ASRock Z490 Aqua Motherboard Review: The $1100 LC Monoblock Flagship
by Gavin Bonshor on October 2, 2020 10:00 AM ESTBIOS
A lot of the following analysis comes from our ASRock Z490 PG Velocita review due to the near-identical firmware and software package the Z490 Aqua is supplied with.
The ASRock Z490 Aqua uses a near-identical BIOS to the ASRock Z490 PG Velocita, which we previously reviewed; the most notable difference is in the memory (DRAM) section, with some preset memory overclocking profiles designed for enthusiasts and extreme overclockers looking to eke out that extra percentage for benchmarking. Aside from memory, the board uses a custom Aqua skinned GUI, with a yellow, grey, and black color scheme.
ASRock's UEFI BIOS for Z490 has two primary modes, basic and advanced. Focusing on the basic mode, it provides a quite comprehensive list of information across the entirety of the screen. From top to bottom, there's information for the installed processor, the version of firmware the board is using, as well as a list of installed memory including its speed. . On the right-hand side is a boot priority listing in which users can click and drag the desired boot order, with one-click access to ASRock's Instant Flash, Internet Flash, and FAN-Tastic Tuning tools.
Upon pressing the F6 key will alternate between the basic and advanced modes, with the latter including the vast majority of the board's firmware features. The most comprehensive section is the advanced section with multiple menus, including the OC Tweaker, Advanced, Tool, H/W Monitor, Security, Boot, and Exit. Each of these is self-explanatory, but perhaps the busiest area is in the OC Tweaker section, where all overclocking settings reside. The OC Tweaker section allows users to overclock the CPU, memory, and integrated graphics onboard Intel's Comet Lake processors. Users can simply enable the built-in X.M.P 2.0 profiles onboard compatible memory or use ASRock preset memory profiles, which cater more towards performance users and enthusiast overclockers.
ASRock separates the settings into different sub-menus, including a dedicated section for CPU, voltage, and DRAM settings. Each submenu provides a wide variety of options, with CPU ratio and BCLK adjustments, as well as CPU AVX rations all available to customize. The CPU section also hosts all the relevant power settings for Intel Thermal Velocity Boost and Turbo and Speedstep settings. The DRAM section allows users to overclock memory and tweak latencies, with a one-click button for users looking to keep things simple and enable X.M.P 2.0 memory profiles. The voltage section includes all of the voltages, including CPU VCore, DRAM Voltage, and the customization of other voltages such as PLL, PCH, and VCCIO.
The ASRock Z490 Aqua's firmware is typical from the brand and is consistent throughout its Z490 models. It is easy to navigate, and although splitting each of the overclocking menus into CPU, DRAM, and Voltage, it keeps things tidy. As I noted in our previous review of the ASRock Z490 PG Velocita, I would personally prefer to see them located within the same menu for ease of use, without the need to constantly cycle different menus sub-menus to change core settings such as CPU frequency and CPU VCore voltage. The Aqua's integrated ASRock Polychrome RGB utility and Fan-Tastic fan tuning functionality within the firmware is a nice touch. Still, the software package does offer more on-the-fly customizability.
Software
Supplied with the ASRock Z490 Aqua is a varied selection of software. The most prominent applications include the A-Tuning overclocking utility, which despite the Aqua's uniqueness, doesn't get treated to a custom GUI and instead opts for a basic skinned variant. A-Tuning allows users to alter both CPU and BCLK frequencies within Windows and make alterations to CPU and CPU Cache ratios and primary core voltage settings.
Other useful utilities include the ASRock Polychrome RGB utility for customizing the integrated RGB LEDs around the board, with its handy App Shop and Live Update tool, as well as Nahamic 3 for audio customizations. Users can install the software from the disc included within the accessories bundle, or download the latest versions from the Live App utility or the official product page on the ASRock website.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
49 Comments
View All Comments
JenniferMaclean - Saturday, October 3, 2020 - link
vvvvJenniferMaclean - Saturday, October 3, 2020 - link
I get paid more than $120 to $130 per hour for working online. I heard about this job 3 months ago and after joining this i have earned easily $15k from this without having online working skills. This is what I do.You can check more.
Laitovesorm - Saturday, October 3, 2020 - link
https://spellcasino.com/">[img]https://a.radikal.ru/a36/2010/a0/4c2dedd9b00c.jpg[/img]Digital service spellcasino.com provides a lot of interesting games, where anybody has an opportunity to play for cash without a VPN or other protected technologies. At the moment a lot of men choose to spend weekend at home.
When a virus is coming, more and more young men choose to stay at home. Extraordinary men don’t like to spend time in sport or playing games all time. That is one of the reasons, why young women used digital casinos and are playing in interesting gambling games.
It is a beautiful web-system, were focused more than 450 nice slot-machines. You may used slot-machines with different topics: cities, Winter, gangsters, Greece, sport, and others. This club is very illustrious in Europe cause of it has good criteria of choice:
- unique logo of an online platform;
- zingy slots;
- well-known bonuses;
- administration 24/7;
As well, more and more basic slots are available https://spellcasino.com/casino/n1-casino-review/">n1 casino bonus code 2020 in an web service. In menu, users may search slots from EGT, Novomatic, IgroSoft, and PlaySon organizations. The digital service give its men with a chance to have fun.
You could use russian slot-mechanisms, like these: Crazy Monkey 2, Resident, Keks, Bratva. If you get membership in the service, you can use mobile casinos: Android, iPhone, iPad, Apps, and other mobile casinos.
There are a lot of games, which provided bonuses at $45. Win rate in more than 100 games nearest 91%. Old men, who using an online service, interesting in casino slots, like roulette, keno, video poker.
Also, there are different financial options, which are included in Spell club. You can do transfer cash with Visa or MasterCard, use EasyPay or CIPS. Some men from Moscos using other payment platforms. Germans prefer to use PayPal.
If you wish to get 500 eur BONUS, you should make 1st deposit – 100 eur. Over 400 interesting casino slots are waiting for you. In the list of slot machines necessary to find games and have enjoyed it. Spins and wagers possible to get, but you should be like other gamers.
In web service possible to use HD video. In the list below web-page clients will find more links with frequent data. At the top of the menu, users may search blacklist of users. Even you don’t know different news from spellcasino.com, possible to search all news in a specific section.
On the website many best slot machines, which give chance to win dollars. Slots are very flexible and flexible in payments. Get 100% bonuses after deposits and be happy playing in different games. A list of sections guys will find review and other information about the casino.
gie51995 - Saturday, October 3, 2020 - link
Start making cash online work easily from home.i have received a paycheck of $24K in this month by working online Abe from home.i am a student and i just doing this job in my spare. .click Here for full Detail.....jobtalk.comgie51995 - Saturday, October 3, 2020 - link
Start making cash online work easily from home.i have received a paycheck of $24K in this month by working online Abe from home.i am a student and i just doing this job in my spare. .copy Here for full Detail.....jobtalk.comdicobalt - Tuesday, October 6, 2020 - link
If I was a water cooling guy this would be great.spkay31 - Thursday, October 8, 2020 - link
From what I've seen these waterblocks are actually not very high quality (despite the high price) and people have complained about leakage in the acrylic at the threading for the hose connectors. I like that a manufacturer has gone further to create a high end product for enthusiasts but the execution should be highly reliable at this price point. To make matters worse I read about a leaking waterblock that a customer contacted Asrock support about replacing (at his expense) and Asrock support was not helpful and provided no ability to buy replacement parts.SlitheryDee - Thursday, October 22, 2020 - link
I thought it was worth a review. I mean, I'm not buying it, but I love seeing these limited edition monstrosities every now and again.JustinWitt - Thursday, December 17, 2020 - link
Wow, cool review material, I often study these things, for me as a gamer with a lot of experience in the game it is important to follow the trend, changes, and new products. I also started gambling a lot, where the performance of your device does not matter, and most importantly, skill and luck, I recommend https://casinotop.at/1-euro-casino/ go right now and study the best 1 Euro casinos 2020 review, there are collected highly rated and most popular playgrounds, with great bonuses for beginners and excellent conditions and the function of the game, try it now, good luck!