Maybe it's hard to fathom an Intel chipset that actually supports more than a single generation of CPU designs; and if so, you're forgiven, because it seems the blue giant has mostly forgotten of thinking about platform longevity and upgradeability. However, we might be in for a rare treat, if the words from a Gigabyte representative are to be taken seriously. In a Q&A regarding Gigabyte's latest generation Z490 motherboards, a user questioned the Gigabyte representatives whether their Z490-based platforms would support upcoming Rocket Lake designs. The answer, which came with a caveat of "I don't know if this should be made public", was that yes: Z490 will support Rocket Lake-S.

If true, this may shed some light on why motherboard manufacturers have given so much importance to PCIe 4.0 marketing on their Z490 motherboards... Whose chipset doesn't support PCIe 4.0 from the get-go. However, with next-generation Rocket Lake-S expectedly sporting the same 14 nm fabrication process albeit with a new microarchitecture, a wider DMI 3.0 8x band, Intel's high-performance Xe graphics architecture design and PCIe 4.0 support on a platform level, it does begin to make sense that manufacturers would mention PCIe 4.0 support on the current Z490. Because if CPU compatibility is maintained, that means that users looking to drop-in a Rocket Lake-S CPU will at the very least be able to enjoy 20 lanes of PCIe 4.0 in these ready-made motherboards.

Historically, Intel has separated its processors and chipsets that accompany them to overclockable and non-overclockable ones. That means that only the "K" CPUs can be overclocked. With the latest generation, only some parts of the lineup are K CPUs, like the Core i9-10900K, i7-10700K, i5-10600K, etc. Those processors could only be overclocked one put in motherboards based on "Z" chipset, like Z390 and Z490. However, it seems like ASRock has developed a new technology that will overclock non-K CPUs on non-Z motherboards, which is quite impressive.

Called the Base Frequency Boost (BFB) technology, it will allow for overclocking the non-K processors on chipsets like B460 and H470. How will that work you might wonder? Well, ASRock will take the TDP of the CPUs and make it run in the PL1 mode, which increases the processor TDP form 65 W and turns it into a 125 W TDP beast. This will, of course, be user selective and case dependent, meaning that if your cooling system can not handle that much heat coming out from the overclocked processors, it is unlikely that they will reach the peak clocks ASRock can target. You can check out the slide below:

The winds of change are beginning. The ATX12VO PC power-supply standard, earlier thought to be an OEM-mainstay with later introduction in the DIY retail channel, has already reached it. The ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4SR is the first board. Gone is the 24-pin ATX power connector, a smaller 5-pin pure-12 V input takes its place. A 6-pin PCIe connector takes in additional 12 V input. The 8-pin EPS connector (another pure-12 V input) is right where it should be, near the CPU VRM area. There are two small 4-pin connectors, which could be 5 V and 3.3 V outputs from the motherboard, to SATA power connectors.

The part of the PCB next to the memory area is bustling with a few more power phases than vDIMM. These convert 12 V to 5 V and 3.3 V (essentially what a PSU with DC-to-DC switching does). The rest of the board's I/O feature-set is fairly standard: four SATA ports, a single M.2-22110 slot, an M.2 E-Key slot holding an 802.11ac WLAN card, 6-channel audio, and 1 GbE wired networking driven by an Intel i219-V controller. The company didn't reveal pricing or availability.

ASRock, proudly announces its latest range of motherboards featuring Intel 400-series chipsets and supporting the latest Intel 10th Generation processors with up to 10-cores using the LGA1200 socket.

Whatever the build requirements, with over 30 models available, ASRock has the right motherboard to meet your needs. This includes the flagship Z490 Taichi and Z490 PG Velocita for performance and overclocking enthusiasts, and extreme gamers; popular Z490 Steel Legend, Pro and Phantom Gaming series'; comprehensive mini-ITX options for SFF builds; plus H470, B460 mainstream and H410 entry options.

EVGA today announced its flagship socket LGA1200 motherboard, the Z490 DARK, aimed at PC enthusiasts and professional overclockers. The company also announced its Z490 FTW and Z490 FTW WiFi motherboards targeted at high-end gaming PC builds. The Z490 DARK leads the pack with a 90° CCW rotated compute stage, which sees its memory area moved to the northern side of the PCB; and the CPU VRM to its west and south, cooled by elaborate heatsinks. There is only one DIMM slot per memory channel, so you don't bother about memory slot topology affecting your memory overclock.

The LGA1200 package is wired to two reinforced PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots (x8/x8 with both populated). Storage connectivity includes two M.2 NVMe slots, and one U.2 port (some lane sharing involved). The board draws power from a combination of 24-pin ATX, two 8-pin EPS, and a 6-pin PCIe power connectors. The EVGA Z490 FTW (and its WiFi) variant feature a more conventional ATX layout, and targeted at conventional gaming PC builds. A premium 11-phase VRM powers the processor, which is wired to four DDR4 DIMM slots, and a pair of PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots. Both boards offer dual-BIOS, and elaborate onboard diagnostics.

MSI, the world-leading motherboard manufacturer, proudly announces Intel 400 series motherboards along with the brand new Intel 10th gen Core processors for socket 1200. Intel 10th Generation CPUs provide high specifications with up to 10 cores that improve both CPU and memory performance. MEG, MPG and MAG series are three different segments catered towards the most demanding enthusiasts or entry level gamers, satisfying all types of gamers.

To support the Intel 10th gen processors, MSI 400 series motherboards utilize the latest technology and the most advanced design. Enhanced cooling solution for both high-end and entry level products ensure best thermal condition, especially all Z490 motherboards featuring M.2 Shield Frozr. The entire MSI Z490 motherboard lineup improves conductivity for thermal and OC performance by adopting multi-layer PCB from 6 layers to 10 layers. Multi-layer PCB is beneficial for higher bandwidth and reliable circuit transmission.

ASUS today announced its new range of Z490 motherboards designed to showcase the full potential of the new 10th Generation Intel Core processors. Ideal for gamers, enthusiasts and professionals, every ASUS and Republic of Gamers Z490 motherboard features improvements and enhancements to take clock speeds to the next level.

The 10th Gen Intel Core processors offer a combination of high thread counts and superfast single-core clocks. The Z490 chipset offers plenty of cutting-edge connectivity options, including a built-in WiFi controller, numerous USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, Intel Optane memory and chipset RAID support. Proprietary ASUS OptiMem III technology ensures better signal integrity and AI Overclocking technology help push CPU performance to its limits. ASUS AI Overclocking technology utilizes a proprietary algorithm to predict optimal clock speed and voltage settings for the motherboard, helping users push their CPU to the limits with a click of a button.

GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd, a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards, today announced the new Z490 AORUS motherboards which power the 10th Gen. Intel Core processors. Featuring up to a 16-phase digital power design and a new and improved Fins-Array II heatsink design so each phase can hold up to 90 amps, GIGABYTE's Z490 AORUS lineup is geared with the best power and thermal management to optimize overclocking performance on the 10-core K series Intel Core processor. GIGABYTE Z490 AORUS motherboards use Daisy Chain routing with an anti-interference design to improve memory overclocking and stability. Select GIGABYTE Z490 AORUS motherboards offer top-of-the-line audio quality, feature-rich I/O with an integrated I/O shield, the newest Thermal Guard II Technology, and much more. Performance, power management, thermals, audio, GIGABYTE Z490 AORUS motherboards checks all the boxes for users seeking to take their computing firepower to the next level.

Colorful Technology Company Limited, professional manufacturer of graphics cards, motherboards, all-in-one gaming and multimedia solutions and high-performance storage is proud to announce its latest line-up of Intel motherboards featuring the Intel Z490 chipset - the iGame Z490 VULCAN X V20 and CVN Z490 GAMING PRO V20 motherboards. Designed to support the latest 10th generation Intel Core processors, these motherboards feature the latest cutting-edge technologies to create the ultimate desktop PC for high-performance gaming and content creation.

For faster networking, the latest COLORFUL Z490 series motherboards come equipped with the latest Wi-Fi 6 standard and 2.5 Gigabit LAN. The motherboards also sport new looks with futuristic styling with immersive RGB lighting. It also features advanced thermal technologies to keep the system running smooth and stable.

Intel today launched its 10th generation Core desktop processor family and its companion Intel 400-series chipsets. Based on the 14 nm++ silicon fabrication process and built in the new LGA1200 package, the processors are based on the "Comet Lake" microarchitecture. The core design of "Comet Lake" and its IPC are identical to those of "Skylake," however Intel brought significant enhancements to the processor's clock-speed boosting algorithm, increased core- or thread counts across the board, and introduced new features that could interest enthusiasts and overclockers. The uncore component remains largely unchanged from the previous-generation, with support for DDR4 memory and PCI-Express gen 3.0. Use of these processors requires a new socket LGA1200 motherboard, they won't work on older LGA1151 motherboards. You can install any LGA115x-compatible cooler on LGA1200, provided it meets the thermal requirements of the processor you're using.

At the heart of the 10th generation Core processor family is a new 10-core monolithic processor die, which retains the same basic structure as the previous-generation 8-core "Coffee Lake Refresh" die, and 4-core "Skylake." The cores are arranged in two rows, sandwiched by the processor's uncore and iGPU blocks. A ring-bus interconnect binds the various components. The cache hierarchy is unchanged from previous generations as well, with 32 KB each of L1I and L1D caches; 256 KB of dedicated L2 cache per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The iGPU is the same Gen 9.5 based UHD 630 graphics. As we mentioned earlier, much of Intel's innovation for the 10th generation is with the processor's microcode (boosting algorithms).

BIOSTAR, a leading brand of motherboards, graphics cards, and storage devices, today announces the all new 400 series motherboards range that run the latest 10th generation processors from Intel. The BIOSTAR's flagship motherboard range, the RACING Z490 series has 3 new models introduced to the market, the RACING Z490GTA EVO, RACING Z490GTA and the RACING Z490GTN.

The RACING Series is BIOSTAR's top of the line premium flagship motherboards in the 400 series family with its sleek, sporty design and high-end build quality equipped with some of the latest tech.

ASUS is preparing an elaborate lineup of ROG Strix series gaming motherboards based on the Intel Z490 chipset, which we detailed in an older report. These include nearly all ROG brand extensions, with the Strix Z490-E(xtreme), Strix Z490-F(ormula), Strix Z490-H(ero), Strix Z490-G(ene), Strix Z490-I(mpact), and with this series, debuting is the Strix Z490-A(ce). The Strix Z490-A is positioned just a notch below the Strix Z490-E in the pecking order, and is the fabled "white Strix" that did the rounds earlier in the media. It features silvery aluminium heatsins, and a white rear I/O shroud. You still get three M.2 NVMe slots, but only two of them have heatsinks.

The Strix Z490-E still rules the roost, with its stronger CPU VRM solution that uses active cooling. The Strix Z490-F isn't far behind in terms of features, but you lose out on things like WLAN. The Strix Z490-H is targeted at value-conscious buyers, and next to the Strix Z490-G, is possibly the cheapest product in the lineup. It still covers essentials such as a gaming-grade SupremeFX audio solution, and Intel-powered 2.5 GbE networking. The Strix Z490-G is possibly ASUS's most premium Micro-ATX board based on the chipset. The Strix Z490-I is possibly the company's second most premium Mini-ITX board based on this platform, featuring elaborate active cooling for the VRM, top-notch connectivity, and an 8-layer PCB. Find specifications of the boards in the table below.More pictures follow.

Here are some of the first pictures of ASRock's upcoming socket LGA1200 motherboards based on the Intel Z490 chipset, courtesy VideoCardz. The selection of pics reveal the company's flagship Z490 motherboard to be the Z490 Taichi, with its elaborate CPU VRM solution that pulls power from a pair of 8-pin EPS connectors, a metal shroud covering most of the board, including the heatsinks over the three M.2 slots and the PCH; and an elaborate CPU VRM heatsink assembly. Connectivity options include 2.5 GbE, 802.11ax, and preparation for Thunderbolt. The company is planning two other flagship models, the Z490 Phantom Gaming X and the Z490 Aqua.

The next best motherboard in this photo dump is the Z490 Phantom Gaming Velocita, which appears to have an identical CPU VRM muscle as the Taichi, but just two M.2 slots instead of three. It still gets two wired networking interfaces. The Z490 Phantom Gaming ITX TB3 is the Mini-ITX flagship board by the company, featuring integrated Thunderbolt, an active fan-heatsink cooling the CPU VRM, and a daughterboard putting out some of the board's connectivity.

ASUS recently posted a teaser collage of its upcoming motherboards, in which a motherboard with ProArt branding stood out. ASUS targets products from its ProArt brand at serious content creators, engineers, and professionals. The lineup includes notebooks, monitors, desktops, and other components related to creators. VideoCardz scored the first clear picture of the latest entry to the series, the ProArt Z490 Creator 10G. The board tosses out all "gaming" bling in favor of sober product design and premium components that go into reliable quasi-workstation builds. The ProArt brand is picking up the mantle from the coveted Pro WS brand.

Chunky, stall heatsinks with straight ridged lines cool the CPU VRM and two of the the board's three M.2 slots. Connectivity includes a 10 GbE interface through an included add-on card; a 1 GbE / 2.5 GbE onboard Ethernet interface, at least four USB 3.2 x2 ports (from which two are type-C), and display connectors that include a pair of DisplayPorts and a HDMI.

Here are some of the first pictures and details of a pair of premium socket LGA1200 motherboards by Colorful. The iGame Z490 Vulcan X appears to lead the company's upcoming Intel Z490 chipset motherboard lineup. The CVN Z490 Gaming Pro, on the other hand, is a mid-range offering. The iGame board offers a 280 W-capable 14-phase CPU VRM, three each of PCI-Express 3.0 x16 (x8/x8/x4 with all three populated, else x16/NC/x4) slots, PCie x1, and M.2 NVMe slots; a PCH heatsink outer shroud that extends into heatsinks for two of the M.2 slots, a rear I/O shroud that extends into an M.2 heatsink; and connectivity that includes a premium ALC1220-based onboard audio solution, 802.11ax WLAN driven by an Intel AX201 board, and 2.5 GbE wired interface driven by an Intel i225-V controller. The I/O shroud and PCH heatsink feature RGB LED embellishments.

The CVN Z490 Gaming Pro is refreshingly spartan for a Colorful board. Chunky aluminium heatsinks cool the board's 10-phase VRM rated up to 125 W. The CPU socket is wired to two reinforced PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots (x16/x4 electrical), You still get three M.2 slots, but only one of them features a heatsink. The connectivity is entry-level, too, with a Realtek ALC892-driven 8-channel HD audio solution, and a single 1 GbE wired networking interface driven by a Realtek RTL8111H controller. There are ARGB headers, although no RGB LED embellishments.

Here are some of the first pictures of the MAG Z490 Tomahawk and MEG Z490 ACE motherboards by MSI. The Tomahawk brand of motherboards by MSI strike a chord with value-conscious gaming PC builders, and the MAG Z490 Tomahawk appears to live up to that. The board offers an impressive 14-phase CPU VRM that pulls power from a 8+4 pin EPS power input. The CPU socket is wired to one PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slot. Other expansion slots include an x16 (gen 3.0 x4 electrical) slot, and a couple of x1 slots. You get two M.2 slots, both with heatsinks. The enlarged PCH heatsink on the MAG Z490 Tomahawk is studded with RGB LEDs, while it also includes a few upscale features such as a rear I/O shroud and an integrated I/O shield. On the connectivity front, we spy two wired networking interfaces, from which one is 2.5 GbE and the other 1 GbE, and an ALC1200-class CODEC based audio solution.

The MEG Z490 ACE is positioned at least two segments above the Tomahawk (it's positioned higher than the entire MPG family, including the Gaming Pro Carbon), and only a notch below the MEG Z490 GODLIKE. An elaborate 17-phase VRM powers the CPU, pulling power from a pair of 8-pin EPS connectors. Unless we're horribly mistaken, the board appears to feature PCI-Express gen 4.0 preparation (switches, re-drivers). It won't give you gen 4.0 with 10th generation "Comet Lake" processors, but perhaps you'll have better luck with its 11th gen successor. There are at least three M.2 slots, reinforced DIMM and PCIe x16 slots, and metal shrouds that span not just the front, but also the back of the PCB. Connectivity includes 802.11ax WLAN, two wired interfaces that include a 2.5 GbE, USB 3.2x2, etc.

Turkish tech publication PC Hocasi posted marketing pictures of the entire lineup of GIGABYTE's Intel Z490 chipset motherboards. These include the four recently leaked to web. The vast selection of boards includes the Z490 Vision G and Z490 Vision D targeted at creators. The company's mainline Ultra Durable (UD) and Gaming series includes the likes of the Z490 Gaming X and Z490M Gaming X, and of course the company's AORUS Gaming lineup we detailed in the older article.

An interesting trend with these boards is that GIGABYTE appears to have indeed given them PCI-Express gen 4.0 preparation, which extends across most SKU, including the entry-level UD series. These boards will not provide gen 4.0 with 10th gen "Comet Lake" processors, but the gen 4.0 preparation is reserved for its successor, the 11th gen "Rocket Lake," whenever it comes out. This is a costly design choice which rides on the assumption that "Rocket Lake" will introduce gen 4.0 to the LGA1200 socket (and not the fabled future LGA1700 socket). "Rocket Lake" is expected to come out towards the end of 2020 or early 2021, and will be Intel's response to Ryzen 4000 "Vermeer" processors based on the "Zen 3" microarchitecture.

ASUS posted a teaser collage of its upcoming socket LGA1200 motherboard lineup based on the Intel Z490 chipset, touching upon its various motherboard families, and there are a few interesting finds. In response to various other companies launching creator-focused motherboards, ASUS is preparing to bring its coveted ProArt brand over to its motherboard family. ASUS ProArt brand includes the company's ultra-premium monitors meant for serious content-creation work, which later extended to notebooks and desktops targeting creators. ASUS has so far used the "Pro WS" brand to include its quasi-workstation grade motherboards based on both enterprise and client chipsets. The company recently listed all these Pro WS boards under the ProArt mini-site. ASUS's Z490 motherboard series will see the first physical appearance of the ProArt brand on the motherboard.

The next big find is white ROG Strix motherboards. The PCBs of these boards are still black, but white makes up the rear I/O shield, I/O shroud, chipset heatsink outer shroud, and silver/chrome replaces black on the board's various heatsinks. This is probably aimed at catering to the white-themed gaming PC builders, who were until now picking up the company's Prime family of motherboards for their builds owing to their splattering of white. The collage also shows off the quirky 45° angled orientation of the SATA ports on the ROG Maximus XII Apex.

Here are some of the first pictures of GIGABYTE's AORUS Gaming series socket LGA1200 motherboard lineup based on Intel Z490 chipset. The biggest feature with some of these boards is forwards-compatibility for PCI-Express gen 4.0 on 11th generation Core "Rocket Lake" processors. These boards will not run PCIe gen 4.0 with a "Comet Lake" processor in place, but rather feature all the physical and electrical preparation to enable PCIe gen 4.0 when processors with gen 4.0 root-complexes do come out on this socket. These include slots that meet gen 4.0 requirements, gen 4.0-rated re-drivers, lane switches, M.2 NVMe slots, and other PCB-level enhancements to support PCIe gen 4.0 signal integrity.

GIGABYTE's Z490 motherboard lineup is vast, with 14 SKUs, from which 8 are in the coveted AORUS Gaming series. The Z490 Xtreme WaterForce leads the pack, with its included CPU+VRM monoblock, followed by its air-cooled twin, the Z490 Xtreme. The AORUS Z490 Master is next in line, with a firm footing in the enthusiast segment, thanks to its elaborate CPU VRM solutions, and PCB heatsink assembly. This board is closely followed by the AORUS Z490 Ultra, with a similar appearance to Master, but a toned down CPU VRM solution. The AORUS Z490 PRO series sits in the middle of this lineup, with a fairly well-endowed feature set. The AORUS Z490 Elite is where the lineup begins. There are several other models from GIGABYTE's Gaming and Ultra Durable families, listed int he feature-set slide below.

Earlier this week, a small selection of MSI's upcoming socket LGA1200 motherboards based on Intel Z490 chipset were leaked to the web, along with pricing for the entire series. The company posted teaser pictures of one of the motherboard models that was missing from that picture leak - the Z490 Gaming Pro Carbon, which MSI refers to as the "next Carbon." The pictures suggest a premium-looking ATX motherboard with an elaborate PCH heatsink that extends into heatsinks for 2-3 M.2 slots; studded with RGB LEDs, and an elaborate rear I/O shroud that extends into the CPU VRM heatsink, with more LED embellishments. The Gaming Pro Carbon is still slotted in the company's MPG (MSI Performance Gaming) family, and positioned a notch above the MPG Z490 Gaming Edge WiFi, and below the MEG Z490 Unify.

Earlier today we brought you pictures and specs sheets of ASUS' top-tier ROG Maximus XII family of socket LGA1200 motherboards based on the Intel Z490 chipset. The rest of that slide-deck was leaked to the web by VideoCardz, revealing some fascinating specs common across the series. Apparently, a 6 PCB layers is the bare minimum for ASUS' lineup, which probably contributes to the elevated prices across the board. Some of the cheaper 300-series chipset motherboards make do with just 4 PCB layers.

The CPU VRM solutions are a definitely step up from the previous generations, designed to cope with rising electrical requirements of the 14 nm 10th gen Core processors. For the ATX and M-ATX models, 12+2 phase solutions appear to be the bare minimum for the ROG Strix Z490 series, and 9-phase for the cheapest Prime Z490 series. The ROG Strix Z490-E Gaming, which leads the ROG Strix Z490 series, tops the chart with a 16-phase solution that's probably similar to the one on the Maximus XII Hero. There's also a big innovation with memory optimization, series-wide. With its Z490 motherboard series, ASUS is transitioning from T-topology to daisy-chain, across the board. This is combined with the company's Optimem III automated memory optimization feature on select models, which enables you to populate all four slots on your motherboard with dual-rank DIMMs, and yet achieve frequencies as high as DDR4-3600, with timings as tight as CL16.

Here are some of the first pictures of the ASUS' high-end Republic of Gamers (ROG) Maximus XII family of socket LGA1200 motherboards based on Intel Z490 chipset. The lineup consists of an impressive 5 SKUs: ROG Maximus XII Extreme and Extreme Glacial (M12E); ROG Maximus XII Formula (M12F), ROG Maximus XII Hero WiFi (M12H), and the ROG Maximus XII Apex (M12A). The Maximus XII Extreme leads the pack with its 16-phase VRM that probably uses 90 A power stages. It includes Thunderbolt 3 and 10 GbE support. The Glacial version is possibly a combination of cosmetic- and functional changes (such as preparation for sub-zero cooling).

The Maximus XII Formula is the go-to board for overclockers with elaborate liquid-cooling setups. The board comes with liquid-cooling ready VRM heatsinks. Compared to the Extreme, the Formula loses out on Thunderbolt, but retains 10 GbE. The Maximus XII Hero (WiFi) is next in line, and somehow better endowed than the Maximus XII Apex, in featuring an 8-layer PCB like the Extreme and the Formula; and a combination of 5 GbE and 1 GbE networking. The Maximus XII Apex comes with a 6-layer PCB, a single 2.5 GbE connection, but somehow a similar CPU VRM configuration to the Extreme. This is probably how the Apex could end up pricier than the Hero. Find specific details in the specs sheet below.

Here are some of the first pictures of the TUF Gaming Z490-PLUS WiFi, the company's top TUF Gaming series motherboard for socket LGA1200. The board retains its "yellow+black" color scheme and exuberant product design, and could possibly command a price of around $200, given that Z490 motherboards we've heard of so far appear to start around that price. The board pulls power from a combination of 24-pin ATX, 8-pin EPS, and an additional 4-pin EPS (which appears to be the base minimum power input configuration for this platform). A 16-phase VRM conditions it for the CPU.

The processor is wired to four DDR4 DIMM slots, and one PCI-Express 3.0 x16. Four other PCIe 3.0 x1 or x4 slots make for the rest of the expansion. Storage connectivity on the TUF Gaming Z490-PLUS WiFi includes two M.2-2280 slots, with PCI-Express 3.0 x4 wiring; and six SATA 6 Gbps ports. Networking connectivity includes 802.11ax WLAN, and one wired Ethernet connection. It is very likely that a near-identical board based on the mid-range B460 chipset is in the works. What sets the two apart is probably CPU overclocking capability.

A large selection of socket LGA1200 motherboards by MSI, based on Intel Z490 chipset, was leaked to the web. MSI is bringing at least 10 motherboard models based on the Z490, with prices starting around 200€ (likely inclusive of taxes). It looks like socket LGA1200 motherboards will be significantly pricier than the previous-generation, owing to steeper CPU VRM requirements, or Intel merely aligning its partners to march AMD X570 chipset in average motherboard pricing. The lineup begins with the Z490-A Pro at 200€. The Z490 Gaming Plus and Z490 Tomahawk are allegedly priced at 210€ and 240€, respectively. The Z490M Gaming Edge WiFi, Z490 Gaming Edge WiFi, and Z490 Gaming Pro Carbon go for 250€, 250€ and 330€, respectively. The premium MEG lineup includes the Z490I Unify at 330€, its ATX sibling, the Z490 Unify at 360€, the Z490 Ace at 520€, and the crown jewel, the Z490 GODLIKE, at a whopping 960€, according to pricing leaked by momomo_us.

Komachi Ensaka posted pictures of four motherboard models. Besides all the modern connectivity options you could possibly want, including Thunderbolt, 10 GbE, USB 3.2 x2 (20 Gbps), 802.11ax WLAN, and five M.2 slots, the MEG Z490 GODLIKE appears to have an HEDT-like 18-phase VRM that pulls power from two 8-pin EPS connectors, and enough overclocking muscle to try and justify its near-four-figure price. The MPG Z490M Gaming Edge WiFi forms the "mid-range" of the lineup, covering all the bases for serious gaming PC builds with any of the upcoming 10th generation Core LGA1200 processors. The MPG Z490 Gaming Plus is a fascinating board design, in that it finally sheds the red+black color scheme of its predecessors, trading it with a solid black color scheme with just a touch of RGB LEDs. It covers all the essentials that the platform has to offer. Lastly, there's the Z490-A Pro, the "entry level product that still appears to have a beefy VRM and platform essentials.

ASUS has inadvertently leaked images of their upcoming PRIME Z490-P and Z490-A motherboards, which will accompany the introduction of Intel's 10th Gen "Ice Lake" CPUs. As is usual with Intel, the new generation CPU release will be met with a new chipset launch, of which ASUS apparently has finalized designs: the company has uploaded Z490 pictures on their current Z390 PRIME webpage.

Like with previous ASUS designs, the PRIME Z490-P seems to target budget-conscious users, with a reduced feature set including a no-frills VRM heatsink design (which means the VRM itself isn't a top-tier one) and a pretty basic on-board sound processor. The motherboard still packs 2x M.2 slots and 2x PCIe 3.0 x16 slots, though the rest of the expansion slots are of the 1x kind (4x slots in total). The Z490-A, though, boasts of a more premium construction, with oversized heatsinks (including for at least one of the M.2 slots) and 3x PCIe 3.0 x16 slots alongside 3x Pcie 3.0 1x slots. The sound processing subsystem has also been clearly beefed up in comparison.