This article covers ASUS ROG Strix Z490-E Gaming Z490- WiFi 6 LGA 1200 ( 10) ATX 14+2 DDR4 4600 Intel 2.5Gb.

Overview

The ASUS ROG Strix Z490-E Gaming is an ATX motherboard built around the Intel Z490 chipset, designed for 10th Gen Intel Core processors (Comet Lake-S). It comes with onboard Intel WiFi 6 AX201 and a 2.5GbE LAN port, making it a strong choice for gamers and enthusiasts who want both wired and wireless high-speed connectivity. The 14+2 power stage design with ProCool II connectors ensures stable power delivery even under heavy overclocking loads. Memory support goes up to DDR4-4600 across four DIMM slots, with a maximum capacity of 128GB. Storage options include dual M.2 slots (both PCIe 3.0 x4) and six SATA 6Gb/s ports, giving you plenty of room for fast NVMe SSDs and large HDDs. The rear I/O panel features USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, HDMI 1.4b, and DisplayPort 1.4 outputs, along with legacy USB 2.0 ports for peripherals. Positioned as a mid-high-end offering in the Z490 lineup, this board targets users who want robust VRM performance, integrated WiFi, and a feature-rich BIOS without stepping up to the top-tier Maximus series. The AI cooling and intuitive UEFI make it accessible for builders of all skill levels.

Compatibility Guide

Socket: LGA 1200, compatible only with 10th Gen Intel Core processors (Comet Lake-S). 11th Gen Rocket Lake CPUs are not supported, so double-check your CPU choice before purchasing. Memory: 4× DDR4 DIMM slots, up to 128GB, speeds up to DDR4-4600 (OC). XMP 2.0 profiles are supported for easy overclocking of high-speed memory kits. Form factor: Standard ATX (305×244 mm). Ensure your case supports ATX motherboards. The board has three PCIe x16 slots (physical) — the primary slot runs at PCIe 3.0 x16, the others at x4 or x1 electrically. Storage: 2× M.2 slots (both PCIe 3.0 x4, support SATA mode on one slot), 6× SATA 6Gb/s ports. No PCIe 4.0 support, so the fastest NVMe drives will be limited to PCIe 3.0 speeds. Power: 24-pin main + 8-pin + 4-pin CPU power connectors. For overclocked Core i7/i9 builds, a 750W–850W PSU is recommended.

Product Info

Released in May 2020, the ASUS ROG Strix Z490-E Gaming sits in the mid-high tier of the Z490 motherboard range. Its 14+2 VRM phase design, integrated WiFi 6, and 2.5GbE LAN were premium features at launch, offering performance close to the flagship ROG Maximus series at a more accessible price. Warranty: Standard 3-year manufacturer warranty. The board is widely available through , major electronics retailers, and PC specialty stores. It also appears frequently on the secondhand market.

Best Use Cases

Gaming with 10th Gen Core i7/i9: The robust 14+2 VRM allows stable overclocking of CPUs like the i7-10700K or i9-10900K. Pair with high-speed DDR4 memory for excellent gaming performance in 1080p and 1440p titles. Mixed wired/wireless networking: Onboard Intel WiFi 6 AX201 and 2.5GbE LAN give you flexibility. Great for users who move between wired and wireless environments or need low-latency Wi-Fi for online gaming. Storage-heavy builds: Dual M.2 slots and six SATA ports let you run multiple SSDs and HDDs without compromise. Ideal for content creators who need fast scratch drives and large archival storage. Not recommended for budget builders: If you're on a tight budget, a B460 or H410 board paired with a locked i5 will give you similar real-world performance at a lower cost. This board is overkill for a basic office PC.

Things to Consider

The biggest limitation is the lack of 11th Gen CPU support — if you ever want to upgrade to Rocket Lake, you'll need a Z590 or B560 board. Also, DDR5 memory is not supported; you're locked into DDR4, which may feel dated in a few years. PCIe 4.0 is absent. While PCIe 3.0 x16 is still fine for most GPUs (including RTX 40-series cards in gaming workloads), the fastest PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDs will be bottlenecked to PCIe 3.0 speeds. If you need cutting-edge storage bandwidth, consider a Z590 or newer platform. Finally, this is a last-generation platform. If you're building a new PC from scratch, a modern LGA 1700 or AM5 board may offer better upgrade paths and features for a similar price. ## FAQ
Q: Can I use a Core i5-10400F with this motherboard? A: Yes, absolutely. The i5-10400F is a 10th Gen LGA 1200 CPU and works perfectly. The 14+2 VRM is overkill for a 65W chip, but that means excellent stability and low thermals. Q: Does the second M.2 slot disable any SATA ports? A: No. Both M.2 slots operate at PCIe 3.0 x4 without sharing bandwidth with SATA ports. You can use two NVMe SSDs and all six SATA drives simultaneously. Q: Is this motherboard good for an RTX 4070 or RX 7800 XT? A: Physically yes, but the GPU will run at PCIe 3.0 x16. In most games, the performance difference versus PCIe 4.0 is negligible (1–3%). However, in some creative workloads or with very high-bandwidth cards, you may see a small penalty. It's usable but not ideal for future-proofing.

Product Disclosure (Amazon)

  • Manufacturer: ASUS
  • Seller: フライミィ
  • Fulfilled by: フライミィ
  • ASIN: B086QSH67R
  • Note: This article covers a manufacturer-made product based on Amazon listing details.