I’ve always pictured ASUS’s ProArt line to be something of an upper socialite, classy, snobbish kinda brand with products like their PA monitors as well as the ProArt PCs mixing a lot of aesthetic into functionality. PC’s may have millions of views in Youtube of nicely put together builds comprising of melding parts that just blend in nicely. That’s not the case with a standard build. It’s a box with parts inside and sometimes it lights up. Not the storybook glamour that the ProArt exudes. So when ASUS sent me the Z490 board we have right now to review, I was shocked to see a ProArt board. There is no way in hell I was to believe this is a ProArt board with its cheap box and bare board aesthethic. But then I remember the “functionality” part in the form+function equation for the ProArt. So lo and behold.
An ASUS ProArt board. The DELUXE line revived.
Seriously though, this board packs built-in Thunderbolt3 and a 10G LAN card. I’m surprised they didn’t choose to build that in as well. Alas, it is what is.
Let’s get started!
ASUS ProArt Z490-Creator 10G – Closer Look Gallery
ProArt Z490-Creator 10G First Impressions
I couldn’t get RGB to work on this board… or maybe it just didn’t have any. A serious, functional board with high-end features usually found on overclocking boards for no reason on a non-OC board? From ASUS? Preposterous! But kidding aside, its true. Some has finally managed to get in touch with the reality that there are still buyers out there of anti-RGB builds that require absolute performance or functionality and with the ProArt line, that’s definitely the case.
Ultimately it boils down to price. The extras are nice an most of the times, a necessity, but how much would ASUS charge for them? That’s mostly the source of curiosity for this board and while we don’t doubt quality, ASUS has to go bragging on the marketing slide that this board can overclock? I am highly against it though. Still, the option is there.
My problem is still… there’s no I/O shroud.
“snobbish?” This is one of the most beautiful boards i’ve seen. Not that cheesy RGB garbage with EXTREME fajita dragons and eagles on them to excite rich kids. As for the actual contents of the board on the other hand, pathetic planned obsolescence disguised as a high end work station.
0