The Intel Z490 Overview: 44+ Motherboards Examined
by Gavin Bonshor on April 30, 2020 10:00 AM ESTASUS 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.
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Andrew LB - Saturday, May 9, 2020 - link
So these boards bring Wifi6, PCI-Express 4.0, gigabit 2.5, and for people like myself who are upgrading from a Z87 board.... just about everything is a huge leap.... yet you think there is just 'more of the same'? I guess if you're one of those idiots who buys a new CPU every year, then clearly this is not the release for you. Nor would AMD's latest offerings if that same metric is applied.So what's your problem with Capitalism? Do incremental design improvements offend you? Or is it profit that does? Hate to break it to you, but its profit motive that fuels innovation. Collectivism is a cancer and by its very nature hinders progress due to it not rewarding exceptionalism. It's why countries like China don't innovate. Otherwise they wouldn't need forced technology transfers from those who manufacture goods in their country.
Zenzdeluxe - Wednesday, September 2, 2020 - link
Thanks for that. The hypocrisy of these people. Imagine imbibing in the fruits of the capitalist system which besides continuing innovation, provides more spoils at lower price points for everyone than ever before. The audacity of such entitlement and seemingly collectivist / marxist based criticism is mind boggling. Cognitive dissonance off the scale indeed.ilkhan - Friday, May 1, 2020 - link
Details page for GIGABYTE Z490 Aorus Pro AX (copy and paste because who can keep them straight otherwise) makes a big deal of no usb-C, but it's there in the picture...ecjp - Friday, May 1, 2020 - link
Yeah, I noticed that too. Gigabytes site shows same picture and lists "1 x USB Type-C™ port on the back panel, with USB 3.2 Gen 2 support" in the specs, so I assume its an error in the article.gavbon - Friday, May 1, 2020 - link
Thanks for picking that up. I must have been writing about the wrong board. Apologies, it's updatedregsEx - Friday, May 1, 2020 - link
"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."CNVi is an old generation 802.11ac controller. Here it is CNVio2. CRF module is AX201. AX200 is a standalone controller that can work on any system. X570 motherboards with 802.11ax support, for example, packs with AX200 card.
lunaticbunny - Friday, May 1, 2020 - link
There are no boards under $200. Seems like this Z490 chipset got the X570 inflation treatment as well.drexnx - Friday, May 1, 2020 - link
just like the X570 boards, they've all got seriously beefed up VRMsand maybe the pcie4 tax wasn't just a cash grab? we'll really see when AMD B550 comes out, where those board prices land
Andrew LB - Saturday, May 9, 2020 - link
Plenty of boards under $200.ASUS Prime Z490M-PLUS
GIGABYTE Z490 AORUS Elite
ASUS TUF Gaming Z490-Plus
ASUS TUF Gaming Z490-Plus wifi
GIGABYTE Z490 UD
MSI Z490-A PRO ProSeries
A bunch of Asrock boards will be under $200 as well. You can see many prices already on Amazon.
dgingeri - Friday, May 1, 2020 - link
It looks like, potentially, at least Gigabyte has decided to include a decent number of USB ports. I can't tell with the Asus board, but all the rest look to have only 6 USB ports, an annoyingly small number. I have been really annoyed with the lack of USB ports on boards for the last 5 years. Heck, with the old 440BX boards, we had 2 ps2, 4 or 6 USB, 1 or 2 serial, and a parallel port. We've lost the other ports, and internal drives in most computers, and not gained USB ports to compensate for it. External hubs aren't going to do it, either, as those stupid things keep dying in a matter of months.