New reports indicate that the upcoming AMD Zen 6 and Intel Nova Lake desktop CPU families are facing significant delays, with launches now potentially slated for 2027. This shift is attributed to broader industry turmoil, including manufacturing challenges and a strategic pivot towards AI and data center products.
According to sources, AMD's Ryzen 10000 "Olympic Ridge" family based on Zen 6 is now expected in 2027, contradicting earlier roadmap confirmations for a 2026 release. Similarly, Intel's next-gen Nova Lake-S desktop CPUs are also reportedly delayed, with a potential unveiling at CES 2027, despite previous executive comments pointing to a year-end 2026 launch.
The delays appear linked to industry-wide factors. Intel has previously stated it is shifting production capacity towards data center CPUs, and many companies are prioritizing AI-focused segments. This realignment, coupled with ongoing supply chain and cost pressures affecting RAM, SSDs, and GPUs, is creating a turbulent environment for consumer hardware launches.
Despite the delays, technical specifications for both architectures promise major advancements. AMD's Zen 6 is expected to introduce a new 12-core CCD, enabling a flagship 24-core Ryzen chip. Intel's top-end Nova Lake is rumored to be a 52-core design with substantial cache to compete with AMD's 3D V-Cache technology.