This article covers ASUS TUF Z390-Plus (Wi-Fi) LGA1151 (Intel 8th and 9th Gen) DDR4 DP HDMI M.2 Z390 ATX 802.11ac Wi-Fi USB 3.1 Gen2.

Overview

The ASUS TUF Z390-Plus (Wi-Fi) is an ATX motherboard built for Intel 8th and 9th Gen Core processors. It packs military-grade TUF components for enhanced durability and stability, making it a solid choice for budget-conscious gamers and DIY builders. The Z390 chipset provides full overclocking support for both CPU and memory, while onboard Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 5.0 add wireless convenience. Positioned in the mid-range segment, this motherboard offers a balanced feature set for mainstream and gaming PCs.

Compatibility Guide

This motherboard uses the LGA1151 socket, compatible with Intel Core i9-9900K, i7-9700K, i5-9600K, and older 8th-gen chips like the i7-8700K. It supports DDR4 memory up to 4133 MHz (OC) across four slots, with a maximum capacity of 64GB. The ATX form factor fits standard mid-tower and full-tower cases. Expansion includes two PCIe 3.0 x16 slots (one x16, one x4), two PCIe 3.0 x1 slots, and dual M.2 slots (one PCIe 3.0 x4 + SATA, one PCIe 3.0 x4). Storage is rounded out by four SATA 6Gb/s ports. Power delivery requires a 24-pin ATX and an 8-pin EPS connector; a 500W PSU is recommended for a typical build with a discrete GPU.

Product Info

Launched in late 2018, the TUF Z390-Plus (Wi-Fi) is part of ASUS's TUF series, which emphasizes durability and reliability. It sits in the mid-range tier of the Z390 lineup, offering a good mix of overclocking features, RGB support, and fan control via FanXpert 4. The onboard audio uses a Realtek S1200A codec with Japanese capacitors for clear sound. Wi-Fi is provided by an 802.11ac module with Bluetooth 5.0. Warranty is the standard 3 years from ASUS.

Best Use Cases

Budget Gaming Builds: Pair with a Core i5-9600K or i7-9700K for a cost-effective gaming rig that can handle 1080p and 1440p gaming. The Z390 chipset allows overclocking to squeeze out extra performance. Avoid if you need PCIe 4.0 or plan to upgrade to a newer CPU in the future. First-Time Builders: The TUF series' robust components and protective features (SafeSlot, LANGuard) provide peace of mind for beginners. It's also a great platform to learn overclocking. Not suitable if you want the latest connectivity like USB-C 20Gbps or Thunderbolt. * Home Server or Media PC: With dual M.2 slots and four SATA ports, you can build a compact NAS or media server. Built-in Wi-Fi eliminates the need for a separate adapter. However, if you need more than four SATA drives, consider a HBA card or a different motherboard.

Things to Consider

This motherboard is limited to Intel 8th and 9th Gen CPUs; it cannot be used with 10th, 11th, 12th, or newer processors. If you plan to upgrade your CPU in the future, a newer socket (LGA1200 or LGA1700) is advisable. Additionally, one of the M.2 slots shares bandwidth with SATA ports, so you may lose some SATA ports when using certain M.2 drives. The PCIe 3.0 interface means that modern PCIe 4.0 or 5.0 graphics cards and SSDs will run at reduced speeds, though the performance difference is often negligible for gaming. In the used market, this board can be a great value, but new buyers should compare it with budget options like B365 or H310 boards. ## FAQ
Q: Does this motherboard support the Intel Core i9-9900K? A: Yes, it does. Ensure BIOS is updated to a compatible version. However, the VRM design may require adequate cooling for sustained heavy loads. Q: Can I use DDR4-3600 memory? A: Officially supported up to DDR4-4133 (OC), so DDR4-3600 should work with XMP enabled. Stability depends on your CPU's memory controller and motherboard BIOS. Q: Is it compatible with Windows 11? A: Officially, Windows 10 is supported. However, with a TPM 2.0 module (sold separately), you can install Windows 11. Note that it's not on Microsoft's official compatibility list, so proceed at your own risk.

Product Disclosure (Amazon)

  • Manufacturer: ASUS
  • Seller: Amazon US
  • Fulfilled by: Amazon US
  • ASIN: B07HCVFCGK
  • Note: This article covers a manufacturer-made product based on Amazon listing details.