Z490 motherboard guide: ASUS harnesses the power of 10th Gen Intel® Core™ CPUs with ROG, ROG Strix, Prime, TUF Gaming, and ProArt

ROG Strix brings elite DNA to boards for every builder

The ROG Maximus XII boards that form the upper echelon of our Z490 lineup exploit the real estate offered by ATX and larger form factors to pack in as many power stages, ports, controllers, and heatsinks as our engineers can fit onto their PCBs. The ROG Strix family takes a healthy dose of that high-performance DNA and infuses it in an attainable family of boards that give mainstream gamers everything they need for winning performance in their systems.

AI Overclocking offers ROG Strix builders an easy way to push chips past stock performance. AI Cooling automatically seeks the best balance between noise and thermal performance. AI Networking with GameFirst VI ensures your ping times are as low as they can be, even with downloads running in the background. SupremeFX audio on select ROG Strix boards incorporates dual op-amps, impedance matching, and DTS^® Sound Unbound 3D virtualization to ensure that music sounds the way it was intended and that no enemy will ever escape your notice.

The ROG Strix Z490-E and Z490-F Gaming are buff brothers from different mothers

The ROG Strix Z490-E Gaming and Z490-F Gaming stand at the front of the pecking order in the family. They certainly look the part, thanks to embedded LEDs across multiple zones, futuristic styling, and tasteful accents. When you want the lights off, these two boards can drop into stealth mode with blacked-out PCBs and heatsinks.

The ROG Strix Z390-E Gaming

The ROG Strix Z490-E employs a 14+2 teamed power stage design, while the Z490-F uses a 12+2 topology. These power-delivery subsystems stand ready to power both stock and overclocked 10th Gen Core chips with ease. The heatsink resting on those power stages incorporates a heat pipe in its foundation to ensure the components underneath can stay cool while working hard under sustained loads. A secondary heatsink cools the Z490 chipset, while ProCool II auxiliary power connectors and six-layer PCBs ensure stable power gets to where it needs to be across both boards.

For extra stability when pushing beyond stock settings, the ROG Strix Z490-E Gaming ships with an optional fan you can attach to the VRM heatsink if you’re feeling particularly frisky with its CPU multiplier settings. AI Overclocking will gladly take the wheel if you just want an easy boost on both the Z490-E and Z490-F, though. The four DIMM slots on both boards employ a daisy-chain topology for peak frequency potential, and they can drive two-stick sets of RAM at 4600MHz and beyond.

The baseline Ethernet speed for the ROG Strix range is 2.5Gb thanks to all-new Intel I225-V controllers. The Strix-E also has built-in WiFi 6 and Bluetooth^® connectivity, while the Strix-F can use its M.2 E-key slot to take in an optional Wi-Fi module. Speedy NVMe solid-state drives can use either of two available slots, and both of those slots come covered by heatsinks to ensure consistent performance under intense I/O loads.

A comprehensive array of USB ports graces the back panel, while internal headers handle even more, including a USB 3.2 Gen 2 front-panel connector on the ROG Strix Z490-E. If your current or future needs call for Thunderbolt 3 connectivity and its 40 Gbps of bandwidth, you can install the optional ThunderboltEX 3-TR card.

The ROG Strix Z490-F Gaming

A Q-Code POST code display on the Strix-E gives you quick insight into the status of your system, and the cooling control department on both boards includes headers of all types: for standard fans, AIO pumps, high-amperage fans, and a dedicated custom-loop pump header.

The multiple onboard lighting zones configurable with Aura Sync are swanky enough on their own, and you can complement them using the quartet of RGB LED headers—two of them standard, and two Gen 2 addressable headers with per-LED assignment that make it easy to color-match connected devices. Aura Sync runs the light show, and our newly developed AI Cooling smarts keep your system quiet under pressure.

The ROG Strix Z490-I Gaming is the size of a piranha with a bite to match

There used to be a time when opting for the Mini-ITX form factor meant you’d have to give up a significant amount of features compared to a standard ATX board. Those days are no more. It’s quite a marvel how many features you can cram into 6.7 in². The Strix Z490-I proves that point quite handily.

Just because it’s small doesn’t mean the Z490-I isn’t capable of big things when it comes to processor and memory performance. The compact PCB is made up of eight layers for signal integrity and plenty of passive heat dissipation, and it boasts an 8+2 power stage VRM with active cooling for overclocking in space-constrained cases.

The Z490-I’s memory slots offer extra performance potential with ultra-fast RAM kits. The short distance to the CPU inherent to the Mini-ITX form factor means you can try your hand at pushing compatible sticks to 4800MHz and beyond. There’s double-capacity RAM support on tap, too, meaning that you can install as much as 64GB of RAM in this tiny board.

You’ll be surprised to find the Z490-I can take in two M.2 devices just like its bigger brothers, both resting underneath heatsinks—an important consideration given the limited airflow in many extra-small cases. Despite its small size, this board comes ready to connect through 13 total USB ports from internal headers and external ports, including three Type-A^® ports and a Type-C^® USB 3.2 Gen 2 connector at the back panel.

Mini-ITX systems often find homes in entertainment centers for HTPC duty, and should you want to make use of 10th Gen Core chips’ integrated graphics, DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI™ 2.0 outputs stand ready to pipe 4K HDR video to your big screen. Each audio jack lights up with its own LED to make for easy identification when performing living-room setup gymnastics, too. The Z490-I’s 2.5Gb Ethernet port makes moving big media files and streaming high-resolution video across your network a snap, while a WiFi 6 adapter with Bluetooth^® 5.1 will play nice on crowded networks when paired with a compatible router.

When it comes time to extract full performance and dial in low noise from your system, you’ll be happy to find that the full AI Overclocking, AI Cooling, and AI Networking suites are supported on this board, as is BIOS FlashBack™. It’s the perfect pint-sized companion for your small form factor build.

The ROG Strix Z490-H Gaming is a new spin on a classic look

PC components nowadays can be any shade in the rainbow, but the combination of red on black is the gamer version of classic rock. It’ll never go out of style. The ROG Strix Z490-H Gaming takes this time-honored look and melds it with Strix aesthetics and features.

The Z490-H isn’t just about looking pretty, of course. Generous heatsinks cover the chipset and 12+2 teamed power stages of the VRM, making this board a fine home for any chip in the 10th Gen Core family. The memory slots can take in DIMMs as fast as 4600MHz, too.

The three main PCIe slots come with SafeSlot metal reinforcement for extra durability if you need to move a system with a graphics or expansion card installed. One of the two M.2 slots is topped off by a dedicated heatsink, and a third M.2 E-key slot stands ready to take in an optional WiFi 6 module. Wired networking gives you the lowest ping times if you can run a cord, of course, and the 2.5Gb port brings a new class of speed to this relatively affordable motherboard. The pristine SupremeFX S1220A audio codec with dual amplifiers ensures your games and tunes get top-of-the-charts treatment on the way to your ears, too.

AI Overclocking and AI Networking technologies allow you to take both processing and gaming performance to 11 on the Z490-H, and it stays cool thanks to six total fan headers, a dedicated AIO liquid cooler pump header, and a thermal sensor input. AI Cooling is at hand to keep noise levels in check during intense action, too. Aura Sync and RGB LED strip headers (two standard, one Gen 2 addressable) let you extend this board’s rockin’ style to an external light show.

The ROG Strix Z490-A Gaming proposes white as the new black

White cases, graphics cards, coolers, PSUs, and peripherals offer custom builders a bold alternative to black and grey components. We just so happen to make all of the above, so it’s only natural that our motherboards follow suit. The Strix Z490-A comes dressed in a dashing white finish that’s bound to look particularly handsome under the hues of RGB LED strips.

Aside from its icy look, this model is quite similar to the Strix Z490-H above. The rear USB port selection is tweaked slightly, and the front-panel USB Type-C connector makes a comeback, as a modern white case is likely to have the cabling for that cutting-edge port. If you’re wondering what would be fashionable to coordinate with this board, perhaps we can suggest a matching graphics card, mouse, headset, and PSU.

The ROG Strix Z490-G Gaming (Wi-Fi) stakes out the middle ground

For many PC builders, microATX motherboards sit right in the Goldilocks zone. They’re small enough to fit into compact builds, yet large enough to accommodate all the features and expansion slots a builder might need or want. The ROG Strix Z490-G Gaming caters to microATX enthusiasts with gaming-friendly features and broad connectivity.

Even though it starts off with a smaller PCB than its ATX brethren, the Z490-G Gaming still incorporates an efficient 12+2 teamed power stage VRM design to make the most of its AI Overclocking capabilities. Four DIMM slots let you make the choice between clocks and capacity for your specific build.

Fast 2.5Gb Ethernet lets the Z490-G blast packets across the network more than twice as fast as older Gigabit Ethernet controllers, and optional WiFi 6 connectivity lets this board enjoy all the advantages of the next-gen wireless standard when paired with a compatible router. Two PCIe x16 slots and a PCIe x1 slot—all running at Gen 3 speeds—provide ample room for expansion cards, while two M.2 slots offer real estate for high-speed NVMe storage. A heatsink on the primary M.2 slot keeps your SSD cool under sustained loads.

You can set up your cooling system with six available fan headers, and Aura Sync RGB LED lighting glory comes courtesy of two standard and two Gen 2 addressable headers. Quality sound is one of the hallmarks of the ROG and ROG Strix families, so the Z490-G delivers with a SupremeFX S1220A codec, isolated circuitry, and dual op-amps. On the audio software side, there’s support for 3D surround sound virtualization via the DTS^® Sound Unbound app.

The TUF Gaming Z490-Plus (Wi-Fi) is forged in fire and flames

We started the TUF Gaming concept with a simple premise: build components with rock-solid essential features and a distinctive look, run them through a litany of tests to ensure reliability, and offer them for an enticing price.

Style is important to any modern PC builder, of course, and we want first-time builders to be sure that components are both coordinated and compatible. The TUF Gaming Alliance extends this philosophy to TUF Gaming-certified memory, cases, coolers, and power supplies. The family is constantly expanding, and its latest entrant rides in on the wave of Z490 and 10th Gen CPUs.

The TUF Gaming Z490-Plus (available in both regular and Wi-Fi flavors) has TUF-ened up for 10th Gen Core CPUs in plenty of ways. Its PCB features six layers for better heat dissipation and signal integrity, and the VRM feeding the processor has expanded into a 12+2 teamed power stage design with DrMOS integrated components. TUF capacitors with superior heat tolerance and ProCool solid-core auxiliary power inputs complement the main power circuitry.

The main body showcases a gray-and-black finish with yellow camo accents for coordination with the rest of the TUF Gaming family. Two PCIe x16 slots sit mid-board, and one uses our SafeSlot metal-reinforced design for added peace of mind when you’re using heavier graphics cards or transporting the machine to a tournament. Two M.2 slots make room for two NVMe SSDs, and one of them is covered by a sizable heatsink to keep thermal throttling at bay even when your system is moving plenty of data around.

The TUF Gaming Z490-Plus has a thoroughly modern selection of ports, too. The rear I/O panel includes USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports in both Type-A^® and Type-C^® flavors, and we’ve added a Gen 2 front-panel header to wire up to contemporary cases. An onboard Thunderbolt 3 header lets you add our ThunderboltEX 3-TR card if you need its bandwidth for audio and video work.

The Gigabit Ethernet controller at the back is driven by an Intel chip, and it’s protected against static electricity discharges with TUF LanGuard circuitry. The Wi-Fi-enabled version of the TUF Gaming Z490-Plus provides WiFi 6 and Bluetooth^® 5.1 connectivity for cord cutters. This new Wi-Fi standard can offer lower latency on crowded networks with our latest-gen routers.

The Z490-Plus’ Realtek S1200A onboard audio comes with support for DTS^® Custom surround sound virtualization that’ll enhance the sonic space depending on the type of game you’re playing (like an FPS, racing, or MOBA title). Whether it’s guns, spells, or vehicles, you’ll be able to accurately pinpoint their location.

On top of its inherent style, the TUF Gaming Z490-Plus offers plenty of room for lighting customization. Two dashes of RGB LED lighting running along the right side can be tweaked using our Aura Sync software, and three strip headers on the board, including a Gen 2 addressable header, allow you to build out your style to taste.