A leaked list of seven Intel Nova Lake-S desktop processors assigns the BFC suffix to three models with larger L3 cache. At the top is the Core Ultra 9 4970K BFC, listed with 28 cores and up to 144 MB of cache: a configuration aimed at competing in gaming with AMD's X3D chips, though Intel has not confirmed it.
BFC appears to identify processors with bLLC, short for big Last Level Cache: a larger last-level cache that keeps data close to the cores and can reduce access times in some workloads, including games. Earlier rumors used bLLC for the same technology; the exact meaning of BFC has not been established.
The list singles out three larger-cache models
Alongside the Core Ultra 9 4970K BFC, the table includes the Core Ultra 9 4900 BFC and the Core Ultra 7 4870K BFC. The first is listed with 22 cores and a 65W TDP; the second with 24 cores and 125W. The 4970K BFC is listed at 125W. All three are shown with integrated graphics rated at 32 EUs, or execution units.
The rest of the lineup comprises the Core Ultra 9 4950K, Core Ultra 7 4850K, and Core Ultra 5 4650K and 4650KF. The 4650KF is the only model in the group listed without integrated graphics. The table gives the CPUs between 22 and 28 cores, split among high-performance P-cores, efficient E-cores, and low-power LPE-cores. Its configurations do not all match their stated totals: for example, 8 P-cores, 16 E-cores, and 4 LPE-cores add up to 28, while one table entry pairs that same configuration with 24 cores.
The Core Ultra 9 4900 BFC is the most unusual model in the list: it would have the same total core count as the Core Ultra 5 models, but with larger cache and a lower TDP than the other listed chips. That combination could suit compact systems, although the table does not specify a market position and Intel has not announced the processor.
The 52-core models are not in the list
The table leaves out the 52-core Nova Lake configuration mentioned in earlier rumors. The reported roadmap points to a staggered debut: Core Ultra 400 desktop processors are expected in early 2027, with the 52-core flagship models following later. Nova Lake production in the fourth quarter of 2026 and the initial Core Ultra 400 launch had already emerged in reports about the roadmap.
The list also shows four-digit model numbers, unlike those used for Arrow Lake, and suggests the initial family could span the Core Ultra 9, 7, and 5 tiers. These are details from a leak, not an official specification sheet: the names and specifications still need confirmation.
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