ASUS Z590 motherboard guide: ROG Maximus XIII, ROG Strix, TUF Gaming, and Prime bring power to the core

ROG Strix serves up a healthy dose of performance and style

ROG Maximus XIII boards represent the pinnacle of technology and performance for the Z590 generation, and ROG Strix boards distill some of that DNA into more attainable boards that serve up high performance alongside a bold sense of style all their own.

The ROG Strix Z590-E and Z590-F Gaming lead the pack. These two dashing ATX gaming boards blend Aura RGB lighting and cybernetic styling for aggressive looks that match their high performance. The ROG Strix Z590-A caters to builders who want to grab the eye with a white color palette. Small-form-factor system builders will welcome the ROG Strix Z590-I, our take on what a contemporary Mini-ITX board should be. It’s loaded with an unbelievable amount of hardware in a compact form factor.

The ROG Strix Z590-E Gaming WiFi offers glory without excess

The ROG Strix Z590-E Gaming WiFi is aimed squarely at builders who want a sleek, stylish, and feature-packed ATX mobo that doesn’t go overboard. A 14+2 stage VRM borders the CPU socket, and we keep it cool with a massive heatsink array that’s integrated with the metal I/O shroud for swift heat dissipation even under heavy CPU loads.

Each EPS auxiliary power connector uses ProCool II connectors with solid pins for stable, reliable power delivery, and the DIMM slots push worthy sticks to 5333MHz and beyond thanks to our OptiMem III design. Six fan headers handle air cooling needs, while dedicated AIO and pump headers wrangle both pre-built and custom liquid-cooling solutions. One of those fan headers supports our HydraNode tech, providing individual control and monitoring for up to three compatible fans off a single splitter.

Three PCIe x16 slots (two 4.0, one 3.0) are primed to accept multiple GPUs or expansion cards with ease. Four M.2 slots offer storage-hungry builders a wide range of configuration options. All of these M.2 slots rest under heatsinks for high sustained performance, and we cool the main PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSD slot with both front- and back-side heatsinks. Our clever engineers found a great way to stop all that annoying fiddling about with tiny M.2 screws on these drive slots, too. The new Q-Latch system lets you secure an SSD with just a turn of a plastic tab—no tools required.

This board has a sense of style all its own. A futuristic cybernetic motif and three RGB LED zones subtly project your ROG allegiance. Additional strips and case lighting can use the three Gen 2 addressable RGB headers and one standard RGB connector. All the hues and effects can be configured with our Aura utility via Armoury Crate.

Peripheral connectivity options abound in the I/O panel. Networking is taken care of by a tag team of two Intel 2.5G Ethernet controllers, and you can opt to go wireless with an all-new Intel WiFi 6E adapter with 6GHz frequency support. USB connectivity includes two Type-C connectors, one USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 and the other USB 3.2 Gen 2, along with a selection of six USB 3.2 Gen 1 and USB 2.0 Type-A ports. You can tap another seven ports through internal headers, including a USB 3.2 Gen 2 2×2 connector for speedy front-panel transfers. There’s also a Thunderbolt 4 header for future expansion.

For the Z590 generation, we upped the audio game in ROG Strix boards, and the ROG Strix Z590-E Gaming serves up the full arsenal of improvements. A SupremeFX ALC4080 codec pipes crystal-clear audio to the rear ports, and front-panel headphone users will enjoy the output of a dedicated Savitech SV3H712 headphone amplifier. There’s also support for Two-way AI Noise Cancelation, DTS Sound Unbound 3D audio, and our range of audio enhancements, including Sonic Studio III, Sonic Studio Virtual Mixer, and Sonic Radar III.

The ROG Strix Z590-E Gaming enjoys many of the enthusiast-friendly features of the ROG Maximus XIII series. Builders will find a Q-Code LED display, Q-LED boot status lights, FlexKey remappable utility button, onboard CMOS clear button, and, of course, BIOS FlashBack support. Full support for our suite of AI technologies make it easy to get the most out of your system.

The ROG Strix Z590-F Gaming WiFi shows a different side of Strix

For a different take on the formula of the ROG Strix Z590-E Gaming WiFi with a near-identical feature set and a slightly smaller price tag, we offer the ROG Strix Z590-F. This model rolls with a style all its own and some sensible subtractions from the spec sheet, but it’s otherwise a dead ringer for its beefier brother.

The 14+2 stage VRM and quartet of M.2 slots all reprise their role, as does the enhanced audio section with its SupremeFX ALC4080 chip and Savitech headphone amp. The Q-Code LED bids farewell, but handy features like POST status LEDs, FlashBack support, and FlexKey all remain. The ROG Strix Z590-F Gaming WiFi maintains lofty memory overclocking capabilities with our OptiMem II design approach.

Likewise, the connectivity options are altogether similar. The Intel WiFi 6E adapter sticks around, although there’s only one Intel 2.5G Ethernet port. The front-panel USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 header goes away, but a rear-panel Type-C port still offers that high-speed connectivity. If you prefer the ROG Strix Z490-F Gaming’s style (and more attainable price point) over its Strix-E sibling, you don’t have to give up much in the way of substance to enjoy it.

The ROG Strix Z590-A Gaming WiFi inverts the color scheme for a unique look

White is back in fashion in the PC-building world, and for good reason. It’s clean, fresh, and looks particularly good under RGB lighting. The ROG Strix Z590-A is the clear choice for builders seeking to switch up the usual black color palette of modern motherboards.

Spec-wise, the Z590-A Gaming WiFi hews fairly closely to the upper models in the range. We trim back the PCIe slot selection to a trio of physical x16 slots rounded out by a fourth x4 connector, and the number of M.2 devices tops out at three. The main Ethernet port is driven by an Intel 2.5G controller, but the Intel WiFi 6 radio sticks to the proven 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands.

The USB port collection is lightly trimmed back from our fancier boards, but it still includes a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 20Gbps Type-C port for high-speed peripherals. The onboard Clear CMOS button goes away, but many builder-friendly features like FlexKey, Q-LED, and the ever-so-handy M.2 Q-Latches remain. The audio setup and functionality are identical to those of the Strix Z590-E and Z590-F.

The ROG Strix Z590-I Gaming WiFi puts a world of possibilities in the palm of your hand

Here’s a tough question: how do you put most of the features of an ROG motherboard in a space that’s only 6.7 by 6.7 inches square? It’s a tough nut to crack, yet it’s exactly what the ROG Strix Z590-I Gaming WiFi does. This board is perfect for building a compact high-end PC, whether your goal is a space-saving desktop system, an HTPC, or a console replacement.

The Z590-I’s PCB hosts an 8+2 stage VRM with 90A power stages for capable power delivery even with the highest-end 11^th Gen CPUs. A large two-part heatsink covers the power-delivery circuitry, and heatpipes underneath border the CPU socket and run into the I/O shield. Active VRM cooling ensures that each component stays chilly, even during all-out operation inside small enclosures.

The PCB itself is built with 10 layers, helping with heat dissipation and overclocking headroom. Like its bigger brothers, this board can drive compatible DIMMs to 5333MHz and perhaps even beyond.

Compact though it may be, the Strix Z590-I still has room for two M.2 slots (one of them with a backplate for better cooling), and both an Intel 2.5G Ethernet controller and a 6GHz WiFi 6E adapter with Bluetooth 5.2 support. The port selection wouldn’t look out of place in a much bigger board, either. There’s a Thunderbolt 4 USB-C port alongside six more USB ports, including a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 connector. If those USB options aren’t enough, there are internal headers for four more such ports, including a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port.

There’s a dash of RGB LEDs front and center on the Z590-I Gaming, plus two additional headers for RGB strips. One supports Gen 2 addressable devices, and the other supports four-pin lighting. The audio jacks have LEDs built in for easy identification in dark entertainment centers. A SupremeFX ALC4080 codec with a Savitech headphone amp takes care of audio duties. Two-way AI Noise Cancelation and our full suite of AI tech round out this pint-size powerhouse.

The TUF Gaming Z590-Plus WiFi refines both beauty and brawn

TUF Gaming motherboards present builders with reliable, attainable platforms that have everything you need and nothing you don’t. For the Z590 generation, we’ve introduced a new logo and refined the unique black-and-yellow aesthetic that’s a trademark of the series. We think you’ll like it as much as we do.

Each TUF Gaming product goes through stringent load and environmental tests to ensure it won’t let you down in the middle of the action. We pay special attention to mitigating the effects of electrostatic discharge and other external threats to your gaming PC. All TUF Gaming products go great with components from the TUF Gaming Alliance, where you can find certified memory, cases, coolers, and power supplies from our partners for an easy route to a cohesive build.

Every board in our Z590 lineup has been upgraded inside and out, and the improvements to the TUF Gaming Z590-Plus WiFi mean that gamers after a straightforward and stealthy motherboard need look no further. This board’s 14+2 stage VRM is built with DrMOS integrated components and TUF capacitors rated for high heat tolerance. The heatsinks on each row of got bigger and bolder, thanks to the addition of the I/O shroud for heat dissipation purposes. Overall, the set is 1.7x as heavier and has 1.6x the area of the previous generation’s cooling arrangement. ProCool solid-core-pin connectors grace the top left corner of the board.

The PCB itself is composed of six layers to help improve passive heat dissipation and maintain stability. Thanks to our OptiMem II design, the Z590-Plus WiFi supports RAM speeds of 5133MHz and potentially beyond. Having multiple NVMe SSDs is all the rage these days, and they can go into three available M.2 slots on this board. Q-Latch tool-free retainers on each M.2 slot save you time and stress, too.

For reliable connectivity with networks both local and wide, the Z590-Plus WiFi taps Intel controllers for its 2.5G Ethernet port and WiFi 6 radio. This board’s back panel arsenal also includes seven USB ports, including a 20Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C connector and multiple USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports. Six more USB 3.2 Gen 1 and USB 2.0 ports are available via internal headers. You can expand peripheral connectivity even further with the onboard Thunderbolt 4 header.

The TUF Gaming Z590-Plus WiFi boasts a stealthy style all its own, but you can light it up with two Gen 2 addressable RGB and two standard RGB headers. Every connected light strip can be easily controlled using Aura Sync and the Armoury Crate software.

For sound quality you can depend on, the Z590-Plus WiFi employs a Realtek ALC1200A codec with an integrated headphone amplifier. Japanese-made capacitors in the analog signal path ensure a crisp and clear signal. When you’re gaming, you can use DTS Custom for surround sound virtualization, and Two-way AI Noise Cancelation ensures that team comms come through loud and clear whether you’re transmitting or receiving.

If you don’t need wireless connectivity from your motherboard, the TUF Gaming Z590-Plus omits the WiFi radio from its spec sheet. It’s otherwise identical to the WiFi version we’ve detailed above. Check with your local ASUS representative for more info regarding pricing and availability of this model.