ASUS TUF Gaming Z790 Plus DDR4 Intel Motherboard

The ASUS TUF Gaming Z790 Plus DDR4 is an ATX form-factor motherboard built on the Intel Z790 chipset, designed to accommodate Intel 12th and 13th Gen Core, Pentium Gold, and Celeron processors via the LGA1700 socket. It supports Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 and 3.0, making it a strong platform for enthusiast gaming and productivity workloads alike. At the heart of its power delivery is a 16+1 DrMOS power stage design, each stage rated at 60 amperes. The Digi+ VRM module regulates voltage with precision, while ASUS ProCool 8+4-pin connectors maintain full contact with PSU cables to reduce impedance and prevent connector failure. A six-layer PCB aids heat dissipation around the voltage regulators, expanding overclocking headroom for compatible Intel processors. Memory support spans four DDR4 DIMM slots with a maximum capacity of 128 GB. ASUS OptiMem II technology optimises signal pathways across PCB layers and adds shielding to reduce crosstalk, enabling overclocked speeds up to DDR4-5333 (OC). Intel XMP profiles are supported for straightforward memory tuning. Storage options are generous: four M.2 slots (all Key M) cover both PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe and SATA modes, with three of the four slots receiving dedicated M.2 heatsinks. Four SATA 6 Gb/s ports round out the storage connectivity. Expansion slots include one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot (from the CPU), one PCIe 4.0 x16 (x4 mode), one PCIe 4.0 x4, and two PCIe 3.0 x1 slots. Connectivity is equally comprehensive. The rear I/O delivers eight USB ports — including a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C (20 Gbps) and three USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports — alongside Intel 2.5 Gb Ethernet with TUF LANGuard surge protection. Onboard Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax, 2×2, 2.4/5 GHz) and Bluetooth 5.2 add wireless flexibility. A Thunderbolt 4 (USB4) header supports an optional add-in card for up to 40 Gbps bi-directional transfers. DisplayPort and HDMI outputs support integrated graphics from compatible CPUs. The Realtek S1220A codec delivers 7.1-channel HD audio with 120 dB SNR stereo playback, 113 dB SNR recording, and 32-bit/192 kHz playback support. Dedicated audio PCB layers, premium capacitors, and audio shielding isolate the audio circuit from board noise. Verifiable Specifications: - Socket: LGA1700 | Chipset: Intel Z790 - Form Factor: ATX, 305 mm × 244 mm (12" × 9.6") - Memory: 4× DDR4 DIMM, max 128 GB, up to DDR4-5333 (OC), Dual Channel, XMP - Storage: 4× M.2 (PCIe 4.0 x4 / SATA), 4× SATA 6 Gb/s - Expansion: 1× PCIe 5.0 x16, 1× PCIe 4.0 x16 (x4), 1× PCIe 4.0 x4, 2× PCIe 3.0 x1 - Networking: Intel 2.5 Gb Ethernet; Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax 2×2; Bluetooth 5.2 - USB (Rear): 1× USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C (20 Gbps), 3× USB 3.2 Gen 2, 4× USB 3.2 Gen 1 - Audio: Realtek S1220A, 7.1 HD, 120 dB SNR, 32-bit/192 kHz, optical S/PDIF out - BIOS: 192 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI AMI - Warranty: 3 years