Intel Z990 Chipset Leak Points to More Gen5 Lanes and Higher Power for Nova Lake Motherboards

Intel’s upcoming Z990 chipset is reportedly moving deeper into PCIe Gen5 support while using a smaller die than Z890, according to new leaked details about the company’s next generation LGA 1954 motherboard platform. The chipset is expected to power high end Nova Lake desktop motherboards, with more Gen5 connectivity, higher power draw, and stronger I/O options than current Intel 800 series boards.

The new details suggest that Z990 will be built for enthusiast systems that need faster storage, newer expansion support, and stronger overclocking capabilities. At the same time, the chipset may draw more power than Z890, especially when all of its Gen5 capabilities are active.

Intel’s 900 series motherboards are expected to debut around CES 2027, alongside the first formal push for Nova Lake S desktop CPUs.

Intel Z990 is smaller than Z890 but focused more heavily on Gen5

The most surprising detail is that Z990 appears to be smaller than Z890 despite offering newer capabilities. The Z990 chipset package is said to measure 25 x 24mm, while the die reportedly measures 11.15 x 6.5mm.

By comparison, Z890 uses a 28 x 23.5mm package and a die size of 11.15 x 8.33mm. That makes the Z990 package around 8.8 percent smaller, while the die is around 22 percent smaller.

Chipset	Package size	Die size	Base power
Z890	28 x 23.5mm	11.15 x 8.33mm	6W
Z970	25 x 24mm	11.15 x 6.5mm	6.4W
Z990	25 x 24mm	11.15 x 6.5mm	7.9W

The reason appears to be a change in priorities. Z990 reportedly reduces its focus on PCIe Gen4 lanes for M.2 slots and instead pushes more aggressively toward Gen5 support.

Z990 could push up to 14W under full Gen5 use

The higher power draw is one of the more important changes. Z990 is reportedly rated at 7.9W base power, which is already higher than Z890’s 6W rating. Z970 is said to sit slightly lower at 6.4W.

However, the leak claims Z990 can reach up to 14W when its full Gen5 capabilities are active. That does not mean every system will always run the chipset at that level. Most users will likely use one graphics card and a smaller number of M.2 drives, so typical power draw may stay lower.

Still, the increased ceiling could lead to stronger chipset cooling on high end motherboards. Board makers reportedly do not expect active cooling to be necessary, but larger passive heatsinks may become more common on premium Z990 designs.

The thermal threshold is also said to increase to 113 degrees Celsius, compared with 108 degrees Celsius on Z890.

Intel is changing the I/O layout for the 900 series

Z990 is expected to bring a DMI Gen5 x4 connection between the CPU and chipset. Z970 reportedly uses DMI Gen5 x2. This helps modernize the platform while keeping bandwidth similar to previous configurations.

The I/O changes also affect storage and expansion. Z990 is said to offer 12 PCIe Gen5 lanes from the chipset, making it the more premium option for users who want multiple fast SSDs and newer expansion cards.

Feature	Z990	Z970	B960
Total PCIe lanes	48	34	34
DMI Gen5 lanes	4	2	2
PCH PCIe Gen5 lanes	12	0	0
PCH PCIe Gen4 lanes	12	14	14
SATA 3.0 lanes	8	4	4
USB 3.2 20G ports	5	2	2
CPU overclocking	Yes	Yes	No
Memory overclocking	Yes	Yes	Yes

USB 2.0 support is reportedly being removed from the 900 series chipsets, while USB 3.2 support remains strong. Thunderbolt 5 is also expected to play a major role on the platform.

Z990 motherboards may target extreme Nova Lake builds

High end Z990 boards are expected to support Nova Lake S desktop CPUs and offer serious power delivery designs. Some boards shown during early previews reportedly used triple 8 pin power connectors, suggesting motherboard makers are preparing for demanding enthusiast chips.

Z990 will likely be the flagship chipset for overclocking, while Z970 may offer a cheaper enthusiast option with fewer Gen5 features. W980 appears aimed at workstation use, with ECC support, while Q970 and B960 will likely target business and mainstream systems.

That gives Intel a wide 900 series stack, but Z990 will clearly be the board to watch for high end gaming and workstation desktop builds.

Intel’s next desktop platform is becoming clearer

The Z990 leak suggests Intel is preparing a serious platform shift for Nova Lake. More Gen5 lanes, DMI Gen5, Thunderbolt 5 support, and heavier I/O options all point to a more modern desktop motherboard generation.

The tradeoff is power. Z990 may be smaller than Z890, but its full Gen5 focus could make it more demanding under heavy configurations. That may not matter for most users, but it will influence motherboard cooling and design at the high end.

For now, Z990 looks like Intel’s most important enthusiast chipset upgrade in years. If Nova Lake S delivers strong CPU performance and motherboard makers use the extra I/O well, the 900 series could become a major reset for Intel desktop platforms in 2027.