Intel Nova Lake-S CPUs Reportedly Drop to 5.1 GHz Max Above 90°C - TechPowerUp
Intel's upcoming Core Ultra 4000 'Nova Lake-S' desktop processors will reportedly limit their maximum core frequency to 5.1 GHz when operating above 90°C, according to leaker Jaykihn.
Intel's upcoming Core Ultra 4000 'Nova Lake-S' desktop processors will reportedly limit their maximum core frequency to 5.1 GHz when operating above 90°C, according to leaker Jaykihn on X. This cap applies to the entire Nova Lake-S desktop lineup and works separately from regular thermal throttling at 100°C. The limit cannot be raised and represents a safety net between normal boost behavior and full thermal throttling.
Performance Impact
While the information remains preliminary, this thermal cap could significantly affect performance for high-end Nova Lake models. The current Core Ultra 9 285K already boosts up to 5.7 GHz, meaning a hot-running high-end Nova Lake chip could lose a substantial portion of its peak frequency.
In practice, it looks like a safety net that sits between normal boost behavior and full thermal throttling.
Cooling Requirements
The 100°C TjMax for Nova Lake-S would be lower than Arrow Lake's 105°C, which can be manually raised to 115°C on the 285K. This places greater emphasis on cooling solutions, especially considering the 28-core Core Ultra 9 4970K BFC was reportedly set to draw up to 296 W at PL2 despite its 125 W rating. Staying under 90°C at such power levels will likely require advanced cooling capabilities.
Future Release
Nova Lake-S processors are currently expected to arrive in Q1 2027. Intel has not yet confirmed any of these reported specifications, leaving room for potential changes before the official release.
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