Asus TUF Gaming Z490-Plus ATX - motherboard

TUF Gaming Z490-Plus

• Intel® LGA 1200 socket: Ready for 10th Gen Intel® Core™ processor
• Enhanced power solution: 12+2 DrMOS power stages, 6-layer PCB, ProCool sockets, military-grade TUF components, and Digi+ VRM for maximum durability
• Comprehensive cooling: VRM heatsink, PCH fanless heatsink, M.2 heatsink, hybrid fan headers and Fan Xpert 4 utility
• Next-gen connectivity: Front header for USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C and Thunderbolt 3™ support
• Made for online gaming: Intel® Ethernet Connection I219-V, TUF LANGuard and TurboLAN technology
• Realtek S1200A codec: Pristine audio quality with unprecedented 108 dB signal-to-noise ratio for stereo line out and 103 dB SNR for line in
• Aura Sync RGB: Synchronizable LED effects across a vast portfolio of compatible PC gear, including addressable RGB strips

TUF Gaming Z490-Plus distills essential elements of the latest Intel® platform and combines them with game-ready features and proven durability. Engineered with military-grade components, an upgraded power solution and a comprehensive set of cooling options, this motherboard delivers rock-solid performance with unwavering gaming stability. When you build with a TUF Gaming motherboard, you also benefit from the TUF Gaming Alliance — an ASUS collaboration with trusted industry partners that ensures easier building, best compatibility, and complementary aesthetics from components to case.

From digital power control and an array of power stages to military-grade TUF components, TUF Gaming Z490-Plus is armed to tame the latest 10th Gen Intel® CPUs.

1. DrMOS: The onboard VRM of TUF Gaming Z490-Plus utilizes 12+2 DrMOS power stages that combine high-side and low-side MOSFETs and drivers into a single package, delivering the power and efficiency that 10th Gen Intel® Core™ processors demand.
2. 6-Layer PCB Design: Multiple PCB layers shift heat away from critical components, providing more headroom to push CPUs beyond stock speeds.
3. ProCool Sockets: Compared with traditional power inputs, ProCool sockets are built to tight specifications to ensure flush contact with PSU power lines. The resulting lower impedance helps to prevent hotspots and connector failure.
4. TUF Components: Certified military-grade TUF chokes and TUF capacitors deliver rock-steady power to the CPU, improving system stability.
5. Digi+ VRM: The integrated Digi+ VRM voltage-regulator module (VRM) is one of the finest in the industry, ensuring ultra-smooth and ultra-clean power delivery to the CPU at all times.

1. VRM heatsink: A large, high-mass heatsink with extensive surface that covers the VRM and choke areas improves heat dissipation.
2. Thermal pad: High-quality thermal pads help transfer heat from the inductor and phase array to the heatsink.
3. M.2 Heatsink: The M.2 heatsink keeps the M.2 SSD at the optimum operating temperature for consistent performance and reliability.

TUF Gaming Z490-Plus features comprehensive fan controls that can be configured via Fan Xpert 4 utility or via the award-winning ASUS UEFI BIOS.

• Multiple temperature sources: Each header can be set to monitor and react to three user-configurable thermal sensors for workload-based cooling, and all settings can be easily managed by Fan Xpert 4 or via the UEFI.
• AiO water-cooling set: An integrated AiO system enables full control of PWM or DC water pumps, making it perfect for custom or self-contained cooling setups.
• 4-pin PWM/DC fan:All onboard headers support auto-detection of PWM or DC fans.

Dual M.2 slots support data-transfer speeds of up to 32 Gbps on the x4 PCI Express® 3.0 bandwidth, making it perfect for OS or application drives for quicker boot-up and app load times.

*Actual transmission speed will be lower than theoretical maximum speed.

Revisions to the motherboard’s trace routing provide the latest Intel processors with unrestricted access to memory bandwidth. ASUS OptiMem II technology carefully maps memory signal pathways across different PCB layers to reduce vias and adds shielding zones that significantly reduce crosstalk.

• Improved memory stability and compatibility
• Allows lower memory latencies at equivalent voltages
• Improved memory frequency margin

Numerous USB ports support gaming rigs loaded with peripherals, including a front-panel USB Type-C™ connector with fast USB 3.2 Gen 2 connectivity for compatible cases.

An integrated Thunderbolt™ 3 header supports up to 40 Gbps of aggregate interface bandwidth. One Thunderbolt 3 port can support up to six devices in a daisy-chain, and provide up to 100 watts of power to fast-charge devices.

SafeSlot - SafeSlot is the PCIe slot reinvented by ASUS and engineered to provide superior retention and shearing resistance. Manufactured via a new insert-molding process, SafeSlot integrates fortifying metal for an inherently stronger slot, which is then firmly anchored to the PCB through additional solder points.

ESD Guards - ESD Guards prolong the life of components while preventing damage from electrostatic discharge, providing protection for up to +/- 10 kV of air discharge and +/- 6 kV of contact discharge — greatly surpassing the respective industry standards of +/- 6 kV and +/- 4 kV

TUF LANGuard - TUF LANGuard is a military-grade innovation that integrates advanced signal-coupling technology and premium surface-mounted capacitors to improve throughput, protecting the motherboard from lightning strikes and static electricity.

DRAM overvoltage protection - Onboard resettable fuses prevent overcurrent and short-circuit damage. This extends beyond I/O ports to DRAM to safeguard the lifespan of your system and connected devices.

Stainless-steel back I/O panel - TUF Gaming motherboards have a corrosion-resistant stainless-steel back I/O panel bonded with chromium oxide to provide a 3X-longer lifespan versus traditional panels.

Exclusive Realtek S1200A codec - The unique audio codec designed in close collaboration with Realtek for TUF Gaming Z490 series motherboards features an unprecedented 108 dB signal-to-noise ratio for the stereo line out and a 103dB SNR for the line in, providing pristine audio quality.

DTS® Custom for gaming headsets - Hone your battle skills with exclusive DTS® Custom onboard audio. Utilizing advanced emulation techniques to create positional cues via stereo headphones, DTS Custom takes onboard audio to a new frontier. With three presets ― Aerial, Soundscape, and Tactical ― for different genres, you'll have a distinct advantage in every game.

A well-tuned system deserves matching aesthetics. ASUS Aura offers full RGB lighting control with a variety of functional presets for the built-in RGB LEDs as well as strips connected to the onboard RGB headers. And it can all be synced with an ever-growing portfolio of Aura-capable hardware.

• Addressable Gen 2 RGB Header
• RGB Header

TUF Gaming Alliance is a collaboration between ASUS and trusted PC-component brands to ensure compatibility with a wide range of parts, such as PC cases, power supplies, CPU coolers, memory kits and more. With more partnerships and components being added regularly, the TUF Gaming Alliance will continue to grow even stronger.