Intel has been a key player in the computing industry since the start of the era. Been there through the advancements that computers have seen. It has ruled the industry for so long and still holds the largest share in the market to date. If we get on to the point of Intel’s success, Intel’s innovation and constant upgradability deserve the crown.
With the introduction of the latest 10th generation (Comet Lake) CPUs in the market, Intel has moved to a completely new chipset and CPU socket. That means, the older motherboards no longer share support to the newer (10th gen) Intel CPUs. If you wish to include a comet lake CPU in your build, you should invest in a motherboard with the latest Z490 chipset.
Topics covered:
The Best Z490 Motherboards for Intel CPU’s in 2020
There are a number of Z490 motherboards available in the market. Choosing one that caters to your needs can be tough. This is where our ‘Best Intel Z490 Motherboard – Buying Guide’ should come to your rescue. As always, we have elaborated on a few considerations at the end of this post that should help you better decide on your purpose to go with a good Intel Z490 motherboard.
We do not directly or indirectly endorse any brand or product. Each Z490 motherboard on our list is put to extensive testing by our testing team to come up with an unbiased, genuine opinion. With that said, let us unveil our recommendation list for you.
Best Z490 Motherboards for Intel Core i9 10th generation
#1. MSI MEG Z490 Godlike – Best Premium Z490 MOBO for Intel Core i9 – 10900K
MSI MEG Z490 Godlike is the best ever premium Z490 motherboard in the market with godlike features and performance.
The MSI MEG Z490 Godlike isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. It is an enthusiast-level Z490 motherboard designed for those who wish to take their build to the extremities. Ask for whichever the groundbreaking feature that has crept into the current market and the motherboard responds with a big yes. However, for great specs, you will have to shell out a greater price, the MSI MEG GODLIKE is no exception here.
The motherboard is themed in black and chrome with a massive 8 layered built. It feels very sturdy and should withstand heavier usage. Also, it is one of the premium-looking motherboards that we laid our hands-on. Speaking of the power delivery on this nifty piece of hardware, it has a beasty 16-phased VRM network powered by Intersil PWM with 16 90A power stages. MSI has incorporated its very own Titanium Choke III to ensure premium quality VRMs.
| Brand | MSI |
|---|---|
| Socket | LGA 1200 |
| Chipset | Intel® Z490 Chipset |
| M.2 Slots | 3 |
| Supported CPU’s | Intel i9, i7, i5 (10th gen) |
| Rating: | 4.7/5 |
Coming to the thermal management on the MEG Z490 Godlike Motherboard, MSI has incorporated 7W/mK thermal pads on the VRM cooler to ensure optimal thermal transfer. Apart from these, there are two fans that are hidden under the cover towards the I/O side of the VRM heatsink. These are triggered if the VRM temperatures go over 60C.
Speaking of the expansion slots on this MOBO it offers three full-length x16 PCIe slots. Among the three, the top slot is connected directly to the CPU whereas the bottom two share lanes with the top slot. The board offers a total of 6 SATA III ports with support to a maximum data transfer rate of 6Gb/s.
Coming to the networking capabilities on this device, it has solid connectivity options with support to both wired and wireless networking capabilities on-board. The device features a dual network interface card with a 10 Gbps and a 2.5 Gbps LAN and boasts the cutting-edge Wi-Fi 6 protocol and Bluetooth 5.1.
The MSI MEG has a wide range of connectivity options on the I/O side with 6 USB 2.0 ports, eight USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps) ports, to 5 USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) ports, and also a dual Thunderbolt 3 ports. Controlling the USB 3.2 is the ASMedia ASM1074 controller/hub.
Technical Specifications, Pros & Cons of – MSI MEG Z490 GODLIKE Gaming Motherboard
Tech Specs
Tech Specs| Socket | LGA 1200 |
| Chipset | Intel® Z490 Chipset |
| DIMM Slots | 4 |
| Maximum supported memory (GB) | 128 |
| PCIe | PCIe x16 – 3 PCIe x1 – 1 |
| SATA III | 6 |
| M.2 Slots | 3 |
| Connectivity | 1x Aquantia® AQC107 10G LAN controller 1x Realtek® RTL8125B 2.5G LAN controller |
| USB ports | 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps ports (2 Type-A ports on the back panel, 1 Type-C internal connector)6x USB 2.0 ports (2 Type-A ports on the back panel, 4 ports through the internal USB 2.0 connectors)8x USB 3.2 Gen 1 5Gbps ports (4 Type-A ports on the back panel, 4 ports through the internal USB 3.2 Gen 1 5Gbps connectors)2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps Type-C ports on the back panel |
| Audio | Realtek® ALC1220 Codec + ESS SABRE9018Q2C combo DAC |
MSI MEG Z490 GODLIKE Gaming MOBO – Final Review
The MSI MEG GODLIKE is the premium Z490 motherboard that you can buy with your money in 2020. It has everything that you would typically look for in a motherboard to power your Intel Core i9-10900K processor. The dual-LAN and Wi-Fi 6 makes it a gaming beast that can get you uninterrupted connectivity. However, it is also one of the most expensive motherboards on the market. If you can get past the price tag, this is a beast in itself.
#2. ASUS ROG Maximus XII Hero – Best mid-range Z490 Motherboard for Intel Core i9-10900K
The ASUS ROG Maximus XII Hero is the best Z490 Motherboard for Intel Core i9-10900K in the upper mid-range segment with modern connectivity and latest gen ports.
Though the ASUS ROG Maximus XII Hero is a tad expensive compared to most mid-range Z490 motherboards, it is still an ideal choice if few premium features are your cup of tea. The design is fairly decent and is similar to most other motherboards in the ROG line-up with the ROG logo and the HERO model is glowing in RGB within the heatsinks.
Speaking of the power capability, the Maximus XII Hero has a pretty potent 16 phase VRM in a 14+2 configuration and is covered in three fairly large heatsinks. There is a total of four DDR4 DIMM slots that can run at maximum frequencies up to 4800. The DIMM slots have a debug code display sitting next to them.
| Brand | Asus |
|---|---|
| Socket | LGA 1200 |
| Chipset | Intel® Z490 Chipset |
| M.2 Slots | 3 |
| Supported CPU’s | Intel i9, i7, i5 (10th gen) |
| Rating | 4.7/5 |
Coming to the expansion slots, the ASUS ROG Mximum XII Hero boasts three full-length slots and three x1 slots in the PCIe section. There are three PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots located between the full-length PCIe slots. M2_1 supports both SATA and PCIe 3.0 x4 modules while M2_2 supports PCIe 3.0 x4 only. M2_3 on the other hand supports 110mm drives as well as SATA and PCIe 3.0 x4 modules.
As far as I/O ports are concerned, this nifty motherboard has got a total of 10 USB ports at the rear end with the Type-C port being the ultra-fast USB 3.2 Gen2 (20 Gbps), while there are three 3.2 Gen2 (10 Gbps) and four 3.2 Gen1 ports and a pair of USB 2.0 ports.
The ASUS ROG Maximus XII Hero has an impressive design with stunning black detailing all over the board with heatsinks and shrouds covering most of its components. The thermal management on this device is top notch ensuring no throttling or bottlenecks.
Technical Specifications, Pros & Cons of – ASUS ROG Maximus XII Hero Z490 (WiFi 6)
Tech Specs
| Socket | LGA 1200 |
| Chipset | Intel® Z490 Chipset |
| DIMM Slots | 4 |
| Maximum supported memory (GB) | 128 |
| PCIe | PCIe x16 – 3 PCIe x1 – 1 |
| SATA III | 6 |
| M.2 Slots | 3 |
| Connectivity | (2) 5 GbE / 1 GbE Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 / Bluetooth 5.0 |
| USB ports | Rear USB Port (Total 10)4 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 port(s)(3 + Type-A +1 + USB Type-C®)4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 port(s)(4 x Type-A)2 x USB 2.0 port(s)(2 x Type-A)Front USB Port (Total 7)1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 front panel connector port(s)2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 port(s)4 x USB 2.0 port(s) |
| Audio | ROG SupremeFX 7.1 Surround Sound High Definition Audio CODEC S1220 |
ROG MAXIMUS XII HERO (WI-FI) -Final Review
The ASUS ROG Maximus XII Hero is one of the pricier options in the above mid-range budget segment. However, this shouldn’t let you disqualify it from your wish-list. It is one of the top Z490 motherboards available on the market with the features and performance equivalent to most costlier flagship motherboards. If you are looking for a good Z490 Motherboard for your Intel Core i9-10900K, this is worth the try.
Best Z490 Motherboards for Intel Core i7 10th generation
#1. ASUS ROG Maximus XII Extreme – Best Premium Z490 MOBO for Intel Core i7-10700K
If you can go past the affordability factor, the ASUS ROG Maximus XII Extreme is a beast. Be it gaming or productivity, it can handle everything that you are going to throw at it.
The ASUS ROG Maximus XII Extreme is one of the most powerful and popular premium Z490 motherboards in the ROG lineup. However, this Motherboard is a lot pricier for a budget build. However, if you are an enthusiast and are in the market for a powerful Intel Z490 Motherboard for your i7-10700K, this can be your go-to option.
As far as the looks go, the ASUS ROG Maximus XII Extreme is one of the best if not the best visually appealing motherboards on the market. It has a premium design all over with stunning RGB lighting glowing within the heatsinks. This brings us to the heatsinks, the board is all covered in beefy heatsinks and padding to help keep the thermals in control. The board itself feels heavy, beautiful, and is the sturdiest of the boards that we have had our hands-on.
| Brand | Asus |
|---|---|
| Socket | LGA 1200 |
| Chipset | Intel® Z490 Chipset |
| M.2 Slots | 4 |
| Supported CPU’s | Intel i9, i7, i5 (10th gen) |
| Rating | 4.6/5 |
There is a total of four DIMM slots on the board which is rated up to 4800MHz+ which is incredible for a motherboard of this generation. Besides this, the I/O has a solid collection of high-speed ports which includes triple USB 3.2 Gen 2 10 Gbps ports with one of them being Type-C. It also has a USB 3.2 2×2 20Gbps Type-C port. Besides these, ASUS is providing an add-in card in the box that gets us up to two additional Thunderbolt 3 ports with DisplayPort passthrough for displays.
It offers super solid connectivity options with a dual-LAN setup with an Aquantia 10Gb RJ45 and an Intel 2.5Gb on the rear I/O. The party doesn’t stop here, it also has the latest Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 with integrated Bluetooth 5.1 functionality.
Speaking of the power capabilities on this device, the ASUS ROG Maximus XII Extreme boasts a massive VRM network with a total of 16 90A Infineon power stages this makes this device stand as a top Z490 Motherboard in the market. To address the inherent delay in the responsiveness while using doubles, ASUS teamed the power states instead of using doubles which will ultimately show a positive impact on the transient response.
When it comes to the expansion slots, this nifty device boasts two full-length x16 PCIe slots which will run at x8/8 when using two cards. Moving to the storage section, it offers a massive storage solution with a total of four M.2 slots and eight SATA III ports that supports up to a maximum of 6Gb/s transfer speeds.
Technical Specifications, Pros & Cons of – ASUS ROG Maximus XII Extreme Z490 (WiFi 6) Motherboard
Tech Specs
| Socket | LGA 1200 |
| Chipset | Intel® Z490 Chipset |
| DIMM Slots | 4 |
| Maximum supported memory (GB) | 128 |
| PCIe | Intel® 10th Gen Processors2 x PCIe 3.0 x16 (x16 or dual x8) Intel® Z490 Chipset1 x PCIe 3.0 x4 |
| SATA III | 8 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s) |
| M.2 Slots | 4 |
| Connectivity | Intel® I225-V 2.5Gb EthernetMarvell® AQtion AQC107 10Gb Ethernet Intel® Wi-Fi 6 AX201 |
| USB ports | Rear USB Port (Total 12)1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 port(s)3 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 port(s)(2 + Type-A +1 + USB Type-CTM)6 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 port(s)(6 x Type-A)2 x USB 2.0 port(s)(2 x Type-A) Front USB Port (Total 10)2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 front panel connector port(s)4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 port(s)4 x USB 2.0 port(s) |
| Audio | ROG SupremeFX 7.1 Surround Sound High Definition Audio CODEC S1220 |
ASUS ROG Maximus XII Extreme Z490 (Wi-Fi 6) – Final Review
The ASUS ROG Maximus XII Extreme is not everyone’s cup of tea. It is specifically designed for extreme enthusiasts who don’t compromise on any section of their build. There are certain things about this nifty piece of hardware which make it a top Z490 motherboard on the market. Solid power capability, ASUS Aura Sync software, DIMM.2 slots, 4 DIMM slots, 8 SATA ports, and ample USB ports with extension cards are some of the things that contribute to making this Motherboard the best in class.
#2. ASRock Z490 Taichi – Best affordable Z490 Motherboard for Intel Core i7 – 10700K
The ASRock Z490 Taichi is one of the affordable Z490 motherboards with premium features making this MOBO the luxury among mid-range boards.
There are a number of Z490 motherboards on the market. However, most of them are overrated while a few don’t stand the worth for what you are paying. The ASRock Z490 Taichi on the other hand is one of the most reliable options that you can find on the market today with flagship-like features at a decent cost.
The aesthetics of this Motherboard is what caught my sight. It has a fairly simple design with most of the board being in pitch black contradicting which is a copper design on the chipset and stenciled design on the PCIe area. This makes it one of the classiest Z490 MOBOs on the market. Besides the physical looks, the device has a touch of RGB lighting in three different areas – the chipset heatsinks, left VRM bank heatsink, and underneath the right edge of the motherboard.
| Brand | Asus |
|---|---|
| Socket | LGA 1200 |
| Chipset | Intel® Z490 Chipset |
| M.2 Slots | 4 |
| Supported CPU’s | Intel i9, i7, i5 (10th gen) |
| Rating | 4.6/5 |
It comes with four DDR4 DIMM slots with supported speeds up to 4666+ (OC) and has maximum memory support of up to 128 GB. Speaking of the power capabilities on the ASRock Z490 Taichi, it has 14-phase high-quality VRMs with an actively cooled, finned VRM heatsink that can help deliver maximum performance and to prevent bottlenecks and thermal throttling under heavy operation.
In the connectivity area, this Z490 MOBO boasts a 2.5 Gb/z LAN and a built-in Wi-Fi 6 that makes this device no less than the premium flagship models. While most Z490 MOBOs in this price range are offering 6 SATA ports, the ASRock Taichi is offering eight SATA ports. Talking of the M.2 ports, this nifty device comes equipped with three M.2 slots which is again a good thing as most affordable motherboards only have two.
As far as the Audio is concerned, the audio on this device is powered by Realtek ALC1220 with DACs and audio caps. Speaking of the thermals, the motherboard is all covered well in solid heatsinks. The shroud on the left is made of metal with a matte finish, and it extends out over the VRM heatsink. There are three small fans on the VRM heatsinks that help maintain the thermals in range and help in preventing the thermal throttling and bottlenecks during heavy operation.
Technical Specification, Pros & Cons of – ASRock Z490 Taichi Supports 10th Gen
Tech Specs
| Socket | LGA 1200 |
| Chipset | Intel® Z490 Chipset |
| DIMM Slots | 4 |
| Maximum supported memory (GB) | 128 |
| PCIe | 3 x PCI Express 3.0 x16 Slots (PCIE1/PCIE3/PCIE5: single at x16 (PCIE1); dual at x8 (PCIE1) / x8 (PCIE3); triple at x8 (PCIE1) / x8 (PCIE3) / x4 (PCIE5)) |
| SATA III | 8 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s) |
| M.2 Slots | 3 |
| Connectivity | 1 x 2.5 Gigabit LAN 10/100/1000/2500 Mb/s (Dragon RTL8125BG) Intel® 802.11ax WiFi 6 Module |
| USB ports | 2 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A Ports (10 Gb/s) (ReDriver) (Supports ESD Protection)- 1 x USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C Port (20 Gb/s) (ASMedia ASM3242) (Supports ESD Protection)*- 5 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Ports (Supports ESD Protection) |
| Audio | Realtek ALC1220 Audio Codec with 7.1 CH HD Audio with Content Protection |
ASRock Z490 Taichi Supports 10th Gen Motherboard – Final Review
The ASRock Z490 Taichi is the mid-range luxury Z490 motherboard for those who wish to enjoy what the expensive flagship Z490 MOBO’s has to offer while still being in the budget constraint. While most budget Z490 motherboards are offering only 6 SATA III ports, the ASRock Taichi has 8 ports in its bag. Be it the USB ports or the M.2 Slots, the ASRock Z490 Taichi has it all. You can’t go wrong with choosing this if you are in the market for a premium yet budget Z490 motherboard.
Top Z490 Motherboards for Intel Core i5 10th generation:
#1. MSI MEG Z490 ACE – Best High-end Z490 Motherboard for i5 10th Gen
Be it the speed or power, the MSI MEG Z490 ACE has it for you. It is one of the most reliable Z490 motherboard options available that can make the best out of your comet lake range of CPUs.
Though the Z490 chipset is the latest announcement from Intel, there are a number of Z490 motherboard options on the market already. There is one for every budget and use case. Before you hunt one, it is very important to decide on the purpose of building your computer. Be it for gaming or productivity, the MSI MEG Z490 ACE handles it all. It has got adequate power and speed to get your Intel 10th gen processors run at their maximum capability.
Speaking of the physical design of the MSI MEG Z490 ACE, the entire board is made in pitch black with metallic silver here and there. The CPU socket is surrounded on two sides by the VRM network backed by the Intersil ISL69269 Digital PWM controller. The Intersil controllers have a reputation for handling all the power stages well. Instead of using a doubler, MSI had opted to mirror 8 power phases by using 16 ISL99390 with each delivering 90A power. MSI had to take this call to reduce ripple, keep thermals in control, and to build a sturdier and more reliable VRM.
| Brand | Asus |
|---|---|
| Socket | LGA 1200 |
| Chipset | Intel® Z490 Chipset |
| M.2 Slots | 4 |
| Supported CPU’s | Intel i9, i7, i5 (10th gen) |
| Rating | 4.6/5 |
The VRMs are all covered by beastie heatsinks that are attached together by means of a heat pipe for optimal cooling. There is a small fan that is blowing air into the left block from the rear IO shield. MSI had done a decent job of incorporating a solid cooling system to better manage the thermals on this motherboard.
It has a total of 4 DDR4 DIMM slots with each supporting a maximum memory of 32GB. The slots come with a single locking mechanism and are placed right next to the cooler mounting screws for the CPU. This makes the DIMM slots inaccessible when a large custom CPU cooler is mounted. You might need to remove the cooler to access the slots.
MSI has incorporated a POST status LEDs right next to the RAM slots which makes identifying the issues easier. This device boasts 3 x16 PCIe slots, 2 x1 PCIe slots, and 3 NVMe slots. With the first two slots from the CPU and the third from PCH. All the M.2 slots are covered under heatsinks to help dissipate the heat and ensure optimal performance.
It is so good of MSI to incorporate an onboard power and reset button along with a physical switch to turn the LEDs on and off. This really saves us from the pain of heading over to the BIOS to disable the LEDs.
Talking of the audio on the MSI MEG Z490 ACE, it comes powered by a Realtek ALC1220 CODEC coupled with the ESS Sabre ES9018 DAC to give the best audio output possible. The device boasts a total of 8 USB ports which are adequate for a moderate user.
Technical Specifications, Pros & Cons of – MSI MEG Z490 ACE Motherboard
Tech Specs
| Socket | LGA 1200 |
| Chipset | Intel® Z490 Chipset |
| DIMM Slots | 4 |
| Maximum supported memory (GB) | 128 |
| PCIe | 3x PCIe 3.0 16 slots (2 from CPU, 1 from PCH, support 16/0/4, 8/8/4) 2x PCIe x1 slots (from PCH) |
| SATA III | 6 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s) |
| M.2 Slots | 3 |
| Connectivity | 1x Realtek® 8125B 2.5G LAN controller 1x Intel® I219V 1G LAN controller Supports 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, MU-MINO Rx, 2.4GHz-5GHz (160MHz) up to 2.4Gbps Supports Bluetooth 5.1 |
| USB ports | USB 3.2 PORTS (FRONT): 1(Gen2, Type C), 2(Gen1, Type A) USB 3.2 PORTS (REAR): 1(Gen 2×2, Type C), 3(Gen2, Type A), 2(Gen1, Type A) USB 2.0 PORTS (FRONT): 4 USB 2.0 PORTS (REAR): 2 |
| Audio | Realtek® ALC1220 Codec + ESS SABRE9018Q2C combo DAC 7.1-Channel High Definition AudioSupports Optical S/PDIF output |
MSI MEG Z490 ACE Gaming Motherboard – Final Review
The MSI MEG ACE Z490 Motherboard is one of the best upper mid-range Z490 motherboards that are available on the market with the feature sets that you would see in premium flagships. It has solid connectivity options with wired and wireless capability. Be it the power delivery capability, connectivity, networking, or thermal management, the MSI ACE Z490 motherboard is a class above most other motherboards in its price range.
#2. Gigabyte Z490 AORUS Elite – Best Cheap Z490 MOBO for Intel Core i5 10th gen
The Gigabyte Z490 AORUS Elite is one of the few best motherboards with an extremely smaller price tag that is available on the market.
The Gigabyte Z490 AORUS Elite is for those who wish to unlock what the latest Z490 chipset has to offer while still sticking to their budget constraint. This device comes with a capable power delivery system with a 12+1 phase digital CPU power design that includes both the digital PWM controller and Driver and MOSFET Module (DrMOS). With good power capability, it requires better thermal management. The Gigabyte Z490 AORUS Elite addressed this pretty well with the best in the class thermal management system.
The motherboard comes mounted with beefy heat sinks and thick thermal pads all over its components. There is a total of four DIMM slots with support to a maximum of 128 GB with the maximum support for 32GB on each slot. When it comes to PCIe slots, it has 4 of them with one slot running at x16, one running at x4, and two running at x1.
| Brand | Asus |
|---|---|
| Socket | LGA 1200 |
| Chipset | Intel® Z490 Chipset |
| M.2 Slots | 4 |
| Supported CPU’s | Intel i9, i7, i5 (10th gen) |
| Rating | 4.4/5 |
Getting to the storage section on the Gigabyte Z490 AORUS Elite Motherboard, it comes with dual M.2 slots that are covered in thermal guards for optimal dissipation of heat to help prevent throttling and bottlenecks while running at higher speeds. Besides the M.2 slots, this nifty Z490 Motherboard offers a total of 6 SATA III ports with a maximum data transfer rate of 6 GB/s and has support for RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, and RAID 10.
On the audio section, it features a combination of Hi-Fi grade WIMA FKP2 and high-end Chemicon audio capacitors which are popularly used for producing high-grade audio equipment. To make the audio experience immersive, Gigabyte has incorporated the Realtek ALC1200 codec which produces high-definition audio at 7.1 channel output.
Coming on the networking of this Z490 mobo, it features the Realtek 2.5 GbE LAN chip and has the wireless ability with the Intel Wi-Fi AC 9462 802.11a/b/g/n/ac that has support for 2.4/5 GHz dual-band. It also has the latest Bluetooth 5 support.
When it comes to connectivity on this board, it offers solid connectivity options making it fit in for any need. With two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A on the back panel, one USB Type-C with USB 3.2 Gen 1 support, 6x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (4 ports on the back panel and 2 ports are available through the internal USB header), 8 USB 2.0/1.1 ports (4 on the back panel and 4 available through the internal USB header), the options are vast. Besides this, this motherboard also features headers to support lighting with two headers each for both addressable LED strips and RGB LED. The lighting modes can be adjusted using the RGB FUSION software as well as a mobile application.
Updating the BIOS is no hassle with the Q-Flash Plus. The update can also be done without a CPU, memory, and Graphics Card. You don’t even have to enter the BIOS in order to flash. Just download and copy the latest BIOS into a removable drive and rename the file to gigabyte.bin, plug the drive into the dedicated Q-Flash Plus port on the motherboard and press the button next to it. You are done.
Technical Specifications, Pros & Cons of – GIGABYTE Z490 AORUS Elite
Tech Specs
| Socket | LGA 1200 |
| Chipset | Intel® Z490 Chipset |
| DIMM Slots | 4 |
| Maximum supported memory (GB) | 128 |
| PCIe | 1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x16 (PCIEX16) 1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x4 (PCIEX4) 2 x PCI Express x1 slots |
| SATA III | 6 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s) |
| M.2 Slots | 2 |
| Connectivity | Realtek® 2.5GbE LAN chip (2.5 Gbit/1 Gbit/100 Mbit) Intel® Wi-Fi AC 9462 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, supporting 2.4/5 GHz Dual-Band Bluetooth 5 |
| USB ports | 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports (red) on the back panel 1 x USB Type-C™ port with USB 3.2 Gen 1 support, available through the internal USB header 6 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (4 ports on the back panel, 2 ports available through the internal USB header) Chipset+2 USB 2.0 Hubs:8 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports (4 ports on the back panel, 4 ports available through the internal USB headers) |
| Audio | Realtek® ALC1200 codec High Definition Audio 7.1-channel |
GIGABYTE Z490 AORUS Elite MOBO – Final Review
If you are in the market for buying a motherboard to enjoy the features of the latest Z490 chipset while being on the cheaper price margin, the Gigabyte Z490 AORUS Elite AC is the right choice. Be it the networking or the connectivity, the Z490 AORUS Elite has it all for you. This can be the best Intel Core i5 10th generation motherboard option if that is what you are looking for.
Best Z490 Motherboard 2020 – Buying Guide
It is very important to look into the following considerations before deciding on a Z490 motherboard for your Intel 10th generation CPUs. To help you understand them better, we have listed down a few things that you should be looking into. We have tried to explain it in as simpler terms as possible to help you better understand them.
Chipset –
The chipset is a controller that lies on the motherboard and is responsible for effective communication between the CPU, RAM, Storage, and other peripherals of your computer. Most commonly used peripherals like the Keyboard, Mouse, or Monitor are controlled by the chipsets on your motherboard. It determines the total number of high-speed components or USB devices that can be connected to your computer at one go.
It is important to understand which chipset your motherboard is running on and should verify the same with your CPU. If the processor is also based on the same chipset, only then you should come to a conclusion that your CPU and motherboard are compatible.
CPU Socket –
The CPU Socket is the physical slot on your motherboard where your CPU chip sits in comfortably. Your CPU socket contains metal pins or contacts which are exactly made to pair with the contacts on your CPU.
CPU sockets come in different standards. Each standard has a different size, design and shape. So, it is very important to understand what type of socket your CPU fits in before you are into buying a motherboard.
PCI Express (PCIe) Slots / Expansion Slots –
The PCIe slots/PCI expansion slots are the physical slots on your motherboard where different additional hardware components that are designed to expand the functionality of your motherboard are installed. The most commonly used PCIe hardware is the graphics card. PCIe slots come in different sizes. It is important to understand what type of hardware components you are going to interface with your motherboard and decide on which length of PCIe that your component fits in.
DIMM Slots –
The dual in-line memory module slots on the motherboard are where you place your RAM sticks. They come in different generations and the latest is the DDR4 (dual data rate 4) memory. However, there are still some last-generation motherboards that are still running DDR3.
M.2 slots –
The M.2 slots are dedicated for a new form factor of solid-state drives to sit in. M.2 SSDs are extensively used because of their advantages in accessing speeds and sizes. They are much smaller and faster compared to normal hard disks or traditional SSDs.
Read our latest blog posts about Best AMD Gaming CPU and best motherboard for i5 10600k
FAQ’s about Good Value Z490 Motherboard in 2020
The following are some of the questions that we keep hearing a lot from our readers.
The MSI MEG Z490 Godlike Motherboard is one of the top motherboards for Intel i9-10900k considering the performance factor. However, it is very costly and not everyone can afford it. Alternatively, you can choose the ASUS ROG Maximus XII Hero which is a tad lesser and has almost the same features that of the former one.
The Intel 10th gen processors use the latest Z490 chipset and the new LGA 1200 CPU socket. So, in order to make use of your processor, you should invest in a motherboard with the Z490 chipset and the new LGA 1200 CPU socket.
If you don’t mind spending a fortune on the motherboard, the MSI MEG Z490 GODLIKE Gaming Motherboard can be the ideal choice for an extreme gaming build with the Intel Core i7-10700K. However, if you are looking for a budget motherboard for your build, go for the ASRock Z490 Taichi.