AORUS Pro Gaming Z390 Motherboard Review

Final Thoughts

How Much Does it Cost?

At the time of writing this motherboard was unreleased but available on pre-order for just £186.85. It launches at retail as we publish this review, and we don’t expect the price the price to change in that time, but it may adjust a little. However, while nearly £200 isn’t loose change, it’s a very competitive price for what’s on offer. Great features, performance, and build quality that toppled a few more expensive rivals.

Overview

When I tested the Aorus Master, I found it to be one of the best Z390 motherboards on the market. So much so, we used that board for our Z390 test bench and i9-9900K review and will continue to do so. However, it’s almost £100 more than the Pro, and that’s a big difference for many customers. The Pro is the high-end underdog here, stripping a few features away and saving a boatload of cash. This model doesn’t have built-in WiFi, it only has two M.2 drives, not three, and it’s USB Gen 1, not Gen 2. These are compromises most people can live with, and it’s priced to reflect that.

Performance

The Pro strips back a few features. In fact, perhaps it’s fair to say the Master adds a few features… either way, you get the idea. However, the one thing Aorus didn’t strip out is the performance, and a gaming motherboard this is indeed. It ripped through our gaming benchmarks, settings some of our most competitive scores to date. It also posted our highest ever (stock) 3DMark score.

Build Quality

Aorus don’t change their motherboard design much, so you pretty much know what you’re going to get. There are a few nips and tucks, such as the revisions to the VRM/heatsink designs. Of course, we had the i9-9900K installed, and it seemed to have no issues dealing with the higher frequencies and heat that chip puts out. Armoured hardware on the DIMMS, PCIe slots, and those lovely M.2 heatsinks all add up to a premium product. Oh, and the pre-installed I/O plate, that’s always a bonus I’m happy to pay for.

Should I Buy One?

If all you care about is some fast storage, plenty of USB ports, a bit of RGB, and high frame rates, this is the way to go. Oh, and the high-performance onboard audio is just the cherry on top. For a home gaming PC you could do a lot worse, and while it’s not as “extreme” as the Aorus Master, £100 cheaper is enough to get anyone’s attention.