The Intel Z490 Overview: 44+ Motherboards Examined
by Gavin Bonshor on April 30, 2020 10:00 AM ESTASUS 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.
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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.