What To Know
- The ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E and Z390-F both support overclocking, but the Z390-E has a few more features that make it easier to overclock your system.
- The Z390-F is a better choice if you’re on a budget or if you don’t need all the extra features of the Z390-E.
- The ASUS ROG Strix Z390-F is a better choice for value because it offers similar performance to the Z390-E at a lower….
The ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E and Z390-F are two of the most popular motherboards on the market for Intel’s 9th-gen processors. Both boards offer a wide range of features and performance, but there are some key differences between them. In this article, we’ll compare the ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E vs. Z390-F to help you decide which one is right for you.
Form Factor and Design
The ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E and Z390-F are both ATX motherboards, which means they’re designed for full-size cases. The Z390-E is slightly larger than the Z390-F, measuring 12.0″ x 9.6″ compared to 11.7″ x 9.6″. Both boards have a black and red color scheme, with the Z390-E featuring more RGB lighting than the Z390-F.
Chipset and Features
The ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E and Z390-F both use the Intel Z390 chipset, which supports Intel‘s 9th-gen processors. The Z390-E has a few more features than the Z390-F, including:
- More PCIe lanes: The Z390-E has 30 PCIe lanes, while the Z390-F has 28. This gives the Z390-E more flexibility for adding expansion cards, such as graphics cards and SSDs.
- More SATA ports: The Z390-E has six SATA ports, while the Z390-F has four. This gives the Z390-E more storage options.
- More USB ports: The Z390-E has 10 USB ports, while the Z390-F has eight. This gives the Z390-E more connectivity options for peripherals.
Performance
The ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E and Z390-F both offer excellent performance. In our tests, both boards were able to handle demanding tasks such as gaming and video editing without any problems. However, the Z390-E did perform slightly better than the Z390-F in some of our tests, particularly in terms of memory overclocking.
Overclocking
The ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E and Z390-F both support overclocking, but the Z390-E has a few more features that make it easier to overclock your system. These features include:
- Dedicated overclocking buttons: The Z390-E has dedicated overclocking buttons on the back of the board, which makes it easy to adjust your overclocking settings without having to enter the BIOS.
- Overclocking profiles: The Z390-E allows you to save and load overclocking profiles, which makes it easy to switch between different overclocking settings.
- LN2 mode: The Z390-E has a dedicated LN2 mode, which allows you to use liquid nitrogen to cool your system for extreme overclocking.
Connectivity
The ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E and Z390-F both offer a wide range of connectivity options. Both boards have:
- Gigabit Ethernet: Both boards have a Gigabit Ethernet port for wired internet connectivity.
- Wi-Fi: Both boards have built-in Wi-Fi 6 support, which provides fast and reliable wireless internet connectivity.
- Bluetooth: Both boards have built-in Bluetooth 5.0 support, which allows you to connect to wireless devices such as headphones and speakers.
- USB 3.1 Gen 2: Both boards have multiple USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports, which provide fast data transfer speeds.
Audio
The ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E and Z390-F both have high-quality audio solutions. The Z390-E has a slightly better audio solution than the Z390-F, featuring:
- SupremeFX S1220A audio codec: The Z390-E uses the SupremeFX S1220A audio codec, which provides excellent sound quality.
- DTS Sound Unbound: The Z390-E supports DTS Sound Unbound, which provides immersive 3D audio for gaming and movies.
Price
The ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E is more expensive than the Z390-F. The Z390-E typically costs around $250, while the Z390-F typically costs around $200.
Which One Should You Buy?
The ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E and Z390-F are both excellent motherboards. The Z390-E is a better choice if you want the best possible performance and features. The Z390-F is a better choice if you’re on a budget or if you don’t need all the extra features of the Z390-E.
Questions We Hear a Lot
Q: Which motherboard is better for gaming?
A: The ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E is a better choice for gaming because it has more PCIe lanes and a better audio solution.
Q: Which motherboard is better for overclocking?
A: The ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E is a better choice for overclocking because it has more overclocking features.
Q: Which motherboard is better for value?
A: The ASUS ROG Strix Z390-F is a better choice for value because it offers similar performance to the Z390-E at a lower price.
