Since the "Comet Lake-S" processors require a new socket due to the optimized power supply, the Intel Socket LGA1200 is used on the 400 series mainboards. Despite the increased number of pins, the actual size of the socket remains identical to older sockets, so that CPU coolers for socket LGA 115x can also be mounted on the mainboard.
The features of the ASUS PRIME Z490-A motherboard at a glance:
- 3x PCIe (3.0) x16 (x16, x8 / x8, x4) / 3x PCIe x1
- 5x USB 3.1 (3x Type A, 1x Type C / 1x Header)
- A total of 4x USB 3.0 (internal & external) and 6x USB 2.0 (internal & external)
- 2x M.2 (1x PCIe 3.0 x4 / SATA & 1x PCIe 3.0 x2) / 6x SATA 6G
- Supports max. 128 GB DDR4 RAM up to 4,600 MHz
- Integrated RGB LED lighting including RGB LED headers
- With fast 2.5 Gbit LAN
The ASUS PRIME Z490-A in detail
The ASUS PRIME Z490-A motherboard in ATX form factor offers three PCIe-x16 slots and three PCIe-x1 slots for plug-in and expansion cards. Two x16 slots are connected with a full 16 lanes, the third with four lanes. As a high-end motherboard, the ASUS PRIME Z490-A also supports multi-GPU setups via NVIDIA SLI / NVLink and AMD Crossfire / XDMA. Other features of the mainboard also include a striking cooler design and integrated RGB LED lighting. Two headers for RGB strips enable the connection of further RGB LED components.
Up to 128 GB DDR4 RAM in dual-channel mode can be used in the four DIMM slots. The Z490 chipset supports clock speeds of up to 2,933 MHz, but the OC enables the ASUS PRIME Z490-A to operate RAM kits with up to 4,600 MHz! Two M.2 slots for PCIe / SATA-M.2 SSDs and six SATA-6G connections enable data storage media to be connected. An M.2 slot is connected to the chipset with four PCIe lanes and supports the NVMe protocol, which enables data transfer rates of just under 4 GB / s. This makes M.2 PCIe SSDs up to eight times faster than SATA 6G SSDs!
The ASUS PRIME Z490-A has a USB 3.1 port with a Type-C socket on the I / O panel. This innovative USB Type-C port is particularly thin and can be inserted on both sides. USB 3.1 or USB 3.1 Gen 2 achieves maximum speeds of 10 Gbit / s per port and USB ports with this standard generally support the quick charging function of smartphones and tablets. In addition to the three additional USB 3.1 type A ports as well as two USB 3.0 ports and two USB 2.0 ports, there is also a DisplayPort and HDMI port on the I / O panel. Internally, the mainboard provides a large selection of connections and headers.
Compatible only with 10th generation Intel CPUs!
Technical details:
Format:
- ATX
- Chipset:
- Intel Z490
- Base:
- 1200 (for 10th-generation Intel CPUs)
- R.A.M:
-4x DDR4 (2,933 MHz, up to 4,600 MHz using OC)
- Dual channel
- 128 GB max
- Slots (physical):
- 3x PCIe 3.0 x16 (x16, x8 / x8, x4)
- 3x PCIe 3.0 x1
- 1x M.2 Key E (vertical, for optional WLAN / BT module)
- Internal connections:
- 6x SATA 6G
- 2x M.2 (1x PCIe 3.0 x4 / SATA & 1x PCIe 3.0 x2; 2242/2260/2280/22110)
- 1x USB 3.1 / USB 3.2 Gen2 (one header)
- 2x USB 3.0 / USB 3.2 Gen1 (one header)
- 4x USB 2.0 (two headers)
- 1x CPU fan header (4-pin)
- 1x CPU OPT fan header (4-pin)
- 2x fan header (4-pin)
- 1x AiO pump header
- 1 x W_PUMP + header
- 1 x 4-pin M.2 fan header
- 1x Clear CMOS header
- 1x power button
- 1x COM port header
- 1x CPU over-voltage jumper
- 1x thermal sensor header
- 1x Thunderbolt header
- 1x chassis intrusion
- 1x front panel audio connector
- 2x AURA Addressable Gen 2 header
- 2x AURA RGB headers
- External connections:
- 1x USB 3.1 / USB 3.2 Gen2 (Type C)
- 3x USB 3.1 / USB 3.2 Gen2 (Type A)
- 2x USB 3.0 / USB 3.2 Gen1
- 2x USB 2.0
- 1x DisplayPort 1.4
- 1x HDMI 1.4b
- 1x 2.5 gigabit LAN (Intel I225-V)
- 1x S / PDIF
- 5x audio (Realtek ALC S1220A)
- Power supply:
- 1x 24-pin ATX
- 1x 8-pin 12V
- 1x 4-pin 12V
- Equipment:
- 3x SATA cable
- M.2 screws
- 1x Q connector
- 1x fan bracket
- Manual
- Driver DVD