Asus TUF GAMING Z690-PLUS WIFI
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Asus
- Chipset: Z690
- Socket: LGA1700
- Form Factor: ATX
- DIMM Slots: 4
- Color: Black / Gray
BIOS Update Status
- Microcode 0x129
Microcode update 0x129 addresses an issue where the processor may request high voltages, potentially leading to accelerated degradation.
- Microcode 0x12B
Microcode update 0x12B addresses elevated voltage requests by the processor during idle and/or light activity periods (includes 0x129).
- Microcode 0x12F
Microcode update 0x12F to further address processor degradation on systems with light activity.
Latest BIOS Version
"1.Enhance overall system security.2.Update the ME Firmware version to 16.1.38.2676.Updating this BIOS will simultaneously update the corresponding intel ME to version 16.1.38.2676. Please note after you update this BIOS, the ME version remains the updated one even if you roll back to an older BIOS later."
BIOS Release Notes Analysis
Launch Stability & Compatibility
Initial firmware releases from v0811 through v1403 established the platform baseline, optimizing DRAM training and integrating Intel ME v16.0.15.1735 to support the Core i9-12900KS. Version 1003 introduced specific firmware updates for USB PD (1.0F) and ThunderboltEX 4 add-in cards to resolve device enumeration issues. Support for 13th Gen Intel processors was formalized in v2103, while v2204 enabled compatibility with non-binary 24GB and 48GB DDR5 memory modules. Subsequent updates in this phase focused on enforcing anti-rollback mechanisms for Intel ME firmware to maintain security compliance.
Feature Maturity & Hardware Support
Update v2602 and v2802 enabled architecture support for 14th Gen Intel Core processors and resolved specific RAID configuration conflicts on high-capacity storage arrays. Version 3101 introduced PCIe Bifurcation options to support split GPU/storage lanes and patched the critical LogoFAIL vulnerability. Memory capacity was expanded to 256GB in v3302, which also integrated Microcode 0x123 to allow users to disable CEP (Current Excursion Protection) on non-K series processors for performance tuning. This phase also saw the standardization of Intel ME v16.1.30.2307 across multiple releases.
Critical Security & Power Management
To mitigate 13th and 14th Gen processor instability, v3501 and v3602 implemented Intel Default Settings profiles to enforce safe power limits. Update v3701 integrated Microcode 0x125 to correct eTVB algorithms, followed by v3802 with Microcode 0x129 to clamp maximum VID requests at 1.55V. The root cause of Vmin Shift Instability was addressed in v3901 and v4001 via Microcode 0x12B, which mitigates elevated voltage during idle states; v4001 simultaneously updated the Intel ME to v16.1.32.2473. While v3901 enforced C1E, v4101 restored the ability to disable this state based on user preference. Finally, v4301 applies Microcode 0x12F for advanced mitigation of voltage drift risks, and v4505 updates the ME firmware to v16.1.38.2676.
ℹ️AI-synthesized summary derived from official changelogs and verified microcode specifications. Always verify with the manufacturer.