Intel Nova Lake-S: The next socket change is imminent – LGA 1954 replaces LGA 1851

Anyone who thought that Intel would give up on the LGA 1851 for at least two or three generations can now laugh heartily – or cry, depending on their investment situation. Because what is currently emerging from leaked shipping data and reference platforms is another chapter in Intel’s well-oiled socket rotation. Nova Lake-S, the successor to the rather mixed Arrow Lake-S CPUs, is to be released with a new substructure called LGA 1954. Once again, everything is new, of course.

Welcome to the world of LGA 1954: everything back to zero

The fate of the LGA 1851 seems to be sealed – after just one refresh cycle. Arrow Lake-S, introduced with the Core Ultra Series 2, was solid on the hardware side, albeit inconsistently implemented in places on the software side. The IPC was not revolutionary, the efficiency was okay, the gaming result somewhere between “quite good” and “meh”. It could have been worse, sure. But it could also have been better. And while Intel is already working on an Arrow Lake refresh – allegedly with an optimized NPU and a few cosmetic improvements – the groundwork for Nova Lake-S is apparently being prepared behind the scenes. And this calls for a new foundation: LGA 1954. The designation is no coincidence, but refers to the number of pins – more contacts, more I/O, more power supply. Everything that is needed to power the rumored core doubler.

Meltdown? 16P 32E as a possible design

The information leaked so far speaks of a drastic expansion of the core configuration: up to 16 performance cores (P-cores) and 32 efficiency cores (E-cores) are to find space on the die. It is still unclear whether the whole thing will be a single monolith or whether it will once again be based on a chiplet design. The only thing that seems certain is that the current platform is reaching its limits, be it thermally, electrically or structurally. It is safe to assume that a new chipset will also be launched with LGA 1954. The 900 chipset is currently being talked about. And as always, there will be no backwards compatibility – we know that. New CPUs, new board, new cooling – a classic from Intel. The life cycle of the LGA 1851 is therefore measured in months rather than years.

Platform chaos with a system?

Intel remains true to itself: each new generation not only brings new code names, but also new platforms and naming conventions. The “Core Ultra” series is slowly mutating into a numbers game. Arrow Lake (“Ultra Series 2”) is followed by Panther Lake (“Ultra Series 3”) – but the latter is only mobile. Nova Lake-S, the desktop counterpart, will therefore become Core Ultra Series 4. For the end user, this means: welcome to the confusion of generations. And as if that wasn’t enough, the next codename is already on the horizon: Razer Lake. This is also likely to use the LGA 1954, unless Intel spontaneously decides on a completely new platform. There is always a residual risk.

Classification: What does this mean for the market?

For end users and OEMs, this platform change means one thing above all: investment pressure. Anyone who has relied on a system with LGA 1851 in recent months will probably no longer be able to upgrade in the coming year without replacing the board and possibly the cooler. RAM specifications and power supply are also likely to change, especially if the rumored core numbers are correct. For Intel itself, Nova Lake-S could be a liberating blow – or another side step in a product cycle characterized by tactics. AMD’s AM5 platform currently offers more longevity and could regain ground in the DIY segment, unless Intel comes up with a real argument – beyond the pure core count.

Platform loyalty was yesterday

You know the drill: New generation, new base, new platform – same old, same old. The only difference this time is that the cycle is getting shorter and shorter. With the LGA 1954, Intel is once again breaking new ground, at least from an infrastructure perspective. Whether the promised performance data justifies this is still written in the stars. For all those who have just set up a system: Have fun upgrading – or wait until 2026.

Source: Source: @Olrak29_