There’s essentially no competition for AMD’s best gaming CPU, the Ryzen 7 9850X3D. That may finally change. New leaks of Intel’s Nova Lake desktop CPUs may hold the key to better future gaming PCs. Or, at least, we could see more competition for out-of-this-world expensive desktop components.
Intel’s codename for these chips, Nova Lake, will likely launch as a Core Ultra 400S series of desktop processors. VideoCardz leaked a roadmap for the new chips showcasing Intel’s upcoming microarchitecture. These will use Coyote Cove P (performance) cores and Arctic Wolf E (efficiency) cores. At the absolute top end, Intel may have a monstrous 52-core CPU that certainly won’t be built for anybody not trying to do work with AI or other computationally intensive tasks.
Below that is where we get the real meat and potatoes. Of the five die types and their configurations, we could be looking at 8-, 16-, and 28-core processors. There’s even more space for variations in the number of P- and E-cores. What’s more important is which chips could support a supposed souped-up cache. Past rumors from reliable chip leaker HXL suppose the name Intel is using for the extra on-chip memory—commonly called cache—is “Big Last Level Cache,” or bLLC. This would increase the size of the die but may allow for improved performance for real-time graphics.
Why are AMD’s X3D chips so good for gaming?
The reason AMD’s latest processors have proved so good for gaming is down to how these chips manage memory. AMD’s X3D chips stack chip cache on top of the CPU die. This allows the chip to access its memory faster than normal. Gaming has proved to be the main benefit of this chip technology, so much so that AMD is expanding the technology even further. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D Dual Edition holds two times the amount of stacked 3D cache as its other X3D chips. It’s built with creators and gamers in mind. It also costs $900.
Intel has essentially let AMD claim all the gaming glory for the past two years. Its previous-generation Core Ultra 9 285K CPU was pricey and better built for everyday productivity tasks and less for forcing every possible frame from today’s AAA games. Last month, the chipmaker showcased its “fastest desktop gaming processor Intel has ever built” in the form of the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K. It was a midrange CPU promising to supply better performance for $300 than a comparable AMD CPU like the Ryzen 7 9700X.
The landscape of desktop CPUs has done a complete 180. In the past, Intel was known as the more expensive brand compared to AMD’s better bang for buck. Now, Intel has the chance to get back into gaming desktops with a chip that could potentially cost less than AMD’s absolute best. Maybe we can get excited about the old Team Blue and Team Red rivalry once more.
