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Asus PRIME Z390-A for 9700K build or go with ROG/STRIX instead?

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Hothicron

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited by Moderator)
My Hero VII committed suicide last week and at this stage, I don't feel like dumping money into an older 4790k platform to get it back up and because my life is gonna change real soon with marriage proposal and moving new wife to America from Japan with K1 Visa, this is my last chance to build a new gaming rig for a good while that needs to last. Hence, i'm gonna go for a 9700k since the 9900k is just flat out too expensive to justify.


https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/PRIME-Z390-A/



I'll be pairing it with some G.Skill TridentZ RGB DDR4 3200 RAM. I don't plan on pushing oveclocking hard or at all cause I prefer sticking with air cooling as I will be reusing my Thermalright True Spirit 140 power HSF


This is the first Asus mobo that has flat out died on me since 2004, the rest have been good to me so I kinda prefer sticking with them. However the ROG lineup looks rather ugly and is expensive so I dunno if its really worth the cost increase

moderator edit: merged 2 threads with same subject
 
#2 ·
I'd spend $5 more and get the AsRock Z390 Taichi for the fancy clear-CMOS button on the rear I/O and the competent VRM (though I also have no idea what kind of VRM the Z390-A has and Google isn't helping).

Apparently it's a decent board according to OCN's resident motherboard/VRM guru AlphaC (I think?)
 
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#3 ·
The Z390-A uses the same VRM configuration as the Z370-A is a 2x4 phases without doublers but with better mosfet NCP302045 (I took apart one in my job just for curiosity). The Taichi at least in the VRM area is better
 
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#4 ·
Brand loyalty really doesn't make sense here. If something performs better in most cases it is better. Asus uses the same components as everyone else and their customer support is non-existent these days.
If you spend the same money with someone else like Asrock or Gigabyte you'll get a better product 90% of the time if you do so blindly. Well with mobos and GPUs any way.
 
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#5 ·
Z390-A isn't worth the money at the moment (in the USA it's $175 when Taichi/Aorus Pro are $180 ; in Eurozone it's around the price of an Aorus Elite) and I have seen the VRM heatsink produce less than stellar results* given the price of the board (it's on par with a $130 Gigabyte Z390 UD in terms of thermals with case fans) at least with an Intel XTU workload. However with an i7-9700k I wouldn't think it's a bad board.


* Testing was verified with a thermal image of the back of the board in Intel XTU and case airflow was provided by Be Quiet case fans.

https://nl.hardware.info/reviews/88...erborden-review-+-vrm-test-welk-bord-is-echt-8-core-waardig-benchmarks-vrm-test

Z390-E STRIX has two variants (one has same powerstages as the Hero, the 50A SiC639 instead of 45A Onsemi NCP302045) and the major difference vs Z390-A is the improved audio and improved VRM heatsink area (no heatpipe though).

Multiple sites cite it hitting over ~80°C or so if there's no airflow and an AIO on i9, with a VRM fan on it it drops around 20°C.

See also hardwareunboxed testing with unspecified test regime that uses k-type thermocouples:

In summary: Z390-A isn't a bad board , but there are other options for your money you should seriously consider for features , connectivity, and audio.

1. The MSI Edge fares better thermally but that's due to the larger main VRM heatsink, electrically it is a tossup since the Edge has 5 phases with 10 sets of mosfets. Audio is better on it but the USB ports are fewer. Memory overclocks are among the highest. I think it was $150 recently (at $190 it's a hard sell) so this I would rule out.

2. The Aorus Pro is outright better in power delivery (12x 50A powerstages with doublers ; heatpipe), audio , connectivity, fan headers, more USB, RGB, backup BIOS, etc ; recently it's been as low as $170 ... the major complaint people have is with the BIOS layout

3. The Taichi is better for memory and power delivery (10x 40A powerblocks with doublers ; heatpipe), 3rd M.2, USB 3.1 header, Dual LAN, audio, OC features such as clear CMOS and debug LED, backup BIOS, etc. ; recently it has been $180
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
1. The Taichi is ugly is hell and I have tempered glass case. No way I'm getting that.

2. I air cool all my parts so no water cooling at all. I have a Evolv ATX with modified front panel and upgraded 140mm fans, so I have no issues with airflow

3. I may never bother with overclocking at all, so VRMs are not much of a concern to me.

3. The Gigabytes are fugly and overpriced and I utterly hate their BIOSe

4. I use a Soundblaster Z with v-moda headphones, I don't use crap onboard audio, I'm old school like that
 
#7 ·
Asus boards are also ugly, the seem to get worse the more you spend. If you don't care about the power delivery just pick a pretty one. Very old school indeed. Literally nothing seems to matter as long as it's: A. Asus B. Pretty and C. Affordable and I can't think of any thing that meets the criteria. The VRM doesn't matter since you'll never OC it you really don't need a Z board since they are made for overclocking.



I can't believe Asus made a 9900k compatible board with a 4 phase VRM, that's pretty low and it's not like it's the cheapest option, Craziness. HWUB also should have manually set the vcore with a DMM for that thermal test.
 
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#8 ·
I would not use Asus right now, they are the joke for pricing for what you get and they need to be punished. I like Asus, though they suck now and Gigabyte had much better board VRMs right now. They will come back. If you like the name that is one thing. I personally go who makes the best boards for the price point. I do have many Asus products. Z370 highend boards are having issues coping with a 9900K. I can only imagine the issues low end z390 will have with the 9700K. I have a great VRM, but the heatsink is stupid on my Gaming 7. I might replace with a water block. Current stress tests are high 90s with VRM. With prime95 on Stock settings I was hitting 100C on VRM in less than a minute just from Turbo. OC I can get more clock with less voltage. Don't F with. The turbo for the i7 and i9 are like a crappy OC, you WILL have heat issues and they push turbo a lot more than they use to. So be wise
 
#9 ·
Hothicron said:
3. The Gigabytes are fugly and overpriced and I utterly hate their BIOSe
Click to expand...
Well the "fugly" part I couldnt agree less but that is of course a matter of opinion. Overpriced?? Really, when their more entry level boards still have better VRMs and build than other brands more expensive models???
The BIOS..dont have any issues with their latest BIOS..more than capable and all options are there so not sure what else you want from it, specially since you said you dont plan to Overclock so how often do you need to be using the BIOS?
BTW...after 3, comes 4 not another 3. LOL
 
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Discussion starter · #10 · (Edited)
Asus Z390 PRIME or Hero XI for non overclocked 9700k pure gaming setup?

I'm looking into building a new 9700k gaming rig since my 4790k Haswell rigs motherboard died and this might be my last one for a good while as I've got a new lady from Japan in life and I may be very busy starting a new life with her next year which is gonna cost some money as well, so this may be the last chance in a long while I get to build a new gaming PC.



I likely won't bother overclocking the 9700k as all I do is game at 1440p at 60 hertz, so it's kinda pointless to push it harder and I don't wanna fry any equipment like I did with my devils canyon and my Asus Hero VII that died last week from overclocking possibly. I'm also reusing my Thermalright True Spirt 140 Power HSF, so no water cooling.


I'm still an asus man, I hate Gigabyte with a passion and the AsRock boards look like complete ass in the looks dept so I don't care how good they are, they are not going in my case, so don't suggest a non Asus mobo please. I do is game at 1440p/60 hertz. No encoding, no benchmarking, no compressing, no streaming, no video compiling, ect...ect... So don't suggest an AMD build.


Since I'm aware of the VRM quality issue with Asus vs other mobo makers but won't be overclocking, so any real tangible benfit to paying extra for the HERO XI model compared to the PRIME other then the ROG Bios and the totally useless onboard Wifi? Or just save some money and get the better looking PRIME board for my needs?
 
#11 ·
Hothicron said:
I'm looking into building a new 9700k gaming rig since my 4790k Haswell rigs motherboard died and this might be my last one for a good while as I've got a new lady from Japan in life and I may be very busy starting a new life with her next year which is gonna cost some money as well, so this may be the last chance in a long while I get to build a new gaming PC.



I likely won't bother overclocking the 9700k as all I do is game at 1440p at 60 hertz, so it's kinda pointless to push it harder and I don't wanna fry any equipment like I did with my devils canyon and my Asus Hero VII that died last week from overclocking possibly. I'm also reusing my Thermalright True Spirt 140 Power HSF, so no water cooling.


I'm still an asus man, I hate Gigabyte with a passion and the AsRock boards look like complete ass in the looks dept so I don't care how good they are, they are not going in my case, so don't suggest a non Asus mobo please. I do is game at 1440p/60 hertz. No encoding, no benchmarking, no compressing, no streaming, no video compiling, ect...ect... So don't suggest an AMD build.


Since I'm aware of the VRM quality issue with Asus vs other mobo makers but won't be overclocking, so any real tangible benfit to paying extra for the HERO XI model compared to the PRIME other then the ROG Bios and the totally useless onboard Wifi? Or just save some money and get the better looking PRIME board for my needs?
Click to expand...
If it is only Asus that you want, them just set a budget on how much you want to spend and just get the best Asus MB your budget allow.

If you are not overclocking, I think you can go with the Prime and save the money.
 
#13 ·
I have been running a 9700k on a Z390 Prime for a few weeks with a Noctua NH-U14S at 5 and it is just purring. About 50% faster than my 3930k, plus the MB has a USB-C port and a TB header, no wifi but I think they have a Prime with Wifi. I have been using Asus boards for years in DAWs and gaming workstations and have never had any issues running them stock or hot. MC has some good cpu/board combo deals going and I think they have the best prices you will find at this time.
 
Discussion starter · #14 ·
splangie said:
I have been running a 9700k on a Z390 Prime for a few weeks with a Noctua NH-U14S at 5 and it is just purring. About 50% faster than my 3930k, plus the MB has a USB-C port and a TB header, no wifi but I think they have a Prime with Wifi. I have been using Asus boards for years in DAWs and gaming workstations and have never had any issues running them stock or hot. MC has some good cpu/board combo deals going and I think they have the best prices you will find at this time.
Click to expand...

How has the VRM temps been? YOu gonna try a basic overclock at some point with the multiplier on CPU and just see how it does at like 5/5.1 ghz for giggles? How have the temps been on that Noctua? I"m gonna be reusing my trusty Thermalright True Spirit 140 Power on the 9700k


Wifi is a total waste for me, I hardwire ALL my equipment in my home other then my smartphone
 
#18 ·
I have the Hero XI, but with a 8700k. It's a beautiful and very capable board, but I don't think you actually need it. Especially if you are not going to overclock.







 
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