[SOLVED] ASUS ROG Z490-A or Prime Z490-A

[bumblebee953]

Heya folks! I'm trying to decide between these two motherboards.
ASUS ROG Z490-A
or
ASUS Prime Z490-A

I do prefer the look of the ROG more, but Prime comes with 2 ARGB headers and for the RGB-inclined, I don't think you can ever have too few of those.
ROG also has the Flashback feature, but I feel like it's not so useful after the initial installation? I'd just update BIOS directly from UEFI after that point anyway?
ROG has gold-plated audio I/O in the back but I just don't know if it's really all that important?

One thing that may serve as the tie-breaker is that I read Prime's chipset is PCIE4.0-ready with the release of Rocket Lake and that extra bit of future-proofing is pretty valuable to me. I haven't read anything about ROG having that support.

Cheerios for any help/thoughts!

 

[Darkbreeze]

Both have the same 12+2 power phase VRM configuration. The strix has a slightly better audio codec with the Supreme FX8 rather than the Realtek ALC S1220A on the Prime. It supports both SLI and Crossfire, while the Prime ONLY supports Crossfire, if for some reason you want to use two cards which these days is kind of dumb and pointless anyhow. If you need more GPU power, get a better GPU. We have cards now that are far more powerful than anybody needs unless they're running very high end 4k or multiple 1440p displays.

But, it IS a difference, so it's worth mentioning.

Both have dual M.2 slots that both support PCIe 3.0, and neither of them support PCIe 4.0 M.2 NVME drives, so equal there. There is nothing listed on the product page in the specs for either of these boards that says anything about them being PCIe 4.0 compatible, regardless of CPU model, so if you can find REPUTABLE information that is verified by ASUS that it IS, then I'd assume they probably BOTH would be. It's very doubtful that the Prime board's architecture would support that while the ROG doesn't. Very hard to believe one would while the other doesn't.

Surprisingly, the Prime has MORE USB 3.2 Gen2 ports, so that's actually a gain for the cheaper board. But it also has fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports (USB 3.0 type A basically, just renamed now) so it's really a tossup unless you NEED the higher spec ports, and they are good to have because one of them can support a much more capable USB external hub with more ports than a Gen1 port can. This is probably not even close to a deciding factor or deal breaker either way though.

Both have two Aura compatible RGB headers, but like you say, the Prime also has two regular addressable RGB headers, so if you actually NEED them, that might be points towards the Prime. The Strix has a dedicated M.2 fan header though, so if you plan to run an M.2 drive and you want to take advantage of one of the ASUS-only 3d printed M.2 drive fan holders that are out there, which isn't the worst idea ever, then that's a consideration as well.

Honestly, these boards are nearly identical in all of the most important areas, but the Strix does have flashback where the Prime does not, and I think that is important for more than just the starting point because if you've ever had a corrupted BIOS or updated and had a bad BIOS flash, you can't put a price on the ability to have BIOS flashback and not have to send the board off to be reflashed by the manufacturer. These days, when updating the BIOS is often the only way to fix problems with memory compatibility, new hardware and graphics cards and a variety of other problems, not least of which are security vulnerabilities, it is recommended, and as common as updating common drivers used to be, well almost. I think it's worth the difference in price for just that, but then again, if any of the features lacking on the Strix but present on the Prime are features you really need, then flashback might be something you are willing to live without.

If you don't care about flashback, then I'd say all else is equal enough that you would be as well off to just put that price difference towards getting something just a little better in some other area of the build.

 

[bumblebee953]

Both have the same 12+2 power phase VRM configuration...

Wow hey thanks for the insights!

You're right about the Crossfire/SLI support. I wouldn't need or care about those anyway.

There's also difference between number of x1 and x4 slots. ROG has 1 each, while Prime has no x4 and 3 x1s. That might actually put ROG in favor. I don't suppose I'd need more USB expansions for now but who knows. I think most USB expansions require x4? With Prime I would not have that option. So there's definitely some future-proofing value for ROG there.

I'm not sure I'd ever really need M.2 fan, but again there's some future-proofing points for ROG.

I've not thought of the BIOS Flashback that way. It does make sense it'd be useful in a pickle. I've never used the feature before but as I understand this can be used without even having a CPU in? Just plug in 24-pin power and power on, wait a few seconds, plug in USB drive with new BIOS, hit the button, and wait...?

 

[Darkbreeze]

Yes, no CPU needed for BIOS flashback.

Often people over-think this. So let's clarify. What CPU, what memory kit and what graphics card are you intending to use with this board? What CPU cooler? How many case fans and what case, and yes, that kind of matters because both of these boards only have TWO, yes TWO, chassis fan headers. They do have other auxiliary headers that CAN be used with them, but if you are going to use a particular RGB ecosystem it might simply make more sense to PLAN to get a controller that is made for the specific fans and other RGB products you intend to use, so that you are fully covered in that regard and can simply run the case fans off that device as well as let it handle the RGB controls.

If you plan to use Aura compatible fans, ALL of them, as well as other RGB components, then perhaps not. Of course, all of this really depends on what you plan to use, because obviously you have those other RGB headers on that board as well, and if necessary you could use splitter cables off the two chassis fan headers and use one of the AIO pump headers or possibly the CPU OPT header if needed for additional fan controls. It's pretty weird to see only two case fan headers on boards of this magnitude. I don't like it.

Then again, I'm very much NOT in favor of ASUS anymore either. We've just seen far too much of them trying to not support their products, especially their motherboards, when still under warranty. I personally know of at least five people including myself that ASUS has flat out screwed over or tried to when it came to something related to an RMA, and they just are not in general the same company they were a few years ago. My current Hero VIII will likely be the last ASUS product I buy, maybe ever. They flat out refused to replace a motherboard that they admitted was faulty, trying to say that a problem with the BIOS ROM that would no longer allow me to switch between overclocking profiles, which is one of the main selling points of that motherboard, was not a warrantable fault. I ended up buying a replacement BIOS ROM on Ebay after I got the board back and fixed it myself. So ASUS can kiss any money goodbye that might have come from me in the future. They can also kiss my recommending them goodbye as well.

One of the mods here had a problem with the onboard LAN adapter on his Crosshair Hero VIII X570 motherboard fail, and he spent WEEKS trying to get them to replace it, and when they finally did, they sent him a used or supposedly "refurbished" board in exchange, that had a big old crack in the integrated rear I/O cover, easily visible. The original one, was not broken, so why would they send him, or anybody, a broken one in return for a warranty. Lame.

Sorry, but I know they make good motherboards, the problem is, IF something goes wrong, and even the best hardware can and often DOES fail, it's dealing with them to fairly get it fixed or replaced that is going to be a big problem in a lot of cases. Many others here with similar or worse stories, so just, be forewarned.

 

[bumblebee953]

...Many others here with similar or worse stories, so just, be forewarned.

Yikes. I thought ASUS were the good guys. I've never used ASUS mobos before and I picked them because of the styling and solid hardware and at least decent software especially those used for RGB is miles ahead of the competition with the likes of the absolute trash RGB Fushion from Gigabyte.
Then again, I feel like it may all be YMMV? Unless you're well-acquainted with support staff from all brands, I'm not sure you can say one is definitely better than another. Though one may also argue if you are in contact with support often enough to be well acquainted, it's probably not going well 🙄


As for the rest of my components (none of which are purchased. waiting on BF sales), I think I'm covered in terms of needed connectors.

i7 10070K
Deepcool Castle 360EX (top mounted)
Corsair Dominator Platinum 32gb
Gigabyte Vision RTX 3070 (on backorder)
Phanteks Evolv X case (comes with 3 x Phanteks MP140 fans, all on front intake)
Phanteks MP 120 x 3 (replacing the 3 from AIO because I want white fans)
Phanteks MP 140 x 1 (rear exhaust)
Phatenks Halo RGB fan frames: 120mm x 3, 140mm x 1
ASUS ROG Terminal

So here's the plan:

1. Case already comes with fan hub with a universal 3/4-pin header that will connect to motherboard - probably just choose any of the CHA_FAN headers. Fan hub can accommodate all 7 of my fans
2. AIO plugs into AIO_PUMP header on motherboard, CPU_FAN, and the RGB to motherboard ARGB header
3. Phanteks case RGB and fan frame RGBs all daisy chained and plugged into any one of ASUR ROG Terminal's 4 ARGB plugs. I may divide out the ARGB daisychains and use the other 3 available ports on the Terminal if I want more individual control.

 

[Darkbreeze]

So yeah, seems like you have the details well sorted. And of course, none of what I said is meant to indicate that ASUS motherboards lack quality, because overall they are pretty good, it's just that ALL motherboards are prone to failure. They are incredibly complex electronic components and anytime you get into that much complexity, failures become a percent of the norm. It's just that IF you have a problem, it's a PITA dealing with a company that just wants to ignore you and brush you off or outright deny you the service you are guaranteed through their own policies.

So, I've dealt with all of the major motherboard companies, often enough to be somewhat acquainted with what to expect usually from each of them and that doesn't mean that those companies have high failure rates, it just means that I build a frack of a lot of systems over the years and have had magnitudes higher exposure through that, and through service on this website for the last six years, than the average person.

I have never had any issues with ASRock or Gigabyte when it comes to warranty and RMA claims. MSI, I have a love hate relationship with. I love the quality of SOME of their boards, but I hate the company in general because of it's extremely unacceptable moral practices. ASUS, just has poor customer support and RMA service these days. They didn't used to. They used to be very good. It's not just one or two occasions either. Many occasions with many users. It's a trend.