The Intel Z590 Motherboard Overview: 50+ Motherboards Detailed

ASUS TUF Gaming Z590-Plus & Z590-Plus WIFI

The Ultimate Force, or known as TUF, used to be a premium focal point of ASUS's motherboard range built on durability and when it used to have a better-than-standard warranty and full body armor. However over the last couple of years the brand has shifted somewhat as the ASUS TUF series now represents its entry-level gaming options. ASUS is advertising a 14+2 phase power delivery, with one 8-pin and 4-pin 12 ATX CPU power input pairing, three M.2 slots, and Intel 2.5 GbE and Wi-Fi 6 networking. The only difference between the two Z590-Plus and Z590-Plus WIFI is the latter is using a wireless CNVi module. Everything else is identical.

The ASUS TUF Gaming Z590-Plus WIFI includes two full-length PCIe slots, one PCIe 4.0 x16, another at PCIe 3.0 x4, with two PCIe 3.0 x1 slots. It includes three M.2 slots, one with PCIe 4.0 x4, and two PCIe 3.0/SATA, and includes six SATA ports with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays. ASUS includes support DDR4-4800 memory, with four available slots that can accommodate up to 128 GB.

Looking at the rear panel, ASUS includes one USB 3.2 G2 Type-C, two USB 3.2 G2 Type-A, two USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and two USB 2.0 ports. It's using Intel's I225-V 2.5 GbE controller and includes an Intel AX200 Wi-Fi 6 CNVi, supporting BT 5.0 devices. For users looking to use Intel's integrated graphics, there's a DisplayPort and HDMI video output, with a PS/2 combo port, and five 3.5 mm and S/PDIF optical output powered by a Realtek S1200A HD audio codec.

When ASUS rebranded The Ultimate Force (TUF) series from a robust series focused on reliability and toughness to its entry-level gaming series, the price being touted for the ASUS TUF Gaming Z590-Plus WIFI is $306, which is certainly not entry-level pricing. This is due to various premium controllers, albeit well used, including an Intel 2.5 GbE and Wi-Fi 6 pairing. There is a non WIFI version with a slightly lower price tag of $290.