ASUS ROG Strix Z490-G Gaming operation manual

ROG STRIX Z490-G GAMING (WI-FI)

Motherboard

E16474

Revised Edition V2

March 2020

Copyright © 2020 ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. All Rights Reserved.

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ii

Contents

Safety information......................................................................................................	iv
About this guide...........................................................................................................	v
ROG STRIX Z490-G GAMING (WI-FI) specifications summary...............................	vi
Connectors with shared bandwidth...........................................................................	x
Package contents.......................................................................................................	xi
Installation tools and components...........................................................................	xii

Chapter 1:		Product Introduction
1.1	Before you proceed....................................................................................		1-1
1.2	Motherboard layout....................................................................................		1-2
Chapter 2:		Basic Installation
2.1	Building your PC system...........................................................................		2-1
	2.1.1	CPU installation...........................................................................	2-1
	2.1.2	Cooling system installation..........................................................	2-3
	2.1.3	DIMM installation.........................................................................	2-5
	2.1.4	M.2 installation.............................................................................	2-6
	2.1.5	Motherboard installation..............................................................	2-8
	2.1.6	ATX power connection.................................................................	2-9
	2.1.7	SATA device connection............................................................	2-10
	2.1.8	Front I/O connector....................................................................	2-11
	2.1.9	Expansion card installation........................................................	2-12
	2.1.10	Wi-Fi antenna installation..........................................................	2-13
2.2	BIOS update utility....................................................................................		2-14
2.3	Motherboard rear and audio connections..............................................		2-15
	2.3.1	Rear I/O connection...................................................................	2-15
	2.3.2	Audio I/O connections................................................................	2-16
2.4	Starting up for the first time....................................................................		2-19
2.5	Turning off the computer.........................................................................		2-19
Chapter 3:		BIOS and RAID Support
3.1	Knowing BIOS.............................................................................................		3-1
3.2	BIOS setup program...................................................................................		3-2
3.3	EZ Update....................................................................................................		3-2
3.4	ASUS EZ Flash 3.........................................................................................		3-3
3.5	ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3............................................................................		3-4
3.6	RAID configurations...................................................................................		3-5
Appendix
Notices	.....................................................................................................................		A-1
ASUS contact information......................................................................................			A-8

iii

Safety information

Electrical safety

•To prevent electrical shock hazard, disconnect the power cable from the electrical outlet before relocating the system.

•When adding or removing devices to or from the system, ensure that the power cables for the devices are unplugged before the signal cables are connected. If possible, disconnect all power cables from the existing system before you add a device.

•Before connecting or removing signal cables from the motherboard, ensure that all power cables are unplugged.

•Seek professional assistance before using an adapter or extension cord. These devices could interrupt the grounding circuit.

•Ensure that your power supply is set to the correct voltage in your area. If you are not sure about the voltage of the electrical outlet you are using, contact your local power company.

•If the power supply is broken, do not try to fix it by yourself. Contact a qualified service technician or your retailer.

Operation safety

•Before installing the motherboard and adding devices on it, carefully read all the manuals that came with the package.

•Before using the product, ensure all cables are correctly connected and the power cables are not damaged. If you detect any damage, contact your dealer immediately.

•To avoid short circuits, keep paper clips, screws, and staples away from connectors, slots, sockets and circuitry.

•Avoid dust, humidity, and temperature extremes. Do not place the product in any area where it may become wet.

•Place the product on a stable surface.

•If you encounter technical problems with the product, contact a qualified service technician or your retailer.

•Your motherboard should only be used in environments with ambient temperatures between 0°C and 40°C.

iv

About this guide

This user guide contains the information you need when installing and configuring the motherboard.

How this guide is organized

This guide contains the following parts:

•Chapter 1: Product Introduction

This chapter describes the features of the motherboard and the new technology it supports. It includes description of the switches, jumpers, and connectors on the motherboard.

•Chapter 2: Basic Installation

This chapter lists the hardware setup procedures that you have to perform when installing system components.

•Chapter 3: BIOS and RAID Support

This chapter tells how to boot into the BIOS, upgrade BIOS using the EZ Flash Utility and support on RAID.

Where to find more information

Refer to the following sources for additional information and for product and software updates.

1.ASUS website

The ASUS website (www.asus.com) provides updated information on ASUS hardware and software products.

2.Optional documentation

Your product package may include optional documentation, such as warranty flyers, that may have been added by your dealer. These documents are not part of the standard package.

Conventions used in this guide

To ensure that you perform certain tasks properly, take note of the following symbols used throughout this manual.

CAUTION: Information to prevent damage to the components and injuries to yourself when trying to complete a task.

IMPORTANT: Instructions that you MUST follow to complete a task.

NOTE: Tips and additional information to help you complete a task.

v

ROG STRIX Z490-G GAMING (WI-FI) specifications summary

		Intel® Socket LGA1200 for 10th Gen Intel® Core™, Pentium® Gold and
		Celeron® processors*
		Supports Intel® 14 nm CPU
	CPU	Supports Intel ® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 and Intel® Turbo Boost Max
		Technology 3.0**
		*	Refer to www.asus.com for CPU support list.
		** Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 support depends on the CPU types.
	Chipset	Intel® Z490 Chipset
		4 x DIMM, Max. 128GB, DDR4 4600(O.C) / 4500(O.C) / 4400(O.C) /
			4266(O.C.) / 4133(O.C.) / 4000(O.C.) / 3866(O.C.) / 3733(O.C.) /
			3600(O.C.) / 3466(O.C.) / 3400(O.C.) / 3333(O.C.) / 3300(O.C.) /
			3200(O.C.) / 3000(O.C.) / 2933(O.C.) / 2800(O.C.) / 2666 / 2400 /
			2133 MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory*
	Memory	Dual Channel Memory Architecture
		Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)
		OptiMem II
		*	10th Gen Intel® Core™ i9/i7 CPUs support 2933/2800/2666/2400/2133 natively.
			Refer to www.asus.com for the Memory QVL (Qualified Vendors Lists).
		1 x DisplayPort 1.4*
	Graphics	1 x HDMI™ 1.4b
		*	Support DisplayPort 1.4 with max. resolution of 4096 x 2304 @60Hz. Please
			refer to www.intel.com for any update.
		*	Graphics specifications may vary between CPU types.
		Intel® 10th Gen Processors*
		1 x PCIe 3.0 x16 slot (supports x16 mode)
		Intel® Z490 Chipset
	Expansion Slots	1 x PCIe 3.0 x16 slot (supports x4 mode)**
		1 x PCIe 3.0 x1 slot
		*	Support PCIe bifurcation for RAID on CPU function.
		** When PCIe 3.0 x16_2 runs at x4 mode, SATA6G_56 will be disabled.
	Multi-GPU support	Supports AMD 2-Way CrossFireX™ Technology
		Total supports 2 x M.2 slots and 6 x SATA 6Gb/s ports
		Intel® Z490 Chipset
		M.2_1 slot (Key M), type 2242/2260/2280/22110
		(supports PCIe 3.0 x4 modes)
		M.2_2 slot (Key M), type 2242/2260/2280
	Storage	(supports PCIe 3.0 x4 & SATA modes)*
		6 x SATA 6Gb/s ports
		Intel® Rapid Storage Technology supports Raid 0,1,5,10
		Intel® Optane™ Memory Ready
		* M.2_2 shares bandwidth with SATA6G_2. When M.2_2 runs SATA mode,
			SATA6G_2 will be disabled.
	Ethernet	1 x Intel® I225-V Ethernet
		ASUS LANGuard
			(continued on the next page)

vi

ROG STRIX Z490-G GAMING (WI-FI) specifications summary

		Intel® Wi-Fi 6 AX201
		2x2 Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax) support 1024QAM/OFDMA/MU-MIMO
		Supports up to 2.4Gbps max data rate
	Wireless & Bluetooth	Supports 2.4/5GHz Dual-Band
		Supports channel bandwidth: HT20/HT40/HT80/HT160
		Supports CNVI interface
		Bluetooth v5.1*
		* BT 5.1 function will be ready in Windows 10 build 19041 or later.
		Rear USB (Total 8 ports)
		2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (1 x Type-A + 1 x USB Type-C®)
		4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (4 x Type-A)
	USB	2 x USB 2.0 ports (2 x Type-A)
		Front USB (Total 7 ports)
		1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Front Panel connector (supports USB Type-C®)
		1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 header supports additional 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports
		2 x USB 2.0 headers support additional 4 USB 2.0 ports
		ROG SupremeFX 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC S1220A
		- Impedance sense for front and rear headphone outputs
		- Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking
		- High quality 120 dB SNR stereo playback output and 113 dB SNR
		recording input
		- Supports up to 32-Bit/192kHz playback*
	Audio	Audio Features:
		- SupremeFX Shielding Technology
		- Dual OP Amplifiers
		- Rear optical S/PDIF out port
		- Premium Japanese audio capacitors
		- Audio cover
		* Due to limitations in HDA bandwidth, 32-Bit/192kHz is not supported for
		8-Channel audio.
		2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (1 x Type-A + 1 x USB Type-C®)
		4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (4 x Type-A)
		2 x USB 2.0 port(s) (2 x Type-A)
		1 x DisplayPort
	Back Panel I/O Ports	1 x HDMI™ port
		1 x ASUS Wi-Fi Module
		1 x Intel® I225-V Ethernet port
		5 x Gold-plated audio jacks
		1 x Optical S/PDIF out port
		1 x BIOS FlashBack™ button
		(continued on the next page)

vii

ROG STRIX Z490-G GAMING (WI-FI) specifications summary

Fan and cooling related

1 x 4-Pin CPU Fan header

1 x 4-Pin CPU OPT Fan header

2 x 4-Pin Chassis Fan headers

1 x W_PUMP+ header

1 x VRM heatsink Fan header

Power related

1 x 24-pin Main Power connector

1 x 8-pin +12V Power connector

1 x 4-pin +12V Power connector

		Storage related
		2 x M.2 slots (Key M)
	Internal I/O connectors 6 x SATA 6Gb/s ports
		USB
		1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Front Panel connector (supports USB Type-C®)
		1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 header supports additional 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports
		2 x USB 2.0 headers support additional 4 USB 2.0 ports
		Miscellaneous
		2 x AURA Addressable Gen 2 headers
		2 x AURA RGB headers
		1 x Clear CMOS header
		1 x CPU Over Voltage Jumper
		1 x Front Panel Audio header (AAFP)
		1 x 20-5 pin System Panel header
		1 x Thermal Sensor header
		Extreme Engine Digi+
		- 5K Black Metallic Capacitors
		- ON-semi NCP302045
		- MicroFine Alloy Choke
		ASUS Q-Design
		- ASUS Q-DIMM
		- ASUS Q-LED (CPU [red], DRAM [yellow], VGA [white], Boot Device
		[yellow green])
	Special Features	- ASUS Q-Slot
		ASUS Thermal Solution
		- Aluminum M.2 heatsink
		- Aluminum heatsink design
		ASUS EZ DIY
		- BIOS FlashBack™ button
		- BIOS FlashBack™ LED
		- Procool II
		- Pre-mounted I/O shield
		- SafeSlot
		(continued on the next page)

viii

ROG STRIX Z490-G GAMING (WI-FI) specifications summary

		AURA Sync
	Special Features	- Standard RGB headers
		- Addressable Gen 2 RGB headers
		ROG Exclusive Software
		- RAMCache III
		- ROG CPU-Z
		- GameFirst VI
		- Sonic Studio III + Sonic Studio Virtual Mixer
		- Sonic Radar III
		- DTS® Sound Unbound
		- Overwolf
		- Anti-virus software
		ASUS Exclusive Software
		Armoury Crate
		- Aura Creator
		- Aura Sync
		AI Suite 3
	Software Features	- 5-Way Optimization with AI Overclocking
		TPU
		EPU
		Digi+ VRM
		Xpert 4
		Turbo app
		- EZ update
		AI Charger
		WinRAR
		UEFI BIOS
		AI Overclocking Guide
		ASUS EZ DIY
		- ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
		- ASUS EZ Flash 3
		- ASUS UEFI BIOS EZ Mode
		FlexKey
	BIOS	192 (128+64) Mb Flash ROM, UEFI AMI BIOS
	Manageability	WOL by PME, PXE
	Operating System	Windows® 10 - 64 bit
	Form Factor	Micro ATX Form Factor
		9.6 inch x 9.6 inch ( 24.4 cm x 24.4 cm)

Specifications are subject to change without notice. Please refer to the ASUS website for the latest specifications.

ix

Connectors with shared bandwidth

		B
	B	A
	A

Configuration

1 (Default)

2

	A	PCIEX16_2	x2	x4
		SATA6G_56	V	-
	Configuration		1 (Default)	2
	B	M.2_2	PCIe mode	SATA mode
		SATA6G_2	V	-

• When PCIe 3.0 x16_2 runs at x4 mode, SATA6G_56 will be disabled.

• M.2_2 shares bandwidth with SATA6G_2. When M.2_2 runs SATA mode, SATA6G_2 will be disabled.

•Please adjust BIOS setting for changing onboard device configuration.

x

Package contents

Check your motherboard package for the following items.

	Motherboard	1 x ROG STRIX Z490-G GAMING (WI-FI) motherboard
		1 x Addressable RGB extension cable
	Cables	1 x RGB extension cable
		4 x SATA 6Gb/s cables
		1 x Cable ties pack
		1 x M.2 Rubber package
	Miscellaneous	1 x M.2 SSD screw package(s)
		1 x ROG Strix stickers
		1 x ROG Strix thank you card
		1 x ASUS 2x2 dual band Wi-Fi moving antennas
	Installation Media	1 x Support DVD
	Documentation	1 x User manual

If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer.

xi

Installation tools and components

Phillips (cross) screwdriver

PC chassis

Power supply unit

Intel® LGA 1200 CPU

Intel® LGA 1200 compatible CPU Fan

DDR4 DIMM

SATA hard disk drive

SATA optical disc drive (optional)

Graphics card (optional)

M.2 SSD module (optional)

1 Bag of screws

The tools and components in the table above are not included in the motherboard package.

xii

Product Introduction

1

1.1Before you proceed

Take note of the following precautions before you install motherboard components or change any motherboard settings.

•Unplug the power cord from the wall socket before touching any component.

•Before handling components, use a grounded wrist strap or touch a safely grounded object or a metal object, such as the power supply case, to avoid damaging them due to static electricity.

•Hold components by the edges to avoid touching the ICs on them.

•Whenever you uninstall any component, place it on a grounded antistatic pad or in the bag that came with the component.

•Before you install or remove any component, ensure that the ATX power supply is switched off or the power cord is detached from the power supply. Failure to do so may cause severe damage to the motherboard, peripherals, or components.

Chapter 1

ROG STRIX Z490-G GAMING (WI-FI)

1-1

1.2Motherboard layout

1 Chapter

1-2

Chapter 1: Product Introduction

Layout contents

1.CPU socket

2.DIMM slots

3.Expansion slots

4.Fan and Pump headers

5.VRM Heatsink Fan header

6.Power connectors

7.M.2 slot

8.SATA 6GB/s ports

9.USB 3.2 Gen 2 Front Panel connector 10. USB 3.2 Gen 1 header

11. USB 2.0 header

12. AURA Addressable Gen2 header

13. AURA RGB header

14. Clear CMOS header

15. CPU Over Voltage jumper

16. Front Panel Audio header

17. System Panel header

18. Thermal Sensor header

19. Q-LEDs

20. 8-pin Power Plug LED

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Chapter 1

ROG STRIX Z490-G GAMING (WI-FI)

1-3

1.CPU socket

The motherboard comes with a LGA1200 socket designed for 10th Gen Intel® Core™, Pentium® Gold and Celeron® processors.

1 Chapter

•Ensure that you install the correct CPU designed for LGA1200 socket only. DO NOT install a CPU designed for other sockets on the LGA1200 socket.

•The CPU fits in only one correct orientation. DO NOT force the CPU into the socket to prevent bending the connectors on the socket and damaging the CPU.

•Ensure that all power cables are unplugged before installing the CPU.

•Upon purchase of the motherboard, ensure that the PnP cap is on the socket and the socket contacts are not bent. Contact your retailer immediately if the PnP cap is missing, or if you see any damage to the PnP cap/socket contacts/motherboard components. ASUS will shoulder the cost of repair only if the damage is shipment/ transit-related.

•Keep the cap after installing the motherboard. ASUS will process Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) requests only if the motherboard comes with the cap on the LGA1200 socket.

•The product warranty does not cover damage to the socket contacts resulting from incorrect CPU installation/removal, or misplacement/loss/incorrect removal of the PnP cap.

1-4	Chapter 1: Product Introduction

2.DIMM slots

The motherboard comes with Dual Inline Memory Modules (DIMM) slots designed for DDR4 (Double Data Rate 4) memory modules.

A DDR4 memory module is notched differently from a DDR, DDR2, or DDR3 module. DO NOT install a DDR, DDR2, or DDR3 memory module to the DDR4 slot.

Recommended memory configurations

Chapter 1

ROG STRIX Z490-G GAMING (WI-FI)

1-5

1 Chapter

Memory configurations

You may install 4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB, and 32 GB unbuffered and non ECC DDR4 DIMMs into the DIMM sockets.

You may install varying memory sizes in Channel A and Channel B. The system maps the total size of the lower-sized channel for the dual-channel configuration. Any excess memory from the higher-sized channel is then mapped for single-channel operation.

• The default memory operation frequency is dependent on its Serial Presence Detect (SPD), which is the standard way of accessing information from a memory module. Under the default state, some memory modules for overclocking may operate at a lower frequency than the vendor-marked value.

•For system stability, use a more efficient memory cooling system to support a full memory load or overclocking condition.

•Always install the DIMMS with the same CAS Latency. For an optimum compatibility, we recommend that you install memory modules of the same version or data code (D/C) from the same vendor. Check with the vendor to get the correct memory modules.

•Visit the ASUS website for the latest QVL.

1-6	Chapter 1: Product Introduction

3.Expansion slots

Unplug the power cord before adding or removing expansion cards. Failure to do so may cause you physical injury and damage motherboard components.

Chapter 1

Please refer to the following tables for the recommended VGA configuration and Hyper M.2 configuration.

ROG STRIX Z490-G GAMING (WI-FI)

1-7

1 Chapter

Recommended VGA configuration

Slot Description		Single VGA	Dual VGA
1.	PCIe 3.0 x16_1	x16	X16
3.	PCIe 3.0 x16_2	N/A	x4

• We recommend that you provide sufficient power when running CrossFireX™ mode.

•Ensure to connect the 8-pin and 4-pin power plugs when running CrossFireX™ mode.

•Connect a chassis fan to the chassis fan connectors when using multiple graphics cards for better thermal environment.

Hyper M.2 X16 series card configuration

Slot Description		Up to 3 Intel® SSD on CPU support
1.	PCIe 3.0 x16_1	x8+x4+x4

• Hyper M.2 X16 series card is purchased separately.

•When using up to 3 intel® SSD on CPU support, if you wish to connect a display, we suggest using the internal VGA, or installing a VGA card to PCIe x16_2, which will run at x4.

•Enable the Hyper M.2 X16 series card under BIOS settings.

1-8	Chapter 1: Product Introduction

4.Fan and Pump headers

The Fan and Pump headers allow you to connect fans or pumps to cool the system.

Chapter 1

•DO NOT forget to connect the fan cables to the fan headers. Insufficient air flow

inside the system may damage the motherboard components. These are not jumpers! Do not place jumper caps on the fan headers!

•Ensure the cable is fully inserted into the header.

For water cooling kits, connect the pump connector to the W_PUMP+ header.

Header	Max. Current	Max. Power	Default Speed	Shared Control
CPU_FAN	1A	12W	Q-Fan Controlled	A
CPU_OPT	1A	12W	Q-Fan Controlled	A
CHA_FAN1	1A	12W	Q-Fan Controlled	-
CHA_FAN2	1A	12W	Q-Fan Controlled	-
VRM_HS_FAN	1A	12W	Q-Fan Controlled	-
W_PUMP+	3A	36W	Full-Speed	-

ROG STRIX Z490-G GAMING (WI-FI)

1-9