Core Ultra 9 4970K BFC: Leaked Specs, 28 Cores, Cache

By GameDrop Staff · Nov 05, 2026 · Leaks · 3 min read

Intel Nova Lake desktop processor artwork — Image: Intel

Intel's next desktop flagship is already one of the most talked-about leaked chips of 2026. The Core Ultra 9 4970K BFC, part of the Nova Lake-S family, is reported to pack 28 cores and a big slab of extra cache aimed squarely at AMD's X3D processors. None of this is confirmed by Intel, so treat every number below as unconfirmed.

Quick summary

Reported flagship: Core Ultra 9 4970K BFC with 8 P-cores, 16 E-cores and 4 LP-E cores (28 total), 125W TDP, 32-EU integrated graphics.
"BFC" appears to mark models with the large last-level cache (bLLC); the standard Core Ultra 9 4950K reportedly skips it.
A leaked PassMark entry for a 28-core sample scored 5,210 single-thread points, about 3% above the Core Ultra 9 285K baseline.
Expected to need LGA 1954 boards and 900-series chipsets. No launch date or price is official.

What are the leaked Nova Lake-S specs?

The lineup was first reported from a leaked list shared by LC Tech Leaks and the leaker Jaykihn, and later summarised by outlets including TechSpot, OC3D and PC Gamer. It names seven desktop models:

Model	Cores (P+E+LP-E)	Big cache	TDP	iGPU
Core Ultra 9 4970K BFC	8+16+4	Yes	125W	32 EU
Core Ultra 9 4950K	8+16	No	125W	32 EU
Core Ultra 9 4900 BFC	6+12+4	Yes	65W	32 EU
Core Ultra 7 4870K BFC	8+12+4	Yes	125W	32 EU
Core Ultra 7 4850K	8+12	No	125W	32 EU
Core Ultra 5 4650K	6+12	No	125W	32 EU
Core Ultra 5 4650KF	6+12	No	125W	None

Per TechSpot, the original table left out the four low-power E-cores on standard models, which Jaykihn said they also have. Core counts for those rows may therefore be higher than the table suggests.

What does BFC mean?

The suffix looks like a tag for chips with Intel's big Last Level Cache, called bLLC, which is widely seen as the answer to AMD's 3D V-Cache. Reports say the cache could reach 144MB per compute tile, though Intel has not confirmed capacities. The joke reading of the name, taken from a famous Doom weapon, is only speculation by commentators.

How fast is the 4970K BFC in the leaked benchmark?

A VideoCardz reader found PassMark baseline entries listed as "Intel 0000", with submissions going back to September. The best 28-core result reached 5,210 single-thread points. For comparison, VideoCardz picked baselines of 5,059 for the Core Ultra 9 285K, 4,805 for the Ryzen 9 9950X3D and 4,635 for the Core i9-14900KF.

CPU	Single-thread	CPU Mark
Nova Lake 28-core sample	5,210	61,509
Core Ultra 9 285K	5,059	67,274
Ryzen 9 9950X3D	4,805	72,066
Core i9-14900KF	4,635	58,074

The single-thread lead is real but the overall CPU Mark is lower than both the 285K and the 9950X3D. The sample reported turbo near 4.8GHz, about 16GB RAM, and the tester does not say which retail model it is or whether it has bLLC. Unknown firmware and test conditions mean it may not reflect final performance.

Intel Nova Lake chip graphic — Image: Intel

Will it need a new motherboard?

Yes, according to reports. Nova Lake-S is expected to use the new LGA 1954 socket, so current Z890 boards will not fit. Our Z990 motherboard guide covers the board leaks. Larger configurations with up to 52 cores are tipped to arrive later.

Will it beat AMD's X3D chips in games?

Nobody outside Intel can say yet. Separate leaked internal figures reported by VideoCardz claim gaming gains over the 285K, which we break down in our Nova Lake gaming leak article, and the wider matchup is in Nova Lake vs Zen 6 X3D. Wait for independent reviews before planning an upgrade, and check the launch calendar for dates once Intel confirms them.