(Credit: Intel)
Intel may be set to launch a midrange CPU in its Nova Lake generation later this year, with powerful integrated graphics, in what could be a major blow for entry-level discrete graphics card makers, VideoCardz reports.
The processor will reportedly come with 16 CPU cores split across performance, efficiency, and low-power architectures. But with 12 Xe3P GPU cores, it could offer performance comparable to budget graphics cards like the RTX 5050 and Intel's Arc A and B series.
Integrated graphics have, historically, been rather underwhelming. They're great for lightweight indie and older games, but not much use for the latest and greatest. However, AMD's G-series APUs have become increasingly capable of running AAA games at low graphics settings, especially when upscaling and frame generation are enabled. Its iGPUs have been catching up, too, and some of its most powerful Panther Lake CPUs sport onboard graphics that are almost as strong as entry-level GPUs.
A CPU with next-generation GPU architecture and lots of cores to boot could be plenty powerful. Although the CPU is on the low-end of Nova Lake expectations—with the top chip sporting as many as 52 cores—this could make for an excellent entry-level gaming system, like a Steam Machine alternative.
Intel hasn't announced this new chip yet, but serial leaker Jaykihn0 on Twitter/X claims that Intel has added a new chip to its Nova Lake desktop lineup. It will have four performance cores, eight efficiency cores, and four low-power cores, but crucially 12 Xe3P graphics cores.
The frequency of those cores, the available cache, and TDP will all factor into how useful this CPU is as a major part of an affordable desktop gaming PC. But its potential is certainly there.
As VideoCardz notes, it may be that Intel trials this kind of CPU with this generation, ahead of something more ambitious with Razer Lake, its successor to Nova Lake. There, rumors of a Razer Lake-AX chip line could feature a higher CPU core count, more cache, and a large integrated GPU, potentially offering a more midrange gaming experience without the need for a dedicated GPU.
These are all rumors and pipe dreams for now, but as prices of dedicated graphics cards cross the thousand-dollar mark for even midrange options, and entry-level graphics cards from the latest generation merely start at the $300 mark, CPUs with powerful onboard graphics are likely to be ever more popular.