Asus ROG Strix Z390-E Review

Quick Overview

Many of us forget that the motherboard of our PC is the fundamental backbone where all the plugs go into. Being an avid gamer or a beginner can result in a bit of frustration when you’re running a program or game, and your PC ends up crashing.

Multiple issues may arise, but one way to prevent this from happening is by investing in a good motherboard. We want to review the Asus ROG Strix Z390-E, as it provides multiple processor compatibility, overclocking stability, and various protection components for a maximized gaming experience.

Asus ROG Strix Z390-E Review

The ROG Strix Z390-E is compatible with 8th and 9th generation Intel core processors which enables you to use it with multiple PC builds. What sets this motherboard apart from others is its five-way Optimization system control which allows you to overclock your PC.

Other than that, there’s Dual M.2 support, USB 3.1 Gen 2, and 802.11 ac WiFi connectivity. This ensures that your PC stays connected for high performance during overclocking.

Who Is This Product For?

With the high performance, multiple compatibility, and other features, the ROG Strix Z390-E is an excellent pick for those wanting advanced customization and control over their PC’s performance. Anyone who enjoys gaming, high-performance programs, or applications will be pleased with the motherboard’s ability to keep everything stable and cool.

What’s Included?

The package includes the Asus ROG Strix Z390-E which weighs approximately 4.56 pounds and comes in the dimensions of 13.5 x 3 x 10.8 inches.

Overview of Features

Here’s what you’d expect from the Asus ROG Strix Z390-E:

• Five-way optimization: By using five-way optimization, the ROG Strix enables you to run your games in high quality and forget about the overheating, lagging, and slow performance. Instead, this model features a unique back end that helps monitor and tracks heat levels, enabling you to overclock your PC without any worries.
• Cooling capacity: If your PC was already overheating, the ROG Strix heating would surely impress. You can control four Fan Xperts through an application and monitor your CPU’s temperature. To completely cool your system, this model comes equipped with a PWM header which you can use to set up a water-cooling system.
• SupremeFX: Some would say that a game isn’t complete with just good looking graphics and smooth performance, but it also needs to include high-quality audio. Featuring dual op amps, the front panel sound delivers you a clear sound signature that can add to your gaming experience.
• RGB lighting: Although a rig isn’t the best unless it includes flashy customizable LED lights, the Rog Strix uses the Asus Aura which enables you to customize your PC’s aesthetic to your liking. This doesn’t just include a few lights but also allows you to change the strips located on the header.
• Protection or safeguards: Every gaming motherboard needs to include some backup safety features to protect your PC from shortages and thermal damage. The SafeSlot helps protect PCIe damage by enhancing the resistance and simplifying memory modules. Pair this with the MemOK II which will auto reboot your system if it dies.
• Pre-mounted I/O shield: Just as the headline suggests, the system comes equipped with a pre-installed ROGUE I/O shield which can save you time with setup. It features a beautiful matte black design which blends well with any PC design.

How to Install

Installation is similar to other motherboards for the 8th and 9th Gen Intel Core Processors. The package will come with an instruction manual which will help you set up your PC. From there, you’ll need to attach the remaining components that you’ve bought for the system. After you’re all set up, you can close the case and start up the BIOS and configure the settings.

Alternatives

While the ROG Strix is an excellent choice, we’d recommend the ASUS Rog Maximus if you want a better model. The motherboard is a bit pricier, but it comes with enhanced features that prevent crosstalk and enhances your PC’s performance.

This version includes the five-way optimization, thermal cooling, LED lights, and SupremeFx audio. However, what makes it different is the OptiMem II and overclocking. The OptiMem II monitors PCB layers to help reduce vias while also adding protection zones to help decrease the amount of lag.

But what good is a PC that just eliminates lag? The overclocking features enable you to track and control different frequencies for reference clocking. This tracks the CPU cores, domains, and others to help utilize the different MHz frequencies.

Conclusion

Each of the options we’ve mentioned in this review is excellent choices for up to date gaming. However, we’d still say that the winner is the Asus ROG Strix Z390-E for its high-quality audio, overclocking potential, and extra safeguards.

This puts it above other models that may die out early due to overheating, lack of thermal regulation, and that wears down over time. If you’re looking for a worthy investment, we’d say give the Asus ROG Strix a try.