Asus TUF Gaming Z890-Plus WiFi

Name: Asus TUF Gaming Z890-Plus WiFi
Brand: Asus
SKU: 66394

Manufacturer: Asus

The Asus TUF Gaming Z890-Plus WiFi is an ATX motherboard designed around Intel's LGA 1851 platform and the Z890 chipset. It includes built-in Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) alongside Bluetooth 5.4, RGB lighting, and a dual BIOS setup, making it a well-rounded option for users who want both connectivity and resilience in a standard ATX build.

On the memory side, the board supports up to 192 GB of DDR5 across four slots in a dual-channel configuration, with overclocked speeds reaching 8600 MHz. Storage options include four M.2 sockets, four SATA 3 connectors, and full RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 support. The rear I/O provides a Thunderbolt 4 port, a USB 4 40 Gbps port, three USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort, and a single RJ45 jack, while expansion slots cover one PCIe 5.0 x16 and one PCIe 4.0 x16 lane alongside two PCIe x1 slots.

Pros

Supports Wi-Fi 7 along with all major previous Wi-Fi generations, providing broad wireless compatibility out of the box
Four M.2 sockets offer generous high-speed storage expansion without relying on slower SATA slots
A Thunderbolt 4 port and a USB 4 40Gbps port on the rear I/O cover demanding peripheral and display bandwidth needs
DDR5 memory with overclocked speeds up to 8600 MHz and a 192 GB capacity ceiling gives substantial headroom for memory-intensive workloads
Dual BIOS adds a layer of protection against failed firmware updates
Onboard audio delivers a 120 dB signal-to-noise ratio with 7.1-channel support and an S/PDIF output for flexible audio routing

Cons

No USB-C ports at the USB 3.2 Gen 2 or Gen 1 speed tier on the rear I/O, limiting modern USB-C device connectivity
ECC memory is not supported, which rules out use cases that require error-correcting RAM
No hardware CMOS reset button, making BIOS recovery slightly more involved if needed
Only four SATA 3 connectors are available, which may feel limiting for builds with multiple traditional hard drives or SSDs
No TPM connector is present, which can be a requirement in certain managed or security-focused environments

Who is this for?

This motherboard is well suited to enthusiast desktop builders targeting Intel's LGA 1851 platform who want a feature-complete ATX foundation without compromise. The combination of Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and a Thunderbolt 4 port makes it a strong fit for users who rely on fast wireless peripherals and high-bandwidth external devices. The four M.2 sockets, PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, and support for DDR5 memory up to 8600 MHz also make it a practical choice for those building systems around high-speed storage arrays and overclocking, particularly users who want to push memory performance while keeping future upgrade paths open.

Who is this NOT for?

This board is not a good fit for professionals or workstation users who require ECC memory support, as error-correcting RAM is not available here, making it unsuitable for tasks where data integrity is critical. Similarly, users who need a TPM connector for hardware-based security or compliance requirements will find this board lacking. Those building compact systems will also find the full ATX form factor a constraint, and anyone relying heavily on USB-C connectivity at the rear I/O will be limited, as there are no standard USB 3.2 Gen 1 or Gen 2 Type-C ports available.

General info:

CPU socket	LGA 1851
chipset	Z890
form factor	ATX
supports Wi-Fi	✓
Wi-Fi version	Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
Has Bluetooth	✓
Bluetooth version	5.4
HDMI version	HDMI 2.1
Easy to overclock	✓
has RGB lighting	✓
Easy to reset BIOS	✕
Has dual BIOS	✓
has aptX	✕
CPU sockets	1
Has integrated graphics	✕
warranty period	3 years
height	244 mm
width	305 mm
Has integrated CPU	✕

The Asus TUF Gaming Z890-Plus WiFi is built around the LGA 1851 socket and is compatible with the Z890 chipset, housed in a standard ATX form factor measuring 305 mm wide and 244 mm tall. It supports Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) along with earlier Wi-Fi standards going back to 802.11n, and includes Bluetooth 5.4, though aptX is not supported. The board features HDMI 2.1 output, RGB lighting, a dual BIOS for added reliability, and is noted as easy to overclock; however, it does not offer a quick CMOS reset button. There is a single CPU socket, no integrated CPU or graphics, and the board carries a 3-year warranty.

Memory:

maximum memory amount	192GB
overclocked RAM speed	8600 MHz
memory slots	4
DDR memory version	5
memory channels	2
Supports ECC memory	✕

This board uses DDR5 memory across four slots arranged in a dual-channel configuration, supporting a maximum capacity of 192 GB. Overclocked RAM speeds can reach up to 8600 MHz, offering headroom for enthusiast memory kits. ECC memory is not supported.

Ports:

USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-A)	3
USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-A)	3
USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-C)	0
USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-C)	0
USB 2.0 ports	0
USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 ports	1
USB 4 40Gbps ports	1
USB 4 20Gbps ports	0
Thunderbolt 4 ports	1
Thunderbolt 3 ports	0
has an HDMI output	✓
DisplayPort outputs	1
RJ45 ports	1
Has USB Type-C	✓
eSATA ports	0
DVI outputs	0
has a VGA connector	✕
PS/2 ports	0

The rear I/O provides a solid range of USB connectivity, including three USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, three USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, one USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C port, and a USB 4 40Gbps port, while there are no USB 2.0, USB 4 20Gbps, or legacy USB-C Gen 1/Gen 2 ports. A single Thunderbolt 4 port is also present, with no Thunderbolt 3 available. For display output, the board offers one HDMI port and one DisplayPort, with no DVI or VGA connectors included. Networking is handled by a single RJ45 port, and there are no eSATA or PS/2 ports on this board.

Connectors:

USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (through expansion)	2
USB 2.0 ports (through expansion)	4
SATA 3 connectors	4
fan headers	6
USB 3.0 ports (through expansion)	2
M.2 sockets	4
Has TPM connector	✕
U.2 sockets	0
Has mSATA connector	✕
SATA 2 connectors	0

Storage connectivity is handled by four M.2 sockets and four SATA 3 connectors, with no SATA 2, U.2, or mSATA options present. For internal expansion, the board offers two USB 3.2 Gen 1 headers, two USB 3.0 headers, and four USB 2.0 headers, allowing additional ports to be added via front-panel connectors or expansion brackets. Cooling is supported by six fan headers in total. There is no TPM connector on this board.

Expansion slots:

PCIe 4.0 x16 slots	1
PCIe 5.0 x16 slots	1
PCIe 3.0 x16 slots	0
PCIe x1 slots	2
PCI slots	0
PCIe 2.0 x16 slots	0
PCIe x4 slots	1
PCIe x8 slots	0

The board includes one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot and one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot for discrete cards, alongside one PCIe x4 slot and two PCIe x1 slots for additional expansion. There are no PCIe 3.0, PCIe 2.0, PCIe x8, or legacy PCI slots available.

Audio:

Signal-to-Noise ratio (DAC)	120 dB
audio channels	7.1
Has S/PDIF Out port	✓
audio connectors	5

The onboard audio supports 7.1-channel output and delivers a signal-to-noise ratio of 120 dB from the DAC, indicating a clean audio signal. Five audio connectors are available on the rear panel, and an S/PDIF output port is included for digital audio passthrough to external receivers or DACs.

Storage:

Supports RAID 1	✓
Supports RAID 10 (1+0)	✓
Supports RAID 5	✓
Supports RAID 0	✓
Supports RAID 0+1	✕

The board supports RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 configurations, covering a range of use cases from performance striping to redundancy and combined setups. RAID 0+1 is not supported.

Final Verdict

The Asus TUF Gaming Z890-Plus WiFi is a well-specified ATX motherboard that covers most of what an enthusiast builder targeting the LGA 1851 platform would need. Its Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, Thunderbolt 4 support, and DDR5 memory headroom up to 8600 MHz place it firmly in the upper tier of feature-rich mainstream boards, while the four M.2 sockets, full RAID support, and capable onboard audio round out a thorough specification set. Certain limitations — notably the absence of ECC support, no TPM connector, and restricted rear USB-C options — mean it is best matched to performance-focused desktop builds rather than workstation or security-critical environments. For users building around Intel's latest platform who prioritize wireless performance, fast storage, and overclocking capability, this board delivers a cohesive and capable foundation.