In the past, choosing the right motherboard was a bit of a minefield. Manufacturers would release very different cards with very different capabilities and simply leave it up to the consumer to decide which is the right one for them and their respective hardware. Fortunately, Intel and AMD have begun to exert more control over their chipsets and each motherboard manufacturer's control over said chipsets. Fast forward to today, and most motherboards have a fairly standard set of features determined by their specific chipset.
Intel's Z490 chipset was released in Q2020 10 and includes support for Comet Lake (6th Gen) processors, Optane memory, Wi-Fi 201 AX2,5, 490 Gbps Ethernet and a host of other technical features. Luckily, if you're looking for a Z4 card, you can assume basic support from most major manufacturers. The board you choose will therefore likely depend on factors such as form factor, color, aesthetic options (like RGB), and cost. If you're looking for full Rocket Lake CPU or PCIe 590 support, you might want to upgrade to the Z490 cards, as support for these still depends on the Z4 manufacturer. However, some manufacturers list support for PCIe XNUMX, which we'll note below, but don't expect it unless the manufacturer explicitly states so. Take a look below to see our picks!
For the Mini-ITX version
ASRock Z490 Phanton Gaming-ITX/TB3
This motherboard from ASRock, long known in the budget motherboard business for producing high-quality boards, offers all the comforts of your standard Z490 creature. Out of the box, you'll get 7.1-channel HD audio with the Realtek ALC1220, four SATA3 connections, two Ultra M.2 slots, built-in Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax, and Bluetooth 5.1. Like most mini-ITX boards, it sacrifices a port or two in the name of size and efficiency, but still manages to include three USB 3.2 gen 2 ports, four USB 3.2 gen 1 ports, and a Thunderbolt 3 port. It also comes with something we don't see very often in motherboards: a built-in fan to keep things cool even when you're gaming at your max. To top it all off, it also supports Full Color SYNC to adjust RGB lighting along the edge and comes with a very sleek grey, black and red color scheme for those of you who need the efficiency. out of the mini-ITX spec space but still want to show off your new hardware.
For all-white construction
GIGABYTE Z490 Vision G
It might seem strange to those of you who don't color coordinate your computer parts, but white PC parts are really hard to find. They're out there, but they're so rare that many have to resort to aftermarket fairings and covers to get that clean, all-white aesthetic. Thankfully, GIGABYTE's Z490 Vision G delivers. No, the whole thing is not completely white, but the shrouds, I/O shield, and heatsinks are all white or very silver gray. Which, in the motherboard business, is about the best you could ask for, since real white PCBs are still pretty hard to find. Besides looking good, it also supports PCIe 4 and is aimed specifically at creators and professionals. So if you're looking to slot a Quadro into a motherboard to do some real work, then this should do the trick. It even includes helpful built-in troubleshooting lights, so if things go wrong during the job, you'll be able to quickly diagnose and get back to the task at hand.
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For water cooled construction
MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Carbon Wi-Fi
Water cooling has come a long way in recent years. Previously, it was difficult to find suitable tubing, fittings, pumps and accessories to achieve true water cooled construction. Fortunately, things have improved a lot and MSI is ready. This Z490 board includes a dedicated pump fan header specifically for maintaining control of your water cooling pump. Along with your usual Z490 features, it also has a sleek carbon fiber finish, built-in Wi-Fi 6, RGB with support for MSI's Mystic Light software suite, and built-in M.2 heatsinks to keep the cool discs.
For full ATX version
ASUS ROG Strix Z490-E Gaming
ASUS doesn't mess with its line of ROG products. Sure, they might look flashy and include sleek lights and fairings, but they pack some serious hardware in this line. The Z490-E is no different; it's a full-size ATX board with a metal-shielded PSU connector for heat dissipation, a high-end voltage regulator for the CPU socket, super-durable capacitors, and all the usual Z490 features you'd expect you're waiting. They also include some of the best in class overclocking software with their AI Suite 3 built right into the board, giving you granular control over your overclocking options. And to top it all off, it looks awesome: like most ROG products, it features RGB, a solid integrated I/O shield, etched heatsinks and shrouds, and all the usual flair we've come to expect. from ASUS. It also comes with built-in Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 support so you don't have to worry about wireless adapters after the fact. Honestly, the only thing this card lacks is PCIe 4 support, but if you're buying Comet Lake processors, chances are PCIe 3 (which this card has two x16 slots) is more than likely sufficient for your hardware configuration.
Sometimes this can seem like a moot point when choosing a motherboard. You need to get one that supports the processor you're installing, and the chipsets are so industry-standardized that the majority of features and connectivity are the same across different motherboard manufacturers. But there are many other vectors through which you should select a motherboard. Color coordination, size, wireless support, and additional cooling features can all play a big role in which motherboard you end up with. So don't just settle for the cheapest standard card that meets your CPU socket requirements: go out and experiment and find something that will more precisely suit what you want your computer to be. You are building it, after all!
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