The ASUS TUF Gaming Z790-Plus WiFi is one of the most popular enthusiast Intel motherboards available, with over 1,350 Amazon reviews behind it. Built on Intel’s Z790 chipset and priced around $195, it brings overclocking support, DDR5-7200, four M.2 slots and a substantial 16+1 DrMOS VRM to LGA1700 builders pairing it with 12th, 13th or 14th Gen Core processors. This ASUS TUF Gaming Z790-Plus WiFi review covers the socket and chipset, power delivery, expansion, networking and value.
ASUS TUF Gaming Z790-Plus WiFi LGA 1700(Intel 14th,12th &13th Gen) ATX Gaming Motherboard(PCIe 5.0,DDR5,4xM.2 Slots,16+1 DrMOS,WiFi 6,2.5Gb LAN,Front USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C,Thunderbolt 4(USB4),Aura RGB)
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ASUS TUF Gaming Z790-Plus WiFi at a Glance
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Socket | Intel LGA1700 — 12th/13th/14th Gen Core |
| Chipset | Intel Z790 (enthusiast LGA1700, overclocking) |
| Form factor | ATX |
| Memory | DDR5 up to 256GB, 7200 MHz |
| PCIe / M.2 | PCIe 5.0 x16; four M.2/NVMe SSD slots |
| Networking | WiFi 6 AX201, Intel I225-V 2.5 Gb LAN, TUF LANGuard |
| Rear I/O highlights | Front-panel USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C |
| Power stages (VRM) | 16+1 DrMOS, military-grade TUF components, Digi+ VRM |
| Price | Around $195 |
Socket and Chipset Overview
The TUF Gaming Z790-Plus WiFi uses Intel’s LGA1700 socket, which supports 12th, 13th and 14th Gen Core processors. As with all LGA1700 boards, builders should understand that this is now an end-of-life socket — Intel’s newest Core Ultra 200 series chips moved to the new LGA1851 socket, and they will not work on this board. With 12th-14th Gen Intel CPUs heavily discounted, that is a feature as much as a constraint for the value-conscious builder.
Z790 is the enthusiast tier of LGA1700, sitting above the mainstream B760 and the entry H610. Where B760 limits overclocking and trims I/O, Z790 unlocks full CPU overclocking, gives more PCIe lanes for additional M.2 and expansion slots, and supports higher-speed DDR5. It is the right chipset for high-core-count Core i7 and Core i9 builds. For wider context, see our best LGA1700 motherboards comparison.
Power Delivery and Overclocking Headroom
The TUF Gaming Z790-Plus WiFi uses a 16+1 DrMOS VRM with ASUS’s Digi+ digital power controller, military-grade TUF components and TUF LANGuard on the network port. That is a substantial VRM design well-suited to high-power Intel chips like the Core i9-14900K and Core i9-13900K, which can sustain very high power draw under all-core load.
Z790 chipsets unlock full CPU overclocking, and the TUF design gives genuine headroom for it — both modest tuning that keeps the chip at peak boost behaviour for longer, and direct multiplier and voltage overclocking for builders who want to push beyond stock. Memory overclocking is supported via XMP profiles, with the board rated for DDR5-7200 — comfortably above the practical sweet spot for most Intel chips.
Memory, Storage and Expansion
Memory support is generous: DDR5 up to 256GB at speeds rated up to 7200 MHz, well beyond what most builders will use. XMP profile support makes high-speed kits work straightforwardly, and Intel’s memory controller on 13th and 14th Gen chips handles fast DDR5 well. See our best DDR5 memory kits guide for tested kit recommendations.
Expansion is a real strength. The board includes a PCIe 5.0 x16 graphics slot and four M.2/NVMe SSD slots — that is meaningfully more storage routing than mainstream B760 boards, and it is one of the practical reasons to step up to Z790. Builders running multiple fast drives for OS, games, creative projects and scratch storage will appreciate the headroom. The PCIe 5.0 x16 slot is current with the latest GPUs.
Connectivity and Networking
Connectivity covers the modern essentials at a price-appropriate level. The board includes Intel WiFi 6 (AX201), which is one generation behind WiFi 6E and two behind the newest WiFi 7, but remains a strong, reliable standard. The wired network is Intel I225-V 2.5 Gb LAN, which is comfortably faster than legacy 1 Gb and uses Intel’s well-regarded chip rather than a third-party part.
Rear I/O includes a front-panel USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C connector — a common requirement on modern chassis — and the rest of the I/O covers the expected mix of high-speed USB-A, display outputs and audio. ASUS includes their Aura Sync RGB headers and additional reinforced sockets throughout, in line with the TUF Gaming line’s robustness theme.
Who Is the ASUS TUF Gaming Z790-Plus WiFi For?
The TUF Gaming Z790-Plus WiFi is the right board for the builder who wants a serious LGA1700 build pairing a Core i7 or Core i9 12th-14th Gen chip with full CPU overclocking, four M.2 slots and a substantial VRM — at a sensible price compared with flagship boards. With 12th-14th Gen Intel chips now well-discounted, a Z790 build today represents excellent practical value for high-performance work.
It is less suited to two groups: budget builders, for whom a B760 board at around $148 is a more sensible entry; and anyone planning to use the newest Intel Core Ultra 200 series (Arrow Lake), which requires the new LGA1851 socket and is not compatible with any LGA1700 board. For the enthusiast LGA1700 builder, however, it is one of the strongest current choices.
Pros and Cons
Pros: Full CPU overclocking via Z790; 16+1 DrMOS VRM with Digi+ controller; four M.2 slots; PCIe 5.0 x16 graphics slot; DDR5 up to 7200 MHz and 256GB; Intel WiFi 6 and Intel-branded 2.5 Gb LAN; over 1,350 positive Amazon reviews.
Cons: LGA1700 is end-of-life — no upgrade path to Intel Core Ultra 200; WiFi 6 rather than newer WiFi 7; at around $195, only modestly cheaper than newer-platform mainstream boards.
Is the ASUS TUF Gaming Z790-Plus WiFi Worth It?
At around $195 the ASUS TUF Gaming Z790-Plus WiFi is one of the most sensible enthusiast Intel motherboards on the market. The combination of full CPU overclocking, four M.2 slots, a substantial 16+1 DrMOS VRM and 1,350+ positive Amazon reviews makes it a battle-tested choice, and with LGA1700 chips now well-discounted, the platform-level value is genuinely strong. For the enthusiast Intel 12th-14th Gen builder it earns a recommendation. See also our best Intel desktop CPUs guide for CPU pairings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I overclock my Core i9 on the Z790-Plus WiFi?
Yes. Z790 supports full CPU overclocking, and the TUF Gaming Z790-Plus WiFi’s 16+1 DrMOS VRM with Digi+ controller is built with the headroom to handle high-power Intel chips like the Core i9-14900K and Core i9-13900K.
Does the Z790-Plus WiFi support Intel Core Ultra 200?
No. Intel Core Ultra 200 (Arrow Lake) uses the new LGA1851 socket. The Z790-Plus WiFi uses LGA1700 and supports 12th, 13th and 14th Gen Core processors.
How many M.2 slots does the Z790-Plus WiFi have?
Four — which is meaningfully more than mainstream B760 boards, and one of the practical reasons to step up to Z790 if you need multiple fast NVMe drives.
Why WiFi 6 and not WiFi 7?
The Z790-Plus WiFi launched before WiFi 7 modules were standard. WiFi 6 remains a strong and widely supported standard; if you specifically need WiFi 7, a newer-platform board is required.
More Motherboard Reviews
- MSI PRO Z790-A MAX WiFi Review: Z790 Productivity & Gaming
- MSI PRO H610M-G DDR4 Review: Ultra-Budget LGA1700 Entry
- ASUS TUF Gaming B650-PLUS WiFi Review: Entry AM5 Value
- ASUS TUF Gaming B850-PLUS WiFi Review: Mainstream AM5 Done Right
- MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk MAX WiFi Review: Popular AM5 Mid-Range
- ASUS ROG Strix X870E-E Gaming WiFi Review: Enthusiast AM5 Flagship-Class
- ASUS TUF Gaming B760-PLUS WiFi Review: Mainstream Intel LGA1700 Value
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