100.0% of buyers have recommended this.
Supports Intel 10th Gen processors
Dual M.2 and 6 SATA ports
AI Overclocking and Cooling features
Thunderbolt 3 and USB 3.2 Gen 2
Aura Sync RGB lighting integration
The ASUS PRIME Z490-A is a high-performance ATX motherboard designed for Intel's 10th Generation processors. With its LGA 1200 socket, this motherboard is ready to support the latest Intel® Core™, Pentium® Gold, and Celeron® processors, ensuring that you have the power and efficiency needed for demanding applications and gaming.
Equipped with a robust power delivery system, the ASUS PRIME Z490-A features 12+2 DrMOS power stages, a 6-layer PCB, ProCool sockets, alloy chokes, and durable capacitors. This combination provides stable power delivery, which is crucial for maintaining system performance during intensive tasks. Whether you're gaming, streaming, or working on resource-heavy applications, this motherboard ensures that your CPU receives the power it needs.
One of the standout features of the ASUS PRIME Z490-A is its AI Overclocking technology. This intelligent system quickly optimizes CPU performance based on the specific CPU and cooler you are using, achieving results that are remarkably close to manual tuning by experts. Additionally, the AI Cooling feature manages and controls all motherboard fans, automatically adjusting settings based on the current system load and temperature, ensuring optimal cooling without the need for constant manual adjustments.
The motherboard is designed with comprehensive cooling solutions in mind. It includes a VRM heatsink, M.2 heatsink, hybrid fan headers, and Fan Xpert 4 technology, which allows for precise control over fan speeds and cooling performance. This ensures that your system remains cool and stable, even during the most demanding tasks.
Connectivity is a key feature of the ASUS PRIME Z490-A. It includes Intel® 2.5 Gb Ethernet for high-speed networking, as well as front USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C® and Thunderbolt™ 3 header support. With a total of 8 rear USB ports, including 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (3 x Type-A + 1 x USB Type-C®), 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, and 2 x USB 2.0 ports, you have ample options for connecting peripherals and devices.
The ASUS PRIME Z490-A supports up to 128GB of DDR4 memory across 4 DIMM slots, allowing for extensive multitasking and improved performance in memory-intensive applications. For expansion, it features 2 x PCIe 3.0 x16 slots (which can operate in x16 or dual x8 mode), 1 x PCIe 3.0 x16 slot (max at x4 mode), and 3 x PCIe 3.0 x1 slots, providing flexibility for adding graphics cards, storage devices, and other expansion cards.
Storage capabilities are impressive with support for 2 x M.2 slots and 6 x SATA 6Gb/s ports. This allows for fast storage solutions, including NVMe SSDs, which can significantly enhance system performance and load times. Whether you're storing large files, games, or applications, the ASUS PRIME Z490-A provides the necessary infrastructure to handle it all.
The motherboard is built in an ATX form factor, measuring 12 inches x 9.6 inches (30.5 cm x 24.4 cm). This standard size ensures compatibility with a wide range of cases, making it easier to integrate into your existing setup or a new build.
In summary, the ASUS PRIME Z490-A motherboard is an excellent choice for anyone looking to build a powerful and efficient system with Intel's 10th Generation processors. With its advanced features, robust power delivery, and comprehensive cooling solutions, it is designed to meet the needs of gamers, content creators, and professionals alike.