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Intel's Nova Lake desktop processors are expected to arrive as the earth transitions from 2026 to 2027, so the first units are already in testing - and benchmark results are starting to leak that suggest Intel is moving back to a four-digit naming scheme after restarting with three digits in 2024.
Leaker @laurentschoice posted a CPU-Z screenshot on Twitter showing a CPU listed as a "Intel Core Ultra 9 4950K", which based on the naming ought to be a high-end SKU if not the flagship.
The same tweet also includes specs, with a 28-core design mooted that includes eight high performance p-cores and 20 high efficiency e-cores.
Performance data is also mentioned, with the upcoming CPU getting a single-threaded score of ~1000 and a multi-threaded score of ~20,000, which sounds like a reasonable multiplier for a 28-core design.
For context, if you have a look at posted CPU-Z results, the old 14900KS flagship tops out at ~950 in the 1T test and the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 reaches ~17,000 in the MT test.
That would make the 4950K a very capable performer, though of course it's impossible to know if the quoted results are legitimate. It'll be fascinating to learn more about these CPUs as they become more widely available ahead of their year-end reveal.