This last week Intel launched their new Core Ultra 200 Series CPUs and with that the Z890 chipset as well. I started off our testing by taking a look at the Iced-out Gigabyte Z890 Aorus Pro Ice, but that wasn’t the only motherboard that came in. Asus sent over a few boards as well and now that I have a little more time I can finally dive in and see what they have to offer. I’m starting off with the Asus TUF Gaming Z890-Plus Wifi which isn’t Asus’s cheapest Z890 board but does look to be a good mix of features without costing as much as some of the other gaming-focused boards. I was really impressed with the Asus TUF Gaming X870-Plus Wifi that I took a look at last month. Will their Z890 TUF Gaming board do the same? Let’s find out!
Product Name: Asus TUF Gaming Z890-Plus Wifi
Review Sample Provided by: Asus
Written by: Wes Compton
Amazon Affiliate Link: HERE
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Specifications |
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CPU |
Support Intel® Core™ Ultra Processors (Series 2), LGA1851* Supports Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 and Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0** * Refer to https://www.asus.com/support/download-center/ for CPU support list. ** Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 support depends on the CPU types. |
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Chipset |
Intel® Z890 Chipset |
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Memory |
4 x DIMM slots, max. 192GB, DDR5 Support up to 9066+MT/s (OC), Non-ECC, Un-buffered ,Clocked Unbuffered DIMM (CUDIMM)* Dual channel memory architecture DIMM Fit Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) memory module ASUS Enhanced Memory Profile III(AEMPIII) * Supported memory types, data rate (speed), and number of DRAM modules vary depending on the CPU and memory configuration, for more information please refer to CPU/Memory Support list under the Support tab of product information site or visit https://www.asus.com/support/download-center/. ** Non-ECC, un-buffered DDR5 memory supports On-Die ECC function. |
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Graphics |
1 x DisplayPort** 1 x HDMI™ port*** 1 x Intel® Thunderbolt™ 4 port (USB Type-C®) supports DisplayPort and Thunderbolt™ video outputs**** 1 x USB 20Gbps port (USB Type-C®) supports DisplayPort video output****** * Graphics specifications may vary between CPU types. Please refer to www.intel.com for any updates. ** Supports max. 4K@60Hz as specified in DisplayPort 1.4. *** Supports 4K@60Hz as specified in HDMI 2.1. ****In ThunderboltTM 4 mode, supports up to 8K@60Hz x1 with DSC, maximum total bandwidth up to 23.8Gbps, for resolution support please check DisplayPort 2.1 specs. ***** In DP alt mode, supports up to UHBR20. ****** Supports max. 4K@60Hz as specified in DisplayPort 1.4. ******* VGA resolution support depends on processors' or graphic cards' resolution. ********While installing the operating system, please ensure that your monitor is connected to the HDMI port on the back I/O panel or to a discrete graphics card. |
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Expansion Slots |
Intel® Core™ Ultra Processors(Series 2)* |
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Storage |
Total Supports 4 x M.2 slots and 4 x SATA 6Gb/s ports* |
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Ethernet |
1 x Intel® 2.5Gb Ethernet TUF LANGuard |
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Wireless & Bluetooth |
Wi-Fi 7* 2x2 Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) Supports 2.4/5/6GHz frequency band** Supports Wi-Fi 7 160MHz bandwidth, up to 2.9Gbps transfer rate. Bluetooth® v5.4*** *Wi-Fi features may vary depending on the operating system For Windows 11, Wi-Fi 7 will require 24H2 or later version for full functions, Windows 11 21H2/22H2/23H2 only support Wi-Fi 6E. For Windows 10, please note that no driver is available , please refer to the Wi-Fi chipset vendor's website for details. ** Wi-Fi 6GHz frequency band and bandwidth regulatory may vary between countries. *** The Bluetooth® version may vary, please refer to the Wi-Fi module manufacturer's website for the latest specifications. |
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USB |
Rear USB (Total 8 ports) 1 x Thunderbolt™ 4 port (1 x USB Type-C®) 1 x USB 20Gbps port (1 x USB Type-C®) 3 x USB 10Gbps ports (3 x Type-A) 3 x USB 5Gbps ports (3 x Type-A) Front USB (Total 7 ports) 1 x USB 20Gbps connector (supports USB Type-C®) 1 x USB 5Gbps header supports 2 additional USB 5Gbps ports 2 x USB 2.0 headers support 4 additional USB 2.0 ports USB Type-C® power delivery output: max. 5V/3A |
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Audio |
Realtek ALC1220P 7.1 Surround Sound High Definition Audio CODEC* - Impedance sense for front and rear headphone outputs - Internal audio Amplifier to enhance the highest quality sound for headphone and speakers - Supports: Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking - High quality 120 dB SNR stereo playback output and 113 dB SNR recording input (Line-in) - Supports up to 32-Bit/192 kHz playback* Audio Features - Audio Shielding - Rear optical S/PDIF out port - Premium audio capacitors - Dedicated audio PCB layers - Audio cover - Unique de-pop circuit * Due to limitations in HDA bandwidth, 32-Bit/192 kHz is not supported for 7.1 Surround Sound audio. |
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Back Panel I/O Ports |
1 x Thunderbolt™ 4 USB Type-C® port 1 x USB 20Gbps port (1 x USB Type-C® with DP Alt mode) 3 x USB 10Gbps ports (3 x Type-A) 3 x USB 5Gbps ports (3 x Type-A) 1 x DisplayPort 1 x HDMI™ port 1 x Wi-Fi module 1 x Intel® 2.5Gb Ethernet port 5 x Audio jacks 1 x Optical S/PDIF out port 1 x BIOS FlashBack™ button |
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Internal I/O Connectors |
Fan and Cooling Related 1 x 4-pin CPU Fan header 1 x 4-pin CPU OPT Fan header 1 x 4-pin AIO Pump header 4 x 4-pin Chassis Fan headers Power Related 1 x 24-pin Main Power connector 2 x 8-pin +12V CPU Power connector Storage Related 4 x M.2 slots (Key M) 4 x SATA 6Gb/s ports USB 1 x USB 20Gbps connector (supports USB Type-C® ) 1 x USB 5Gbps header supports 2 additional USB 5Gbps ports 2 x USB 2.0 headers support 4 additional USB 2.0 ports Miscellaneous 3 x Addressable Gen 2 headers 1 x Clear CMOS header 1 x Chassis Intrusion header 1 x COM Port header 1 x Front Panel Audio header (F_AUDIO) 1 x 10-1 pin Front System Panel header 1 x Thunderbolt™ (USB4®) header |
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Special Features |
ASUS TUF PROTECTION - DIGI+ VRM (- Digital power design with DrMOS) - ESD Guards - TUF LANGuard - Overvoltage protection - SafeSlot - Stainless-steel back I/O ASUS Q-Design - M.2 Q-Latch - M.2 Q-Release - M.2 Q-Slide - PCIe Slot Q-Release - Q-Antenna - Q-Dashboard - Q-DIMM - Q-LED (CPU [red], DRAM [yellow], VGA [white], Boot Device [yellow green]) - Q-Slot ASUS Thermal Solution - M.2 heatsink backplate - M.2 heatsink - VRM heatsink design ASUS EZ DIY - BIOS FlashBack™ button - BIOS FlashBack™ LED - CPU Socket lever protector - ProCool - Pre-mounted I/O shield - SafeDIMM Aura Sync - Addressable Gen 2 headers |
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Software Features |
ASUS Exclusive Software |
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BIOS |
256 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI AMI BIOS |
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Manageability |
WOL by PME, PXE |
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Accessories |
Cables 2 x SATA 6Gb/s cables Miscellaneous 1 x ASUS WiFi Q-Antenna 1 x M.2 Q-Slide package 2 x M.2 rubber packages 1 x Screw package for M.2 SSD 1 x TUF GAMING sticker 1 x TUF GAMING removable nameplate Documentation 1 x Quick start guide |
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Operating System |
Windows 11 (22H2 & later) |
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Form Factor |
ATX Form Factor 12 inch x 9.6 inch ( 30.5 cm x 24.4 cm ) |
