The Intel Z590 Motherboard Overview: 50+ Motherboards Detailed
by Gavin Bonshor on January 19, 2021 10:15 AM ESTASUS ROG Strix Z590-I Gaming WIFI
The ASUS ROG Strix Z590-I Gaming WIFI is the brand's premium mini-ITX offering, with a true focus on high-end small form factor systems. It uses an all-black design, with elements of the ROG Strix design over a mesh-covered rear panel cover, with an RGB enabled ROG logo built unto the combined M.2 and chipset heatsink.
Along the bottom of the board is a single PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, with two stacked M.2 slots, with one operating at PCIe 4.0 x4, and the other with PCIe 3.0 x4/SATA support. The right-hand side is four straight-angled SATA ports, with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays. Memory support is great as expected for an ASUS mini-ITX model, with speeds of up to DDR4-5333 and up to 64 GB of capacity. ASUS is also advertising a 10-phase power delivery in an 8+2 configuration, with one 8-pin 12 V ATX CPU power input delivering the necessary power to the processor.
On the rear panel are one Thunderbolt 4 Type-C port, with one USB 3.2 G2x2 Type-C, one USB 3.2 G2 Type-A, one USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and four USB 2.0 ports. For users planning to take advantage of Intel's integrated graphics is an HDMI 2.0 video output, while three gold plated and illuminated 3.5 mm audio jacks are powered by a Realtek ALC4080 HD audio codec and Savitech SV3H712 amplifier. ASUS uses an Intel I225-V 2.5 GbE controller, with an Intel AX210 Wi-Fi 6E CNVi, which also adds BT 5.2 device connectivity. Finishing off the rear panel is a small BIOS Flashback button.
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WaltC - Wednesday, January 20, 2021 - link
If my x570 Aorus Master fan is "active", it has sure fooled me...;) It is not audible.Makaveli - Wednesday, January 20, 2021 - link
I'm on a Asus Prime X570-Pro for just over a year now and I've not heard the chipset fan once totally overblown issue. Drama queens!Samus - Thursday, January 21, 2021 - link
I think it's impressive Intel kept a PCIe4.0 chipset down to 6w TDP. Definitely doesn't need active cooling.Slash3 - Sunday, January 24, 2021 - link
The chipset isn't Gen4.Spunjji - Wednesday, January 20, 2021 - link
Not surprised if they're expecting users to overclock chips that will exceed 200W at stock settings. 😬YB1064 - Thursday, January 21, 2021 - link
Is it just me or are the MSRPs listed utterly insane? Intel has been relegated to a poor man's AMD, yet these crazy prices? As they say, a fool and his money are soon parted.Samus - Saturday, January 23, 2021 - link
I don't think it's actually the chipset costs that are inflating the price of the boards, but the ridiculous power circuit and components required to deliver over 200w of power to the CPU's in order for these board makers to take advantage of PL2.fundead - Wednesday, August 4, 2021 - link
I thought the active fan is for the 10 gig networking chip. It is facing that heatsink which is right next to the vrm heatsink.damianrobertjones - Tuesday, January 19, 2021 - link
Looking at the prices, I'm really, REALLY glad that I bought an AORUS Z490 Elite (£154, new) from eBay. I just don't understand the prices.aidan - Wednesday, January 20, 2021 - link
I've just done exactly the same, no regrets whatsoever