ASUS TUF Gaming Z590-Plus WiFi motherboard: features and specs explained

The ASUS TUF Gaming Z590-Plus WiFi is an ATX motherboard for Intel's LGA 1200 socket. It is built around the Z590 chipset and designed for 11th Gen Intel Core processors, with 10th Gen chips also listed. This page covers what its main features mean for someone planning a build or an upgrade.

Socket and processor compatibility

The LGA 1200 socket accepts 10th and 11th Gen Intel Core processors. Intel changes sockets between generations, so newer chips on LGA 1700 or LGA 1851 will not fit. The listing says the board is designed to get the most out of 11th Gen processors. PCIe 4.0 support typically depends on using an 11th Gen chip, so check Intel's and ASUS's compatibility notes if you plan to use a 10th Gen processor.

Power delivery

ASUS lists 14+2 DrMOS power stages, ProCool sockets, "military-grade" TUF components and a Digi+ VRM. The voltage regulator converts the power supply's output to the lower, steady voltages the processor needs. More stages generally spread the load and reduce heat in each component, which helps under sustained loads. "Military-grade" is ASUS's wording for components it says meet durability standards, so read it as a brand claim.

Cooling

The board has a VRM heatsink, a fanless heatsink on the chipset (PCH), an M.2 heatsink, hybrid fan headers and the Fan Xpert 4 utility for managing fan speeds. Hybrid headers accept either 3-pin or 4-pin fans. Good airflow in the case still matters.

Storage and expansion

The board supports three M.2/NVMe SSDs. NVMe drives are far faster than SATA drives, and a third slot lets you add capacity without extra cables. The listing also mentions PCIe 4.0 for graphics cards and fast SSDs. Check the manual on which slots run at full speed, since some M.2 slots may share bandwidth with SATA ports.

Networking

Wireless comes from Intel Wi-Fi 6 (AX201, 802.11ax), and the description also mentions Wi-Fi 6E; confirm the exact wireless capability with ASUS. Wired networking is an Intel I225-V 2.5Gb Ethernet port. ASUS adds TUF LANGuard, a protection design for the network port, and TurboLAN, a traffic-prioritisation tool. A 2.5Gb connection is faster than standard gigabit only when your router or switch also supports it.

Front-panel connectors

The board has a front-panel USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C header and a Thunderbolt 4 header. A header is a connector on the board; to use USB-C on the front of your case, the case needs a matching cable. The Thunderbolt 4 header typically works with an add-in card for Thunderbolt ports, so check what's required.

Lighting

The board supports Aura RGB lighting, so you can control compatible lights from ASUS's software.

Who it suits

It suits builders and upgraders who already have, or are buying, a 10th or 11th Gen Intel Core processor and want a sturdy ATX board with fast storage and modern networking.

What to check before you buy

• Processor: confirm it uses the LGA 1200 socket and is a 10th or 11th Gen Intel Core.
• BIOS version: check whether the board needs a BIOS update to recognise your processor.
• Memory type: check the manual for the supported memory type, speeds and slot count.
• Case size: ATX boards need an ATX-compatible case.
• Thunderbolt: the Thunderbolt 4 header needs a compatible add-in card, which is not listed as included.
• Promotions: the listing mentions a time-limited software offer with dates in 2021 and 2022, which has expired.

The short version

• ATX board for LGA 1200 (Intel 10th/11th Gen Core) on the Z590 chipset.
• 14+2 DrMOS power stages with VRM, chipset and M.2 heatsinks.
• Three M.2/NVMe slots and PCIe 4.0 support.
• Intel Wi-Fi 6 and 2.5Gb Ethernet.
• USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C and Thunderbolt 4 headers, plus Aura RGB.

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