GIGABYTE launches Z490 AORUS Motherboards
GIGABYTE 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.
The 10th generation of Intel Core processors with new microarchitecture has arrived. With it comes the LGA 1200 socket which means that older platforms will not be compatible even with BIOS updates. The Core i9-10900K outdoes previous generation processors by bringing 10 cores and 20 threads to the table along with a 20MB cache, and default 125W TDP. With Turbo Boost Max, it’s able to hit 5GHz across almost all cores. The increase in core count and stock frequencies will likely lead to higher power consumption since in order to accomplish the tall task of hitting 5.3GHz across all cores, a TDP of over 200W might be required. GIGABYTE Z490 AORUS motherboards pack features such as a 16-phase digital power design in which each phase can hold up to 90 amps with its Smart Power Stage design, or a 12-phase direct power design paired with highly durable DrMOS power stages to deliver 1440 Amps, both of which provide the best power balance. Solid power pin connectors on the GIGABYTE Z490 AORUS motherboards ensure that the power delivery is stable while reducing excess heat during overclocking to prevent throttling. The addition of Tantalum Polymer capacitors improves the transient response of the VRM between high and low loads, increasing the stability of the processor so that users won’t have to worry about overlocking failures caused by unstable power.
GIGABYTE Z490 AORUS motherboards are designed with a renewed focus on heat dissipation. Starting from the GIGABYTE Z490 AORUS PRO, the lineup implements Fins-Array II technology which features a redesigned stack fin heatsink which comes with 3x the surface area compared to traditional heatsinks and also introduces newly reshaped fins that allow for superior heat dissipation. Direct-Touch Heatpipe II technology features a larger, 8mm direct touch heatpipe with shortened distance and increased contact area between the heatpipe and heatsink to speed up heat transfer from the VRM to the heatsinks, lowering temperatures significantly. GIGABYTE Z490 AORUS motherboards implement a new generation LAIRD 7.5W/mK thermal pad which offers 4x the heat dissipation compared to traditional thermal pads while increasing the contact between the VRM and thermal pad which also increases overall heat dissipation. With both functionality and style, the metal backplate adds extra sturdiness and rigidity to the motherboard while its nanocarbon coating quickly dissipates heat away from the backside components and the PCB.
Aside from power and thermal management, GIGABYTE Z490 AORUS motherboards boast an impressive memory configuration with single-slot 32GB memory capacity. The PCB’s unique Daisy Chain memory routing and anti-interference design ensure that the memory configuration is suitable for the needs of most users. The memory circuits are embedded within the PCB ground layers while the metal outer layer of the PCB reduces electromagnetic interference so those using dual channel configuration can enjoy high-speed, stable overclocked RAM performance up to DDR4 4800MHz speeds. GIGABYTE Z490 AORUS XTREME features the exclusive SMT Memory DIMM design which utilizes surface adhesion welding technology so that the solder joints of the memory slots are smoothly fixed onto the PCB. This reduces signal interference between the open fiber cloths of the PCB and the memory wiring. The signal stabilizing function of the tantalum Polymer capacitors at the base of the memory slots further enhance the stability of the board especially when overclocking at XMP high frequencies.
In addition to the processor and RAM, storage drives are some of the most important PC components in relation to PC performance. GIGABYTE Z490 series motherboards use PCIe 4.0 grade PCBs, PCIe slots, M.2 slots, and controllers for the highest bandwidth quality. Although storage capacities on NVMe M.2 SSDs continue to increase and many of these SSDs are double sided, M.2 SSD heatsinks on most motherboards only cover one side of the SSD, leaving the storage drives vulnerable to overheating. To address this potential bottleneck, select GIGABYTE Z490 AORUS motherboards come with Thermal Guard II. With unique adjustments from the previous generation M.2 heatsink, the new patented design ensures that both sides of the M.2 SSD are adequately cooled to prevent thermal throttling under high-speed operation.
Select Z490 AORUS motherboards come pre-installed with the patented, flexible I/O shield which adds a nice touch to the overall aesthetics but more importantly allows easier alignment between the board and the chassis. The shield brings extra protection to the feature rich back panel which includes USB 3.1 Gen2 slots, 2.5G and 10G Ethernet, audio jacks, and Thunderbolt 3 expansion interface. The addition of QFLASH and Clear CMOS buttons makes it much easier and more convenient for users to troubleshoot their systems or update their BIOS without installing a processor. The board’s Intel 2.5Gbps Ethernet brings ultra-fast connectivity that is 2.5 faster than Gigabit Ethernet. Also, the board implements an Intel® WiFi 6 802.11ax network adapter and AORUS high-gain WiFi smart antenna to deliver up to 2.4Gbps transmission speed. The ultra-fast Ethernet and WiFi configuration means that users have a flexible configuration with ultra-fast and stable internet connectivity.
When it comes to audio, GIGABYTE is always on top of its game. Select GIGABYTE Z490 AORUS motherboards utilize the ALC 1220-VB audio engine and pairs it with the WIMA FKP2 studio-grade audio capacitors to deliver studio-grade, high-fidelity audio. The GIGABYTE exclusive audio design integrates ESS SABRE DAC, often used in professional audio devices, as well as DTS：X® Ultra to deliver high fidelity audio for the most immersive sound experience whether it’s for gaming or watching movies/listening to music. The flagship Z490 AORUS XTREME motherboard introduces the ESSential USB DAC through the USB Type C interface and a built-in ESS SABRE HiFi ES9280C PRO converter to users can free up an audio jack and use a USB slot converted to a 3.5mm sound source output. ESSential USB DAC can also be used with Android mobile phones or tablets that have USB Type C interfaces to provide a more immersive audio experience.
GIGABYTE Z490 AORUS motherboards bring back fan favorite technologies such as RGB Fusion with support for digital lighting strips, Smart Fan 5 Technology, USB TurboCharger for ultra-fast charging on phones, and other technologies. GIGABYTE BIOS has been completely revamped with a new graphical interface that displays key information on clock speeds, memory, storage devices, fan statuses/settings, and other important hardware information in a more intuitive and user friendly manner. Q-Flash Plus technology allows the user to maintain the system’s BIOS in a USB flash drive without installing a CPU, RAM, GPU, and other peripherals.
