Closer Look
ASRock Z490 PG Velocita motherboard arrived in a retail package which well described. The box design is a bit different than we used to see but not so much. It’s still showing us a large Phantom Gaming logo, but additionally Velocita series.
Inside the box, we will find a well-protected motherboard, user’s manual, drivers and software DVD, SATA data cables, and M.2 screws. Inside is also a gamer’s pack with stickers, cable ties, and some more. Pretty much all we need for installation.
As in all new higher series motherboards, the I/O shield is pre-installed. It makes installation easier and has no disadvantages.
At first look, we can say that the motherboard looks typical. When we take a closer look, then we see many differences that make the PG Velocita special. We can start from a really large cooling solution, which includes three fans. All of these fans will stop at low CPU load when the temperature is also low. Readers who are scared of the possible noise don’t have to worry about it. All fans are really quiet, and under full load, we will faster hear the CPU cooler than any of these small fans on power section heatsinks.
The chipset heatsink is quite large but doesn’t require active cooling. Next to the chipset are two large M.2 heatsinks with thermal pads. This is what became a standard in high-end motherboards and good as some M.2 SSD run really hot. There is also something interesting about the M.2 sockets and PCIe x16 slots. As far as the Intel Comet Lake-S officially doesn’t support PCIe 4.0 then ASRock added PCIe 4.0 clock generator which bumps its speed above standard PCIe 3.0 bandwidth. It’s a real surprise, but we are glad to see it.
The motherboard has a 13-power phase design. It’s more than enough for the latest Intel processors, but as long as we use really good cooling, then we will be able to overclock our CPU much above the specified speed without the worry of the power delivery. Everything is additionally well-cooled, so even under load, VRM sensors are showing no more than 60°C.
The only thing which I’m missing is a WiFi/Bluetooth controller. There is an M.2 socket dedicated to the card, but I think it’s not such a high cost so that it couldn’t be already installed on the motherboard. More users are deciding to use wireless connections each year, so I think it should already become a standard. On the other hand, users who don’t need WiFi can buy the motherboard at a lower cost, and there is always an option to add the M.2 module later. Intel AX200/201 cards can be found on Amazon for around $30, so it’s a pretty reasonable option.
Since I mentioned WiFi then I have to add a comment regarding LAN ports and used controllers. There was news in last weeks that Intel i225, 2.5G LAN, is faulty and may cause performance drops. The Z490 PG Velocita uses Intel 219v 1Gbit and Realtek Dragon/Phantom Gaming 2.5Gbit controllers, so there shouldn’t be any problems with LAN performance or stability. We’ve tested both LAN controllers, and our results are great on both of them. You will be able to see screenshots on the next pages of this review.
I’m not sure what designers of the PG Velocita had on their minds, but I have a feeling that the motherboard is strong in places where demanding users want that and is skipping useless additions that are never really used. As an effect, we are receiving a strong power section, good memory support, high-bandwidth M.2, and PCIe. At the same time, there are no older slots, headers, or devices that were only filling empty spots on the PCB, and barely anyone was using them on gaming motherboards.
We can’t forget about the RGB illumination. The Z490 PG Velocita supports RGB and ARGB devices with proper headers but also supports various devices connected via other ports or technologies. We can connect everything from fans to headsets. There is support for memory kits, SSD, and anything else that works with RGB lighting, and of course, we can synchronize all effects for a fantastic result.
Below and above are motherboard effects. Chipset and IO cover are equipped with ARGB LEDs, which can be programmed as we wish through ASRock software.
On the next page, we will take a look at the BIOS/UEFI.
