Intel Nova Lake-S desktop processor prototypes have beaten the company's current flagship Core Ultra 9 285K chip in early single-thread benchmark testing.
The test entries appeared in the PassMark benchmark database under the generic identifier Intel 0000, with records showing the benchmark runs were submitted in September.
A 24-core engineering sample of the upcoming architecture achieved a top single-thread score of 5,210 points, while a second test run recorded 5,191 points. Both marks surpass the 5,059 points scored by the Core Ultra 9 285K, representing an advantage of roughly 3 percent over the current Arrow Lake generation. The results also put the pre-release silicon 12 percent ahead of the Core i9-14900KF from the Raptor Lake Refresh family, which scored 4,635 points, as well as the rival AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D at 4,805 points.
Benchmark performance and multithreaded scores
While single-core speeds showed gains, the prototype 24-core processor trailed in overall multi-threaded performance. The sample scored 61,509 points in the CPU Mark overall evaluation, followed by a second result of 60,964 points. Those figures easily beat the older Core i9-14900KF at 58,074 points, but remain behind the Core Ultra 9 285K score of 67,274 points and the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D score of 72,065 points.
An 8-core Nova Lake-S processor also surfaced in the database. That variant scored 5,085 points in single-threaded evaluation, edging out the Core Ultra 9 285K, and reached a peak multi-threaded score of 23,478 points.
Testing background and anticipated release timeline
PassMark is a standard synthetic benchmark suite used across the computer industry to assess processor speeds and evaluate hardware before retail availability. Engineering samples are pre-production chips distributed to hardware partners for validation, and they often operate with lower clock speeds or preliminary firmware that does not reflect final consumer performance.
According to preliminary data, Intel plans to launch 28-core Nova Lake-S processors first, with releases targeted between late January and March 2027. Unlocked 28-core K-series models are expected to follow in March or April. The rollout is then slated to conclude with 16-core and 8-core versions arriving between late March and May 2027.
