Gigabyte Unveils First Motherboard for Intel Core Ultra 400

At Computex 2026, Gigabyte presented the first motherboard for the upcoming Intel Core Ultra 400 processor series. This new CPU generation, developed under the codename Nova Lake-S, is expected to hit the market later this year. The Core Ultra 400 models require a new CPU socket, the Intel LGA-1954, marking a significant change in hardware architecture. The Gigabyte motherboard was introduced as a "future product," with technical details largely kept under wraps. The CPU socket is fully covered, making a precise analysis of the signal pins impossible.

Nevertheless, the inscription "Intel Core Ultra Processor" is clearly visible on the motherboard, confirming its association with the new processor series. A notable feature of the motherboard is the three 8-pin EPS CPU power connectors. This configuration is rather unusual for current consumer motherboards but aligns with the requirements of the Nova Lake-S CPUs, which are expected to launch with a thermal design power (TDP) of at least 175 watts. Reports suggest that the maximum TDP could even reach up to 500 watts to support the performance of up to 52 overclocked CPU cores. Computex traditionally serves as a platform for showcasing new CPU architectures, and Taiwanese manufacturers like Gigabyte take this opportunity to present their latest products.

The two announced high-end chipsets for the Nova Lake-S platform are the Z990 and Z970, which are expected to be utilized on the Gigabyte motherboard. Another technical highlight of the motherboard is the numerous PCIe 5.0 lanes. The motherboard features two PCIe 5.0 x16 slots for expansion cards, allowing for high bandwidth for modern graphics cards and other expansions. Additionally, there are six M.2 connectors, two of which are connected via PCIe 5.0 and four via PCIe 4.0. The Nova Lake-S platform is expected to provide up to 34 PCIe 5.0 lanes for the Z970 chipset and up to 48 PCIe 5.0 lanes for the Z990 chipset.

This high number of lanes enables flexible configurations for users looking to build powerful systems. The presentation of the motherboard at Computex 2026 has already generated significant interest in the tech community. The combination of a new socket, high TDP, and extensive expandability could lay the foundation for next-generation high-performance desktop systems. The exact specifications and availability of the new Intel Core Ultra 400 processors are expected to be announced in the coming months.

Computex 2026 will take place from May 30 to June 2 and attracts numerous manufacturers and tech enthusiasts from around the world. The event is considered one of the most important trade shows for computer hardware and technology.