Original Link: https://www.anandtech.com/show/15723/the-intel-z490-motherboard-overview
The Intel Z490 Overview: 44+ Motherboards Examined
by Gavin Bonshor on April 30, 2020 10:00 AM EST
After another long wait for a new Intel platform, Comet Lake and the 400 series finally descends. Here we get a new socket, support for up to 10-cores with its flagship Core i9-10900K/KF processors, and a few interesting adjustments on ethernet, Wi-Fi. Scrambling to be the latest and greatest, some motherboard vendors include support for PCIe 4.0 'for a future platform', which some have outright identified as Rocket Lake. We asked every motherboard vendor for specifications and details on their new product lines.
This article is a work in progress, and although we have a lot of the information, new information is coming in at a rapid pace. We will endeavour to keep this Z490 Overview updated frequently with new boards, MSRP pricing, and new models that get announced.
The Intel Z490 Chipset: New Socket LGA1200
Due to the new increased power requirements of the top-end 10 core Intel processors, Intel has changed the socket once again, moving from the LGA115x family onto LGA1200. The physical dimensions of the CPU package have not changed, and all LGA115x coolers will work in the new sockets, but it does mean that these new processors won't work in old motherboards. Instead, we get a new family of 400 series, with the flagship Z490 being at the forefront of all the motherboard manufacturers' marketing materials/
From Intel, the key difference for Z490 comes in networking. Integrated into the Z490 chipset is an Intel Wi-Fi 6 CNVi which allows motherboard vendors to integrate its AX200 wireless solutions directly from the chipset with a CRF module. On Z390, this was limited to 802.11ac / Wi-Fi 5, but Intel has stepped up its game with Wi-Fi 6. Motherboard vendors still need to purchase the CRF. In a similar vein, the chipset now supports a 2.5 gigabit ethernet connection through single PCIe 3.0 x1 lane, however this requires purchase of an Intel I225 network controller. Other controllers require using a PCIe lane.
| Intel Z390, B460, Z370 and Z270 Chipset Comparison | ||||
| Feature | Z490 | B460 | Z390 | Z370 |
| Max PCH PCIe 3.0 Lanes | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
| Max USB 3.1 (Gen2/Gen1) | 6/10 | ? | 6/10 | 0/10 |
| Total USB | ? | ? | 14 | 14 |
| Max SATA Ports | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| PCIe Config | x16 x8/x8 x8/x8/+4 |
x16 x8/x8 x8/x8/+4 |
x16 x8/x8 x8/x4/+4 |
x16 x8/x8 x8/x4/+4 |
| Memory Channels (Dual) | 2/2 | 2/2 | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| Intel Optane Memory Support | Y | ? | Y | Y |
| Intel Rapid Storage Technology (RST) | Y | ? | Y | Y |
| Max Rapid Storage Technology Ports | 3 | ? | 3 | 3 |
| Integrated WiFi MAC | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 5 | N |
| Intel Smart Sound | Y | ? | Y | Y |
| Integrated SDXC (SDA 3.0) Support | ? | ? | Y | N |
| DMI | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Overclocking Support | Y | N | Y | Y |
| Intel vPro | ? | ? | N | N |
| Max HSIO Lanes | 30 | ? | 30 | 30 |
| Intel Smart Sound | ? | ? | Y | Y |
| ME Firmware | 14 | 14 | 12 | 11 |
The Z490 chipset and Intel 10th Generation Comet Lake desktop processors have a total combined PCIe count of 40, which is 16 from the CPU and 24 from the chipset. What's interesting is how similar the Z490 and Z390 chipsets are in terms of specifications, which adds the question of why Intel has opted for a new socket, on what is effectively a refresh of its 14 nm process node.
Intel retains the support of its Optane memory modules and uses dual-channel memory, up to DDR4-2933 with Core i9 and Core i7 parts, or DDR4-2666 with all other processors. The Z490 chipset also retains the same 30 HSIO used for any PCIe add-in card or controller, such as USB controllers, ethernet ports, sound cards, RAID cards, etc. Motherboard vendors use controllers such as the ASMedia ASM3242 chip to offer USB 3.2 G2 and 20 Gbps connectivity. This effectively allows vendors to implement fast Type-C connectivity.
The Z490 chipset supports overclocking with Intel's unlocked processors, which was expected. While it is not recommended to overclock the clock generator (BCLK) as it's tied into multiple areas where stability is a large factor, Intel has enabled support for DMI and PEG overclocking which has now been separated out to have no effect on SATA ports and such.
Z490 and LGA1200: Motherboards Built with PCIe 4.0?
After looking through the specification sheets of all the Z490 options, there was one obvious sticking point to all the press materials. The motherboard manufacturers all had to build their systems for processors that didn't exist yet. Those that mention they contain PCIe 4.0 also mention Rocket Lake processors, which are what we assume to be Intel's next-generation (11th Gen?) hardware. These processors will also have the same LGA1200 socket as these motherboards but clearly will have access to some form of PCIe 4.0 compatibility. This means that the motherboards have to be built with Rocket Lake in mind. That being said, we assume that Rocket Lake hasn't even been built yet - or at least, even the early stage silicon is probably not ready. This means that the motherboard vendors have to work on specifications and standards provided by Intel, some of which could possibly change by release, but also some of these specifications could drastically vary from Comet Lake (10th Gen) to Rocket Lake (11th Gen?).
We already know that PCIe 4.0 is a differentiating factor, but what about the number of PCIe lanes? Comet Lake only supports 16 lanes from the processor, and so most of these Z490 boards are built with that in mind. But if Rocket Lake supports more, say 20 PCIe lanes from the processor, then that leaves four lanes to add an M.2. In order to support this M.2 slot from the CPU on Z490, the motherboard vendors have to put in the required switches such that the slot works on both Comet Lake in PCIe 3.0 mode and Rocket Lake in PCIe 4.0 mode. Either that or disable the slot completely for Comet Lake, because it would end up reducing the main PCIe slot to an x8 due to bifurcation.
This is but one example, but depending on memory support, power support, graphics support - all of these mean that motherboard manufacturers can take Z490 in one of two ways. The one that most vendors seem to be doing is to make their boards hybrids - suitable for both Comet and Rocket, but not really mastering one. For users intending to upgrade mid-cycle without a motherboard change, these hybrid designs are probably best. The second option is to make specific boards for the specific chips, despite technically supporting both: making the Z490 the best board it can be for Comet Lake, and then some future board (Z590?) being the best board for Rocket Lake. Personally, I prefer the latter, because I'd like the best out of my processor. However, prices of the best motherboards are matching (or even surpassing) that of the processor, which makes the quandary a little more complex than on first glance.
The Current Z490 Product Stack: Over 40+ New Motherboards Unveiled
With the release of Intel's 10th generation Comet Lake CPU's offering multiple processors ranging from dual-core Celerons to the latest 10-core i9-10900K SKUs, the demand on motherboard vendors to improve on existing designs is paramount. The onus is on motherboard vendors to deliver to its target markets, whether it's gaming which Intel claims the Core i9-10900K and i9-10900KF to be the best gaming processors ever, but content creation is bigger than it has ever been too. There are seven motherboards with Thunderbolt 3, for example.
Below is the current Z490 product stack which has been announced for launch, with some models not expected to hit shelves until later on. The EVGA Dark series makes a reappearance, while MSI has its MEG, MPG and MAG stack. Also within the deep Z490 product stack are GIGABYTE Aorus and its new redesigned Vision D, or previously known as the Designare. ASUS is now on the Maximus XII range with its fabled Extreme and Formula models, with an Apex in for overclockers, as well as its Strix, Prime series, and a fresh ProArt Z490-Creator 10G model too. There will likely be even more boards announced over the coming months, with some surprises we can't discuss, all looking to make Intel's seemingly last PCIe 3.0 desktop Z series chipset a big hit with consumers.
ASRock:
Inside of the big four motherboard vendors, ASRock has the smallest product stack at launch, with more models expected over the coming months. Included in its stack is the now highly recognisable Taichi which has a pretty strong feature set and more recently announced, the flagship and water-cooled Z490 Aqua.
For gamers, the Z490 PG Velocita makes its debut with a unique naming scheme, hopefully looking to gain some notoriety. Also included is the ever-popular mini-ITX Z490 Phantom Gaming ITX/TB3 with Thunderbolt 3 rear panel connectivity one of its main features. A pair more for entry-level users includes the Z490 Steel Legend and Z490 Extreme4, which is one of its longest-standing ranges, stretching back many years.
| ASRock Z490 Motherboard Product Stack | ||
| Model | Size | Price |
| ASRock Z490 Aqua | EATX | $1100 |
| ASRock Z490 PG Velocita | ATX | $260 |
| ASRock Z490 Taichi | ATX | $370 |
| ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming-ITX/TB3 | mITX | $280 |
| ASRock Z490 Steel Legend | ATX | $185 |
| ASRock Z490 Extreme4 | ATX | $195 |
| ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4/2.5G | ATX | $160 |
| ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4/ac | ATX | - |
| ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4/ax | ATX | - |
| ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4 | ATX | $150 |
| ASRock Z490 Pro4 | ATX | $170 |
| ASRock Z490M Pro4 | mATX | $150 |
| ASRock Z490M-ITX/ac | mITX | $160 |
| ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4SR | ATX | - |
The ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4 series of models offer a variety of options with different networking capability and targets the entry-level point. The base Phantom Gaming 4 model has a cost of $150, which is ASRock's cheapest Z490 model at present, while the 2.5G variant can be purchased for just $10 more coming in at $160.
ASUS:
ASUS as always has a huge product stack available for Z490, with the high-end ROG Maximus XII series with the Extreme leading the charge, to the Formula for water coolers and the Apex primarily geared up for extreme overclocking. The ROG Maximus XII Hero Wi-Fi acts as a bridge including the majority of the Maximus XII's core feature set, but with a more affordable controller set.
The gaming-focused Strix range has many alphabet models including the Z490-E, Z490-F, Z490-G, etc., while the Prime series offers a variety of models at different price points for users that want a more neutral look. Also included in the product stack is the content creator focused ProArt Z490-Creator 10G which looks good
| ASUS Z490 Motherboard Product Stack | ||
| Model | Size | Price |
| ASUS ROG Maximus XII Extreme Glacial | ? | - |
| ASUS ROG Maximus XII Extreme | EATX | $750 |
| ASUS ROG Maximus XII Formula | ATX | $500 |
| ASUS ROG Maximus XII Apex | ATX | - |
| ASUS ROG Maximus VII Hero WiFi | ATX | $399 |
| ASUS ROG Strix Z490-E Gaming | ATX | $300 |
| ASUS ROG Strix Z490-F Gaming | ATX | $269 |
| ASUS ROG Strix Z490-G Gaming | mATX | - |
| ASUS ROG Strix Z490-G Wi-Fi Gaming | mATX | - |
| ASUS ROG Strix Z490-A Gaming | ATX | - |
| ASUS ROG Strix Z490-I Gaming | mITX | $300 |
| ASUS TUF Z490-Plus | ATX | - |
| ASUS TUF Z490-Plus WiFi | ATX | $200 |
| ASUS Prime Z490-A | ATX | $230 |
| ASUS Prime Z490-P | ATX | $160 |
| ASUS Prime Z490M-Plus | mATX | $150 |
| ASUS ProArt Z490-Creator 10G | ATX | - |
Biostar:
Biostar has just three models at launch, with two ATX sized models via the Z490GTA EVO, and Z490GTA, and a mini-ITX model, the Z490GTN.
| Biostar Z490 Motherboard Product Stack | ||
| Model | Size | Price |
| Biostar Racing Z490GTA Evo | ATX | $239 |
| Biostar Racing Z490GTA | ATX | $209 |
| Biostar Racing Z490GTN | mITX | $199 |
EVGA:
Normally bringing its models later on in the product cycle, EVGA has announced models for Intel's Z490, the EVGA Z490 Dark which is heavily stacked on overclocking features. At the same time, the EVGA Z490 FTW WiFi offers users a solid-option for the mid-range.
| EVGA Z490 Motherboard Product Stack | ||
| Model | Size | Price |
| EVGA Z490 Dark | EATX | - |
| EVGA Z490 FTW WiFi | ATX | - |
GIGABYTE:
GIGABYTE has opted for a mixture of models in its product stack with a wave of Aorus branded boards aimed at gamers and enthusiasts, with some new additions and re-works to previous models on other chipsets. In a move to shorten some of its model names for Z490 (on the most part), we see a couple of models with subtler aesthetics including the new Z490 Vision D and Z490 Vision G. The GIGABYTE Z490 Vision series includes a couple of models, with the Z490 Vision D and Vision G seen as a direct replacement to the Designare series; the Vision G has with a clean aluminium aesthetic.
Other models making a return include the Aorus Xtreme, with the Xtreme WaterForce model decked with a custom water block, and an eye-watering price to go with it. Other regular Aorus mainstays in the stack include the Aorus Ultra, Aorus Master, and Aorus Elite. For small form factor aficionados, there's also the mini-ITX Z490I Aorus Ultra, with the micro-ATX Z490M Gaming X expected shortly.
| GIGABYTE Z490 Motherboard Product Stack | ||
| Model | Size | Price |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Xtreme WaterForce | EATX | $1299 |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Xtreme | EATX | $799 |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Master | ATX | $389 |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Ultra | ATX | $299 |
| GIGABYTE Z490 I Aorus Ultra | mITX | $269 |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Pro AX | ATX | $269 |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Elite AC | ATX | $219 |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X | ATX | $200 |
| GIGABYTE Z490M Gaming X | mATX | - |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Vision D | ATX | $299 |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Vision G | ATX | $199 |
MSI:
The MSI Z490 product stack consists of many previously seen before models including its flagship EATX sized MEG Z490 Godlike, with the Z490 Ace, and the more recent Unify range. MSI's only mini-ITX model comes under the MEG enthusiast gaming banner via the Z490I Unify, while the MPG range offers a good range of features for the mid-range.
Towards the bottom of the stack is the MAG Z490 Tomahawk, which is usually reserved for the budget B chipsets, and the MSI Z490-A Pro caters to entry-level users. It's worth noting that from top to bottom, every MSI Z490 motherboard has a Realtek RTL8125G 2.5 G Ethernet port or better.
| MSI Z490 Motherboard Product Stack | ||
| Model | Size | Price |
| MSI MEG Z490 Godlike | EATX | $750 |
| MSI MEG Z490 Ace | ATX | $400 |
| MSI MEG Z490 Unify | ATX | - |
| MSI MEG Z490I Unify | mITX | - |
| MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Carbon WIFI | ATX | $270 |
| MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Edge WIFI | ATX | $200 |
| MSI MPG Z490M Gaming Edge WIFI | mATX | - |
| MSI MAG Z490 Tomahawk | ATX | $190 |
| MSI Z490-A Pro | ATX | $160 |
Supermicro:
More focused on its server-grade and workstation motherboards, Supermicro has just two models announced for Z490, the C9Z490-PGW and C9Z490-PG. The only difference between the two is a wireless interface, while both these models are the only Z490 models to leverage a PLX chip for PCIe lane bifurcation.
| Supermicro Z490 Motherboard Product Stack | ||
| Model | Size | Price |
| Supermicro C9Z490-PGW | ATX | $395 |
| Supermicro C9Z490-PG | ATX | $375 |
On the next page is a summary of each board's power delivery system, with each subsequent page containing a brief analysis/rundown of all the individual Z490 boards.
Z490 Power Delivery
As we do with all of our chipset overviews, we reached out to all of the motherboard vendors about what power deliveries each board features prior to launch. Many more users, compared to previous years, factor in power delivery and its thermal capabilities into their buying decisions. While the power delivery is fundamentally designed to run its relevant processors at default settings without issue, the idea of including a better specification power delivery allows for users to push processors beyond the default settings, as more voltage through the CPU means more voltage and power is handled by the power delivery.
We have reported over previous years of manufacturers embellishing claims of its power delivery and marketing them to do things it just cannot operate effectively and efficiently. We have compiled as much information as we are privy to, which we are trusting vendors to provide accurate details of. A question mark (?) denotes something we haven't been informed of, as we don't want to speculate and guess, as motherboard vendors haven't provided us with the necessary details.
As more information filters into us from vendors, as well as Z490 reviews, we will endeavour to keep the below table updated as frequently as possible. Note that all the information below has come directly from the manufacturer of each model.
| Z490 CPU Power Delivery Comparison | |||||
| Motherboard | Controller | H-Side | L-Side | Chokes | Doubler |
| ASRock Z490 Taichi | ISL69269 (12+2) |
? | ? | - | |
| ASRock Z490 Velocita | ISL69269 (10+2) |
? | ? | - | |
| ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming ITX/TB3 | ISL69269 (8+2) |
ISL99390B (8) |
? | - | |
| ASRock Z490 Steel Legend | ISL69269 (8+2) |
? | ? | - | |
| ASRock Z490 Extreme4 | ISL69269 (8+2) |
? | ? | - | |
| ASUS ROG Maximus XII Extreme | ASP1405I (8+0) |
TDA21490 (16) |
16 | - | |
| ASUS ROG Maximus XII Formula | ASP1405I (8+0) |
TDA21490 (16) |
16 | - | |
| ASUS ROG Maximus XII Apex | ASP1405I (7+1) |
TDA21490 (16) |
16 | - | |
| ASUS ROG Maximus XII Hero Wi-Fi | ASP1405I (7+1) |
TDA21490 (16) |
16 | - | |
| ASUS ROG Strix Z490-E Gaming | ASP1900 (7+1) |
SIC639 (14) |
16 | - | |
| ASUS ROG Strix Z490-F Gaming | ASP1900 (6+1) |
NCP302045 (12) |
14 | - | |
| ASUS ROG Strix Z490-G Gaming Wi-Fi | ASP1900 (6+1) |
SIC639 (14) |
14 | - | |
| ASUS ROG Strix Z490-G Gaming | ASP1900 (6+1) |
SIC639 (14) |
14 | - | |
| ASUS ROG Strix Z490-H Gaming | ASP1900 (6+1) |
NCP302045 (12) |
14 | - | |
| ASUS ROG Strix Z490-A Gaming | ASP1900 (6+1) |
NCP302045 (12) |
14 | - | |
| ASUS ROG Strix Z490-I Gaming | ASP1405I (4+1) |
TDA21461 (8) |
10 | - | |
| ASUS TUF Z490-Plus Wi-Fi | ASP1900 (6+1) |
SIC639 (14) |
14 | - | |
| ASUS TUF Z490-Plus | ASP1900 (4+1) |
SIC639 (14) |
14 | - | |
| ASUS Prime Z490-A | ASP1900 (6+1) |
NCP302045 (12) |
14 | - | |
| ASUS Prime Z490-P | ASP1900 (5+1) |
NCP302045 (10) |
11 | - | |
| ASUS Prime Z490-V | ASP1900 (4+1) |
SIC639 (8) |
9 | - | |
| ASUS Prime Z490M-Plus | ASP1900 (6+1) |
SIC639 (14) |
14 | - | |
| ASUS ProArt Z490-Creator 10G | ASP1900 (6+1) |
NCP302045 (12) |
14 | - | |
| Biostar Racing Z490GTA Evo | NCP81286 (14+2) |
FS4C029 (14) |
FSC028 (14) |
? | NCP81162 (7) |
| Biostar Racing Z490GTA | NCP81229 (12+2) |
FS4C029 (12) |
FSC028 (12) |
? | NCP81162 (6) |
| Biostar Racing Z490GTN | PCP81229 (6+2) |
NCP302155 (6) |
? | - | |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Xtreme WaterForce | ISL69269 (8+1) |
ISL99390B (16) |
? | ISL6617A (8) |
|
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Xtreme | ISL69269 (8+1) |
ISL99390B (16) |
? | ISL6617A (8) |
|
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Master | ISL69269 (7+1) |
ISL99390B (14) |
? | ISL6617A (7) |
|
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Ultra | ISL69269 (12+0) |
SiC620A (12) |
? | - | |
| GIGABYTE Z490 I Aorus Ultra | ISL69269 (8+1) |
ISL99390 (8) |
? | - | |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Pro AX | ISL69269 (12+0) |
SiC620A (12) |
? | - | |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Elite AC | ISL69269 (12+0) |
SiC620A (12) |
? | - | |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Vision D | ISL69269 (12+0) |
SiC651A (12) |
? | - | |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Vision G | ISL69269 (12+0) |
SiC651A (12) |
? | - | |
| MSI MEG Z490 Godlike | ISL69269 (8+1) |
ISL99390B (16) |
? | ISL6617A (8) |
|
| MSI MEG Z490 Ace | ISL69269 (8+0) |
ISL99390B (16) |
? | ISL6617A (8) |
|
| MSI MEG Z490 Unify | ISL69269 (8+0) |
ISL99390B (16) |
? | ISL6617A (8) |
|
| MSI MEG Z490I Unify | ISL69269 (8+1) |
ISL99390B (8) |
? | - | |
| MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Carbon WIFI | RAA229001 (6+1) |
ISL99360 (12) |
? | - | |
| MSI Z490 Gaming Edge WIFI | RAA229001 (6+1) |
ON/NPC81229 (12) |
? | - | |
| MSI Z490M Gaming Edge WIFI | RT3609BE (6+1) |
4C029N (12) |
4C024N (12) |
? | - |
| MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Plus | RT3609BE (6+1) |
4C029N (12) |
4C024N (12) |
? | - |
| MSI MAG Z490 Tomahawk | ON/NCP81229 (6+1) |
NCP302155 (12) |
? | - | |
| MSI Z490-A Pro | RT3609BE (6+1) |
4C029N (12) |
4C024N (12) |
? | - |
| Supermicro C9Z490-PGW | XDPE122284C (6+2) |
TDA21490 (6) |
8 | - | |
| Supermicro C9Z490-PG | XDPE122284C (6+2) |
TDA21490 (6) |
8 | - | |
As we get more and more Z490 boards in for review, we can go deeper into the analysis in each individual review over the upcoming months.
ASRock Z490 Aqua
The new ASRock Z490 Aqua builds upon the success of its AMD X570 based model, with a full cover block monoblock which cools the CPU and the 16-phase power delivery. Following the same design as the X570 model, the ASRock Z490 Aqua adds an OLED display which can display with CPU voltages, temperatures, system and POST statuses, with an abundance of premium controllers and features onboard.
Included in the long list of features are three full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which run at x16, x8/x8, and x8/x8/+4, with two PCIe 3.0 x1 slots. It uses a 16-phase power delivery which is kept cool by the large monoblock, and benefits from 90 A power stages with a maximum Vcore current of up to 1260. Providing power to the CPU is a pair of 8-pin 12V ATX CPU power inputs, with an Intersil ISL69269 PWM controller operating in a 14+2 configuration. There is support for DDR4-4700, with a total capacity of up to 128 GB across four memory slots. It does have support for ECC DDR4 UDIMMs, but these will operate in non-ECC mode.
The rear panel of the ASRock Z490 Aqua is stacked with two Thunderbolt 3 Type-C and two accompanying Mini DisplayPort input ports. Also present are three USB 3.2 G2 10 Gbps Type-A, one USB 3.2 G2 10 Gbps Type-C, and four USB 3.2 G1 Type-A ports. For users intending to leverage Intel's integrated graphics, there is a single HDMI video input. For users demanding premium networking, the Z490 Aqua is using an Aquantia AQC107 10 G and Realtek RTL8125BG 2.5 Ethernet controller pairing, as well as an Intel Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface which provides support for BT 5.0 devices. There are five 3.5 mm color-coded audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output which are powered by a Realtek ALC1220 HD audio codec, which is assisted by an ESS Sabre 9128 DAC which controls the front panel audio. Finishing off the rear panel is a clear CMOS switch and a BIOS Flashback button.
Only 999 units will be available for purchase which will add an element of exclusivity, which we expect to add to the price tag. Another thing to factor in is the weight as the X570 Aqua weighed around 2.2 KG (5 lb) due to the aluminium armor, the custom monoblock, and its large metal backplate.
ASRock hasn't unveiled pricing at this time, but it's likely to be available either at the launch of Intel's 10th Gen desktop processors, or sometime shortly after.
Starting off our large Z490 motherboard overview alphabetically, we take a look at the models from ASRock. As we've seen previously, ASRock is marketing its gaming-focused models with a handful of PG branded models at launch, with the Taichi, and Steel Legend boards making a reappearance. One of the most interesting features of the ATX sized ASRock Z490 models is the inclusion of a PCIe 4.0 clock generator, which is designed to offer longevity to its boards with support for Intel Rocket Lake. This allows the top full-length PCIe slot to run PCIe 4.0 from the CPU, which stretches to the PCIe M.2 slots which are driven from the CPU, and not the chipset.
ASRock Z490 Taichi
The ASRock Taichi series is one of its most prominent brands since it was introduced on the Intel Z270, and AMD X370 chipsets. The ASRock brand has evolved since then with more unique aesthetics and is usually associated with its premium range of models offered. The ASRock Z490 Taichi includes a PCIe 4.0 clock generator which allows support for Intel's Rocket Lake processors when it is released. Also present is three PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, eight SATA ports, a Realtek 2.5 G Ethernet controller, and 12-phase power delivery for the CPU.
For the design, the ASRock Z490 Taichi has a primarily black aesthetic with Taichi clockwork inspired branding over the rear panel cover, heatsinks, and the PCIe area cover. It has multiple areas of integrated RGB LEDs including the rear panel cover, the chipset heatsink, and at the right-hand underside of the board. On the rear of the board is a large black metal backplate, which also has a Taichi clockwork inspired design. The power delivery is controlled by an Intersil ISL69269 PWM controller, with a 12+2+1 power delivery design using ISL 50 A DrMOS power stages. It uses a large pair of heat pipe connected heat sinks, with the rear panel cover area including a single cooling fan integrated into the design, with two small cooling fans on the other power delivery heatsink.
The core feature set consists of three full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which run at x16, x16/x8, and x16/x8+4, with an additional two PCIe 3.0 x1 slots. For storage, there's three PCIe 3.0 x4 slots, with six SATA ports from the chipset, and two additional ports from an ASMedia ASM1061 controller. Each M.2 slot has its own Taichi inspired heatsink, while the bottom of the board includes a basic overclockers toolkit with a power and reset button. As mentioned, it includes a PCIe 4.0 clock generator for support for Intel's unreleased Rocket Lake processors which will also be released on socket LGA1200. This adds PCIe 4.0 support for the M.2 slots, as well as the top full-length PCIe 3.0 x16 slot.
Included on the rear panel of the ASRock Z490 Taichi is one USB 3.2 G2 20 Gbps Type-C, two USB 3.2 G2 10 Gbps Type-A, and five USB 3.2 G1 Type-A ports. For networking, ASRock includes an Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 and BT 5.1 wireless interface, with two Ethernet ports, one controlled by a Realtek RTL8125BG 2.5 G, and the other by an Intel I219-V Gigabit controller. For users planning to use integrated graphics, there's a pair of video outputs consisting of an HDMI, and DisplayPort 1.4 output. Finishing off the rear panel is a PS/2 combo port, five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output controlled by a Realtek ALC1220 HD codec, and a BIOS Flashback button.
The ASRock Z490 Taichi is a premium model with a good range of USB 3.2 G2 support on the rear panel, benefits from a 12+2+1 power delivery for enthusiasts, and a solid section of networking options including Wi-Fi 6 and a 2.5 G Ethernet controller. Its Taichi design is well versed and stylish, with some support for PCIe 4.0 when Intel releases its Rocket Lake processors, which is another big plus point. ASRock hasn't yet unveiled a price for the Z490 Taichi, but we will update this as more information starts to filter in.
ASRock Z490 PG Velocita
The ASRock Z490 PG Velocita is one of two Phantom Gaming branded models for Z490 at launch and is very well versed for enthusiasts and gamers. It includes a decent 10-phase power delivery for the CPU, support for Intel Rocket Lake with a PCIe 4.0 clock generator, as well as two full-length PCIe 3.0 slots, support for up to 128 GB of DDR4-4666 memory, and it also includes a 2.5 G Ethernet controller.
The design is similar to previous Phantom Gaming models with black and grey heatsinks, with red accents. ASRock has included two zones of integrated RGB LEDs onto the PG Velocita, with an RGB ASRock logo and backlit area on the rear panel cover, as well as an RGB Phantom Gaming logo on the chipset heatsink. All the boards RGB including the two aRGB and two RGB LED connectors can be customized via the ASRock Polychrome RGB software.
It has two full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which operate at x16+4, with three PCIe 3.0 x1 slots. ASRock's spec sheet isn't very clear on support, but it does state support for 10th generation Comet Lake desktop processors and 'future' Intel Core processors which is Rocket Lake. The top full-length PCIe slot is PCIe 4.0 ready, as well as the PCIe M.2 slots, with an onboard PCIe 4.0 clock generator. Touching on the storage, there's two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, with six SATA ports from the chipset, and a further two SATA ports provided which are controlled by an ASMedia ASM1061 controller. This means six of the eight available SATA ports support RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays.
For the power delivery, ASRock is using a 10+2+1 power delivery, with 50 A DrMOS power stages and 12K DIP capacitors. Providing power is a pair of 8-pin 12 V ATX CPU power inputs. The power delivery itself is cooled by a pair of large finned heatsinks which are joined together by a single heat pipe. On the top heatsink, ASRock has included two small cooling fans to aid in dissipating heat from the power delivery, while the rear panel cover incorporates a single fan into the design of the other heat sink. ASRock recommends users cool this model with water cooling to avoid mechanical conflicts with certain air coolers, for optimal cooling performance on Intel's 10th Gen processors.
On the rear panel is one USB 3.2 G2 10 Gbps Type-C, one USB 3.2 G2 10 Gbps Type-C, and four USB 3.2 G1 ports. Included on the board is a PCIe Key-E M.2 slot with two antenna ports on the rear panel, but doesn't include a wireless interface. Users can opt to purchase their own wireless interface providing it is M.2 Key-E 2230. Included for networking, it has two Ethernet ports, one powered by a Realtek RTL8125BG 2.5 G, and the other by an Intel I219-V Gigabit controller. The five 3.5 mm color-coded audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output are controlled by a Realtek ALC1220 HD audio codec, while the board also has a pair of video outputs including a DisplayPort 1.4, and an HDMI port. Finishing off the rear panel is a PS/2 keyboard and mouse combo port.
The ASRock Z490 PG Velocita is a new model in its line-up, with similar aesthetics to its existing Phantom Gaming range, and caters to the mid-range. Primarily targeting gamers, it has plenty about it to make it a premium mid-range offering with 2.5 G Ethernet, a Realtek ALC1220 HD audio codec, and support for two-way AMD Crossfire support. ASRock hasn't yet unveiled a price for the Z490 PG Velocita, but we will update this as more information is available.
ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming ITX/TB3
For the launch of Intel's Comet Lake desktop processors and the LGA1200 socket, ASRock has just one mini-ITX model in its arsenal in the way of the ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming ITX/TB3. With official support for Thunderbolt 3 via a Type-C port on the back panel, it also includes an 8-phase power delivery, has two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, as well as four SATA ports. Also featured is an Intel Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface with BT 5.1 support, and a Realtek based 2.5 G Ethernet controller. It represents a premium small form factor offering on the Z490 chipset, which is one of just a small handful of mini-ITX models on the LGA1200 socket at present.
Due to the limitations of a small form factor such as mini-ITX, the ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming ITX/TB3 has a single PCIe 3.0 x16 slot, with two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, one on the front underneath a heatsink, and another located on the rear of the board. There are also four SATA ports which support RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays. Memory support is usually strong on mini-ITX models, and the Z490 Phantom Gaming ITX/TB3 has support for up to 64 GB of DDR4-4666 memory in dual channel. The power delivery is also high-end with a 6-phase power delivery with the CPU controlled by an ISL69269 PWM controller and consists of six Intersil 90 A power stages. Cooling both the 6-phase CPU power delivery is a heatsink which doubles up as a rear panel cover, with a single heat pipe connecting it to the chipset and M.2 slot heatsink.
The rear panel of the Z490 Phantom Gaming ITX/TB3 is solid for a mini-ITX motherboard and includes a single Thunderbolt 3 compliant Type-C port. Also included are three USB 3.2 G2 10 Gbps Type-A, and two USB 3.2 G1 Type-A ports. The networking support includes a single Realtek RTL8125BG 2.5 G Ethernet port, antenna ports for the Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface with BT 5.1 device support, as well as five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output powered by a Realtek ALC1220 HD audio codec. Finishing off what's on the rear panel is a PS/2 keyboard and mouse combo port, as well as a small clear CMOS button.
Typically well-known for its solid mini-ITX desktop-based models, the ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming ITX/TB3 delivers once again when compared to previous versions such as the AMD ASRock X570 Phantom Gaming ITX/TB3 which we previously reviewed. Combining Thunderbolt 3 support in a small frame, with dual PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots and four SATA ports does offer plenty of support for users building a mini-ITX Z490 based system. Content creators will appreciate Thunderbolt 3, while gamers and enthusiasts will also appreciate the 90 A DrMOS power stages and the large power delivery heatsink. Currently, there is no set price for the Z490 Phantom Gaming-ITX/TB3 but we will update this as more information is available.
ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4, ac, ax & 2.5G
The ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4 is part of a series of four models which caters towards the entry-level market segment, with each board based upon the same design with silver heatsinks and a silver and black printed PCB. Each model from the Phantom Gaming 4 series on Z490 offers different networking capability. Everything else remains the same across all four PG4 models with two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, six SATA ports, two full-length PCIe 3.0 slots and a Realtek ALC892 HD audio codec.
ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4/AC Motherboard
The different options available include one base model with Gigabit Ethernet, with another with Gigabit Ethernet plus Wi-Fi 5 support, another with Gigabit and a Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface, and a model with 2.5 G Ethernet. Everything else hardware-wise remains the same with two full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which operate at x16/+4, with three PCIe 3.0 slots. There are two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, with six SATA ports; four right-angled and two straight angled. For memory, there are four slots with support for up to DDR4-4400 with a maximum capacity of up to 128 GB. ASRock is advertising the Z490 Phantom Gaming 4 and all its variants to include a 10-phase power delivery, which has an 8-pin and 4-pin pair of 12 V ATX CPU power inputs.
ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4/AX Rear Panel
Starting off with networking, the base ASRock Phantom Gaming 4 model includes an Intel I219-V Gigabit Ethernet port, while the Z490 Phantom Gaming 4/ac (Wi-Fi 5) and ax (Wi-Fi 6) variants include a wireless interface. The ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4/2.5G includes a Realtek RTL8125BG 2.5 G Ethernet controller but doesn't include wireless connectivity. Across all four Z490 Phantom Gaming 4 models are one USB 3.2 G2 Type-C, one USB 3.2 G2 Type-A, two USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and two USB 2.0 ports. There is a single HDMI video output, a PS/2 combo port, and three 3.5 mm audio jacks powered by a Realtek ALC892 HD audio codec.
The ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming series offers good value for money on paper, especially for users building an affordable gaming system featuring a single NVIDIA graphics card, or two supported AMD Radeon cards in single or two-way Crossfire. It has a budget controller set, but ASRock offers variety, all at a similar price point.
The base ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4 model has an MSRP of $150, while the Z490 Phantom Gaming 4/ac, while the ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4/2.5G has a price tag of $160, just $10 more for 2.5 G Ethernet. We currently don't have pricing for the Z490 Phantom Gaming 4/ac and ax models at this time.
ASRock Z490 Steel Legend & Z490 Extreme4
Another uniquely styled and ATX sized model from ASRock is the Z490 Steel Legend. Aimed towards the lower part end of its mid-range product stack, the ASRock Z490 Steel Legend still has plenty of impressive features to for users to sink their teeth into. It also shares the same PCB design and componentry, and consequently, the same feature set as the ASRock Z490 Extreme4 model. The only difference between the two comes is in the aesthetics. Both models include a PCIe 4.0 clock generator giving PCIe 4.0 support when Intel releases its Rocket Lake processors, something which not a lot of vendors have done so far on Z490. Also present is two full-length PCIe 3.0 slots, dual PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, and a Realtek 2.5 G Ethernet controller.
ASRock Z490 Steel Legend
Following its previous iterations of its Steel Legend models, ASRock has gone with a grey and silver-coloured theme on its heatsinks, with a silver and black RGB enabled rear panel cover. The PCB is black with an urban camouflage patterning and has three areas of customizable integrated RGB LED lighting; the rear panel cover, within the chipset heatsink, and the underside of the board along the right-hand side.
The ASRock Z490 Extreme4 has a more subtle styling grey and black styling, with a primarily black PCB with some grey patterning. It has grey and black heatsinks, with the same three customizable RGB LED lighting zones as the Steel Legend, with the rear panel cover, the chipset heatsink, and on the right-hand side of the board at the back.
ASRock Z490 Extreme4
As both the ASRock Z490 Steel Legend and Z490 Extreme4 are both ATX-sized, they have two full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which operate at x16+4 and has three PCIe 3.0 x1 slots. For storage, it includes two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, each with its own individual heatsink, and six SATA ports with RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 array support. It includes four memory slots with support for up to 128 GB of DDR4-4266 memory, which is a considerable gap when compared with other ASRock Z490 models that support up to DDR4-4666. While it doesn't come equipped with any wireless interface, it does have an M.2 Key-E slot for users to install their own, with antenna holes on the rear panel IO shield.
On both rear panels is minimal amounts of USB support including one USB 3.2 G2 10 Gbps Type-C, one USB 3.2 G2 10 Gbps Type-A, two USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and two USB 2.0 ports. There is also a single Realtek RTL8125BG 2.5 G Ethernet port, with five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output controlled by a Realtek ALC1200 HD audio codec. Also present is an HDMI and DisplayPort 1.4 pairing of video outputs, as well as a PS/2 combo port, and two holes designed for users looking to install their own wireless interface into the provided Key-E M.2 slot.
The ASRock Z490 Steel Legend and ASRock Z490 Extreme4 and are designed to offer users two different aesthetical takes on ASRock's latest Z490 entry-level design. Both benefit from uprated 2.5 G Ethernet controllers when compared to the previous Z390 namesakes which had Gigabit controllers. Both also feature a PCIe 4.0 clock generator for support with Intel Rocket Lake processors when Intel drops these chips sometime in 2020. At this time, ASRock hasn't unveiled pricing, but we will update this as soon as we receive the official information.
ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4SR
One of the most fascinating Z490 models is the ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4SR, which is also the first Z490 motherboard to feature the ATX12VO standard. This removes the clunkier ATX12V power connector and opts for a smaller ATX12VO connector which supplies just 12 V into the motherboard, with a lot of 5 V and 3.3 V standards which are rarely used nowadays. On top of this, the Z490 Phantom Gaming 4SR includes a single PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slot, four SATA ports, and two full-length PCIe 3.0 slots, with an Intel Gigabit Ethernet port too.
The ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4SR is basic in design, with silver heatsinks on a black PCB, and is advertised as featuring a 10-phase power delivery. The lower portion of the board includes two full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which run at x16/+4, with three PCIe 3.0 x1 slots, and has a solitary PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slot. There are also four SATA ports with support for RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10 arrays, with four memory slots with support for up to 128 GB of DDR4-4000. Providing power to the board is an ATX12VO set of connectors including a 10-pin, 8-pin, and 6-pin power input trio, with a single 8-pin 12 V ATX CPU input providing power to the processor.
On the rear panel is a single USB 3.2 G2 Type-C, one USB 3.2 G2 Type-A, two USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and two USB 2.0 ports. Powering the three 3.5 mm audio connectors is a Realtek ALC1200 HD audio codec, while a single HDMI video output and PS/2 combo port add additional connectivity. The ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4SR also features a Wi-Fi 5 wireless interface with support for BT 4.2 devices.
Pricing on the ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming isn't currently known, but it's not likely to be expensive. It also marks the introduction of ATX12VO onto a mainstream socket. Current availability isn't known at this time, but it could be a case of waiting for power supply vendors to respond with consumer options.
ASUS has a pretty stacked Z490 line-up, which represents multiple key market areas for desktop users. It's gaming and enthusiast specific Republic of Gamers brand makes an appearance with a couple of interesting boards, with more ROG Z490 models set to be launched at a later date. Other brands include the TUF Gaming which is its entry-level offering for gamers, its Prime series which are aimed more at professional users with clean-cut aesthetics, and its ProArt range which caters to content creators.
Some of the ASUS ROG specific features which we've seen on previous chipsets including Intel's Z390, and AMD's X570 include ROG Optimem III. ASUS claims Optimem III can boost memory performance with intelligent overclocking thus increasing memory frequency and lowering latencies. ASUS also uses its AI overclocking intelligent automatic overclocking technology, with support for the ASUS AI Suite. ROG is famous for its red and black branding but now opts for more subtle silver and black themes throughout to allow users to create vivacious looking systems without color mismatches.
ASUS ROG Maximus XII Extreme & Extreme Glacial
Although the ASUS ROG Maximus XII Extreme nor the new ROG Maximus XII Glacial isn't announced for launch, we do have some information that we can share on the non-Glacial variant. Both models are E-ATX in size, and the ASUS ROG Maximus XII Extreme will feature a 16-phase power delivery running in teamed mode for better transient response, with two 8-pin 12 V ATX CPU power inputs. It is likely the Glacial will have integrated water blocks, but we will confirm this when we get more information, but both Maximus XII Extreme models are likely to have the same core feature set.
The ASUS ROG Maximus XII Extreme will feature support for up to DDR4-4700 memory with four slots supporting up to 128 GB of capacity. It has two full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which operate at x16 and x8/x8, with a half-length PCIe 3.0 x4 slot. It looks to have a wave of aluminium armour stretching around the PCIe slot area, with a black and silver design. There are four PCIe 3.0 x4 slots with two of the slots supporting M.2 22110 and two M.2 2280 form factor drives. It looks as though two of the M.2 slots will be present on the board, with the additional two coming via an included ROG.DIMM.2 M.2 add-on card. It has eight SATA ports with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays.
Networking support is also impressive, which consists of an Aquantia AQC107 10 G Ethernet controller, with a second Ethernet port controlled by an Intel I225-V 2.5 G. Another addition is an Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface with support for BT 5.1. Included in the specifications is a Thunderbolt EX 3-TR card which will come in the accessories bundle, with two USB 3.2 Type-C front panel headers. Controlling the audio will be a SupremeFX S1220 HD audio codec which provides five 3.5 mm audio jacks and a single S/PDIF optical output. From what we can see on the rear panel, there are two USB 3.2 G2 Type-A, six USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and two USB 2.0 ports, and a Clear CMOS and BIOS Flashback button.
ASUS hasn't provided details on when we might see the ROG Maximus XII Extreme model to hit retail shelves, but it has set an MSRP of $750 which puts it as one of the most expensive Z490 models to date.
This page will be updated when more information becomes available to us.
ASUS ROG Maximus XII Formula
ASUS has also announced it will be releasing its ROG Maximus XII Formula, but not announced a full breakdown of what it will include. Typically famous for its inclusion of EKWB VRM MOSFET heatsinks, the Maximus XII Formula will come with a 16-phase teamed power delivery for the CPU, which is using 60 A power stages. It will also feature EK Crosschill III Hybrid heatsinks, with a large PCIe slot cover and rear panel cover with integrated RGB LEDs.
The ASUS ROG Maximus XII Formula will come with a sleek black and silver aesthetic, which is largely dominated by its PCIe slot area armor, with plenty of features on-board. It has three full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which run at x16, x8/x8, and x8/x8/+4, with a single PCIe 3.0 x1 slot. For storage is three PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, each with its own individual heatsink, and six SATA ports with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays.
Included is an overclocker's toolkit which consists of a reset and power button, with a 2-digit Debug LED. Looking at the memory support, it will feature four memory slots with support for up to DDR4-4700, with a total capacity of up to 128 GB.
For connectivity, the ASUS ROG Maximus XII Formula will include Thunderbolt 3 support via an internal TB header and has a solid networking setup. It includes an Aquantia AQC107 10 G Ethernet controller, with an additional Intel I225-V 2.5 G controller for dual LAN. Also present is an Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface with support for BT 5.1 devices. Powering the boards onboard audio is a SupremeFX S1220 HD audio codec.
While it isn't clear when the ASUS ROG Maximus XII Formula is going to be released, ASUS has set an MSRP of $500 which given its previous premium models, is quite a fair price all things considered; with what we know so far.
This page will be updated when more information becomes available to us.
ASUS ROG Maximus XII Apex
Although extreme overclocking isn't as popular as it once was, ASUS has announced its enthusiast-grade Maximus XII Apex will at some point be making an appearance. Coming with just two memory slots on its ATX-sized frame, the ROG Maximus XII Apex will support up to 64 GB of fast DDR4-5000 memory, with eight SATA ports, and support for three PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots; one on board, and two via an included ROG.DIMM2 add-on card.
Not just equipped for overclockers and enthusiasts to push memory and Intel's 10th gen desktop process to its limits, the ASUS ROG Maximus XII Apex also includes a Thunderbolt 3 header which adds variation to its uses, eg content creators. It has a varied selection of PCIe support too with two full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which operate at x16, and x8/x8, with a half-length PCIe 3.0 x4 and an additional PCIe 3.0 x1 slot. For networking, it is using Intel's I225-V 2.5 G Ethernet controller, with an Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface which also adds support for BT 5.1 devices. It will include support for up to 18 x USB ports, but the current configuration isn't known at present.
With overclocking a main focus for the Apex in previous years, it has a 16-phase power delivery for the CPU with 70 A power stages and operates in a teamed configuration with an ASP1405I PWM controller running at 8+0. Providing power to the CPU is a pair of 12 V ATX CPU power inputs.
This page will be updated when more information becomes available to us.
ASUS ROG Maximus XII Hero Wi-Fi
Moving onto the ASUS ROG Maximus XII Hero Wi-Fi, we know this model will be available at launch, with a wide variety of features which targets enthusiasts and gamers. With a solid looking 14+2 power delivery, large heat-pipe connected power delivery heatsinks, and a Thunderbolt 3 header onboard, it offers plenty of variety. Also present is an Intel 5 G Ethernet controller, an Intel Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface, three PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, and six SATA ports.
For the design, ASUS has included PCIe slot armor, with a large rear panel cover and chipset heatsink, both with integrated RGB LEDs. It has three full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which operate at x16, x8/x8, and x8/x8/+4, with three PCIe 3.0 x1 slots. For the storage is three PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, each covered with its own M.2 heatsinks, with six SATA ports with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays. A total of four memory slots are present which has support for DDR4-4700 memory, with a maximum capacity of up to 128 GB. It is using a 14-phase power delivery for the CPU with 60 A power stages operating in teamed mode, by an ASP1405I PWM controller running in a 7+2 configuration.
On the rear panel is one USB 3.2 G2 20 Gbps Type-C, three USB 3.2 G2 10 Gbps Type-A, four USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and two USB 2.0 ports. It includes a single HDMI 1.4b video output allowing users to use Intel integrated graphics, with a clear CMOS button and BIOS Flashback button. It is using two Ethernet ports, one controlled by an Aquantia AQC111C 5 G controller, with the other powered by an Intel I219-V Gigabit controller. Offering support for both Wi-Fi 6 wireless connectivity and BT 5.1 is an Intel AX201 wireless interface. Finishing off the rear panel is five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output which is powered by a SupremeFX S1220 HD audio codec.
The ASUS ROG Maximus XII Hero Wi-Fi has an MSRP of $399 which puts it in the upper area of mid-range, although it does have a premium controller set onboard. It represents the entry-level ROG Maximus XII model in a current stack of high-end models and is the only one of the currently announced Maximus XII models to be available at launch. With a Thunderbolt 3 header, three PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, and support for both two-way NVIDIA SLI and up to three-way AMD CrossFire multi-graphics card setups, the Hero Wi-Fi could be the hero you've been looking for to use as a solid foundation for a powerful gaming-focused setup.
ASUS ROG Strix Z490-E Gaming
Moving down the ASUS product stack from the Maximus XII series to the more affordable Strix range, the ASUS ROG Strix Z490-E Gaming is the most equipped from its mid-range gaming-centric options. The ASUS ROG Strix Z490-E includes a Thunderbolt 3 header, with two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, six SATA ports, and an Intel 2.5 G Ethernet controller and AX201 Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface pairing. It also features a 14+2 power delivery with a broad set of heatsinks and has plenty of integrated RGB LEDs and RGB headers to allow users to make their systems pop.
Looking at the design, ASUS Strix has an edgy look with its branding on the large rear panel cover and chipset heatsinks, with do include integrated RGB LEDs. The power delivery and chipset heatsinks are connected via a heat pipe, and also helps to keep the two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots running cool. The power delivery consists of a 14+2 design, which is using a teamed setup with an ASP1405I PWM controller in a 7+2 configuration. As mentioned, the ROG Strix Z490-E has two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, with six SATA ports, and has three full-length PCIe 3.0 slots. These operate at x16, x8/x8, and x8/x8/+4, with three PCIe 3.0 x1 slots. Memory compatibility is decent with support for up to DDR4-4600 with a maximum capacity of up to 128 GB across four memory slots.
For the rear panel, ASUS has included a single USB 3.2 G2 20 Gbps Type-C, three USB 3.2 G2 10 Gbps Type-A, two USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and four USB 2.0 ports. A small BIOS Flashback button is present, with a pair of video outputs consisting of an HDMI 1.4b, and DisplayPort 1.4. Controlling the onboard audio composed of five 3.5 mm jacks and S/PDIF optical output is a SupremeFX S1220A HD audio codec. At the same time, networking options include an Intel I225-V 2.5 G Ethernet controller and Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface.
The ASUS ROG Strix Z490-E has an MSRP of $300 and caters to uses looking for a mixture of premium controllers with lots of rear panel USB connectivity. It targets the upper segment of the mid-range and is ASUS's premium Strix model. The Intel 2.5 G Ethernet port and Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface pairing offer plenty of quality networking options, while the pair of PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots with heatsinks offer support for hot running NVMe SSDs.
ASUS ROG Strix Z490-F Gaming
While ASUS has confirmed to us that the ASUS ROG Strix Z490-F Gaming won't currently be available at launch, it does exist and we do have some details about it. Slotting in just below the ROG Strix Z490-E in its product stack, it will feature two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, six SATA ports, and an internal Thunderbolt 3 header. It will also feature a 12+2 power delivery and support for 128 GB of DDR4-4600 memory.
For the design, it is likely to be consistent with the ROG Strix Z490-E in terms of aesthetics and has a similar controller set. It includes three full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which run at x16, x8/x8, and x8/x8/+4, with three PCIe 3.0 x1 slots. For storage is a pair of PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots with heatsinks, and six SATA ports with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays. We know that the ROG Strix Z490-F has support for up to 15 USB ports with a mixture of support from the rear panel and internal headers, with a Thunderbolt 3 header.
On the networking front, the ASUS ROG Strix Z490-F has a single Ethernet port powered by an Intel I225-V 2.5 G Ethernet controller, and although it doesn't include a wireless interface, it has a single M.2 Key-E slot for users to install their own. Powering the onboard audio is a SupremeFX S1220A HD audio codec, which will likely feature five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output on the rear panel.
Although we currently don't know the launch date for the ASUS ROG Strix Z490-F Gaming, it will come with an MSRP of $269.
This page will be updated when more information becomes available to us.
ASUS ROG Strix Z490-G Gaming Wi-Fi
ASUS has unveiled that it plans to release a pair of micro-ATX models, the ASUS ROG Strix Z490-G Wi-Fi, and a version without. Likely to follow its larger ATX sized Strix counterparts, the biggest features of the ROG Strix Z490-G Wi-Fi include dual PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, four SATA ports, an Intel Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface, and a single Intel 2.5 G Ethernet port.
The ASUS ROG Strix Z490-G Wi-Fi and the non-Wi-Fi version share the same feature set, minus the Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface. Included is two full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which operate at x16/+4, with a single PCIe 3.0 x1 slot. For storage is a pair of PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, with six SATA ports that feature support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays. There are four memory slots which have support for up to 128 GB of DDR4-4400 memory.
While we don't currently have information about what's on the rear panel, we know the board has support for a maximum of 15 USB ports when combining the rear panel and what the boards support through front panel headers. The networking of the Wi-Fi enabled board consists of an AX201 Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface with support for BT 5.1 devices, while both versions include a single Intel I225-V 2.5 G Ethernet port. From the above, we can see that there is at least four USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, a single USB 3.2 G2 Type-C, with an HDMI and DisplayPort 1.4 pair of video outputs. The five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output are controlled by a SupremeFX S1220A HD audio codec.
ASUS hasn't announced when the ASUS ROG Strix Z490-G Gaming or the Wi-Fi enabled model will be launched, and as of yet, ASUS hasn't set pricing.
This page will be updated when more information becomes available to us.
ASUS ROG Strix Z490-I Gaming
ASUS has announced just one mini-ITX model for Z490 so far, the ROG Strix Z490-I Gaming. While not clear when it will be released, it includes an actively cooled power delivery heatsink. This is designed to keep the 8+2 power delivery cool with a single 8-pin 12 V ATX CPU power input. This includes a large aluminium rear panel cover, heat pipe connected heatsinks, and comes with two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots.
Looking at a rendering of the ASUS ROG Strix Z490-I, it follows a black and silver theme, with a lot of focus on its cooling capabilities. On the power delivery heatsink integrated into the rear panel cover is a small cooling fan, with a U-shaped heatsink design that stretches around the LGA1200 CPU socket. At the bottom is a single full-length PCIe 3.0 x16 slot, with two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots which are both located on the front of the board underneath a beefy M.2 heatsink. The ROG Strix Z490-I also has four SATA ports with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays. Due to its small size, it has two memory slots with support for up to 64 GB of DDR4-4800 memory.
While we don't currently have rear panel specs, we do know the ASUS ROG Strix Z490-I has support for up to 13 USB ports when combining front panel headers and what's on the rear panel. From what we can make out, it has three USB 3.2 G2 Type-A, two USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and two USB 2.0 ports. Included is an Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface with BT 5.1 device support, as well as a single Intel I225-V 2.5 G Ethernet controller powering the single Ethernet port. A pair of video outputs with a higher-spec HDMI 2.0a, and DisplayPort 1.4 video output. A SupremeFX S1220A HD audio codec powers the three 3.5 mm audio jacks.
Even though we won't see the ASUS ROG Strix Z490-I Gaming at launch, it will come with an MSRP of $300 which is considerably higher than mini-ITX Intel-based desktop boards have been in the past.
This page will be updated when more information becomes available to us.
ASUS TUF Z490-Plus Wi-Fi
Once standing for a unique rugged range of thermal armor clad models designed for endurance, the TUF Sabertooth was a sought after bit of kit. Since after the Intel Z270 days, the TUF or The Ultimate Force brand took a bit of a transformation. These days the TUF brand signifies its entry-level gaming range and the ASUS TUF Z490-Plus Wi-Fi and non-wireless enabled model adds some exciting features for gamers. These include support for up to 128 GB of DDR4-4600 memory, two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, and two full-length PCIe 3.0 slots with support for AMD Crossfire multi-graphics card setups.
The ASUS TUF Z490-Plus Wi-Fi and the Z490-Plus have, but one minor difference; the Wi-Fi version comes with an Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface with support for BT 5.1 devices. Outside of this, the specifications are the same with two full-length PCI 3.0 slots which operate at x16/+4 and includes two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots. With a slight cut-out at the right-hand side of the board for more straightforward installation of SATA cables, there is six in total with two right-angled and four straight-angled SATA ports. The power delivery consists of a 12+2 design, which uses teamed DrMOS power stages, as opposed to high and low side MOSFETs from its previous iterations. Also interesting is ASUS has included a Thunderbolt 3 header to allow users to use TB3 add-on cards, even on its cheaper models.
Not the most explicit rear panel shot, but we will update as more images come in
On the rear panel is a single USB 3.2 G2 Type-C, one USB 3.2 G2 Type-A, and four USB 3.2 G1 Type-A ports. A pair of video outputs consisting of an HDMI 1.4b, and DisplayPort 1.4 allow users to use Intel's integrated graphics. In contrast, five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output are powered by a Realtek S1200A HD audio codec. For networking, there is a single Intel I219-V Gigabit Ethernet port, with the Wi-Fi model coming with an Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface, while a PS/2 combo port sits to the left-hand side.
The ASUS TUF Z490-Plus Wi-Fi is a robust looking entry-level model onto Intel's 10th generation, with plenty of support including a Thunderbolt 3 header, two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, and comes with an Intel Wi-Fi 6 wireless adapter. Some of the controller set to keep the TUF series within the budget remit had to be cut back on, which looks to be in the Ethernet and onboard audio, but both are still plenty for users to get to grips with. The ASUS TUF Z490-Plus Wi-Fi has an MSRP of $200 while the non-WiFi TUF Z490 Plus currently hasn't been given a price as of yet.
ASUS Prime Z490-A
Moving down the ASUS Z490 product stack and it wouldn't be a launch without the clean white and silver designed Prime series. Moving away from gamers and more to users looking for fresh and simplistic styling, without breaking the bank on extravagant features, the Prime series offers users a very low-cost entry point to the Z490 market. The ASUS Prime Z490-A is slightly different to the other Prime models as it's quite premium, and as such includes two PCIe 3.0 M.2, an Intel 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet controller, with a Realtek S1220A HD audio codec and a 14-phase power delivery.
Coming with silver and grey heatsinks on a black and silver patterned PCB, the ASUS Prime Z490-A has some integrated RGB LEDs integrated into the rear panel cover, and underneath the chipset heatsink. The Z490-A is using a teamed 12+2 power delivery, with an 8-pin and 4-pin 12 V ATX pairing providing power to the CPU. There are three full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which operate at x16, x8/x8, and x8/x8/+4, with three PCIe 3.0 x1 slots. For storage, there are three PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, with only one coming with a heatsink, and six SATA ports with RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10 support. Included onboard is a Thunderbolt 3 header, and has an M.2 Key-E for users looking to add their wireless interface to the board. There are four memory slots which can accommodate up to 128 GB of DDR4-4600 memory.
Focusing on the rear panel, the ASUS Prime Z490-A has a USB Type-C, and seven USB Type-A ports, with an HDMI 1.4b and DisplayPort 1.4 pair of video outputs. Also present is five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output which are powered by a Realtek S1220A HD audio codec, with a single Ethernet port driven by an Intel I225-V 2.5 G controller.
The ASUS Prime Z490-A represents a more modest offering with less aggressive aesthetics and instead opts for a clean silver look. It does half a decent controller set which is led by an Intel I255-V 2.5 G Ethernet controller and has three PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots for high-speed NVMe M.2 SSDs. The Prime Z490-A offers users an alternative to the darker Strix branded boards and has a decent price attached with an MSRP of $230 at launch.
ASUS Prime Z490-P
The ASUS Prime Z490-P is a modest offering for users on LGA1200, with a more basic set of features for those on a budget. It does include a Thunderbolt 3 front panel header for users looking to add Thunderbolt 3 via an add-on card and has support for DDR-4600 memory. Also featured are two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, a Realtek Gigabit Ethernet controller, and a Realtek ALC887 HD audio codec.
Following an elemental silver and black theme throughout, the ASUS Prime Z490-P has two full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which run at x16/+4, and has three additional PCIe 3.0 x1 slots. Although this model doesn't come with a wireless interface by default, it has a single Key-E M.2 slot so users can install their own. For storage is a pair of PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, while the board makes use of four straight-angled SATA ports located at the bottom of the board. Following a trend across all of the Z490 offerings, the Prime Z490-P has support for DDR4-4600, across four slots with up to a maximum of 128 GB memory. It uses a simple 10+1 power delivery, which like other ASUS Z490 models, is using teamed power stages.
Even though it's fundamental in design, the rear panel has plenty for users to utilize. Included are two USB 3.2 G2 Type-A, two USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and two USB 2.0 ports. It has a pair of video outputs consisting of an HDMI 1.4b, and DisplayPort 1.4, while a Realtek ALC887 HD audio codec powers the five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output. The single Ethernet port is powered by a Realtek RTL8111H Gigabit controller, while at the left-hand side of the rear panel is a single PS/2 combo port.
The ASUS Prime Z490-P has an MSRP of $160 and represents one of ASUS's entry-level Z490 models. It focuses more on essential controllers with a budget flavour including a Realtek Ethernet and audio controller pairing, with less flash and more substance. The Prime Z490-P is the decent choice for users on a budget looking to use Intel's 10th generation Comet Lake desktop processors, but without the need to spend an exuberant amount of money.
ASUS Prime Z490M-Plus
One of the most basic and therefore budget-focused models is the micro-ATX ASUS Prime Z490M-Plus. Some of its primary features include two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, five SATA ports, and three video outputs on the rear panel. It has less in terms of features than the ATX sized Prime Z490-P, but it looks to offer variation in both pricing, and form factor than the rest of ASUS's product stack.
While we don't currently know what the design of the Prime Z490M-Plus consists of, it's likely that it will follow a basic silver and black theme like other Prime models. It has two full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which operate at x16/+4, with two PCIe 3.0 x1 slots. It has two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots with five SATA ports with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays. Memory support for the Z490M-Plus is lowest of all the ASUS Z490 models, with support for DDR4-4400 across four slots, with a maximum capacity of up to 128 GB.
In terms of USB support, the ASUS Prime Z490M-Plus has support for up to 14 USB ports combining what's available from front panel headers and what's on the rear panel. It includes a trio of video outputs including an HDMI 1.4b, a DisplayPort 1.4, and a DVI which could be a viable choice for budget users planning to take advantage of integrated graphics. For networking the board is using an Intel I219-V Gigabit Ethernet controller, while the onboard audio is taken care of by a more budget-friendly Realtek ALC887 HD audio codec.
It doesn't come with a staggering price with an MSRP of just $150, which currently puts it as the cheapest Z490 model from ASUS out of the boards we currently know about. ASUS hasn't revealed when it will be launched, but it shouldn't be too long after launch.
This page will be updated when more information becomes available to us.
ASUS ProArt Z490-Creator 10G
Designed for professionals and content creators, the ASUS ProArt Z490-Creator 10G offers a wide variety of premium features, with a lot of focus on networking and overall quality. Included with this board is an external ASUS Hyper 10G Ethernet controller, with an Intel 2.5 G Ethernet controller located on the rear panel. Some of its primary features include two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, dual Thunderbolt 3 Type-C connectivity, with support for 128 GB of DDR4-4600.
Looking at the design of the ProArt Z490-Creator 10G, it uses a simplistic black theme with straight angled ridged heatsinks, a gold-accented chipset heatsink and an L shaped power delivery heatsink designed to keep the 12+2 power delivery cool. The power delivery itself uses teamed power stages and uses a single 12 V ATX power input to provide power to the CPU. The board has three full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which run at x16, x8/x8, and x8/x8/+4, with two PCIe 3.0 x1 slots. For storage is a pair of PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, each with its own heatsink, and also features six SATA ports with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays. It also includes four memory slots with support for DDR4-4600 and up to 128 GB. Included in the accessories bundle is an ASUS Hyper 10G Ethernet controller add-on card.
On the rear panel is two Intel Thunderbolt 3 Type-C ports, each with its own DisplayPort 1.4 video inputs for multi-monitor support. A single HDMITM 1.4b video output is present for users planning to utilize Intel's onboard graphics, while four USB 3.2 G2 10 Gbps Type-A, and two USB 3.2 G1 Type-A ports make up a stacked connectivity focused rear panel. The five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output are powered by a Realtek S1220A HD audio codec, while the single Ethernet port is powered by an Intel I225-V 2.5 G controller.
The ASUS ProArt Z490-Creator 10G is heavily geared up for serious content creators that don't want to splurge a large amount of capital on a workstation platform such as X299 and TRX40 but still get as many useful features as possible for the money. The ASUS ProArt Z490-Creator 10G hasn't been given a price yet, but it's likely to cost around $550 which is more than a run of the mill mid-range model. It does, however, have dual Thunderbolt 3 Type-C connectivity, 10 G and 2.5 G Ethernet capabilities, and has two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots with heatsinks for high-speed NVMe based storage devices.
Biostar has announced a handful of models for Intel's 10th generation Comet Lake desktop processors which are focused towards the entry-level market segment. Typically with lower-end controller sets and fewer features, Biostar set its sights lower than most vendors with its offerings, which results in reduces the overall cost which can then be passed onto the end-user.
Biostar Racing Z490GTA Evo
The Biostar Z490GTA Evo uses a futuristically styled selection of heatsinks, with some integrated RGB LEDs built in to the rear panel cover. Combining a blend of silver, grey and black heatsinks, with a black and grey patterned PCB, it looks fresh compared to Biostar's Z390 models. Its main features consist of two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, six SATA ports, support for up to DDR4-4400 memory, with an advertised 16-phase power delivery.
Towards the lower half of the board is two full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which operate at either x16, x8/x8, or x16/+4; Biostar isn't clear on this in the official specifications. This includes three PCIe 3.0 x1 slots, with two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots with six SATA ports with RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 array support. When each of the M.2 slots is being used with a SATA based drive, it will disable a SATA port for each populated slot. The Biostar Z490GTA Evo is advertised as having a 16-phase power delivery and has two 8-pin 12 V ATX power inputs to provide power to the CPU. There are four memory slots with support for DDR4-4400, with a maximum capacity of up to 128 GB.
On the rear panel is a single USB 3.2 G2 Type-C, one USB 3.2 G2 Type-A, and eight USB 3.2 G1 Type-A ports. For users looking to use Intel's integrated graphics can use the single HDMI video output, while the five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output are powered by the older Realtek ALC1150 HD audio codec. For networking the Z490GTA Evo is using a single Ethernet port powered by an Intel I211-AT Gigabit controller, while there is also wireless capability, but Biostar hasn't specified which wireless interface it is using. Finishing off the rear panel is a PS/2 keyboard and mouse combo port.
The Biostar Z490GTA Evo has a very budget-focused controller set when compared with other vendors top ATX sized SKUs at launch. Aiming more at budget builders than enthusiasts, the design is quite simplistic, yet consolidates necessary features with tons of rear panel USB connectivity, and an ageing Realtek ALC1150 HD audio codec into an affordable package. Biostar intends to launch the Z490GTA Evo with an MSRP of $"""" which is very reasonable for everything that's on offer.
Biostar Racing Z490GTA
Adding a new element of variety to a small handful of Z490 models at launch, the Biostar Z490GTA has a striking design which emanates from the center of the board and has a sun-ray effect black grey printed patterned PCB. Another model focused on the entry-level ATX Z490 motherboard market, the Z490GTA includes two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, six SATA ports and features a Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface.
The Biostar Z490GTA opts for a uniquely implemented visual design across its heatsinks and PCB from its premier Z490GTA Evo model. The black, grey and white color scheme is present on the heatsinks and PCB, with some integrated RGB LEDs within the rear panel cover. The board features two full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which operate at x16/+4, with three PCIe 3.0 x1 slots For storage is a pair of PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, each with an included heatsink, with six SATA ports with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays. There are four memory slots which have support for up to 128 GB of DDR4-4400 memory. Biostar is advertising a 14-phase power delivery with an 8-pin + 4-pin pair of 12 V ATX power inputs designed to deliver power to the CPU.
On the rear panel is four USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and two USB 2.0 ports, which means no USB 3.2 G2 or Type-C connectivity is featured. A trio of video outputs consisting of a single HDMI, DisplayPort 1.4, and D-Sub are present to allow users to leverage the integrated Intel graphics. For the onboard audio, Biostar is using a Realtek ALC1150 HD audio codec with just three 3.5 mm audio jacks, while an Intel Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface provides both wireless networking and BT 5.1 device support. A single Intel I219-V Gigabit Ethernet port and separate PS/2 keyboard and mice inputs finish off the interesting Z490GTA rear panel.
Positioned below the Z490GTA Evo in its product stack, the Biostar Z490GTA has the core features expected from an entry-level calibre Z490 model. It is basic in design, and includes basic Gigabit Ethernet, although Wi-Fi 6 support is a nice thing to have. The Biostar Z490GTA has an MSRP of $""""" and puts it as one of the cheapest Z490 models available for the launch of Intel's 10th generation Comet Lake processors.
Biostar Racing Z490GTN
Considered a consistent and staple model from its range, the Biostar Racing Z490GTN is its sole mini-ITX sized offering which offers a lower entry cost to the world of small form factor on Z490. It’s simplistic in design with black heatsinks on a black PCB, with a budget-focused feature set. Included in its feature set are a single PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slot, with four SATA ports and an Intel Gigabit Ethernet controller.
Biostar Z490GTN is advertising the Z490GTN as having a 9-phase power delivery, but inspecting the board itself shows it has a 6+1 power delivery, with six phases for the CPU, and one for the SoC. The black aluminium heat sink doubles up as a rear panel cover, and has a matching black chipset heatsink. There is a single full-length PCIe 3.0 slot, with a single PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slot mounted to the rear of the board. For SATA devices, the Z490GTN has four straight-angled SATA ports. On the right-hand side of the board is two memory slots which support DDR4-4000, with a maximum capacity of up to 64 GB. Users looking to add a wireless interface can do so by using the M.2 Key-E slot at the top left of the board.
On the rear panel are four USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and two USB 2.0 ports, with a D-Sub and HDMI video output pairing for integrated graphics. A Realtek ALC887 HD audio codec powers three 3.5 mm audio jacks, while the board also has a single Ethernet port powered by an Intel I219-V Gigabit controller. Finishing off the Z490GTN rear panel is a single PS/2 keyboard/mouse combo port.
The Biostar Racing Z490GTN is geared for the lower-end of the market, offering a cheaper alternative to models from other vendors including ASUS which is asking $300 for its model, albeit with a higher-end feature set. It's unclear how much the Z490GTN will retail for at launch, but given the budget-focused controller set, it's likely to be under $200. Users planning on running an NVME PCIe 3.0 x4 SSD on the rear-mounted slot should also look for an aftermarket M.2 heatsink, just to be on the safe side.
Colorful iGame Z490 Vulcan X V20
Colorful usually targets its motherboard models for release in the Asian market. it has announced that it intends to release two ATX sized models for Intel's 10th generation processors. The first of the two is the iGame Z490 Vulcan X V20 which has an aggressive RGB inspired styling, with black and grey heatsinks, on a black and grey printed PCB. Some of its core features include two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, six SATA ports, with an Intel 2.5 G Ethernet controller and a Realtek ALC1220 HD audio codec.
Looking at an overall view of the board, the Z490 Vulcan X V20 has plenty of integrated RGB LED lighting with zones in the rear panel cover, the chipset heat sink, underneath the top M.2 heatsink, and along the right-hand side of the board. At the bottom is three full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which run at x16, x8/x8, and x8/x8/+4, with three PCIe 3.0 x1 slots. For storage, there is two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, with six SATA ports that support RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays. Each M.2 slot has individual heatsinks, while an overclocker's toolkit is located in the top-right hand corner. This consists of a power button, a reset button, and a three-digit LED Debugger. Colorful is advertising a 12+2 power delivery, with memory support for up to 128 GB of DDR4-4000 memory across four slots.
On the rear panel are three USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, one USB 3.2 G1 Type-C, and two USB 2.0 ports. Powering the boards five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output is a Realtek ALC1220 HD audio codec, while the networking is handled by a single Intel I225-V 2.5 G Ethernet controller. A DisplayPort and HDMI pair of video outputs provide support for Intel's integrated graphics.
Overall, the Colorful iGame Z490 Vulcan X V20 looks flashy, but stylish at the same time. Colorful hasn't specified which markets this model will be released in, nor has it shared any pricing information.
Colorful iGame CVN Z490 Gaming Pro V20
The Colorful iGame CVN Z490 Gaming Pro V20 is another ATX model at launch. It seems to be the go-to motherboard for fans of the armed forces with not military-themed models around these days, e.g. GIGABYTE Z87 Sniper G1. The iGame CVN Z490 Gaming Pro V20 has a naval theme which is based on a CVN class aircraft carrier from the American military, with an entry-level feature set.
Looking at the Z490 Gaming Pro V20, it has silver heatsinks with the rear panel cover doubling up as one of two power delivery heatsinks. It has a black and grey printed PCB, with two full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which operate at x16/+4, with three PCIe 3.0 x1 slots. There are two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, with six SATA ports with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays. In terms of memory support, it has four memory slots with support for DDR4-4000, with a maximum capacity of up to 128 GB.
On the rear panel is a single USB 3.2 G2 Type-C, one USB 3.2 G2 Type-A, two USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and two USB 2.0 ports. Also featured is a single Realtek RTL8111H Ethernet port, with a Realtek ALC892 powering the five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output. Finishing off the rear panel is a DisplayPort and HDMI pair of video outputs.
While it shouts bare essential, it has unique styling with its navy CVN class aircraft carrier roots. It has a budget-level spec list which is spearheaded by a pair of PCIe 3.0 M.2 slots and an advertised 10-phase power delivery. While we don’t currently have any information on pricing, it’s likely to slot into the $150-200 pricing segment.
Working directly with extreme overclocker Vince ‘K|NGP|N’ Lucido, EVGA has some of the most sought after graphics cards and motherboards in the industry by enthusiasts and gamers alike. Usually turning up later than other vendors to the launch party, EVGA plans to launch two new models designed for Z490. Typically aimed at enthusiasts and gamers with its models and assisted by its EVGA ELEET x1 overclocking utility, EVGA has found success in the components market with its Intel and NVIDIA based products.
EVGA Z490 Dark
Starting with EVGA’s premium Z490 model, the Z490 Dark, it has a lot of bells and whistles with some interesting design choices. The most notable of those is it has just two memory slots on its E-ATX sized 10-layer PCB. It follows a simplistic black and gunmetal grey theme, with a large rear panel cover which doubles up as part of the power delivery heatsink, which forms an L-shape around the LGA1200 socket. Included are two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, a single U.2 port, with support for up to DDR4-4600 and up to 64 GB of capacity.
One of the most prominent aspects of the EVGA Z490 Dark is its unconventional desktop design. Typically the memory slots would sit along the right-hand side, but EVGA has placed them along with a transposed LGA1200 socket. This is designed and optimized for extreme overclockers. At the right-hand side are a pair of 8-pin 12 V ATX CPU and a 24-pin 12 V ATX motherboard power inputs with right-angled designs for easier installation. EVGA is advertising an 18-phase power delivery on the Z490 Dark, which looks to be impressive.
For storage is a pair of PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, with a single U.2 port and eight SATA ports with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays. There are three full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which operate at x16, x8/x8, and x8/x8/+4, with a half-length PCIe 3.0 x4 slot. In the very top right-hand corner is two 2-digit LED panels which monitor CPU voltage and temperature, with a power and reset button also added.
On the rear panel are two USB 3.2 G1 Type-C, five USB 3.2 G2 Type-A, and two USB 2.0 ports. Offering support for integrated graphics is a single mini DisplayPort video output. In contrast, the boards five 3.5 mm audio jack and S/PDIF optical output is controlled by a Realtek ALC1220 HD audio codec, with an EVGA NU Audio SV3H615 headphone amplifier. Also featured on the rear panel is an Intel I225-V 2.5 G Ethernet controller which powers one port, while the other is provided from an Intel I219-V Gigabit controller. Also offering wireless support is an unspecified wireless interface, while the rear panel has a small red clear CMOS switch. Last but not least, there are a PS/2 keyboard and mouse combo port.
The EVGA Z490 Dark represents a small overclocking based market but has enough features onboard to cater to enthusiastic audiences too. With an Intel 2.5 G and Gigabit Ethernet combo, two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots and with single, yet rare U.2 port, it has plenty to divulge on. The two memory slots are designed to improve memory latencies when overclocking, something breaking overclocking records depend on these days. Living up to its Dark moniker, the EVGA Z490 Dark will be available at launch, but at present, there is no information on pricing.
EVGA Z490 FTW WiFi
Moving onto the other Z490 model EVGA has up its sleeve for Intel's 10th generation processors is the EVGA Z490 FTW WiFi. It follows a more conventional design when compared to the Z490 Dark, and has some noteworthy features. These include two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, six SATA ports, with an Intel Gigabit Ethernet controller and a WiFi 5 wireless interface.
Based on the ATX form factor, the EVGA Z490 Dark has a simplistic silver and black theme throughout including the rear panel cover and a black ridged chipset heatsink. On the power delivery, EVGA is advertising a 14-phase design and has a large pair of heatsinks which are interconnected via a heat pipe. Providing power to the CPU is an 8-pin and 4-pin 12 V ATX combo. There are two full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which run at x16, and x8/x8, with a single PCIe 3.0 x1 slot. For storage is two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, with six SATA ports, four from the chipset and two from an ASMedia controller. Across the boards four memory slots, there is support for up to 128 GB of DDR4-4400 memory.
Looking at the rear panel, EVGA has included two USB 3.2 G1 Type-C, four USB 3.2 G2 Type-A, and two USB 3.2 G1 Type-A ports. Powering the single Ethernet port is an Intel I219-AT Gigabit Ethernet controller, with an unspecified wireless interface. Driving the five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output is a Realtek ALC1220 HD audio codec, which is assisted by an EVGA NU Audio SV3H615 headphone amplifier. Also present is a clear CMOS button, an HDMI 1.4 and DisplayPort 1.2 video output pairing, as well as a single PS/2 keyboard and mouse combo port.
At present, EVGA hasn't given us a price for the Z490 FTW WiFi, but it's not expected to be too high considering its mid-range controller set. It takes some elements of previous EVGA models with its styling, and the neutral black and silver theme will please many users looking to build a new system. Included in the software bundle is EVGA's accessible and intuitive ELEET X1 Tuning utility. At the same time, there is an onboard power and reset button with the same dual CPU, and temperature monitors from the Z490 Dark are present on this model too.
One interesting point to note about GIGABYTE's Z490 product stack is that it includes PCIe 4.0 support from compatible processors, with Intel's future release of Rocket Lake seemingly equipped with PCIe 4.0 lanes. Some models include PCIe 4.0 slot support with a PCIe 4.0 clock generator, PCIe 4.0 switches, and PCIe 4.0 re-drivers. All of GIGABYTE's Z490 models natively support PCIe 3.0, with Intel's Z490 chipset operating with PCIe 3.0; future PCIe 4.0 support on Z490 will come directly from the CPU and not the chipset. GIGABYTE is also the first vendor to utilize Intel's 2.5 G Ethernet controller, the I225-V. Other vendors have opted for Realtek 2.5 G controllers for point of reference.
GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Xtreme & Xtreme WaterForce
We've seen some Aorus Xtreme branded models such as the AMD based GIGBYTE X570 Aorus Xtreme which was impressive in our testing, to say the least. Something of note to consider is that GIGABYTE didn't launch an Xtreme WaterForce model for X570, but it makes a reappearance for Z490. Both the GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Xtreme and Z490 Aorus Xtreme WaterForce models share the same high-end feature set which includes an Intel Thunderbolt 3 controller, a solid 16-phase power delivery, support for 128 GB of up to DDR4-4800, and an Aquantia 10 G and an Intel 2.5 G Ethernet controller pairing.
GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Xtreme WaterForce (left) and Z490 Aorus Xtreme (right)
The only difference between the GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Xtreme and the Z490 Aorus Xtreme WaterForce is the latter comes with a custom-designed water block. This allows users to create a custom water-cooled system which is something enthusiasts looking to push Intel's 10th generation Comet Lake processors further than can be done on conventional air cooling. The water block not only cools the CPU but the Z490 chipset and the power delivery too, making this the go-to board for enthusiasts looking to create a fully water-cooled based system.
Some of the new design features across both models is memory shielding and improved memory routing designed to help improve memory performance, with high-end 90 A power stages for the power delivery, and Tantalum Capacitors. Cooling the large 16-phase power delivery is a large heatsink using a nanocarbon fin array. Power delivery cooling is something GIGABYTE has been taking seriously over the last year or so. On the board's core design, it has a right-angled 24-pin 12 V ATX motherboard power input, as well as right-angled SATA ports and board headers which blends into the boards sleek full cover design.
Both models include three full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which operate at x16, x8/x8, and x8/x8/+4, with three integrated PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, each with its own individual Thermal Guard 2 heat sink. In addition to the Realtek ALC1220-VB HD audio codec and ESS ES9018K2M Sabre DAC for the rear panel audio, GIGABYTE has equipped both models with an ES9218 Sabre DAC for the front panel audio.
A total of four memory slots include support for up to DDR4-4800, with a maximum capacity of up to 128 GB, with official support for 32 GB UDIMMs being pushed as a primary feature by GIGABYTE. This is something all major vendors is doing on its Z490 models.
On both the Z490 Xtreme WaterForce and Z490 Xtreme rear panels are two Thunderbolt 3.0 Type-C ports, four USB 3.2 G2 10 Gbps Type-A, and two USB 3.2 G1 Type-A ports. It includes two Ethernet ports with one controlled by an Aquantia AQC107 10 G controller, with the other by an Intel I225-V 2.5 G controller. For users looking for wireless connectivity, the rear panel has two antenna ports for Intel's AX201 Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface with BT 5.1 support, with the five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output powered by a Realtek ALC1220 HD audio codec, with a supporting ESS Sabre DAC for USB audio devices. Allowing leveraging of Intel's integrated graphics, there's also a single HDMI video output, with a clear CMOS button and BIOS Flashback button.
Over the last couple of years vendors flagship models have been consistently raising the bar in terms of quality, feature, and unfortunately, price. The GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Xtreme has an MSRP of $799 which is typical flagship pricing in today's current market.
The GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Xtreme WaterForce completely flips the script with an MSRP of $1299, which means the custom waterblock comes at a premium of $500. GIGABYTE has gone all out with both Z490 Xtreme models with 10 G and 2.5 G Ethernet controllers, triple M.2, and dual Thunderbolt 3 Type-C ports on the rear panel, but the GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Xtreme WaterForce will either whet the appetite or have enthusiasts crying into their wallets.
GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Master
Sitting just below the flagship Z490 Aorus Xtreme, the GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Master still represents itself as one of its premium offerings. Featuring the same shielded memory routing and a 14-phase power delivery with 90 A power stages and tantalum polymer capacitors, this enthusiast offering includes an Intel 2.5 G Ethernet controller and Intel Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface. It also includes triple PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, six SATA ports, and support for up to DDR4-4800 memory.
It follows a clear Aorus inspired design with a funky rear panel cover, armor around the PCIe slots for a cleaner look, with three PCIe 3.0 x4 slots each with its own individual heatsink. GIGABYTE is using three full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which run at x16, x8/x8, and x8/x8+x4. Other storage options include six SATA ports with RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 array support. A total of four memory slots include support for up to DDR4-4800, with a maximum capacity of 128 GB, operating in dual channel. The 14-phase power delivery is cooled by a pair of aluminium fin array heat sinks, with two 8-pin 12 V ATX CPU power inputs designed to deliver power to the processor.
On the rear panel is a single USB 3.2 G2 20 Gbps Type-C, three USB 3.2 G2 10 Gbps Type-A, two USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and four USB 2.0 ports. There is a single Ethernet port powered by an Intel i225 2.5 G controller, with antenna ports for the Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface which also includes support for BT 5.1 devices. The onboard audio consists of five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output and is powered by a Realtek ALC1220 HD audio codec and ESS 9118 DAC. A clear CMOS button, HDMI video output, and a BIOS Flashback button which allows users to update the firmware without memory, CPU, and graphics card finish off an impressive rear panel offering.
The GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Master has an MSRP of $389 which is reasonable for the level of features and support on offer. Aimed at gamers and enthusiasts with features including triple PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2, 2.5 G Ethernet, and plenty of USB connectivity, the GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Master is another example of good value, even in the mid to high-end market segment. The Z490 Aorus Master also benefits from future PCIe 4.0 support with Intel's Rocket Lake processors when they eventually do land, which adds some extra longevity to Z490.
GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Ultra
Representing GIGABYTE's mid-range Aorus series is the Z490 Aorus Ultra with virtually identical aesthetics when compared with the Z490 Aorus Master. It's also a step up in spec too for enthusiasts with its direct 12-phase power delivery, with use nanocarbon fins for the and direct touch heat pipes on the heatsinks with GIGABYTE claiming it improves heat dissipation. Included in the specifications is an Intel 2.5 G Ethernet controller, Inte's AX201 Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface, three PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, and three full-length PCIe 3.0 lanes with support for up to two-way NVIDIA SLI and three-way AMD Crossfire.
The GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Ultra has a black and grey theme with PCIe slot armor, with integrated RGB LEDs in the rear panel cover and a large Aorus logo on the chipset heatsink. It has three full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which operate at x16, x8/x8, and x8/x8/+4, with three PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, and six SATA ports. Cooling the 12-phase power delivery driven by an ISL69269 PWM controller is a nanocarbon fin array heatsink, with an 8-pin and 4-pin pair of 12 V ATX CPU power inputs. Memory support is improved over Z390 with four slots capable of running up to 128 GB of DDR4-4800.
On the rear panel is one USB 3.2 G2 20 Gbps Type-C, three USB 3.2 G2 10 Gbps Type-A, two USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and four USB 2.0 ports. A single HDMI video output allows users to use Intel's integrated graphics, while the three 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output are powered by a Realtek ALC1220-VB HD audio codec. For networking, GIGABYTE is using Intel's I225 2.5 G Ethernet controller, with an Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface which also adds support for BT 5.1 devices.
The GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Ultra has an MSRP of $299 and is comparable with the Z490 Aorus Master in many ways, including controller set and aesthetics. The main differences come in the power delivery, with the Z490 Aorus Ultra opting for a true 12-phase setup, with the Master opting for a 6+1 design with doublers. Both are solid offerings in the upper end of the mid-range, but the Z490 Aorus Ultra is a solid offering on paper, with GIGABYTE implementing plenty of premium features at a good price point.
GIGABYTE Z490I Aorus Ultra
Catering to the small form factor market, the GIGABYTE Z490I Aorus Ultra has pretty high-end for a mini-ITX model. It is using a direct 8-phase power delivery with 90 A power stages and tantalum polymer capacitors making it a solid option for enthusiasts. Other features include dual PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, an Intel 2.5 G Ethernet controller, Intel's AX201 Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface, and an HDMI 2.0 video output.
It follows a similar design and theme to the ATX sized GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Ultra with gunmetal grey heatsinks which is a common feature on Aorus models. There is just one area of integrated RGB LED lighting which can be found on the right-hand side of the board. Due to its small size, there is just one full-length PCIe 3.0 x16 slot. In recent times, mini-ITX motherboards have been getting better and better, and GIGABYTE has put two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots on board, both under a front-mounted M.2 heat sink. This includes four straight angled SATA ports which support RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays. There are two memory slots with support for up to DDR4-4800, with a maximum capacity of 64 GB.
One of the most prominent features on the rear panel of the Z490I Aorus Ultra is that it includes an HDMI 2.0 video output which can be used with Intel's integrated graphics. In addition to this, there is a DisplayPort video output, while the boards three 3.5 mm audio jacks are controlled by a Realtek ALC1220-VB HD audio codec. Looking at the networking, it is using an Intel i225 2.5 G Ethernet controller which powers the single Ethernet port, with antenna connectors for the Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface which also has support for BT 5.1 devices. In terms of USB, there is a single USB 3.2 G2 20 Gbps Type-C, one USB 3.2 G2 10 Gbps Type-A, two USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and two USB 2.0 ports. Finishing off the rear panel is a Q-Flash BIOS Flashback button for flashing the board's firmware without a processor, memory, or graphics card installed.
The GIGABYTE Z490I Aorus Ultra is a solid mini-ITX offering for users that aren't interested in Thunderbolt 3 (ASRock include this) and is looking to build a solid small form factor gaming system with a single graphics card. It has plenty of rear panel connectivity, good networking support, and the 8-phase power delivery with 90 A power stages look solid. At launch, the GIGABYTE Z490I Aorus Ultra has an MSRP of $269.
This page will be updated when more information becomes available to us.
GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Pro AX
The GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Pro AX motherboard positions itself underneath the Z490 Aorus Ultra with an interesting selection of controllers and features. It includes two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, a Realtek ALC1220 HD audio codec, support for DDR4-4800 memory, and features an Intel 2.5 G Ethernet controller and Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface.
Following a similar design to GIGABYTE's other Z490 Aorus models, the Z490 Aorus Pro AX has a black metallic PCIe slot area cover, with a small strip of RGB LED lighting integrated into the rear panel cover. Focusing on PCIe support, there are three full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which run at x16, x8/x8, and x8/x8/+4, with two PCIe 3.0 x1 slots flanking both sides of the top full-length slot. It includes two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, each with heatsinks and the Aorus Pro AX makes use of six SATA ports with RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 support. Up to 128 GB of DDR4-4800 memory can be installed across four memory slots, with dual-channel support. For enthusiasts, the Z490 Aorus Pro AX has a 12-phase power delivery, with 50 A power stages, and uses a direct heat pipe cooling which connects both heatsinks together.
On the rear panel is two USB 3.2 G2 10 Gbps Type-A, a single USB 3.2 G2 Type-C, four USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and four USB 2.0 ports. A solitary HDMI video output makes up the integrated graphics support, with a Realtek ALC1220-VB HD audio codec powering the five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output. For networking, GIGABYTE is using an Intel I225 2.5 G Ethernet controller, with an Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface which also adds support for BT 5.1 devices.
The GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Pro AX has a full 12-phase power delivery with solid-looking heatsinks will please enthusiasts, and GIGABYTE has included an Intel 2.5 G Ethernet and Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface pairing, with two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 ports. This makes the GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Pro AX more of a middle of the road option without scrimping on quality, which is reflected in its MSRP of $269.
GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Elite AC
Moving onto the entry-level Aorus branded model, the GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Elite AC, it includes a standard Intel 802.11ac wireless interface with Realtek's 2.5 G ethernet controller, and three PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots. This model is also available without Wi-Fi, and uses a direct 12-phase power delivery and comes with a more simplistic look from other Aorus Z490 models. This is the only model from GIGABYTE's Z490 Aorus line-up to use a Realtek 2.5 G opposed to the rest of the stack which uses Intel's I225V 2.5 G controller.
Opting for a basic look, the GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Elite AC benefits from three PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, with the bottom two coming with its own heat sink for use with hot running NVMe based drives. It has six SATA ports with support for RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10 arrays, and provides support for up to 128 GB of DDR4-4800 memory. For the power delivery, the Z490 Aorus Elite and Elite AC use a 12-phase power delivery for the CPU, with 60 A power stages and an ISL69269 PWM controller. Providing power to the CPU is an 8-pin and 4-pin 12 V ATX CPU input pairing. There is also two full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which operate at x16/+4, with three PCIe 3.0 x1 slots.
On the rear panel is two USB 3.2 G2 10 Gbps Type-A, four USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and four USB 2.0 ports. On the AC model, GIGABYTE includes an Intel 802.11ac wireless interface with BT 5.0 support, while both models come included with a Realtek RTL8125BG 2.5 G Ethernet controller. The five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output are powered by a Realtek ALC1200 HD audio codec, while the board also includes a single HDMI video output.
The GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Elite and Z490 Aorus Elite AC both target the mid-range Z490 motherboard segment and is represented with an MSRP starting at $219. It includes a basic set of features, two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots with heatsinks, with a third without, and six SATA ports which is standard for an ATX sized model. It neglects any USB Type-C connectivity, which other vendors have included from top to bottom (MSI), but this makes for a lower cost product. It also uses a slightly lesser spec HD audio codec to most boards in its product stack, but still provides support for 7.1 HD audio.
This page will be updated when more information becomes available to us.
GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X
Looking at the non-Aorus models from GIGABYTE's Z490 launch day selection, the GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X is designed to offer an entry-level point for gamers, with a decent feature set. Included in the specifications are three PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, six SATA ports, and an Intel Gigabit Ethernet port.
Looking at the overall design of the Z490 Gaming X, GIGABYTE has opted to go with a basic black and grey theme, with black and grey accent heatsinks, with a black and grey patterned printed PCB. The board is using two full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which run at x16/+4, with three PCIe 3.0 x1 slots, and three PCIe 3.0 M.2 slots. It has four memory slots with support for DDR4-4600 with a total capacity of up to 128 GB, with a decent looking 12-phase power delivery. For SATA devices, the GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has six SATA ports with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays.
The rear panel doesn't include any USB Type-C connectivity and instead opts for two USB 3.2 G2 Type-A, four USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and two USB 2.0 ports. A PS/2 combo port allows legacy keyboard and mice to be used, while the five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output are powered by a Realtek ALC1200 HD audio codec. The single Ethernet port is powered by an Intel Gigabit controller, while users looking to leverage Intel's integrated graphics can use the single HDMI video output.
Users looking for an entry-level model without premium controllers and standard Gigabit networking will find the Z490 Gaming X more to its liking. Likely aimed more at budget-conscious users than the Aorus counterparts, the GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X hasn't got a price as of yet, but it's not likely to be above $200. which would put it as one of the cheapest models on the Z490 chipset when it eventually launches.
This page will be updated when more information becomes available to us.
GIGABYTE Z490M Gaming X
Following the same design as its ATX sized counterpart, the GIGABYTE Z490M Gaming X is one of just a small handful of micro-ATX motherboards on Z490. Not as popular and sought after as mini-ITX, micro-ATX does offer users plenty of benefits with more than one PCIe 3.0 expansion slot, but in a smaller than ATX sized frame. The GIGABYTE Z490M Gaming X has two full-length PCIe 3.0 slots, with two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, six SATA ports, with an Intel Gigabit Ethernet controller and Realtek ALC1200 HD audio codec powering the onboard audio.
Based upon a more simplistic design for gamers without any integrated RGB, the Z490M Gaming X uses black and grey accented heatsinks, with a black and grey patterned PCB. It has two full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which operate at x16/+4, with a single PCIe 3.0 slot. For the storage, it uses two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, with the bottom of the two coming with its own heat sink. A total of six SATA ports, with two right-angled and four straight-angled ports offering support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays. Up to 128 GB of DDR4-"""" can be installed across four memory slots, which is impressive for a budget board, with GIGABYTE offering 32 GB UDIMM support across all of its Z490 models.
Despite following much of the same design as the ATX sized GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X, the micro-ATX Z490M Gaming X does include a single USB 3.2 G1 Type-C port on the rear panel. Also present is one USB 3.2 G2 Type-A, and four USB 3.2 G1 Type-A ports. A pair of video outputs are present including a DisplayPort 1.4, and HDMI video output, with the five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output which are powered by a Realtek ALC1200 HD audio codec. Users with legacy keyboard and mice will find a single PS/2 combo port, while the rear panel is finished off with a single Intel Gigabit powered Ethernet port.
The GIGABYTE Z490M Gaming X is the one of a small selection of micro-ATX Z490 models, with most opting to aim at the entry-level and mid-range markets. The GIGABYTE Z490M Gaming X won't be available at launch and doesn't currently have any pricing attached. It shouldn't be too expensive and represent a solid low-cost option for users looking for a smaller form factor but doesn't necessarily want to pay the premium for a mini-ITX model. It has plenty of features, but mostly aimed at users with lower budgets, and should prove popular in an undersaturated micro-ATX market.
This page will be updated when more information becomes available to us.
GIGABYTE Z490 Vision D
One of GIGABYTE's most premium models for content creators over the last couple of years has been via its Designare brand. GIGABYTE has changed this for Z490 and has replaced it with the Z490 Vision D which represents a much more subtle aesthetic than other models, but not quite as high-end as previous Designare models. The GIGABYTE Z490 Vision D includes three PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, a 12-phase power delivery, an Intel 2.5 G and Wi-Fi 6 networking pairing, with dual Thunderbolt 3 Type-C and a Realtek ALC1220-VB HD audio codec.
The GIGABYTE Z490 Vision D blends a mixture of black and grey heatsinks, with an all-black PCB, with some integrated RGB LEDs in the rear panel cover and chipset heatsink. A Designaire logo is present on the chipset heatsink, with this signifying the board's lineage for content creators. The board has three full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which operate at x16, x8/x8, and x8/x8/+4, with a single PCIe 3.0 slot. For storage, the GIGABYTE Z490 Vision D has three PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, each with its own individual heatsinks, and has six SATA ports with RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 array support. There are four memory slots which support up to DDR4-4800, with support for up to 128 GB of memory capacity.
On the rear panel is two Thunderbolt 3 USB Type-C ports, with two USB 3.2 G1 Type-A ports supporting the boards ESS Sabre DAC UP audio chip. Also present are two USB 3.2 G2 10 Gbps Type-A, with two USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and two USB 2.0 ports. There are dual Ethernet ports on the rear panel, one controlled by an Intel I225 2.5 G controller, and the other by an Intel I219-V Gigabit controller. The Z490 Vision D also includes an Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface which adds support for BT 5.1 devices. The five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output are powered by a Realtek ALC1220 HD audio codec, while a pair of video outputs consisting of a DisplayPort 1.4, and HDMI output make up the rest of the boards rear panel.
The GIGABYTE Z490 Vision D includes dual Thunderbolt 3 Type-C boards on the rear panel which puts it as one of just a small select few to feature this, with the Designare rebranded model geared up towards professionals and content creators. With dual Ethernet including Intel's I225 2.5 G controller, Wi-Fi 6 support, and triple PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2, it's clear the Z490 Vision D is going to be popular with those looking for a mixture of premium controllers on a subtle and neutral looking board. The GIGABYTE Z490 Vision D has an MSRP of $299 which seems very reasonable on paper given all of its features.
GIGABYTE Z490 Vision G
Eagled eyed users will see that a regular mainstay of GIGABYTE's motherboard series is missing from the launch of Z490, the Gaming SLI. Rebranded with a new look and higher-end feature set to boot, the new GIGABYTE Z490 Vision G adds some class to its gaming-focused models with a very clean and crisp silver and black aesthetic. Some of its core features include a 12-phase power delivery for the CPU, three PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, and an Intel 2.5 G Ethernet controller.
Using Intersil 50 A power stages for the power delivery, the GIGABYTE Z490 Vision G is using a 12+1 design which is driven by an ISL69269 PWM controller. There are three full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which run at x16, x8/x8, and x8/x8/+4, with two PCIe 3.0 x1 slots. For storage, there are three PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, with six SATA ports with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays. Only two of the three M.2 slots come with a heat sink, with the design very futuristic and elegant with its silver and black heatsinks, with Vision branding and purple accents. A total of four memory slots provide support for up to DDR4-4400 and can accommodate up to 128 GB.
On the rear panel is a single Ethernet port powered by an Intel I225 2.5 G Ethernet controller, with five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output which are powered by a Realtek ALC1220-VB HD audio codec.
Still fundamentally a Gaming SLI board in all but name and design, it caters to users looking for a more modest cost, but with striking and natural silver and black aesthetics, and purple edging which makes it pop. The GIGABYTE Z490 Vision G has an MSRP of $199 which puts it in a highly competitive entry-level to the mid-range segment, and for the price looks a solid option.
This page will be updated when more information becomes available to us.
For the launch of Intel’s 10th Gen Comet Lake desktop processors, MSI will be launching no fewer than eight new models. MSI has a model to cater to most price points including its familiar MEG, MPG, and MAG series, which are determined by feature set, controllers, with options ranging from mini-ITX all the way to E-ATX. One very notable thing MSI has done is add Realtek 2.5 G Ethernet to every model in its Z490 product stack, from top to bottom. I can remember a meeting I had with members of the MSI design and marketing team couple of years ago where they asked for my input in London, and I said "You need to focus more on networking support" - It looks like MSI has listened.
MSI MEG Z490 Godlike
Starting with the most extravagant Z490 offering from MSI, the flagship MEG Z490 Godlike, MSI has pushed the boat out once again amalgamating its impressive and flash RGB inspired look, with a high-quality feature set, a larger updated OLED display, and more USB connectivity than you can shake a stick at.
Following on from previous iterations of its flagship bearing Godlike brand, the MSI MEG Z490 Godlike has a premium controller set with two Intel Thunderbolt 3 Type-C ports on the rear panel. With a strong networking array consisting of an Aquantia AQC107 10 G, and Realtek RTL8125B 2.5 G Ethernet controller pairing, and an Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface, MSI has gone all-out with its latest and greatest model designed for desktop.
The MSI MEG Z490 Godlike supports up to DDR4-5000 memory, with four slots and a maximum capacity of up to 128 GB. Adding into its claim as one of the top Z490 models, it advertises a 16-phase power delivery for the CPU with a stacked fin array heatsink designed to keep it cool.
Design-wise, the new Z490 Godlike has a newly implemented OLED panel takes center stage, which MSI is calling Dynamic Dashboard II. It also supports RGB and custom GIF files, with plenty of RGB LEDs integrated around the board, with support for MSI's Mystic Light RGB software. Offering up to three onboard PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, MSI includes its PCIe 3.0 x4 Xpander-Z Gen4 S M.2 add-on card allowing for a further two PCIe 3.0 M.2 drives to be used. The Godlike also has six SATA ports with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays.
On the rear panel is an impressive array of IO which is spearheaded by two Thunderbolt 3 USB Type-C, two USB 3.2 G2 Type-A, four USB 3.1 G2 Type-A, and two USB 2.0 ports. Also present are two Ethernet ports with one controlled by an Aquantia AQC107 10 G, and the other by a Realtek RTL8125B 2.5 G controller. This includes 2x2 antenna connectors for the Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 wireless interfaces, with five 3.5 mm and S/PDIF optical output powered by (INSERT), and handily located Clear CMOS and BIOS Flashback buttons.
Always offering an impressive and extravagant take on whatever chipset it is launched on, the MSI MEG Z490 Godlike on paper looks to cement itself as one of the most premium models designed for enthusiasts. Not only for performance users, but for content creators with dual Thunderbolt 3 Type-C, and lots of high-speed USB connectivity. All of this will come at a cost, with MSI not currently providing us information with pricing at this time.
MSI MEG Z490 Ace
Moving one step down MSI's enthusiast-focused Z490 product stack is the more affordable, but equally extravagant MSI MEG Z490 Ace. A representative of the MEG Z490 Godlike, the Ace drops some of the more premium controllers and opts for a more gaming-focused selection. This includes three PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, six SATA ports, two Ethernet controllers consisting of a Realtek 2.5 G and Intel Gigabit, with an Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface.
Its design is reminiscent of previous iterations of the Ace series, with a primarily black finish, including black heatsinks on a black PCB with gold accents. On the rear panel cover is an elegant RGB enabled A-shaped logo, most likely to signify the A from the Ace branding. The chipset heatsink and M.2 heatsinks follow the same design, with a yellowish accented line going through it, with some RGB LEDs on the heatsink itself. On the rear of the board is a large metal backplate which is designed to stop the PCB from bending during installation.
Looking at its expansion support, there's three full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which operate at x16, x8 and x4, with three PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, two PCI 3.0 x1 slots, and six SATA ports which support RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10 arrays. On the memory front, there's a total of four slots with support for up to DDR4-4800, with a maximum capacity of up to 128 GB. Along the bottom of the board is an overclocker's toolkit consisting of a 2-digit LED debugger, a power button, and a reset button. On the back is a large metal backplate to prevent PCB bending.
On the rear panel is a single USB 3.2 G2 20 Gbps Type-C, three USB 3.2 G2 Type-A, two USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and two USB 2.0 ports. Also featured is a pair of Ethernet ports, one powered by a Realtek RTL8125B 2.5 G controller, and the other by an Intel I219V Gigabit. There are two antenna inputs for the Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface which has support for BT 5.1, and the three 3.5 mm and S/PDIF Optical output is powered by a Realtek ALC1220 HD audio codec. Finishing off the rear panel is a clear CMOS button, and a BIOS Flashback button.
Even though the MSI MEG Z490 Ace is a step down from the Godlike in terms of features, it's still a solid representation of a premium desktop model. The Ace continues the trend of offering sleek aesthetic design, with a competitive feature set, with an equally competitive price expected with a lot of its features focused on gaming and enthusiasts.
MSI MEG Z490 Unify
Coming later on during the X570 product cycle, MSI debuted the Unify series catering to enthusiasts and gamers with an all-black aesthetic and improved power delivery. Now a staple range in its arsenal, the MSI MEG Z490 Unify is part of its MEG range of enthusiast and premium desktop models. It includes an RGB-less all-black design, with a 16-phase power delivery for the CPU, three PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, and a Realtek 2.5 G Ethernet controller.
Looking at the design of the MSI MEG Z490 Unify, it has a regimented all-black design with no RGB LEDs for users that don't care for flashy styling. It has an elegant MSI Dragon embossed onto the rear panel cover, with black metallic heatsinks, on a black PCB. For expansion cards, there are three full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which operate at x16, x8/x8, and x8/x8+4, with two PCIe 3.0 x1 slots. A total of three PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots each with heatsinks, and four SATA ports make up the storage, with four memory slots with support for up to 128 GB of DDR4-4800 memory. It uses a beefy 16-phase power delivery for the CPU, with ISL based 90 A power stages, with two 8-pin 12 V ATX CPU power inputs.
While it has an enthusiast-level flavor, it has plenty on the rear panel for gamers and content creators. The rear panel has a single Realtek RTL8125B 2.5 G Ethernet port, connectors for the Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 and BT 5.1 wireless interface, and a BIOS Flashback and CMOS reset button pairing. There is a single USB 3.2 G2 20 Gbps Type-C, three USB 3.2 G2 10 Gbps Type-A, two USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and two USB 2.0 ports. For onboard audio, the Z490 Unify is using a Realtek ALC1220 HD audio codec which powers the five 3.5 mm audio jacks and the S/PDIF optical output.
The MSI MEG Z490 Unify represents its enthusiast Z490 product stack. With a Realtek 2.5 G Ethernet controller, Wi-Fi 6 support and three PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, it has plenty for users to sink their teeth into that are looking for a more modest and simplistic design. The large 16-phase power delivery will please users looking to push Intel 10th generation Comet Lake desktop processors through overclocking, and its design makes it one of the best-looking motherboards on the Z490 chipset without RGB LEDs. At present MSI hasn't provided pricing information.
MSI MEG Z490I Unify
Not content with just the ATX sized Z490 Unify, MSI has opted to release a mini-ITX version too, with the MSI MEG Z490I Unify. Following the same all-black theme but more condensed into a small form factor, the Z490I Unify incorporates an 8-phase CPU power delivery, with two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, and includes a Thunderbolt 3 Type-C port on the rear panel. It also has a 10-layer PCB which is superb for a mini-ITX motherboard.
Being the only mini-ITX board at launch from MSI, it has opted to release it under its MEG enthusiast-level range under the Unify series. With this brings its subtle all-black design with a small MSI Dragon at the bottom of the rear panel cover, with a combined chipset and M.2 heatsink at the bottom. It has a single full-length PCIe 3.0 x16 slot, with two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, one on the front and one located on the rear of the board. This adds onto the four straight-angled SATA ports which include support for RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10 arrays. It is using an 8-phase power delivery for the CPU with high-end 90 A ISL power stages, with a single 8-pin 12 V ATX power input for the CPU.
On the rear panel is a Thunderbolt 3 compliant USB Type-C port, which does offer support for DisplayPort 1.4 too. Also featured is a single USB 3.2 G2 10 Gbps Type-A, two USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and two USB 2.0 ports. Powering the five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output is a Realtek ALC1220 HD audio codec, while a Realtek RTL8125B 2.5 G Ethernet port and Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface provides wireless networking as well as BT 5.1 device support. For users looking to leverage the Intel integrated graphics onboard the 10th Gen Comet Lake desktop chips, there's an HDMI and DisplayPort video output.
The MSI MEG Z490I Unify represents the enthusiast-level small form factor market. It has all the bells and whistles expected from a top-level mini-ITX model with Thunderbolt 3 support, dual PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, and benefits from Wi-Fi 6, BT 5.1, and a 2.5 G Ethernet controller. MSI hasn't provided pricing at this time.
MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Carbon WIFI
MSI's MPG models represent a more affordable gaming-centric option when compared with the MEG range. Starting with the top MPG model out of three for Z490, the MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Carbon WIFI has two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, six SATA ports, dual Ethernet on the rear with a Realtek 2.5 and Intel Gigabit controller pairing, as well as Intel's Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface.
Its design consists of carbon look heatsinks across the board with integrated RGB LED lighting at the top of the rear panel cover, and again on the chipset heatsink which can be customized via the MSI Mystic Light RGB software. Following a similar design is the PCB, which is black with grey lined printing. For expansion is three full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which operate at x16, x8/x8, and x8/x8+4, with two PCIe 3.0 x1 slots. The board has two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots with individual heatsinks, while the six SATA ports support RAID 0,1, 5, and 10 arrays. The MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Carbon WIFI has support for DDR4-4800 memory across four memory slots, with a total capacity of up to 128 GB.
Being the top model of its Z490 gaming-focused MPG range, the MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Carbon WIFI has plenty on the rear panel. Starting with networking, there is a Realtek RTL8125B 2.5 G Ethernet port, Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface antenna connectors which has BT 5.1 support, as well as a PS/2 combo port for legacy keyboard and mice. Looking at USB, MSI has included a single USB 3.2 G2 20 Gbps Type-C, four USB 3.2 G2 10 Gbps Type-A, and two USB 2.0 ports. A Realtek ALC1220 HD audio codec powers the five 3.5 mm audio connectors and S/PDIF optical output, while a DisplayPort and HDMI video output pairing make it possible to use integrated graphics on supported Comet Lake processors.
The MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Carbon WIFI slots into the competitive Z490 mid-range segment. It ticks a lot of boxes with good USB 3.2 G2 support, with Intel's Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface and a Realtek 2.5 G Ethernet controller. It has support for multi-graphics setups, as well as users looking to utilize the Intel integrated graphics, and has enough storage capacity for gamers to utilize in creating a solid Intel-based gaming system. MSI hasn't provided information on pricing at this time.
MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Edge WIFI
Still aimed at gamers, the MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Edge WIFI sits below the Z490 Gaming Carbon WIFI with less overall features, but still has plenty for gamers to sink their teeth into. Some of the primary features include two PCIe 3.0 x4 slots and six SATA ports, with an Intel Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface, a single Realtek 2.5 G Ethernet port, and four memory slots with support for up to DDR4-4800.
With a design reminiscent of the Z490 Gaming Carbon WIFI, but without the carbon, the MSI Z490 Gaming Edge WIFI has a consistent and subtle theme throughout with black heatsinks, and a black and grey accented PCB. This board does have integrated RGB LEDs for those looking to add some flair, with one zone located underneath the chipset heatsink. On the board is two full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which run at x16+4, and two PCIe 3.0 x1 slots. For storage is two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, with the top slot featuring a heatsink. There are also six SATA ports supporting RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10 arrays. A total of four memory slots are present with support for up to DDR4-4800 memory, with a maximum capacity of up to 128 GB.
On the rear panel is one USB 3.2 G2 20 Gbps Type-C, one USB 3.2 G2 10 Gbps Type-A, four USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and two USB 2.0 ports. Powering the five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output is a Realtek ALC1220 HD audio codec, while the single Ethernet port is powered by a Realtek RTL8125B 2.5 G controller. The board does include Wi-Fi 6 support through an Intel AX201 wireless interface, which also adds support for BT 5.1 devices. Finishing off the rear panel is a single PS/2 combo port for users looking to use older generation keyboard and mice, with an HDMI and DisplayPort video output offering integrated graphics support.
The MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Edge WIFI looks to be a highly competitive option for users looking to build a single GPU based gaming system. It has plenty of features with 2.5 G Ethernet becoming the go-to choice in the midrange, with MSI cutting down the price on things like a third full-length PCIe 3.0 slot, and giving gamers a choice within its own range. MSI hasn't provided any pricing information at this time.
MSI MPG Z490M Gaming Edge WIFI
Similar in many ways including features and design to the MPG Z490 Gaming Edge WIFI, MSI has also released a Micro-ATX version, the MSI MPG Z490M Gaming Edge WIFI. Changing it up a little, MSI has included two full-length PCIe 3.0 slots with support for two-way NVIDIA SLI and AMD CrossFire, with a 2.5 G Ethernet port, Intel Wi-Fi 6 and BT 5.1 support, with two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, but all on a smaller PCB.
The Z490 and Z490M Gaming Edge WIFI share the same black and grey design, with primarily black heatsinks on a black and grey accented PCB. A large MSI Dragon logo is present on the rear panel cover, with a set of RGB LEDs integrated into the chipset heatsink which can be customized via the MSI Mystic Light RGB software. There are two full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which operate at x16, and x8/x8, with two further PCIe 3.0 x1 slots. Similar to the ATX version, the Z490M Gaming Edge WIFI has two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, with the top slot accompanied with a heatsink. The board also has four SATA ports with RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays supported. Also present is four memory slots with support for DDR4-4800, with a total capacity of 128 GB.
On the rear panel is single Ethernet port powered by a Realtek RTL8125B 2.5 G controller, with antenna connectors for the Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface, which also adds BT 5.1 support. For USB there is a single USB 3.2 G2 20 Gbps Type-C, one USB 3.2 G2 10 Gbps Type-A, two USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and two USB 2.0 ports. The five 3.5 mm and S/PDIF optical output are controlled by a Realtek ALC1220 HD audio codec, and there are a DisplayPort and HDMI video output pairing for onboard graphics users. Finishing off the rear panel is a single PS/2 keyboard and mouse combo port.
The MSI MPG Z490M Gaming Edge WIFI pricing hasn't been announced as of yet, but it does represent a very small select group of micro-ATX Z490 models at launch. It has better full-length PCIe 3.0 support than its bigger ATX sized sibling but has fewer SATA ports as a result. It does, however, have two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, keeps a good networking combination of a 2.5 G and Wi-Fi 6 and has a nifty EZ LED control button to turn off RGB which can enable or disable RGB lighting with a simple press.
MSI MAG Z490 Tomahawk
Adding to its gaming range, the MSI MAG series is designed to offer a lower entry point for users to aim for which look to benefit from Z490 features including overclocking, but at a lower cost to the end-user. The MSI MAG Z490 Tomahawk includes two full-length PCIe 3.0 slots, two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, and six SATA ports Also featured is dual Ethernet with a 2.5 G and Gigabit pair of controllers, but drops Wi-Fi 6 support as featured on the MPG Z490 series.
Dropping the red and black color scheme seen from previous Tomahawk models, the MSI MAG Z490 Tomahawk has opted for a more subtle black and grey theme throughout including the heatsinks, and PCB. It consists of some integrated RGB LEDs underneath the chipset heatsink, with Tomahawk branding and straight diagonal lines across the PCB amalgamating into the design of the heatsinks. It uses an 8-pin and 4-pin 12 V ATX power input pairing for CPU power, with a 24-pin motherboard 12 V ATX power input to power the motherboard. Both of the two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots include its heatsink, with six SATA ports with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays. The board does have two full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which run at x16+4, with an additional two PCIe 3.0 x1 slots.
On the rear panel is one USB 3.2 G2 20 Gbps Type-C, one USB 3.2 G2 10 Gbps Type-A, four USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and two USB 2.0 ports. Featured is a pair of Ethernet ports, one controlled by a Realtek RTL8125B 2.5 G, and the other by an Intel I219-V Gigabit controller. For users using onboard graphics, there's an HDMI and DisplayPort video output. In contrast, the five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output are controlled by a Realtek ALC1220 HD audio codec. Finishing off the rear panel is a single PS/2 keyboard and mouse port.
Despite the MSI MAG series targeting the lower-end of the Z490 gaming market, it does include a 2.5 G Ethernet controller which does bump the pricing up a little. The MSI MAG Z490 Tomahawk hasn't been given a price yet, but is plenty enough for users looking to build a single NVIDIA based graphical powerhouse, or even opt for two-way AMD Crossfire support, on supported Radeon models.
MSI Z490-A Pro
Looking at MSI's entry-level Z490 model, the MSI Z490-A Pro which is designed for more professional users and content creators, it's interesting to see that MSI has included a single Realtek 2.5 G NIC. Also included are two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, six SATA ports, and support for up to 128 GB of DDR4-4800 memory across four slots.
Similar to the aesthetics of the MSI X570-A Pro, the overall design of the MSI Z490-A Pro has been revamped with its beefier 12-phase power delivery. It drops the integrated RGB LEDs of other MSI Z490 models and goes for a more subtle and professional design with black heatsinks, and a black and grey accented partnered PCB. Its core feature set includes two full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which operate at x16+4, with three PCIe 3.0 slots. For memory, there are four slots with support for up to DDR4-4800, with a maximum capacity of 128 GB.
In terms of storage support, there are two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, with four right-angled SATA, and two straight angled SATA ports bringing the total of SATA ports to six. Only the top M.2 slot has a heat sink included, with the six SATA ports garnering support for RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10 arrays.
On the rear panel is a basic set of IO, with one USB 3.2 G2 10 Gbps Type-C, two USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and two USB 2.0 ports. There is a Realtek RTL8125B 2.5 G powered Ethernet port and a pair of video outputs consisting of a DisplayPort and HDMI output. For onboard audio, there is five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output controlled by a Realtek ALC1200 HD audio codec, with a single PS/2 keyboard and mouse combo port for users with legacy peripherals.
Overall the MSI Z490-A Pro caters more to professional users but includes more premium networking with a Realtek 2.5 G Ethernet controller which is a bump over previous versions of the A Pro. The two full-length PCIe 3.0 slots support dual AMD Crossfire graphics card setups, with a decent looking power delivery on a budget-focused model. MSI hasn't provided pricing information as of yet.
Supermicro is a name synonymous with high-grade professional workstation motherboards. Although they tend to release just a small handful of models for the desktop market, it has some models ready for Z490. We've seen quite a few Supermicro motherboards over the years, with the most recent desktop offering via the Supermicro C9Z390-PGW which included a PLX chip and 10 G Ethernet. At present, Supermicro has two ATX sized models ready in preparation for Intel's Comet Lake 10th gen desktop processors, one with Wi-Fi 6 capability and one without.
Supermicro C9Z490-PGW & C9Z490-PG
Both the Supermicro C9Z490-PGW and Supermicro C9Z490-PG share the same core feature set, with the only difference being that the C9Z490-PGW includes an Intel Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface, while the PG does not. Both include a premium controller and feature set with the most notable coming from Broadcom PEX8747 PLX chip for superior multi-graphics card support and PCIe bifurcation. Other exciting features include two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, an Aquantia 10 G Ethernet controller, and support for up to 128 GB of DDR4-4000 memory.
The Supermicro C9Z490-PG Motherboard
Dominating the lower portion of the C9Z490-PGW and C9Z490-PG are four full-length PCIe 3.0 slots which operate at x16/x0/x16/x0 and x8/x8/x8/x8 which is made possible via a Broadcom PEX8747 PLX chip. At present this is the only Z490 motherboard that includes a PLX chip, which makes it unique for users looking to run 4-way NVIDIA SLI, or leverage the extra PCIe lanes for high-bandwidth PCIe 3.0 devices. There is also a single PCIe 3.0 x1 slot. Across its four memory slots, both models support up to DDR4-4000 with a total capacity of 128 GB. Focusing on storage, there is a pair of PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots which each come with a heatsink, and four SATA ports with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays. Both models are using a 6+2 power delivery with an XDPE122284C PWM controller, and TDA21490 power stages for the CPU element.
The Supermicro C9Z490-PGW Motherboard with Wi-Fi 6
On the rear panel is one USB 3.2 G2 20 Gbps Type-C, one USB 3.2 G2 10 Gbps Type-C, two USB 3.2 G2 10 Gbps Type-A, and two USB 3.2 G1 Type-A ports. Controlling the five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output is a Realtek ALC1220 HD audio codec. At the same time, one Ethernet port is powered by an Aquantia AQC107 10 G controller, while an Intel-based Gigabit controller controls the other. A small clear CMOS button is present with an HDMI 2.0a and DisplayPort 1.2 video output pairing. Last but not least on the C9Z490-PGW is an Intel Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface, likely the AX200 with BT 5.0 support.
Both the Supermicro C9Z490-PGW and C9Z490-PG are currently unique to the Z490 product stack with the inclusion of a Broadcom PEX8747 PLX controller, which allows for more PCIe bandwidth in slots which has a variety of use cases. It adds some flexibility to the Z490 chipset, something all other models at launch isn't offering. The Aquantia 10 G Ethernet controller is a common find on Supermicro's premium desktop motherboards, and its styling is very sleek and uniformed with its black and grey theme. The only pitfall is in the memory support, with the official backing for up to DDR4-4000 which is the lowest of any Z490 model we've overviewed for launch. The Supermicro C9Z490-PGW has an MSRP of $395, while the C9Z490-PG without Wi-Fi costs $375.
Choosing The Right Z490 Motherboard
When it comes to selecting the right motherboard for the task, it can come down to several variables. These include a personal preference for things like aesthetics, certain features which are required to do a specific job, or primarily down to budget. With more than 40 models to select from, most of the Z490 product stack comes with a competitive feature set, with some models offering Thunderbolt 3 connectivity, some offering eight SATA ports. In contrast, others offer up to three PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots.
Regardless of the combination of features required, as we have done from previous chipset overviews, we've taken some of the most common requirements and narrowed them down to allow users to choose a board based on its specific features.
One of the most improved upon things from the previous generation comes in the way of networking support. No fewer than eight models come with some form of 10 G Ethernet, with more than 60% of the current product stack featuring either Intel's new I225-V 2.5 G Ethernet, or Realtek's RTL8125 2.5 G equivalent. This marks a rise in high-speed networking capabilities, not just with wired, but in wireless too. Intel's CNVI has support for Wi-Fi 6 wireless interfaces including the AX200, and AX201 802.11ax wireless interface.
More impressively, some vendors have stepped up its game on networking with MSI in all of its models, comes with at least a Realtek 2.5 G Ethernet controller. This shows a real intent to offer better networking support than it ever has before. Some of the product stack offers three or more PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots but is typically found on the premium models, while there are more models now with Thunderbolt 3 rear panel connectivity than ever before. Only one model offers a PCIe 3.0 x4 U.2 port, which is the EVGA Z490 Dark which is surprising given its aimed at enthusiasts.
| Choosing the Right Z490 Motherboard | |||
| If You Need | Then The Options Are | Size | Price |
| 10 Gigabit Ethernet | ASRock Z490 Aqua | EATX | $1100 |
| ASUS ROG Maximus XII Extreme | EATX | $750 | |
| ASUS ROG Maximus XII Formula | ATX | $500 | |
| ASUS ProArt Z490-Creator 10G | ATX | - | |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Xtreme WaterForce | EATX | $1299 | |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Xtreme | EATX | $799 | |
| MSI MEG Z490 Godlike | EATX | $750 | |
| Supermicro C9Z490-PGW | ATX | $395 | |
| Supermicro C9Z490-PG | ATX | $375 | |
| 5 Gigabit Ethernet | ASUS ROG Maximus XII Hero Wi-Fi | ATX | $399 |
| 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet | ASRock Z490 Aqua | EATX | $1100 |
| ASRock Z490 PG Velocita | ATX | $260 | |
| ASRock Z490 Taichi | ATX | $370 | |
| ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming-ITX/TB3 | mITX | $280 | |
| ASRock Z490 Steel Legend | ATX | $185 | |
| ASRock Z490 Extreme4 | ATX | $195 | |
| ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4/2.5G | ATX | $160 | |
| ASUS ROG Maximus XII Extreme | EATX | $750 | |
| ASUS ROG Maximus XII Formula | ATX | $500 | |
| ASUS ROG Maximus XII Apex | ATX | - | |
| ASUS ROG Strix Z490-E Gaming | ATX | $300 | |
| ASUS ROG Strix Z490-F Gaming | ATX | $269 | |
| ASUS ROG Strix Z490-G Gaming Wi-Fi | mATX | - | |
| ASUS ROG Strix Z490-I Gaming | mITX | $300 | |
| ASUS Prime Z490-A | ATX | $230 | |
| ASUS ProArt Z490-Creator 10G | ATX | - | |
| Colorful iGame Z490 Vulcan X V20 | ATX | - | |
| EVGA Z490 Dark | EATX | - | |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Xtreme WaterForce | EATX | $1299 | |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Xtreme | EATX | $799 | |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Master | ATX | $389 | |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Ultra | ATX | $299 | |
| GIGABYTE Z490I Aorus Ultra | mITX | $269 | |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Pro AX | ATX | $269 | |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Elite AC | ATX | $219 | |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Vision D | ATX | $299 | |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Vision G | ATX | $199 | |
| MSI MEG Z490 Godlike | EATX | $750 | |
| MSI MEG Z490 Ace | ATX | $400 | |
| MSI MEG Z490 Unify | ATX | - | |
| MSI MEG Z490I Unify | mITX | - | |
| MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Carbon WIFI | ATX | $270 | |
| MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Edge WIFI | ATX | $200 | |
| MSI MPG Z490M Gaming Edge WIFI | mATX | - | |
| MSI MAG Z490 Tomahawk | ATX | $190 | |
| MSI Z490-A Pro | ATX | $160 | |
| 3 or more M.2 Slots | ASRock Z490 Taichi | ATX | $370 |
| ASRock Z490 Aqua | EATX | $1100 | |
| ASUS ROG Maximus XII Extreme | EATX | $750 | |
| ASUS ROG Maximus XII Formula | ATX | $500 | |
| ASUS ROG Maximus XII Apex | ATX | - | |
| ASUS ROG Maximus XII Hero Wi-Fi | ATX | $399 | |
| ASUS Prime Z490-A | ATX | $230 | |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Xtreme WaterForce | EATX | $1299 | |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Xtreme | EATX | $799 | |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Master | ATX | $389 | |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Ultra | ATX | $299 | |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X | ATX | - | |
| MSI MEG Z490 Godlike | EATX | $750 | |
| MSI MEG Z490 Ace | ATX | $400 | |
| MSI MEG Z490 Unify | ATX | - | |
| U.2 Port | EVGA Z490 Dark | EATX | - |
| 8 or more SATA Ports | ASRock Z490 Taichi | ATX | - |
| ASRock Z490 Aqua | EATX | - | |
| ASRock Z490 PG Velocita | ATX | - | |
| ASUS ROG Maximus XII Extreme | EATX | $750 | |
| ASUS ROG Maximus XII Apex | ATX | - | |
| EVGA Z490 Dark | EATX | $926 | |
| 4 or more USB 3.2 G2 Type-A | ASUS ProArt Z490-Creator 10G | ATX | - |
| EVGA Z490 Dark | EATX | $926 | |
| EVGA Z490 FTW WiFi | ATX | - | |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Xtreme WaterForce | EATX | $1299 | |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Xtreme | EATX | $799 | |
| MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Carbon WIFI | ATX | $270 | |
| Thunderbolt 3 | ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming ITX/TB3 | mITX | $280 |
| ASRock Z490 Aqua | EATX | $1100 | |
| ASUS ProArt Z490-Creator 10G | ATX | - | |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Xtreme WaterForce | EATX | $1299 | |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Xtreme | EATX | $799 | |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Vision D | ATX | $299 | |
| MSI MEG Z490 Godlike | EATX | $750 | |
| MSI MEG Z490I Unify | mITX | - | |
| BIOS Flashback Button | ASRock Z490 Taichi | ATX | $370 |
| ASRock Z490 Aqua | EATX | $1100 | |
| ASUS ROG Maximus XII Extreme | EATX | $750 | |
| ASUS ROG Maximus XII Hero Wi-Fi | ATX | $399 | |
| ASUS ROG Strix Z490-E Gaming | ATX | $300 | |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Xtreme WaterForce | EATX | $1299 | |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Xtreme | EATX | $799 | |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Master | ATX | $389 | |
| GIGABYTE Z490I Aorus Ultra | mITX | $269 | |
| MSI MEG Z490 Godlike | EATX | $750 | |
| MSI MEG Z490 Ace | ATX | $400 | |
| MSI MEG Z490 Unify | ATX | - | |
| E-ATX | ASRock Z490 Aqua | EATX | $1100 |
| ASUS ROG Maximus XII Extreme | EATX | $750 | |
| EVGA Z490 Dark | EATX | - | |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Xtreme WaterForce | EATX | $1299 | |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Xtreme | EATX | $799 | |
| MSI MEG Z490 Godlike | EATX | $750 | |
| Micro-ATX | ASUS ROG Strix Z490-G Gaming | mATX | - |
| ASUS ROG Strix Z490-G Wi-Fi Gaming | mATX | - | |
| ASUS Prime Z490M-Plus | mATX | $150 | |
| GIGABYTE Z490M Gaming X | mATX | - | |
| MSI MPG Z490M Gaming Edge WIFI | mATX | - | |
| Mini-ITX | ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming-ITX/TB3 | mITX | $280 |
| ASRock Z490M-ITX/ac | mITX | $160 | |
| ASUS ROG Strix Z490-I Gaming | mITX | $300 | |
| Biostar Racing Z490GTN | mITX | $199 | |
| GIGABYTE Z490I Aorus Ultra | mITX | $269 | |
| MSI MEG Z490I Unify | mITX | - | |
Usually we would also note which boards include a Realtek ALC1220 HD audio codec in the table, but it's quicker and easier to list which boards don't have it, as it's now a regular feature across Z490 boards. Only a minimal selection of models in the entry-level segment feature a non-ALC1220 codec.
| Z490 Motherboard Audio | |
| Codec | Boards |
| Realtek ALC1220 | Almost Everything, Except The Following |
| Realtek ALC1200 | ASRock Z490 Steel Legend |
| ASRock Z490 Extreme4 | |
| ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4SR | |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Elite AC | |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X | |
| GIGABYTE Z490M Gaming X | |
| MSI MAG Z490 Tomahawk | |
| Realtek S1200A | ASUS TUF Z490-Plus Wi-Fi |
| Realtek ALC892 | ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4 |
| ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4/2.5G | |
| ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4/ac | |
| ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4/ax | |
| Colorful iGame CVN Z490 Gaming Pro V20 | |
| Realtek ALC887 | ASUS Prime Z490-P |
| ASUS Prime Z490M-Plus | |
| Realtek ALC1150 | Biostar Racing Z490GTA Evo |
| Biostar Racing Z490GTA | |
Wi-Fi 6 For Everyone: Well Almost
One of the primary updates on the Z490 chipset over Z390 is in its CNVi support. Intel now offers support for Wi-Fi 6 wireless interfaces via the CNVi within the chipset and allows vendors to use its own CRF modules such as the Intel AX200 and AX201. While this does increase the cost a little, it's still cheaper than implementing its own dedicated controller and using HSIO lanes from outside of the chipset. With more than half of the current Z490 product stack equipped with a Wi-Fi 6 CRF module, it's now become a regular feature as wireless technologies improve beyond 802.11ac. The Intel AX200 and AX201 also include support for BT 5.1 devices, while it should be made clear that these interfaces are backwards compatible with older Bluetooth versions.
With Wi-Fi 6 being so commonly featured across much of the Z490 product stack, below is a list of models either without Wi-Fi completely, or with a lesser variant such as 802.11ac.
| Z490 Wi-Fi Support | |
| Wireless Interface | Boards |
| 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) | Almost Everything, Except The Following |
| 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) | ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4/ac |
| ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4SR | |
| Biostar Racing Z490GTA Evo | |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Elite AC | |
| No Wi-Fi | ASRock Z490 PG Velocita |
| ASRock Z490 Steel Legend | |
| ASRock Z490 Extreme4 | |
| ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4 | |
| ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4/2.5G | |
| ASUS ROG Strix Z490-F Gaming | |
| ASUS Prime Z490-A | |
| ASUS Prime Z490-P | |
| ASUS Prime Z490M-Plus | |
| ASUS ProArt Z490-Creator 10G | |
| Biostar Racing Z490GTN | |
| Colorful iGame Z490 Vulcan X V20 | |
| Colorful iGame CVN Z490 Gaming Pro V20 | |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X | |
| GIGABYTE Z490M Gaming X | |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Vision G | |
| MSI MAG Z490 Tomahawk | |
| MSI Z490-A Pro | |
| Supermicro C9Z490-PG | |
It's great having a stacked set of features, but generally, these come at a higher price point. Not overlooking the value aspect for users on a budget, motherboard pricing has surged far beyond itself in recent times. Where a couple of years ago a flagship model would cost around $400-500, that is considered more upper mid-range now, with some flagship desktop models exceeding $1200 (Looking at you GIGABYTE). All of this needs to be factored in, with some vendors pushing non-RGB models when in recent times, RGB was one of its main marketable points. Virtually every vendor has its own RGB ecosystem now with fancy software, some more intuitive than others, while some of that focus could be aimed at areas where performance counts, and aesthetics are secondary.
From all of the motherboards, we've not distinguished between the different world zones, so some models may be region locked to the USA, others for Europe. In contrast, other markets such as China have a completely different scope of sales.
ASRock Z490 Product Stack
Starting alphabetically, ASRock offers one of its smallest Intel-based product stacks in terms of previous launches. It has boards of a different pedigree within its Z490 stack, with the ASRock Z490 Taichi currently sitting (at the time of writing) as its flagship model. ASRock has also launched its favorable mini-ITX Z490 Phantom Gaming-ITX/TB3 which offers a solid feature set including Thunderbolt 3, a 2.5 G Ethernet controller, and dual PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots. The ASRock Z490 sits as the brand's flagship model, with a full custom monoblock and a plethora of features including 10 G and 2.5 G Ethernet, with a set of hardline fittings included in its accessories bundle.
| Availability and Pricing of ASRock Intel Z490 Motherboards (04/30) | |||
| Model | Size | AT Overview |
Price |
| ASRock Z490 Aqua | EATX | Link | $1100 |
| ASRock Z490 Taichi | ATX | Link | $370 |
| ASRock Z490 PG Velocita | ATX | Link | $260 |
| ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming-ITX/TB3 | mITX | Link | $280 |
| ASRock Z490 Steel Legend | ATX | Link | $185 |
| ASRock Z490 Extreme4 | ATX | Link | $195 |
| ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4 | ATX | Link | $150 |
| ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4/2.5G | ATX | Link | $160 |
| ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4/ax | ATX | Link | - |
| ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4/ac | ATX | Link | - |
| ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4SR | ATX | Link | - |
The ASRock Z490 Steel Legend and Z490 Extreme4 are identical in features, but offers users two different aesthetics as the foundation of a Comet Lake system, also with 2.5 G Ethernet. The ASRock Z490 PG Velocita is an entirely new model, adding something that sounds fast and readily marketable to its already established gaming series. ASRock will undoubtedly release new models between now and launch, a couple we know about but can't discuss, and likely something to take over the Taichi as its flagship model.
ASUS Z490 Product Stack
ASUS has the most extensive product stack at the time of writing, with models stretching across its key ranges including its ROG Maximus XII, ROG Strix, Prime, and TUF series. All of these are marketed at gamers, with the Maximus XII models including premium controller sets with multiple functionalities for enthusiasts, and content creators. The flagship ROG MaximusXII Extreme is a true flagship with 10 G Ethernet, plenty of PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, and is one of the most significant models with its EATX form factor. The ROG Maximus XII Formula is geared up with 10 G Ethernet and 2.5 G too while offering EKWB Hybrid CrossChill III MOSFET heatsinks for water coolers looking to create a stable water-cooled system.
| Availability and Pricing of ASUS Intel Z490 Motherboards (04/30) | |||
| Model | Size | AT Overview |
Price |
| ASUS ROG Maximus XII Extreme Glacial | ? | Link | - |
| ASUS ROG Maximus XII Extreme | EATX | Link | $750 |
| ASUS ROG Maximus XII Formula | ATX | Link | $500 |
| ASUS ROG Maximus XII Apex | ATX | Link | - |
| ASUS ROG Maximus XII Hero WiFi | ATX | Link | $399 |
| ASUS ROG Strix Z490-E Gaming | ATX | Link | $300 |
| ASUS ROG Strix Z490-F Gaming | ATX | Link | $269 |
| ASUS ROG Strix Z490-G Wi-Fi Gaming | mATX | Link | - |
| ASUS ROG Strix Z490-G Gaming | mATX | Link | - |
| ASUS ROG Strix Z490-A Gaming | ATX | Link | - |
| ASUS ROG Strix Z490-I Gaming | mITX | Link | $300 |
| ASUS TUF Z490 Plus WiFi | ATX | Link | $200 |
| ASUS TUF Z490 Plus | ATX | Link | - |
| ASUS Prime Z490-A | ATX | Link | $230 |
| ASUS Prime Z490-P | ATX | Link | $160 |
| ASUS Prime Z490M-Plus | mATX | Link | $150 |
| ASUS ProArt Z490-Creator 10G | ATX | Link | - |
Moving down is the ROG Strix series with its plethora of alphabet models, going from E to I, with at least one model in each form factor (ATX, mATX, mITX), while still offering premium controllers, but with a lower cost. The TUF series is still ASUS's entry level gaming brand, with an upgrade over the previous Z390 models. The Prime series is set into a premium model and an entry-level model, with more neautral aesthetics, while the new ProArt Z490-Creator 10G which targets content creators with a solid feature set, includes Thunderbolt 3 connectivity.
GIGABYTE Z490 Product Stack
When comparing GIGABYTE's Z490 to its previous Z390 product stack, many of its range reappear including the Aours branded models, which goes from the really high-end, all the way to the mid-range segment. The award to the most outrageous Z490 price goes to the Xtreme WaterForce, with its premium feature set and custom full cover monoblock. Users with less wallet and more sense could pick up the equally impressive Z490 Aorus Xtreme for $500 less and drops the waterblock. The Aorus Ultra, Master, Elite all make a reappearance, with 2.5 G Ethernet due to the Z490's integrated 2.5 G MAC, with the vast majority of its range also benefiting for the Wi-Fi 6 MAC too.
| Availability and Pricing of GIGABYTE Intel Z490 Motherboards (04/30) | |||
| Model | Size | AT Overview |
Price |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Xtreme WaterForce | E-ATX | Link | $1299 |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Xtreme | E-ATX | Link | $799 |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Master | ATX | Link | $389 |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Ultra | ATX | Link | $299 |
| GIGABYTE Z490I Aorus Ultra | mITX | Link | $269 |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Pro AX | ATX | Link | $269 |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Elite AC | ATX | Link | $219 |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X | ATX | Link | - |
| GIGABYTE Z490M Gaming X | mATX | Link | - |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Vision D | ATX | Link | $299 |
| GIGABYTE Z490 Vision G | ATX | Link | $199 |
The GIGABYTE Z490 Vision D is a Designare in all but name, and has the branding to match, with a solid feature set at a very good price. Also replaced is the Gaming SLI series which is now the Z490 Vision G, while the Z490 and Z490M Gaming X offers different form factors, with very similar entry level feature sets for users on a budget.
MSI Z490 Product Stack
Something which is impressive, is MSI has used the integrated 2.5 G MAC within the Z490 chipset on all of its current Z490 range, with the flagship and even the entry level Z490-A Pro getting 2.5 G Ethernet at the very least. The MSI MEG range is stacked with the flagship MEG Z490 Godlike, the slightly lesser Z490 Ace, while the Z490 Unify and Z490I Unify offer more performance based features, but with more elegant and neutral aesthetics. The MSI MEG Z490I Unify is the brands only mini-ITX model, and is built upon an impressive 10-layer PCB.
| Availability and Pricing of MSI Intel Z490 Motherboards (04/30) | |||
| Model | Size | AT Overview |
Price |
| MSI MEG Z490 Godlike | EATX | Link | $750 |
| MSI MEG Z490 Ace | ATX | Link | $400 |
| MSI MEG Z490 Unify | ATX | Link | - |
| MSI MEG Z490I Unify | mITX | Link | - |
| MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Carbon WIFI | ATX | Link | $270 |
| MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Edge WIFI | ATX | Link | $200 |
| MSI MPG Z490M Gaming Edge WIFI | mATX | Link | - |
| MSI MAG Z490 Tomahawk | ATX | Link | $190 |
| MSI Z490-A Pro | ATX | Link | $160 |
Although not with pricing as of yet, the MSI range also includes its MPG gaming-focused series, with the Z490 Gaming Carbon WIFI, and Z490 Gaming Edge both including a Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface and Realtek 2.5 G Ethernet controllers While typically found on its more budget based chipsets such as AMD B550, and Intel's new B460, the MAG Z490 Tomahawk offers a solid feature set, likely at a good price as previous iterations have provided. The MSI Z490-A Pro is the entry-level model and will likely be the cheapest, but it still includes 2.5 G Ethernet which is impressive.
Other Z490 Product Stack Options
Outside of the big four vendors, Biostar, EVGA and Supermicro all have models for the launch of Z490. Biostar typically aim its sights lower in the grand scheme of things, with more budget-focused offerings which generally cost less in comparison. The EVGA Z490 is geared for overclockers and memory performance afficandos with its two memory slots on an EATX sized board, with a transposed socket for better sub-zero overclocking support with CPU LN2 pots, while the EVGA Z490 FTW WiFi caters to the general market. Supermicro also has two new models, the C9Z490-PGW and C9Z490-PG which are the only boards currently on Z490 to include a PLX chip, the Broadcom PEX8747 to be exact for PCIe lane bifurcation.
| Availability and Pricing of Other Intel Z490 Motherboards (04/30) | |||
| Model | Size | AT Overview |
Price |
| Biostar Racing Z490GTA Evo | ATX | Link | $239 |
| Biostar Racing Z490GTA | ATX | Link | $209 |
| Biostar Racing Z490GTN | mITX | Link | $199 |
| Colorful iGame Z490 Vulcan X V20 | ATX | Link | - |
| Colorful iGame CVN Z490 Gaming Pro V20 | ATX | Link | - |
| EVGA Z490 Dark | EATX | Link | - |
| EVGA Z490 FTW WiFi | ATX | Link | - |
| Supermicro C9Z490-PGW | ATX | Link | $395 |
| Supermicro C9Z490-PG | ATX | Link | $375 |
So, who wants a Z490?
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