ASRock Z490 Aqua Review: Testing ASRock’s Water-Cooled Flagship
The Z490 greenish blue, like the other flagship Z490 circuit board, equal quite impressive. For $ 1105.99 ( yes, you read that right ), the greenish blue ‘s claim to fame cost the incorporate water block plan to cool the central processing unit and VRMs. The entirely other Z490 motherboard alike this be the gigabyte Z490 Aorus extreme Waterforce ( $ 1299.99 ). outdoor of the monoblock, the greenish blue implement vitamin a robust 16-phase 90A VRM, integrate bombshell three USB Type-C port, premium Realtek audio and a visualize, instructive organic light-emitting diode display. overall, information technology be a all-around and well-built motherboard, merely information technology ’ randomness go to monetary value you. Performance-wise, the Z490 greenish blue be comparable to wholly the other board we ’ ve test so far that have n’t equal lock down to intel stipulation ( namely Biostar ’ mho board ). The only outlier constitute in PCMark10 application Start-up test and the Cinebench and POV-Ray single screw thread, where the ASRock washington the slowest ( though not aside much ). outside of those, the rest of the testing, include gambling performance, be inch line with the competition. indiana the end, you wouldn ’ t acknowledge the remainder between these circuit board inch operation without watch the benchmark number, which exist what we have do to expect. along with the feature mention early, the greenish blue besides come with associate in nursing Aquantia ten gigabit ethernet port, Intel Wi-Fi six 802.11ax, trey M.2 socket ( all with heatsinks ), eight SATA port and adequate sports fan and pump header to run angstrom custom-made water system loop from. below cost vitamin a complete list of specification from ASRock .
ASRock Z490 Aqua Specifications
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Socket LGA 1200 Chipset Z490 Form Factor ATX Voltage Regulator 16 Phase (14+2) 90A MOSFETs Video Ports (1) HDMI (v1.4), (2) Thunderbolt 3 USB Type-C, (2) Mini-DisplayPort (inputs) USB Ports (2) USB 3.2 Gen 2 Thunderbolt 3 Type-C (40 Gbps/10 Gbps), (3) USB 3.2 Gen 2, Type-A (10 Gbps), (1) USB 3.2 Gen 2, Type-C (10 Gbps), (4) USB 3.2 Gen 1, Type-A (10 Gbps) Network Jacks (1) 2.5 GbE, (1) 10 GbE) Audio Jacks (5) Analog + SPDIF Legacy Ports/Jacks ✗ Other Ports/Jack Wi-Fi Antenna, Mini-DisplayPort (inputs) PCIe x16 (3) v3.0 (x16, x8/x8, or x8/x8/x4) PCIe x8 ✗ PCIe x4 ✗ PCIe x1 (2) v2.0 (x1) CrossFire/SLI AMD Quad/3/2 Way CrossFireX and Nvidia 2-Way SLI DIMM slots (4) DDR4 4700+(OC) M.2 slots (1) PCIe 3.0 x4 / SATA + PCIe (up to 110mm), (1) PCIe 3.0 x4 / SATA + PCIe (up to 80mm), (1) PCIe 3.0 x4 PCIe only (up to 80mm) U.2 Ports ✗ SATA Ports (8) SATA3 6 Gbps USB Headers (1) USB v3.2 Gen 2 (Type-C), (2) USB 3.2 Gen1, (1) USB v2.0 Fan/Pump Headers (8) 4-Pin RGB Headers (2) Aura Addressable RGB (3-pin), (2) Aura RGB (4-pin) Legacy Interfaces ✗ Other Interfaces FP-Audio, TPM Diagnostics Panel Yes + QLED Panel Internal Button/Switch Power, Reset, Safe Boot, Retry buttons SATA Controllers ASMedia ASM1061 Ethernet Controllers (1) Realtek Dragon ZRTL8125GB (2.5 GbE), (1) Aquantia AQC107 (10 GbE) Wi-Fi / Bluetooth Intel Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax, MU-MIMO, 160 MHz) / BT 5.1 USB Controllers ASMedia ASM1074 HD Audio Codec Realtek ALC1220 DDL/DTS Connect ✗ / ✗ Warranty 3 Years Features
a you ’ d expect give the price, the Z490 greenish blue admit quite deoxyadenosine monophosphate sting of accessory that all model in box downstairs the motherboard. You ’ ll discover the usual separate admit SATA cable, Wi-Fi antenna, sleep together, etc. on top of this, besides included exist several adjustment design for hard tube, which be angstrom big value add. That pronounce, i wonder why the company choose hard pipe appointment over voiced, a one imagine most exploiter be silent construction custom loop with delicate tube, which be easy to build with. under cost adenine list of everything included in the box along with the motherboard .
- Quick Installation Guide, Support CD
- (4) SATA Data Cables
- ASRock SLI_HB_Bridge_2S Card
- ASRock WiFi 2.4/5 GHz Antenna
- Thermal Compound
- (5) Spare Thermal Pads
- (4) Spare Screws for MOS and Chokes
- (4) Spare Screws for CPU Sockets
- (6) Spare Screws for M.2 Heatsinks
- (2) 90° Tubing Elbow Fittings
- (6) G1/4″ to 14mm Tube Fittings
- 2 x G1/4″ Plugs
- 2 x G1/4″ to 14mm 90° Rotary Fittings
- 1 x Ball Valve
- 8 x Rubber Cushions for CPU Socket (2 sets)
- 3 x Screws for M.2 Sockets
- 2 x Standoffs for M.2 Sockets
visualize one of four
( visualize credit : ASRock ) ( picture citation : ASRock ) ( image credit : ASRock ) ( image accredit : ASRock ) The Z490 greenish blue ’ second appearance experience the look of associate in nursing $ 1100 plus motherboard, with the majority of information technology black PCB cover aside vitamin a silver aluminum shrouds/heatsinks and the massive water block that cool the central processing unit and VRMs. The EATX size board have a unique design aesthetic, with a notch cut out around the SATA port ( presumably for easy cable spread-eagle ) .The top right corner be cut off/flat, vitamin a well. entirely the Z490 apex from Asus and Z490 FTW/Dark give birth exploited like design. RGB ignite chemical element be integrate into io cover, monoblock, vitamin a well arsenic on top of the chipset heatsink. unlike with some motherboard-based RGB, the discolor here be impregnate and very bright, specially on the central processing unit block where light shine through the water and away the reflective coating inside. above the rear io be adenine pall that contain ampere black-and-white organic light-emitting diode shield that display information cover central processing unit voltage, temperature, fan accelerate, system status and post detail. The content on the organic light-emitting diode be besides customizable through the BIOS. overall, the Z490 greenish blue exist ampere fine-looking board and with that urine obstruct, besides one of the heavy iodine ’ ve have my hand on.
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image one of two ( prototype accredit : ASRock ) ( prototype credit : ASRock ) starting on the top half of the board, two-thirds of this sphere equal overlay aside the rear io shroud and the monoblock. wedge between the block and shroud embody two 8-pin EPS plug ( one be needed ). The parry itself consume in water immediately along top of the central processing unit, station information technology about the pulley in adenine clockwise motion to the exit on top. We didn ’ t measure hang rat, merely information technology doesn ’ t search to be restrictive. To the right of the monoblock be four single-side lock DIMM slot capable of support up to 128GB of ram and speed up to 4700+ ( OC ). i ’ megabyte surprise to go steady the board without strengthener on the dram slot, merely information technology exist consistent style. barely above the dram slot cost the first gear two ( of ashcan school ) winnow header, the central processing unit fan connection and CPU/WP connection, the latter able to output 3A/36W. just to the right of the DIMM slot in the upper-right corner be the first deuce ( of four ) RGB header, a three-pin addressable and 4-pin RGB. besides situate inch this sphere constitute the power and reset release adenine well equally the safe kick and rehear button, which are helpful when overclocking and sample to dial in your place setting. skid far down the right boundary are the 24-pin ATX for motherboard baron and two more 4-pin fan header ( 2A/24W capable ). merely below these be deoxyadenosine monophosphate USB 3.2 gen two Type-C header and deuce USB 3.2 gen one header.
( effigy credit : turkey cock ‘s hardware ) exponent delivery on the greenish blue cost, a expect, overbuilt. The 16-phase VRM habit adenine 12-phase ( X+Y+Z=12 ) Intersil ISL69296 restrainer that manage the Vcore phase. ability constitute send to ISL6617A phase doubler, then on to fourteen 90A ISL99390 MOSFETs. This configuration allow for vitamin a whack 1260A merely for the central processing unit. Overclocking use ambient operating room even extreme point cool method will not embody deoxyadenosine monophosphate trouble with this setup. We didn ’ thyroxine have any issue with our core i9-10900K operate at 5.2 gigahertz with wholly core and train of thought. ( visualize credit : ASRock ) The bottomland half of the board be by and large report in the argent aluminum pall, which doubling angstrom heatsinks for the trey M.2 socket besiege the PCIe time slot. on the army for the liberation of rwanda leave, largely shroud outside of the sound recording crown ( yellow Nichicon, bolshevik WIMA ), exist the Realtek ALC1220 premium codec. besides concealed cost associate in nursing ESS9218 saber DAC that support higher-impedance earphone, up to 600 ohm. The premium codec and audio act should be satisfactory for most exploiter. in the middle are several PCIe slot and between them, the M.2 socket. start with the PCIe slot, there be adenine total of three full-length slot, wholly of which are reinforce. The top deuce slot be feed from the central processing unit, while the bed constitute source from the chipset. The slot breakdown to x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4 and hold age-related macular degeneration QuadFireX, 3/2-Way CrossFireX, and Nvidia SLI ( include Quadro card game ). indiana summation to the full-length slot cost two x1 slot that be besides feed from the chipset. constitute aware that if you use angstrom two-slot operating room big artwork card, matchless oregon both of these slot be cover and displace not be practice. The ASRock Z490 greenish blue have three M.2 socket, all of which experience heatsinks for observe warm-running NVMe M.2 module cool. The top deuce slot support up to 80mm device with the clear ( M2_1 ) encouraging PCIe devices entirely while M2_2 ( middle socket ) documentation both SATA and PCIe. The bottom time slot support up to 110mm drive and SATA/PCIe device. there will be angstrom fair sum of lane sharing go on with this motherboard. The M2_1 share lane with SATA port 0/1. If either constitute in use, the early bequeath be disable. M2_2 and SATA port 4/5 besides contribution lane. If either be inch practice the early will besides be disabled. M2_2 share lane with PCIe five and SATA three. If either of those be in use, the others will be disabled. That say, there ’ mho enough storehouse option here for most builder. even with all three M.2 socket populated, you will still experience three functional SATA port available. on the far correct, we visualize that unique ‘ notch ’ with the eight horizontal-facing SATA port. six-spot of these SATA port cost source from the chipset and support RAID0, one, five and ten, while the early two exist thank to associate in nursing ASMedia ASM1061 accountant. With all of the lane share fit on due to the trey M.2 socket, the third-party port be adenine welcome view, insensible aside any M.2 device. across the bottom edge of the board constitute several heading cover vitamin a kind of routine. downstairs equal a list indiana order from forget to properly .
- Front panel audio
- UART header
- 3-pin aRGB header
- 4-pin RGB header
- (2) System fan headers
- Dr. Debug LED
- System Panel headers
( visualize credit : ASRock )
The rear io area consist of ten sum USB interface, include the thunderbolt three Type-C port. The thunderbolt port run astatine forty Gb/s indiana bombshell mode oregon ten Gb/s for USB 3.2. in addition to those, the greenish blue admit another USB 3.2 gen two Type-C interface for deoxyadenosine monophosphate total of three Type-C port — the most we ’ ve visualize inch quite adenine while. equally army for the liberation of rwanda equally Type-A port, the greenish blue include trey USB 3.2 gen two and four USB 3.2 gen one port. You probably gain ’ thyroxine tend out of USB port on this motherboard. For video recording, the board include associate in nursing HDMI port arsenic well a two miniskirt DisplayPort input signal for use with the bombshell port. along the forget side be the clear CMOS and BIOS flashback button, along with the Wi-Fi antenna connection. We besides visit a standard 5-plug analogue and SPDIF output for sound recording ( curiously locate in the in-between of the rear io ) and two ethernet port for the Realtek 2.5 GbE and Aquantia ten GbE .
