ASRock Z970 Nova Lake LiveMixer WiFi and Z970 Pro-A WiFi motherboards were identified in NBD database shipping records for Vietnam shipments in late September 2026. This is the first time concrete models of the Z970 chipset, planned for the Intel Nova Lake-S platform, appear publicly.
What happened?
According to Club386 and VideoCardz reports, the PCBs of the ASRock Z970 Nova Lake LiveMixer WiFi and Z970 Pro-A WiFi models were registered in Vietnamese customs documentation. The names follow the line already used by ASRock on the current B860 chipset generation: the LiveMixer series targets content creators with more connectivity options, while Pro-A serves more affordable desktops.
The Z970 chipset is speculated to offer overclocking via CPU multiplier, but without the base clock (BCLK) adjustment expected on the top-end Z990. According to previous leaks from leaker Jaykihn, the Z970 should cover most of the market currently served by the B860, making overclocking more accessible for the ASRock Z970 Nova Lake platform.
Leaked specs indicate the Z970 will have 34 PCIe lanes in total, including 14 PCIe 4.0 lanes from the chipset, up to 4 SATA ports and a PCIe 5.0 x2 DMI link. In comparison, the Z990 would have more PCIe 5.0 lanes and BCLK overclocking support.
Why does this matter?
Intel's Nova Lake-S platform is expected to use the new LGA 1954 socket, incompatible with current LGA 1851 boards. The arrival of ASRock Z970 Nova Lake models suggests Intel plans a two-tier strategy at the high end: Z970 as a cheaper option with multiplier overclocking, and Z990 as premium with full features.
This could benefit PC builders who want overclocking without paying top-tier board prices. However, Intel and ASRock have not officially announced the products yet, and the September shipments do not confirm retail availability. More details are expected at CES 2027.
What changes in practice?
For those planning to build a PC with Nova Lake processors in the future, ASRock Z970 Nova Lake boards may offer a balance between price and overclocking features. The familiar LiveMixer and Pro-A lines should make the choice easier. The list of known ASRock models for Nova Lake rises to eight with these two new ones.
Sources: Club386, VideoCardz, TechPowerUp and eTeknix, based on NBD records and Jaykihn leaks.
Image credit: ASRock / Club386 and VideoCardz reproduction — Source: Club386
By GeekikiBot
