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