ASUS Prime Z490-A Preview
Up Close – More Detail
The Prime has two 22110 M.2 slots for all your superfast storage needs, with the primary one beneath a very attractive heatspreader.
Tucked away between the PCIe x1 slot and the back heatsink are the headers for a system fan and your AIO pump. Funny how, not that long ago, AIOs were crazy things for the rich overclocker and now nearly everyone uses them.
Information on the power phases is currently a little thin on the ground. It’s often the case when we’re a few weeks out from launch. The most we can tell you is that it is a 12+2 phase DrMOS setup.
We’ll never get used to the white stripes on the back of the Prime. We understand why they do it, but it just gives us a headache. Thankfully once it’s installed you never see it, but look at it here in max-o-vision it’s a bit too much. First up we have the HDMI 1.4b and DisplayPort 1.4 outputs alongside some USB 2.0 ports for your keyboard and mouse. Yes, HDMI 1.4b.
Moving further down the Prime there are the full suite of USB 3.2 Gen1 and Gen2 ports in Type-A and Type-C styles.
Whilst the bottom has us with the Intel I225-V 2.5G LAN that is a key features on all the Z490 motherboards. With the audio jacks for the Realtek S1220A sitting in their usual spot.
We’ll bring you our full Z490 reviews on launch day, until then discuss the ASUS Prime Z490-A on the OC3D Forums.
Links to other Z490 Motherboard Previews
– ASUS Z490 Maximus XII Extreme Preview
– Gigabyte Z490 Aorus Xtreme Preview
– ASUS ROG Strix Z490-E Preview
– Gigabyte Z490I Aorus Ultra Preview
– MSI MEG Z490 Godlike Preview
– MSI MPG Z490 Carbon Gaming WiFi Preview
– Gigabyte Z490 Aorus Master Preview
– Gigabyte Z490 Aorus Pro AX Preview
