Intel's next-gen Nova Lake will finally tackle AMD's Ryzen X3D, but only with pricey 'K' models — 144MB Big Last Level Cache response to 3D V-Cache will only come on unlocked desktop parts

Intel's upcoming Nova Lake architecture, set for 2026, will feature a Big Last Level Cache (bLLC) to compete with AMD's 3D V-Cache technology. Leaks suggest Nova Lake could offer up to 144 MB of L3 cache on certain unlocked SKUs, potentially surpassing AMD's current-gen Ryzen 9 9950X3D. The flagship Nova Lake SKU may include 16 P-cores, 32 E-cores, and 4 LP-E cores split across two 28-core compute tiles. While details are speculative, Intel's move to include bLLC on unlocked SKUs could provide overclocking capabilities akin to AMD's X3D chips.