After more than four years, I decided it was time to upgrade my PC. I usually upgrade while my current setup still holds value, allowing me to sell it and offset the cost of the new build. Last time, I went with an Asus ROG motherboard—a top-tier option—because the price difference between high-end and mid-range models was minimal. This time, however, the TUF series offers similar features at a much lower price, making it the better choice for me. Going for the top-tier option would have cost me twice as much, which I found unnecessary.

This upgrade is a solid four-generation leap, promising around 30% better performance for my workloads.

I built my new PC using the Asus TUF GAMING Z790-PLUS WIFI external link motherboard. Since Asus boards often reset or recommend resetting settings after a BIOS update, I wanted to document my preferred configuration to make future setups easier.

BIOS Configuration

Press F7 to enter Advanced Mode:

  • Ai Tweaker (optimize RAM performance):
    • AI Overclock Tuner -> [XMP I]
    • DRAM Frequency -> [DDR5-6000 30-36-36-80-1.40V] (your values may differ)
  • Advanced:
    • Platform Misc Configuration (power management settings):
      • PCI Express Native Power Management -> [Enabled]
      • Native ASPM -> [Auto]
    • CPU Configuration (virtualization optimizations):
      • Intel (VMX) Virtualization Technology -> [Enabled]
    • System Agent (SA) Configuration:
      • VT-d -> [Enabled]
    • PCI Subsystem Settings:
      • SR-IOV Support -> [Enabled]
    • APM Configuration:
      • ErP Ready -> [Enable(S4+S5)]
    • Onboard Devices Configuration:
      • HD Audio -> [Enabled]
      • Intel LAN Controller -> [Disabled] (I don’t use it)
      • USB power delivery in Soft Off state (S5) -> [Disabled] (prevents mouse lighting when shut down)
      • LED lighting (disable motherboard lighting when shut down):
        • When system is in sleep, hibernate, or soft off states -> [Stealth Mode]
  • Monitor:
    • Q-Fan Configuration:
      • CPU Fan Q-Fan Control -> [PWM Mode] (recommended by Arctic Liquid Freezer III)
      • CPU Fan Profile -> [Silent] (my preference)
      • AIO Pump Q-Fan Control -> [PWM Mode]
      • AIO Pump Profile -> [Silent]
  • Boot:
    • Boot Configuration:
      • Fast Boot -> [Disabled] (improves dual-boot Linux/Windows setups)
      • POST Delay Time -> [1 sec]
      • Setup Mode -> [Advanced Mode] (defaults to Advanced Mode)
  • Tool:
    • Download & install ARMOURY CRATE app -> [Disabled]
  • ReSize BAR -> [ON]

Hardware Installation Considerations

This motherboard, like my previous one, has a quirk: the first NVMe socket (M.2_1) uses the CPU’s PCIe lanes. If you install your main drive there, it reduces the first PCIe slot’s bandwidth to 8x. To avoid this, I use the M.2_3 socket at the bottom, which utilizes chipset lanes and doesn’t throttle the GPU’s PCIe slot.

Optimal NVMe slot

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