Intel has a new generation of desktop processors, Core Ultra 4000 Nova Lake, coming around the year’s end. It should be a significant step forward compared to the ill-received Core Ultra 200 generation, but it also brings the new LGA 1954 platform, so it will require new motherboards. A list of some of the models Gigabyte is preparing has now leaked onto the internet, and it looks like board makers are expecting a lot from Nova Lake.
The VideoCardz website discovered 24 motherboard models that Gigabyte has planned in the Russian EEC database of registered product designations, and they are all models based on the highest and most expensive variant of the chipset, the Z990. It could mean that when the processors launch, only these top models will be on offer at first, with cheaper boards only coming later.
We already have detailed information about the chipsets of the LGA 1954 platform for Nova Lake desktop processors, according to which Intel will split the Z-designated enthusiast chipsets, which allow overclocking, into two categories in this generation: the cheaper Z970 and the more expensive Z990 with the richest feature set. A large number of models based on the Z970 will certainly be released for Nova Lake as well, but we do not have their names yet. The Z990 models may be something of a tip of the iceberg in the overall selection of LGA 1954 boards that will eventually be offered by Gigabyte.
- Read more: Intel chipsets for Nova Lake boards: Specs and features
- Read more: Overclocking for all? Intel will unlock cheaper boards and CPUs
You can see the list of boards below. The company is preparing Aorus Z990 models in various already known lines (Extreme, Master, Elite, Stealth), but also lower-tier models without the Aorus branding, such as the Z990 “Eagle,” Gaming, or “D.” There are also several “Ice” models, apparently in white design. Most of the lineup will be in the form of full-size ATX boards, which makes sense given the Z990 chipset’s rich PCI Express lane connectivity. However, Gigabyte will also release three mATX models (judging by their names containing the Z990M designation) and one board in the Mini-ITX form factor: the Aorus Z990 I Pro.
Leaked Gigabyte models with the Z990 chipset:
- Aorus Z990 Xtreme
- Aorus Z990 Master
- Aorus Z990 Master Duo X
- Aorus Z990 Master Ice
- Aorus Z990 Pro
- Aorus Z990 Pro Ice
- Aorus Z990 Pro Duo X Ice
- Aorus Z990 Elite WiFi 7
- Aorus Z990 Elite WiFi 7 Ice
- Aorus Z990 Pro Duo X WiFi 7
- Aorus Stealth Duo X
- Aorus Stealth Duo X Ice
- Z990 Aero G
- Z990 Aero Wood
- Z990 Aero Dark Wood
- Z990 Eagle WiFi 7
- Z990 Eagle WiFi 7 Ice
- Z990 Force Duo X WiFi 7
- Z990 D WiFi 7
- Z990 Gaming WiFi 7
- Z990M DS3H WiFi 7
- Aorus Z990M Elite WiFi 7
- Aorus Z990M Elite WiFi 7 Ice
- Aorus Z990 I Pro
A Remarkably Large Number of Z990 Models
Incidentally, 24 board models is more than Gigabyte currently lists on its website for AMD processors with the X870E chipset, which should probably be comparable to the Z990 in terms of its position in the lineup. Admittedly, this pairing may not exactly reflect the position of these chipsets in the two companies’ lineups. Flagship X870E boards are probably overlooked by many buyers in favor of models with a lower chipset, and we will have to see whether it will be similar with the Z990, or whether Intel’s greater segmentation of features will steer more customers to choose the high-end version of the platform for LGA 1954, or if most buyers will opt for Z970 much like they favor AMD’s B850 and X870 over X870E.
Gigabyte has 23 boards with the Z890 chipset for Arrow Lake processors in the LGA 1851 socket currently. By comparison, it seems the company believes the Nova Lake and the LGA 1954 platform to attract considerably more interest, since the successor to the Z890 will be not only the Z990 chipset but, at least partly, also the cheaper Z970 chipset, from which a larger number of boards will certainly arise as well. In total, Gigabyte’s “Z chipset” board lineup could thus end up composed of twice the number of models.
Some of ASRock’s Boards
Last month, several names of boards being prepared by ASRock also leaked, again all models with the Z990 chipset. In this company’s case there are fewer boards, only six. However, this is probably not the entire lineup; ASRock will probably produce various additional models for Nova Lake later.
Leaked ASRock models with the Z990 chipset:
- ASRock Z990 Challenger WiFi
- ASRock Z990 Challenger WiFi White
- ASRock Z990 Pro RS
- ASRock Z990 Steel Legend WiFi
- ASRock Z990 Taichi Creator
- ASRock Z990 Taichi White
As already mentioned, Intel will quite possibly launch Nova Lake accompanie just the more expensive Z990 motherboards at first when the processors first hit the market, and cheaper boards with the Z970 and B960 chipsets might arrive somewhat later. The lineup of Nova Lake desktop processors will probably also be limited to 125W enthusiast models in the first wave after launch. More mainstream models with a 65W TDP will probably also go on sale somewhat later.
Sources: VideoCardz, ComputerBase (1, 2)
English translation and edit by Jozef Dudáš
