Intel Z490 Motherboard Review Collection
The TUF Gaming Z490-PLUS model (WI-FI) is a motherboard in ATX format that allows thanks to its 12 + 2 phase Dr. MOS power circuit to guarantee stability and overclocking capability to Intel K series processors such as the our i7-10700K without any problem. The card has a full TUF style design and has all the main features on board to be able to assemble a system for Gaming, Overclocking or connectivity thanks to the AX201 Wi-Fi 6 module.
Read more @ Xtreme Hardware (Italian)
The Z490I Ultra is an overall fantastic board with no major issues to speak of. I would like to see some refinements in UEFI to add secure erase functionality, removing the need for specialized software in Windows. Additionally, EasyTune will need some work as I could not load it despite several attempts to reinstall, etc. That said, for those wanting a software solution for tuning, XTU is freely available from Intel.
Read more @ TweakTown
Intel’s 10th generation processors are the latest to hit the market and offer superior speed and processing power compared to older iterations. They’re also the best gaming processors but need a Z490 motherboard that supports Socket LGA 1200 to work.
The new socket design features 49 more pins than the previous LGA 1151 and can support 10 cores. They also support modern technology like VP9 10-bit encoding, HDR, and HEVC.
Read more @ Dot Esports
Gigabyte states its Vision line offers “…a no-compromise platform that excels in performance, functionality, and stability… paving the way for creators to work faster and efficiently…” The Vision D is higher up the product stack than the Vision G, bringing more features to the table including integrated Wi-Fi, Thunderbolt 3 ports, and RGB lighting. The Vision G, on the other hand, is priced about $90 less and doesn’t include the features mentioned in the previous sentence.
Read more @ Tom’s Hardware
EVGA may be better known for graphics cards and power supplies, but the company has also been pushing into the motherboard realm for years, though with far fewer products than competitors like MSI or Gigabyte.The EVGA Z490 FTW WiFi that we’re looking at here sits at the ‘bottom’ of the company’s Z490 product stack, with the high-end Z490 Dark ($699.99) sitting above as the only other board on Intel’s current platform. You won’t find a Micro ATX or Mini ITX board from EVGA, just the ATX FTW and E-ATX Dark.
Read more @ Tom’s Hardware
The Maximus XII Extreme is coated mostly in black, with a prominent white strip that runs diagonally from the rear I/O panel to the chipset heatsink. This line stands out more after you power up the board; doing so activates a line of RGB LEDs that runs parallel to it. You’ll also spot another string of RGB LEDs tracing down the right side of the board.
Read more @ PC Mag
Videocardz has a nice photo up of the ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XII EXTREME GUNDAM. This board comes with a pre-installed waterblock, so rest assured there will likely be few, and they will certainly be expensive. This board is based off of the Intel Z490 chipset.
Read more @ Videocardz
The MEG UNIFY is relatively new to the MSI motherboard lineup and was first introduced when MSI first released the X570 UNIFY. According to the enthusiast community, the UNIFY boards are pretty much a stripped-down version of the feature-rich GODLIKE and ACE that has equivalent power design to the high-end tier boards, which is a very good deal for those who only want the performance and don’t really need the extra premium fancy features.
Read more @ Tech Critter
The MSI MEG Z490i Unify is a tiny Mini-ITX motherboard. And in case you didn’t know, basing a new PC build on a Mini-ITX board comes with some fairly obvious compromises. A single 16-lane PCI-E port is a given for instance. You’d better not bank on lots of storage connectivity or multiple M.2 slots. Two memory DIMMs is your lot. You get the idea.
Read more @ PC Gamer
ASUS has advanced a lot in the cooling department over the last seven years since that board debut. A couple of board models ago, ASUS moved to working with a stalwart presence in the liquid cooling industry, EK Water Blocks. With all of that said, I’m sure you can surmise that we will be looking at the newest of the Formula series legacy, the Maximus XII Formula.
Read more @ TweakTown