it, instead of adding bLLC on a smaller chip that makes more sense for gaming. Then AMD will do a single-CCD with 3D cache for $450 again and Intel will be puzzled as to why everyone is buying the AMD one.

Hopefully they prove me wrong and do 4P10E (half of this chip), 8P4E, or even just 8P for the bLLC chip and make something that's actually good value.

Well the market as a whole has been ignoring what the majority of consumers want and only making high margin products for the top ~10% of the market. The problem is that there are only so many people willing to pay for "premium" products and what's happening to the car market right now is a prime example of that.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

They should make the name 5 digit, with two letters, just to really trigger everyone who cannot handle name changes.

I hope I'm wrong, but I'm anticipating that Intel will once again make the mistake of only offering their stand-out features (bLLC in this case) on the flagship. Assuming this will launch at around $650 like the previous top i9 models, they're gonna slap bLLC on it (despite the fact that 28 cores are a waste for gaming, returns in gaming drop off a cliff after 8 cores) and charge close to $1000 for it, instead of adding bLLC on a smaller chip that makes more sense for gaming. Then AMD will do a single-CCD with 3D cache for $450 again and Intel will be puzzled as to why everyone is buying the AMD one.

Hopefully they prove me wrong and do 4P10E (half of this chip), 8P4E, or even just 8P for the bLLC chip and make something that's actually good value.

Big cache is big expensive. It likely will only be on K series parts. And LPE is part of the memory controller. All chips will carry LPE, except maybe celerons.

 

[Anton Longshot]

Messy as the current naming schemes are things could be much much worse.
Just look at the moronic names motorized vehicles get.

 

[havok585]

So the latest octacore 2026/2027, got it.

long live intel

/s

 

[yannus]

That won't cause any confusion. It seems like Intel is following AMDs naming scheme for Radeon graphics and just making **** up as they go. In actually really looking forward to see what nVidia is going to do with their naming system once they get to the 80 series. AMD has the 80 series for the APU graphics and 90 for dGPUs.

It was so much better in the old days. Rage, Millenium, Mystique, 3dfx, Virge, Voodoo, Banshee, Riva, TNT, Geforce. Real competition, innovation and low prices.