Wanting just the essentials for Intel Z490? The TUF Gaming Z490 Plus WiFi ticks all the boxes and also promises to provide a solid, stable foundation for any system. Is it worth considering?
Product on Review: TUF Gaming Z490 Plus WiFi
Manufacturer: ASUS
Street Price: GBP £219 | USD $199 | AUD $439
In the current financial climate, keeping costs down is something we’re all very familiar with. A focus on the entry-level is likely to become more common as attention shifts to more affordable routes to PC building. We’ve always been fond of reviewing the lower-end segment for any product-line but with stronger emphasis in this division, we’re even more motivated to see what steps manufacturers are making in a bid to get you the best bang for buck!
Today we’ll be checking out the ASUS TUF Gaming Z490 Plus WiFi. This new motherboard finds itself among the cheaper boards using this chipset, since TUF Gaming is intended to deliver the essentials and keeping those costs down to a minimum.
On offer there are a good variety of features for storage and connectivity. ASUS has even armed this motherboard with a robust VRM configuration which almost certainly ready for the 10900K. The question is, can it compete with mid-range and high-end offerings?
ASUS on the Plus
TUF Gaming Z490-Plus (WiFi) distills essential elements of the latest Intel® platform and combines them with game-ready features and proven durability. Engineered with military-grade components, an upgraded power solution and a comprehensive set of cooling options, this motherboard delivers rock-solid performance with unwavering gaming stability.
Technical Specifications
Below are the technical specifications concerning the PLUS:
Processor
Supports 10th Gen Intel® Core™ and Pentium® Gold /Celeron® processors for LGA 1200 socket
Chipset
Intel® Z490 Chipset
Memory
4x DDR4 memory slots, support up to 128GB
Supports: 2133-4600 MHz (OC)
Supports Dual-Channel mode
Supports non-ECC mode, un-buffered memory
Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)
Expansion Slots
2x PCIe 3.0x 16 slots – Modes: x16, x4 (1 from CPU, 1 from PCH)
3x PCIe x1 slots (from PCH)
Multi-GPU
Supports 2-Way AMD® CrossFire™ Technology
Storage
Intel® Z490 Chipset
6x SATA 6Gb/s ports
1x M.2 slots PCIe 3.0 x4 (Key M) 2242/2260/2280/22110
1x M.2 slots PCIe 3.0 x4 (Key M) 2242/2260/2280
Intel® Optane™ Memory Ready
Supports Intel® Smart Response Technology for Intel Core™ processors
USB
Rear USB Port ( Total 6 )
2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 port(s)(1 + Type-A +1 + USB Type-C®)
4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 port(s)(4 x Type-A)
Front USB Port ( Total 6 )
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 front panel connector port(s)(1 x USB Type-C®)
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 port(s)(2 x Type-A)
1 x USB 2.0 port(s)(2 x Type-A)
1 x USB 2.0 port(s)(1 x Type-A)
Audio
– Realtek ALX S1200A
– 7.1 CH HD Audio
– Optical S/PDIF Out
LAN
1x Gigabit LAN (Intel i219V
WiFi & Bluetooth
Intel® WiFi 6 – AX201
Supports 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, MU-MINO Rx, 2.4GHz-5GHz (160MHz) up to 2.4Gbps
Supports Bluetooth® 5.1
Internal connectors
1 x CPU Fan connector(s)
1 x CPU OPT Fan connector(s)
3 x Chassis Fan connector(s)
1 x AIO_PUMP connector
2 x Aura RGB Strip Headers
1 x Addressable Gen 2 header(s)
1 x USB 3.2 Gen2 connector support additional 1 USB ports(20-pin, Type-C)
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1(up to 5Gbps) connector(s) support(s) additional 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 port(s)
1 x USB 2.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 1 USB 2.0 port(s)
2 x M.2 Socket 3
6 x SATA 6Gb/s connector(s)
1 x Thunderbolt header(s)
1 x 24-pin EATX Power connector(s)
1 x 8-pin ATX 12V Power connector(s)
1 x 4-pin ATX 12V Power connector(s)
1 x Front panel audio connector(s) (AAFP)
1 x System panel(s) (Chassis intrusion header is inbuilt)
1 x Clear CMOS jumper(s)
1 x COM port header
1 x USB 2.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 2 USB 2.0 port(s)
Back panel ports
1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse combo port(s)
1 x DisplayPort
1 x HDMI
1 x LAN (RJ45) port(s)
2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (1 x Type-A+1 x USB Type-C®)
4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (blue) Type-A
1 x Optical S/PDIF out
5 x Audio jack(s)
1 x ASUS Wi-Fi Module
Dimensions
12 in. x 9.6 in. (30.5 cm x 24.4 cm)
ATX Form Factor
Supports 10th Gen Intel® Core™ and Pentium® Gold /Celeron® processors for LGA 1200 socket
Chipset
Intel® Z490 Chipset
Memory
4x DDR4 memory slots, support up to 128GB
Supports: 2133-4600 MHz (OC)
Supports Dual-Channel mode
Supports non-ECC mode, un-buffered memory
Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)
Expansion Slots
2x PCIe 3.0x 16 slots – Modes: x16, x4 (1 from CPU, 1 from PCH)
3x PCIe x1 slots (from PCH)
Multi-GPU
Supports 2-Way AMD® CrossFire™ Technology
Storage
Intel® Z490 Chipset
6x SATA 6Gb/s ports
1x M.2 slots PCIe 3.0 x4 (Key M) 2242/2260/2280/22110
1x M.2 slots PCIe 3.0 x4 (Key M) 2242/2260/2280
Intel® Optane™ Memory Ready
Supports Intel® Smart Response Technology for Intel Core™ processors
USB
Rear USB Port ( Total 6 )
2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 port(s)(1 + Type-A +1 + USB Type-C®)
4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 port(s)(4 x Type-A)
Front USB Port ( Total 6 )
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 front panel connector port(s)(1 x USB Type-C®)
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 port(s)(2 x Type-A)
1 x USB 2.0 port(s)(2 x Type-A)
1 x USB 2.0 port(s)(1 x Type-A)
Audio
– Realtek ALX S1200A
– 7.1 CH HD Audio
– Optical S/PDIF Out
LAN
1x Gigabit LAN (Intel i219V
WiFi & Bluetooth
Intel® WiFi 6 – AX201
Supports 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, MU-MINO Rx, 2.4GHz-5GHz (160MHz) up to 2.4Gbps
Supports Bluetooth® 5.1
Internal connectors
1 x CPU Fan connector(s)
1 x CPU OPT Fan connector(s)
3 x Chassis Fan connector(s)
1 x AIO_PUMP connector
2 x Aura RGB Strip Headers
1 x Addressable Gen 2 header(s)
1 x USB 3.2 Gen2 connector support additional 1 USB ports(20-pin, Type-C)
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1(up to 5Gbps) connector(s) support(s) additional 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 port(s)
1 x USB 2.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 1 USB 2.0 port(s)
2 x M.2 Socket 3
6 x SATA 6Gb/s connector(s)
1 x Thunderbolt header(s)
1 x 24-pin EATX Power connector(s)
1 x 8-pin ATX 12V Power connector(s)
1 x 4-pin ATX 12V Power connector(s)
1 x Front panel audio connector(s) (AAFP)
1 x System panel(s) (Chassis intrusion header is inbuilt)
1 x Clear CMOS jumper(s)
1 x COM port header
1 x USB 2.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 2 USB 2.0 port(s)
Back panel ports
1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse combo port(s)
1 x DisplayPort
1 x HDMI
1 x LAN (RJ45) port(s)
2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (1 x Type-A+1 x USB Type-C®)
4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (blue) Type-A
1 x Optical S/PDIF out
5 x Audio jack(s)
1 x ASUS Wi-Fi Module
Dimensions
12 in. x 9.6 in. (30.5 cm x 24.4 cm)
ATX Form Factor
Video: Unboxing – Overview – Review
For this motherboard review we’ve produced a video which provides you with the unboxing experience, a highly detailed overview of the board revealing all the features with a verdict. Check out the video review here or watch below:
Test Setup & Methodology
Notes: We’ve revamped our benchmark regime by removing a number of tests which reveal little, to no difference between each motherboard model. Gaming performance is one such area which has been removed due to the inability for each motherboard to offer any advantage over another. Instead, we have focussed on meaningful/tangible analysis which examines the VRM/chipset design, and the storage performance which will be far more informative to the end user.
TEST SETUP
CPU Intel Core i9-10900KCooling: Corsair Hydro Series H110i
Motherboard: ASUS TUF Gaming Z490-Plus WiFi
Memory: 32GB Corsair Vengeance LPX 3000MHz
Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 480
Storage: Intel S3500 128GB SATA SSD + Samsung 960 Pro 512GB PCIe 3.0 SSD
PSU: Corsair HX1050 80 Plus Gold Certified PSU
Monitor: AOC U2879VF
BENCHMARKS
PCMark 10 – Overall Extended ScoreSiSoftware SANDRA – SATA/PCIe Storage Tests
SiSoftware SANDRA – Processor Image Processing
OTHER SOFTWARE
Temperature Analysis: HWMonitorStress Testing Software: AIDA64 Stability Test
CPU Specification Monitoring: CPU-Z
Benchmarks: Power Consumption
In this first test we analyse the power efficiency from the wall for each motherboard (Minus the GPU). While each model uses the same chipset/platform, energy results can fluctuate between manufacturers due to the features and specifications that are integrated. First of all, for the idle tests the system is cold booted into Windows and no additional applications are executed – wattage is noted on the external energy monitor we use and then we open Aida64 stability test and execute a stress test, noting the highest reading on the monitor. Below are the results of this energy test.
Benchmarks: VRM & Chipset Cooling
Each motherboard manufacturer designs their board with a unique set of heatsinks to cover key areas like the VRM/mosfets and the chipset itself. In these test we use HWMonitor to identify the minimum values for VRM and chipset and then we load up Aida64 stability test again and perform a 20 minute run, recording the maximum value for both attributes.
Benchmarks: PCMark 10
PCMark 10 features a comprehensive set of tests that cover the wide variety of tasks performed in the modern workplace. With a range of performance tests, custom run options, and the new Battery Life Profile, PCMark 10 is the complete PC benchmark for the modern office.
Benchmarks: SATA Performance
In order to ascertain the SATA performance for our motherboards we use SiSoftware SANDRA and the File System Bandwidth performance test. This allows us to obtain the sequential read/write transfer rates for the drive being tested – Intel S3500 128GB SSD.
Benchmarks: PCIe M.2 Performance
In order to ascertain the PCIe M.2 performance for our motherboards we use SiSoftware SANDRA and the File System Bandwidth performance test. This allows us to obtain the sequential read/write transfer rates for the drive being tested – Samsung 960 Pro 512GB.
Benchmarks: CPU Image Processing
AIDA64 Product Page
In our last test we observe the Image Processing performance from the CPU attached to the motherboard. For this we use SiSoftware SANDRA and the benchmark specifically designed for measuring the common algorithms associated with processing imagery.
Overclocking
For the overclocking phase, we already know that our CPU (Intel Core i9-10900K) is capable of having all cores operate at 5.3GHz so this is the target which we aimed for with Plus.
Even though we are dealing with a significantly cheaper motherboard in the Plus, it was still able to achieve this 5.3GHz overclock, for it we had to modify the CPU voltage to 1.35v. Surprisingly, the temperatures remained acceptable for such an overclock! This is an impressive milestone for this motherboard as it manages to keep up with other offerings which are substantially higher in cost.
Conclusion
Taking a look at the lower end of the market is always something we thrive on. Top of the line products are definitely fun to check out but are often out of reach to the average consumer. The Plus slots into the affordable category and is among the cheaper Intel Z490 motherboards on the market.
TUF series products always have a distinct and unique theme and Plus is no exception, it stands out as being vastly different to a lot of the motherboards available and what’s more is, it’s very appealing to the eye. Styling is one of the first areas to experience a cut-back when a manufacturer is looking to reduce the overall cost but this doesn’t seem to be the case in this instance.
Plus arrives with a good assortment of features. We get the usual native support for USB 3.2 Gen1/2 and 802.11ax, and plenty of storage via SATA or PCI Express. It won’t come as any surprise that Thunderbolt 3 ports are not found on this model but it’s encouraging to see that there is a Thunderbolt header, allowing you to utilise an adapter should you desire it.
There are a few notable omissions on Plus which may or may not be relevant – there are only two M.2 slots (whereas most motherboards have three) and for multi-GPU support AMD CrossfireX is the only option, NVIDIA SLI isn’t available. The reasoning behind this is due to cost cutting, ASUS are required to purchase a license to enable them to utilise SLI technology. Either of these missing features aren’t likely to be deal breakers.
In the performance field, Plus offers great results and the VRM/chipset cooling design holds up very well when stress is applied. Our current milestone for the 10900K overclock is all 10-cores at 5.3GHz and Plus managed to ascend to such an achievement – requiring around 1.35v, which didn’t elevate the temperatures as high as other models.
Now Plus finds itself among the cheaper Intel Z490 motherboards and as such, the pricing is: GBP £219 | USD $199 | AUD $439. So, for those on a tighter budget, this particular offering makes it possible to move over to 10th Gen. without breaking the bank.
TUF Gaming Z490 Plus (WiFi) is one of the best value for money options out there – it offers a great combo of features and still delivers strong on performance.
Pros
+ Unique visual design
+ Great at overclocking
+ VRM/chipset cooling is good
+ Performs well
+ Minimal integrated RGB lighting
+ Includes Thunderbolt 3 header
+ Features USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C for front panel
+ Uses strengthened PCI Express slots
+ Provides plenty of storage
Cons
– Lacks NVIDIA SLI support
– Lacks triple M.2 slots
+ Unique visual design
+ Great at overclocking
+ VRM/chipset cooling is good
+ Performs well
+ Minimal integrated RGB lighting
+ Includes Thunderbolt 3 header
+ Features USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C for front panel
+ Uses strengthened PCI Express slots
+ Provides plenty of storage
Cons
– Lacks NVIDIA SLI support
– Lacks triple M.2 slots
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