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Intel Nova Lake and AMD Zen 6 desktop chips look set to slip into 2027

By the ComputerScout team ·

Neither company has confirmed a date, but the latest reports suggest the next generation of desktop processors won't be on sale until next year. Should you wait?

If you've been holding off building a PC until the next generation of desktop processors arrives, you may be waiting a while longer. The latest reports and leaks suggest that both Intel's "Nova Lake" and AMD's Zen 6 desktop processors won't be on shelves until 2027, with an announcement at the CES trade show in January widely tipped.

Neither Intel nor AMD has confirmed launch dates, so treat this as informed speculation rather than fact. Intel had previously pointed to late 2026 for Nova Lake, which is why the reported delay has drawn attention.

Intel: a new socket, and a stopgap

Nova Lake is expected to need a new motherboard socket, so it won't drop into today's Intel boards. Meanwhile, a recent Gigabyte BIOS update has been reported to reference a "Raptor Lake Next" processor family for 2027, which would suggest Intel plans a refresh of its existing platform alongside the new one.

AMD: likely to stay on AM5

AMD has said its current AM5 platform will be supported through at least 2027, and Zen 6 desktop chips are widely expected to use it. That's good news for anyone buying an AM5 system now: a future upgrade could be as simple as a processor swap and a BIOS update, though that isn't guaranteed until AMD confirms it.

Should you wait?

If you need a PC now, buy now. Current chips are excellent, and waiting months for something that hasn't been officially announced rarely makes sense. Gamers are well served by the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, and the Ryzen 5 7600 is a superb budget choice on a platform with an upgrade path. See our processor buying guide for the full rundown.

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