Introduction

Now in spring of 2019, it is hard to believe that the quad-core processor reigned supreme for more than a decade. Since AMD Ryzen launched and Intel responded with the 8700K, the core wars have been heating up. While we anxiously anticipate the newest advancements from both sides in the approaching months, the 9900K remains supreme in mainstream performance for now. When it comes to performance, the biggest name in the game is ASUS.

As the name would suggest, the ASUS TUF Z390-Pro Gaming is part of the TUF Gaming Alliance, a collaboration spearheaded by ASUS to produce a family of hardware with a common visual theme and exceptional quality and durability. Now, if someone had tried to sell me, sight unseen, on a black/gray and yellow color scheme with digital cameo accents, I would have had trouble taking them seriously. On paper, it sounds dated at best. However, I have had the chance to test a few different products from the collaboration and have to say that I would have been wrong. While the theme won't fit everyone's taste, it does not at all feel dated, and in fact, I found myself liking and appreciating the style.

There is a lot more to the TUF brand than looks. Improved performance and industry-leading durability are also major parts of what set the TUF Gaming Alliance apart. The ASUS TUF Z390-Pro Gaming promises exceptionalism and practicality, along with topnotch compatibility.

Specifications

Packaging and Contents

The front of the ASUS TUF Z390-Pro Gaming box features a gray digital cameo background with a large stylized armor plate across the middle. "ASUS TUF Z390-Pro Gaming Motherboard" has been printed over the plate, with "ASUS" in the top-left and an Aura Sync logo in the top-right corners. The TUF Gaming logo is in the bottom-right corner, while the bottom left has a whole host of certification badges.

The back of the box has the same digital cameo pattern and a top-down shot of the board, with an angled shot to show the rear I/O next to it. A full specification list features down the left side, while the right side covers four standout features: ASUS OptiMem II, TUF Gaming Audio, TUF Gaming Alliance, and AURA Sync.

The box design is well thought out, and the printing is excellent.


Opening the lid reveals the ASUS TUF Z390-Pro Gaming in an anti-static bag and secured in a cardboard insert. The packing is simple, safe, and efficient. Lifting the board and insert out reveals the accessories underneath.


For accessories, the ASUS TUF Z390-Pro Gaming has a mostly standard allotment. Notably, the rear I/O shield is very nicely printed to theme, and the sticker card includes stickers designed for the CMOS battery. Notable are also the TUF certification card and a coupon for Cable Mod cables.

The full list of accessories includes:

• Manual and support DVD
• TUF Gaming sticker card and Cable Mods coupon
• 2x SATA 6 Gb/s cables
• 1x Q-Connector
• 1x SLI HB bridge
• 1x Rear I/O cover
• 1x M.2 mounting screw package

Board Layout

The ASUS TUF Z390-Pro Gaming has a black PCB with extensive printing on it. Three gray digital cameo sections are printed diagonally over the board, with yellow accents thrown in for contrast. The rear I/O shield and chipset shield are a gray plastic with white lettering and yellow accents—the ASUS TUF Z390-Pro Gaming is a quintessential TUF Gaming design.

The back of the board, despite going unseen in the majority of builds, is also masterfully printed with lines of gray digital cameo over the gloss black PCB. I like the attention to detail ASUS has put into this design.


The CPU socket is open enough to accommodate most coolers, and the brushed black VRM heatsink looks quite capable.


There are two M.2 sockets on the ASUS TUF Z390-Pro Gaming: one just beneath the CPU socket and another right below the chipset shield. The second socket has an aluminium heatsink with a printed digital cameo pattern that accents the board very well.


The ASUS TUF Z390-Pro Gaming has three PCI Express 3.0 x16 slots, with the first steel-armored to help support a heavy GPU, as well as three PCI Express 3.0 x1 slots. There are six SATA 6 Gb/s ports, of which four are at the bottom of the board and two are angled 90 degrees and placed within a cutout along the side to add clearance for cable management. The cutout is a pretty ingenious addition and adds a bit of visual flair as well as functionality.


The rear I/O on the ASUS TUF Z390-Pro Gaming is mostly standard, if a bit sparse. A Type-C port is sorely missed, although there are two USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-A ports. Also absent are wireless antennas—this is the first Z390 board I have looked at with no native Wi-Fi support.

• 1x HDMI port
• 1x DisplayPort 1.2
• 1x PS/2 keyboard and mouse combo connector
• 4x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A ports
• 2x USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-A ports
• 1x RJ-45 LAN ports
• 1x Optical SPDIF out port
• 5x 3.5 mm audio jacks

Networking on the ASUS TUF Z390-Pro Gaming is handled by an Intel I219V.