Biostar Z490GTA

An overclocker's dream

Biostar Racing Z490GTA is the flagship LGA 1200 ATX motherboard with 14 power phases (12 for CPU cores and 2 for RAM controller and integrated graphics). The Intel Z490 chipset allows you to manually overclock RAM to a frequency of 4400+ MHz and Comet Lake and Rocket Lake processors with the K or KF index, that is, an unlocked multiplier, including the top Core i7-10700K and i9-10900K.

Bundles of video cards

At first glance, the layout of the flagship Biostar Racing Z490GTA repeats the mainstream B460GTA, but in fact there are plenty of differences. First, both M.2 slots are supported by both NVMe (including Intel Optane) and SATA SSDs. And with the release of 11-generation Intel processors, support for ultra-fast PCI-E 4.0 drives (64 Gbps) will be added. Secondly, two reinforced PCI-E x16 graphics card connectors allow you to create bundles of both Radeon CrossFire and GeForce NVLink video cards in x8 + x8 mode.

Wireless Internet

Thirdly, in addition to two digital video outputs (HDMI + DP), the Biostar Racing Z490GTA has an analogue VGA. And finally, fourthly, there is another M.2 Key-E slot for installing a Wi-Fi + Bluetooth adapter, and the antennas for it are immediately placed on the rear interface panel. The rest of the Z490GTA repeats the functionality of the B460GTA: Realtek ALC1150 audio, Intel i219V network and Vivid LED DJ RGB lighting.

Thunderbolt to boot

The Biostar Racing Z490GTA can be scolded, perhaps, only for the lack of USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (10 Gbps). But it is possible to output one Thunderbolt 3 port (40 Gbps), compatible with USB 3.2 Gen 2. By the way, Biostar has an even more stuffed motherboard — Z490GTA Evo with 16 power phases, POST code indicator, power and reset buttons right on the printed circuit board, and a couple of USB 3.2 Gen 2, including one Type-C. Fans of ultra-compact PC builds, on the contrary, should take a closer look at the Biostar Z490GTN Mini-ITX board.