ALL ASUS MOTHERBOARDS COMING WITH Z590 CHIPSET FOR ROCKET LAKE CPU
There have been many innovations introduced by Intel during CES 2021 , including the new 11th generation Rocket Lake processors and the chipsets that will accompany them.
Particular interest has aroused the arrival of the new Z590
chipset, expected as an incremental update compared to the previous generation
but with the credentials to set new quality and performance standards.
Also for this new generation, Asus has developed and
presented at CES 2021 an extremely heterogeneous offer ready to satisfy any
type of user .
The Z590 chipset
The new Z590 chipset brings a range of features that could
prove to be real game changers . The most important of the new feature is the
highly anticipated next-generation Intel DMI Link .
The connection channel between the CPU and the chipset
represents the real Achilles heel of the latest generation Intel platforms due
to a bandwidth comparable to 4 PCIe 3.0 lanes. From this point of view, the new
DMI allows, especially for PCI Express peripherals directly managed by the
chipset, to double the bandwidth up to 8 PCIe 3.0 lanes. This means that it
will be possible to connect two M.2 SSDs on PCIe 3.0 at full speedunder
chipset, plus a four lane channel routed directly from the CPU.
The passing lines are also increased accordingly. The Rocket
Lake chips will allow you to use four additional lanes, all on PCIe 4.0, for a
total of 20 PCI Express 4.0 lanes, leaving a large configuration margin, namely
1x16 + 1x4, 2x8 + 1x4, 1x8 + 3x4. Full support is also given to the USB 3.2 Gen
2x2 standard at 20 Gbps, to WiFi 6E at 6GHz and to Thunderbolt 4.
News also with regard to support for RAM memories, which go
from the 2933 MHz maximum of the last generation to a frequency of 3200 MHz
reference for Intel Core 11000 processors.
Finally, the cross backward compatibility is confirmed, that
is of the Rocket Lake processors with Z490 chipset and of the Comet Lake
processors with Z590 chipset, albeit with some limitations. Intel 11th
generation processors on older chipsets will unlock PCIe 4.0 lanes but will not
enjoy the new DMI Link. Conversely, the Comet Lake CPUs on the Z590 will not
allow the use of PCIe 4.0 lanes.
The new Prime and TUF motherboards
Asus has confirmed that its Z590 lineup will offer
uncompromising performance across all price ranges.
At the bases of the pyramid we find the TUF rugged line ,
with its canonical variants with and without WiFi.
The Asus TUF Gaming Z590-Plus and the Z590-Plus WiFi share
the same skeleton, offering the user as many as 14 + 2 phases of DrMOS power
supply, military grade components, dissipation on the VRMs and on two slots for
SSD M.2, the Asus OptiMem II technology and the Two-Way AI Noise Canceling
system, for the bidirectional elimination of both incoming and outgoing
background noise. To this are added the main features of the new chipset,
including the PCIe 4.0 x4 channel for the main M.2 memory, support for the
Thunderbolt 4 standard on Type-C ports and the new USB 3.0 2x2 at 20 Gbps.
The maximum supported frequency for DDR4 RAM is 3200 MHz in
normal mode and 5133 MHz in overclock mode. Guaranteed support for WiFi 6 on
the variant with wireless connectivity and full compatibility with Intel 2.5 Gb
Ethernet.
Moving on to the Prime family, the absolute protagonist is
the Asus Prime Z590-A , which has all the advantages of the new chipset when
paired with an 11th generation Intel CPU, along with a series of proprietary
technologies based on artificial intelligence, including AI Overclocking, AI
Cooling and bidirectional AI Noise Cancelation , also present on the TUF line.
Here too we find 14 + 2 DrMOS power supply phases and support for DDR4 RAM up
to 5133 MHz.
What strikes the eye the most is certainly the refined
aesthetics that incorporates the lines of the previous generation, with its
white livery that embraces the integrated I / O Shield and the details
illuminated by RGB LEDs with Aura Sync support.
Going down a step we find the Prime Z590-P and the Z590-V,
which lose the aesthetic characteristics of the top model and, in the case of
the -V variant, also the dissipation for the M.2 memories.
The Asus Z590-P has 10 + 1 DrMOS power supply phases while
the Z590-V offers 8 + 1, as well as the Asus Prime Z590M-Plus, Micro ATX
variant whose presence is not always obvious.
The new ROG Strix and ROG Maximus
The enthusiast segment is also enriched with a large variety
of motherboards with Z590 chipset. Leading the Strix family in the new
generation is the Asus ROG Strix Z590-E Gaming WiFi which represents the
flagship proposal of the line, with 14 + 2 power phases, dissipation with
heatpipe for VRM and I / O zone and four M. 2, also completely dissipated.
There is no shortage of AI Overclocking, AI Cooling and
biphasic AI Noise Cancelation, with the addition of AI Networking.
Connectivity front we find the WiFi 6E and a double I / O
Intel 2.5 Gb Ethernet. Interesting is the addition of OptiMem III technology,
able to exploit a higher frequency of memory and at the same time control its
latency. The Z590-F Gaming WiFi variant falls a step below its big sister,
sacrificing a 2.5 Gb Ethernet port and OptiMem III.
To close the Strix line the small Z590-I Gaming WiFi in mini
ITX format, with 8 + 2 power supply phases, and the ROG Strix Z590-A, which
loses support for WiFi 6E technology. The presence of the ALC4080 codec with
Savitech SV3H712 amplification, DTS Sound Unbound and Sonic Studio III on the
entire ROG Strix family is welcome , as well as on-board RGB lighting, support
for AURA Sync and the possibility of bringing RAM memories to 5333 MHz, except
for the Micro ATX model.
Giving up any kind of compromise, the ideal proposal is undoubtedly
the Asus ROG Maximus XIII series , with the three variants Hero, Extreme and
Extreme Glacial.
The Asus ROG Maximus XIII Hero represents the basic proposal
of the trio. The distinctive feature of the series is certainly the design of
the dissipation plates, which cover a large part of the surface of the
motherboard. The power phases on the Hero are always 14 + 2 and are guaranteed
up to 90 Ampere. In addition to having all the technologies present on the
Strix Z590-E, we find an even more advanced optimization on the VRM dissipation
front, thanks to the presence of Thermal Pad with high thermal conductive
capacity, and the ROG Water-Cooling Zone, which allows you to finely control
the cooling system, including temperature and flow, in the Fan Xpert 4 suite.
The Maximus XIII Z590 Extreme and sister Extreme Glacial
represent the flagship offerings of the entire range of Asus motherboards with
Z590 chipset. Power phases grow up to 18 + 2, with MicroFine alloy inductors
and Japanese 10K metal capacitors, for extreme overclocking margins.
The Extreme lineup features support for five fully
dissipated M.2 drives, and a mini-OLED LiveDash display is featured on both
cards.
All Asus ROG Maximus XIII motherboards are capable of
supporting DDR4 RAM memory up to 128GB and 5333MHz and feature the new ALC4082
audio codec based on ROG SupremeFX 7.1 Surround with integrated ESS ES9018Q2C
DAC.
What profoundly differentiates the Asus ROG Maximus XIII
Z590 Extreme Glacial motherboard from all the other proposals is the presence
of an EK water block integrated in the front block capable of simultaneously
dissipating CPU, VRM and PCH.
Asus has decided to streamline its catalog while maintaining
the high quality of the components adopted and a solid common base of features
regardless of the price range , reducing the fragmentation in the offer and
consequently improving the user experience in the choice phase. of the product
suitable for your needs.
Although Intel has left ample room for maneuver for
manufacturers in this regard, the new Asus motherboards with Z590 chipset will
all be backwards compatible . A decidedly proactive policy, which allows the
end user to use the new motherboards while waiting for the new Intel Rocket
Lake CPUs to arrive on the market.
