On October 2, 2026 (Japan time), the hardware leaker LC Tech Leaks posted a table on X listing seven model numbers said to belong to Intel's next-generation desktop CPU, Nova Lake-S. Three of the models, including the 28-core Core Ultra 9 4970K BFC, carry a "BLLC" marking, which indicates a large last-level cache, along with the suffix "BFC."
This is not a product specification officially announced by Intel, and neither the table's authenticity nor the final product names have been confirmed. Even so, the leak, with its specific model numbers, suggests Intel may prepare large-cache models separate from the standard ones. If we avoid assuming that a feature missing from the table is simply absent, and look at core configuration, cache, and power separately, we can see what this leak tells us and what remains unknown.
Three of the seven models carry "BFC" and BLLC markings
The image attached by LC Tech Leaks lists three Core Ultra 9 models and two each of Core Ultra 7 and Core Ultra 5. Checking the spec column and model name for all seven rows gives the following.
| Model name in leaked table | P-cores | E-cores | LP-E cores listed | BLLC marking | Power listed | iGPU listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core Ultra 9 4970K BFC | 8 | 16 | 4 | Yes | 125W | 32EU |
| Core Ultra 9 4950K | 8 | 16 | Not listed | No | 125W | 32EU |
| Core Ultra 9 4900 BFC | 6 | 12 | 4 | Yes | 65W | 32EU |
| Core Ultra 7 4870K BFC | 8 | 12 | 4 | Yes | 125W | 32EU |
| Core Ultra 7 4850K | 8 | 12 | Not listed | No | 125W | 32EU |
| Core Ultra 5 4650K | 6 | 12 | Not listed | No | 125W | 32EU |
| Core Ultra 5 4650KF | 6 | 12 | Not listed | No | 125W | Not listed |
This summarizes what appears in the image posted on October 2 (Japan time) and is not a comparison of official Intel specifications. "Not listed" does not mean "not included." Adding up P-cores, E-cores, and LP-E cores for the BFC models gives 28 cores for the 4970K BFC, 24 for the 4870K BFC, and 22 for the 4900 BFC.
In the leaked table, all three BFC models have the BLLC marking, and none of the four non-BFC models do. The series column for the BFC models also reads something like "Nova Lake S 28C BLLC," distinguishing them from the standard "Nova Lake S 28C."
This suggests the BFC suffix may be used to identify models with a large LLC (last-level cache). However, what BFC stands for, and whether the final product names will use this notation, are not known.
The seven models do not include the 52-core configuration that has long been rumored. So it is not possible to conclude that the 4970K BFC is the top model of the entire Nova Lake generation, or that only these seven models will be released. What has become concrete is only the combination of model numbers and configurations shown in this table.
Standard models may also have LP-E cores; "not listed" cannot be read as "absent"
In the leaked table, the standard models have no entries for LP-E cores, which run at low power, or for vPro, Intel's business-oriented feature set. Judging from the table alone, it might look as though only the BFC models support both.
However, the hardware leaker Jaykihn noted the same day that the standard models in the table also have LP-E cores and vPro, and that the information was simply omitted.
This is not official confirmation from Intel either, but it makes it difficult to conclude that something is absent just because it is not written in the table. The follow-up post does not give the number of LP-E cores in the standard models, so the total core counts of the standard models cannot be fully determined from the table and the note alone.
The easiest comparisons are the 4970K BFC versus the 4950K, and the 4870K BFC versus the 4850K. The former pair both have 8P + 16E, the latter pair 8P + 12E, and the power figures in the leaked table are the same 125W in each case.
If this configuration is correct, Intel may not only be creating higher-end models by increasing the number of P-cores and E-cores, but also preparing large-cache versions of the same main core configurations. However, clock speeds, cache capacity, and pricing cannot be determined from this table. It is too early to judge how much performance the BFC versions would improve.
The product brand hierarchy may also not follow simple core-count order. The Core Ultra 9 4900 BFC in the leaked table is 6P + 12E, with fewer P-cores than the Core Ultra 7 4870K BFC at 8P + 12E.
If products ship with these specifications, it would become hard to assume that a "Core Ultra 9" brand alone means higher gaming or multi-core performance than a Core Ultra 7. To understand actual positioning, each model would need to be examined including cache capacity, clock speeds, and power settings.
The "144MB" figure is not a number written in this model table
The 144MB cache capacity does not appear in the leaked image.
In a post on November 25, 2025, Jaykihn was asked about the bLLC capacity of Nova Lake and replied "144MB." Combining the new model table with that earlier information, it can be said that candidate products with a cache in the 144MB class now have specific product names. However, this does not newly confirm that the 4970K BFC has 144MB of cache.
Nor is it certain that all three BFC models would have the same cache capacity. The image gives no capacity, and it does not show how much cache would be enabled on each model.
Whether the 144MB figure is capacity added on top of the normal L3 cache or a total capacity also cannot be determined from this table alone.
A point of comparison is existing Intel products. In Intel's list of current desktop products, the Intel Smart Cache of both the Core Ultra 9 285K and the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is 36MB.
If Nova Lake achieves a cache in the 144MB class, its capacity alone would far exceed the current 36MB. However, a multiple increase in cache capacity does not mean gaming performance will rise by the same multiple. Structural factors such as which cores can access the cache and what the latency is also affect performance.
Competition with AMD X3D will not be decided by capacity alone
In its explanation of second-generation 3D V-Cache, AMD describes a structure in which a 64MB L3 cache die is placed beneath the CPU cores. According to AMD, placing the CPU cores closer to the cooler improves heat dissipation and makes it easier to run at higher clock speeds than before.
Cache keeps frequently used data close to the processor and reduces accesses to the slower main memory. In situations where a game is waiting for data from the CPU, more cache may improve performance.
On the other hand, in situations where GPU processing is the performance ceiling, increasing the CPU cache may not change frame rates much.
The leaked table does not reveal what structure Intel's bLLC will have, or from which cores and with what latency it can be accessed. The BFC suffix does not mean the design is the same as AMD's 3D V-Cache or that it will deliver a comparable performance gain.
To compare actual performance, the same GPU and resolution would need to be used, with memory and power settings aligned. Beyond average frame rates, 1% lows, which show dips in demanding scenes, and variation in frame times are also important.
Measuring actual power consumption during gameplay would also show whether the large cache delivers purely higher performance, or the same performance at lower power.
Whether a 65W Core Ultra 9 is appealing depends on its power limit and price
The 65W listed for the Core Ultra 9 4900 BFC is the only figure in this list below 125W. As a candidate combining 6P + 12E + 4 LP-E with bLLC, the question is whether it would be a product that improves gaming performance without greatly increasing the P-core count or power budget.
However, this 65W cannot be taken as actual power consumption or maximum power consumption during gameplay.
The difference is clear in current products. Putting Intel's published base power and maximum turbo power side by side shows that even with the same 125W base power, the maximum values differ.
| Intel's published product | Base power | Maximum turbo power |
|---|---|---|
| Core Ultra 9 285K | 125W | 250W |
| Core Ultra 7 270K Plus | 125W | 250W |
| Core Ultra 5 250K/250KF Plus | 125W | 159W |
This compares published specifications for Intel's Core Ultra Series 2 and is not a table for predicting Nova Lake's maximum power.
For the 4900 BFC as well, until official power settings and operating clocks are revealed, it cannot be judged to be "easy to cool because it's 65W" or "suited to small PCs." Without the CPU's price, plus the compatible motherboards and required cooling capacity, its appeal in price terms compared with the standard models cannot be assessed.
That Nova Lake itself is under development can be confirmed from Intel's public documents. Intel's instruction set extensions reference lists the CPUID identification value "12_01H" for desktop Nova Lake and "12_03H" for mobile.
However, this document is technical information about a future processor and does not corroborate the BFC product name, cache capacity, or release date.
In addition, another post by Jaykihn says the HX series for laptops will also use four-digit model numbers, while H-series and suffix-less mobile products will continue with the conventional three-digit numbers. This is also leaked information, and it is too early to assume that the four-digit naming convention found here will be used across all of Nova Lake.
What matters at the official announcement is not only the names. How much cache each model carries, and at what power settings and price it is sold, will shape each product's positioning.
Once the price gap between BFC and standard models is known, and gaming performance and actual power consumption measured under the same conditions are available, it will be possible to judge concretely whether a large cache is worth the extra cost. If the 65W candidate can maintain sufficient gaming performance at a low power setting, Intel could extend the large-cache option beyond top-performance products to PCs constrained by cooling capacity or budget.