Intel will brand its upcoming Nova Lake desktop CPUs as the Core Ultra Series 400, according to leaked internal documents [1, 2].
This shift in branding and the staggered release schedule signal a strategic transition in how Intel manages its high-end hardware cycles. By spreading the launch across a full year, the company may be attempting to manage supply chains, or refine performance tiers, before the most powerful models hit the market.
The leaked roadmap describes a four-wave rollout across 2027 [2]. Initial SKUs are expected to launch in early 2027 [3]. Specifically, a 28-core model is slated for release in January 2027 [2].
The rollout will culminate in the release of a flagship 52-core CPU [2]. This top-tier processor is expected to have a thermal design power of 474 W [2]. According to the leaked data, the window for the 52-core flagship launch is between May and September 2027 [2].
While some reports suggested the new chips could arrive as early as late this year, internal documents point more strongly toward a 2027 schedule [2, 3]. The staggered approach allows Intel to introduce the Core Ultra 400 branding in phases, starting with mid-range options and ending with the high-wattage flagship.
Intel has not officially confirmed these details, but the leaked documents provide specific technical markers for the 2027 hardware cycle [2, 4].
“Intel will brand its upcoming Nova Lake desktop CPUs as the Core Ultra Series 400”
The transition to the Core Ultra 400 branding suggests Intel is consolidating its naming convention across different product lines. The decision to stagger the 2027 release, particularly delaying the 52-core flagship with a 474 W TDP, indicates a focus on thermal management and stability for its most power-hungry components.
