With the lead-up to the release of the Series 2 Intel Core Ultra processors, we were recently given an ASUS TUF Gaming Z890-Plus Wi-Fi Motherboard to check out. I had initially written up a preview on this one, which you can read about here, and I went into quite a bit of detail with that write-up. Rather than repeating what I’ve already written down, I’ll use this review to sum it all up and point out some of my favourite features.

The first thing that stands out is the aggressively designed VRM heatsinks. They help to draw attention to the board, proudly displaying the TUF name and logo. As a side bonus, the system comes with an optional TUF Gaming embellishment that can slide over the top of any of these.

One of the more stylized heatsinks has been moulded to display TUF on the cross-section, and this heatsink covers one of the M.2 drive slots. This heatsink, as well as all four of the M.2 drive slots, utilises ASUS’s Q-Release system – a means to install, remove and replace the SSDs quickly and easily. Push the lever and the drive will pop up, ready to be lifted away, and a satisfying click lets you know it’s back in place.

The main M.2 slot also supports the Q-Slide system, meaning that if you’re using a drive that doesn’t quite reach the Q-Release clip, the Q-Slide will take over – a simply sliding mechanism that slides over the M.2 to lock it in place.

The same easy-to-use system carries on to the main expansion slot. While there are five expansion slots in total, the main slot supports PCIe 5.0 x16, meaning it is ready to run the latest high-powered GPUs. It also utilises the Q-Release system, which is perfect for people who need to swap cards in and out quickly and easily. An extended lever sits proud of the card, and while it will securely hold the card in place, it doesn’t take much effort to action the lever, and doing so will help the GPU release from the board, ready for replacement.

The four other expansion slots are comprised of two PCIe 4.0 x1, a PCIe 4.0 X4, and a PCIe 4.0 x16, which also supports x4 modes. Something I found particularly interesting, particularly when compared to similar motherboards, is that it doesn’t appear to share bandwidth between the expansion slots and M.2 slots. At least not that I could find on ASUS’s website, even after reviewing the bifurcation table on the support pages. This might not mean much to many, given not everyone will make use of every expansion or M.2 slot, but for those who will, it looks like you won’t have to plan the layout. However this may change depending on the processor you install, and it’s possible this information is yet to be released.

Headers and ports are all beautifully laid out on the perimeters of the board, granting easy access for adding extra case fans, lighting your case with ARGB, and connecting up to 4 SATA drives, as well as a variety of case-bound USB panels. These are nicely spaced out and well labelled, meaning later additions won’t require you to pull everything out to work out what needs to plug in where, and these, combined with the other systems promoting ease of use, make for a DIYer’s dream, and that’s exactly what ASUS TUF Gaming is advertising with the ASUS TUF Gaming Z890-Plus Wi-Fi Motherboard.

Even if your case isn’t riddled with USB ports, the ASUS TUF Gaming Z890-Plus Wi-Fi Motherboard has more than enough connections on the rear panel, and once again, we see the inclusion of ASUS’s Q-system. Wireless networking is provided by an onboard WiFi 7 card, and the external antenna makes use of ASUS’s Q-Antenna, a means to easily and securely attach the included WiFi antenna. Rather than screwing onto the board, twisting and breaking fragile cables, they click into place, meaning they can also be safely removed if you need to move your system.

Otherwise, the rear panel houses six USB Type-A sockets, comprised of three 10Gbps ports, and three 5Gbps. The two USB-C ports are made up of one Thunderbolt 4 and a 20Gbps socket that supports DP Alt mode, working alongside an HDMI and a DisplayPort, while five 3.5mm audio jacks, or an Optical S/PDIF, connect to the onboard Realtek ALC1220P Audio Codec, complete with exclusive DTS Audio Processing.

With its ATX form factor, the ASUS TUF Gaming Z890-Plus Wi-Fi Motherboard is built for DIYers. There’s an abundance of systems in place to make installation and switching out parts a breeze, making it perfect for enthusiasts and first-time builders alike. It supports a variety of high-powered components, including up to 192GB of DDR5 RAM, with four DIMM slots supporting Dual Channel Architecture, Intel’s XMP, and ASUS’s AEMP.

If you’re looking to upgrade to the latest and greatest, or you’re building for the first time, the ASUS TUF Gaming Z890-Plus Wi-Fi Motherboard is the best board I have had a chance to play with, by far.

Written by: Mathew Lindner