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ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 Review | 107 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£180
  • Avg. price in US: ~$200
  • CPU socket: AM3+
  • Chipset: AMD 990FX/SB950
  • Form factor: ATX

ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 review. Compare 107 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among motherboards and if it is worth buying.

5.5

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the motherboard's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best motherboards on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

5.3

Technical Score

10.0%

7.0

User score

Good
5.3

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the motherboard's technical performance, covering key areas such as power delivery, CPU and memory support, expansion, storage, connectivity, cooling, BIOS features, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

19.0%

4.0

Memory

16.0%

5.2

Platform & Features

16.0%

4.4

Storage

15.0%

5.5

Network

13.0%

7.4

Ports & USB

8.0%

3.3

Expansion

8.0%

6.0

Power & Cooling

5.0%

8.6

Audio

Good
7.0

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the motherboard.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a motherboard performs in real-world builds and how reliable it is in terms of stability, BIOS usability, connectivity, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

7.6

User reviews

30.0%

5.7

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.1
(116)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
3.8
(117)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

Very good
  • 3.6
    Gaming

    Score components:

    28.0%

    5.8

    VRM phases

    22.0%

    3.3

    N. of M.2 sockets

    18.0%

    4.6

    LAN speed

    17.0%

    1.4

    Maximum RAM speed

    15.0%

    1.0

    N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots

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Best prices in UK

Best rankings

?

Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3.0 is a rugged ATX motherboard for the AMD AM3+ platform, featuring the 990FX/SB950 chipset and updated support for NVMe M.2 (PCIe 2.0 x4) and USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A/C. Built with 'TUF' military-grade components and 'Thermal Armor' aesthetics, it offers a robust 8+2 phase Digi+ VRM, four DDR3-1866 slots, and 3-way SLI/CrossFireX support. Its primary strengths are its exceptional durability, Aura RGB lighting, and modern connectivity on an older socket, while its main drawbacks include the aged PCIe 2.0 architecture, high power consumption of compatible FX-series CPUs, and lack of DDR4 support.

Technical Specifications of ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the motherboard's technical performance, covering key areas such as power delivery, CPU and memory support, expansion, storage, connectivity, cooling, BIOS features, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

19.0%

4.0

Memory

16.0%

5.2

Platform & Features

16.0%

4.4

Storage

15.0%

5.5

Network

13.0%

7.4

Ports & USB

8.0%

3.3

Expansion

8.0%

6.0

Power & Cooling

5.0%

8.6

Audio

5.3
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has a technical score of 5.28 points, which is lower than that of 73.2% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the motherboard.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a motherboard performs in real-world builds and how reliable it is in terms of stability, BIOS usability, connectivity, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

7.6

User reviews

30.0%

5.7

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.1
(116)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
3.8
(117)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

7.0
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has a user score of 7.02 points, which is lower than that of 78% of products in this category.
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you prefer a motherboard that has already been bought and reviewed by many other users.
5.7
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has a popularity of 5.7 points, which is higher than 60.9% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the motherboard's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a motherboard that offers a strong balance of features, performance, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

5.5

Overall score

40.0%

9.6

Price

6.7
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has a quality-to-price ratio of 6.7 points, which is lower than 72.9% of products in this category.
Brand name
What it is: The brand that makes the motherboard.
When it matters: When you have a brand preference for support, BIOS, or build quality.

Importance: MEDIUM

Asus
CPU socket
What it is: The socket type the motherboard is built to support.
When it matters: When you need the motherboard to match a specific CPU.

Importance: HIGH

AM3+
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 uses the AM3+ CPU socket, which is less advanced than that of 96.9% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.7% of motherboards.
CPU platform

Importance: MEDIUM

AMD
Chipset
What it is: The chipset that defines the motherboard platform and many of its features.
When it matters: When you compare platform features, connectivity, and CPU support.

Importance: HIGH

AMD 990FX/SB950
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 uses the AMD 990FX/SB950 chipset, which is less advanced than that of 90.4% of motherboards.
Paired with SB950 southbridge.
Form factor
What it is: The physical size standard of the motherboard, such as ATX or Micro-ATX.
When it matters: When you need the board to fit a specific case size.

Importance: HIGH

ATX
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has the ATX form factor, which is more versatile than that of 47.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 52.2% of motherboards.
Show more
DDR memory version
What it is: The RAM generation the motherboard supports, such as DDR4 or DDR5.
When it matters: When you need the board to match a certain memory platform.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: DDR5

DDR3
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 uses DDR3 memory, which is older than that of 86.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 13.4% of motherboards.
Memory slots
What it is: The number of RAM slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more room for future memory upgrades.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=4

4
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has 4 Memory slots, which is more than 21.5% of motherboards and equal to 72.5% of motherboards.
Maximum memory capacity
What it is: The largest total amount of RAM the motherboard supports.
When it matters: When you plan a build with very high memory capacity.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=128 GB

32 GB
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 supports up to 32 GB of memory, which is less than 87% of motherboards and equal to 11.2% of motherboards.
Memory channels
What it is: The memory channel configuration supported by the motherboard platform.
When it matters: When memory bandwidth matters for your build.

Importance: MEDIUM

2
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 supports 2 memory channels, which is more than 0.2% of motherboards and equal to 92.5% of motherboards.
Maximum RAM speed
What it is: The highest officially supported memory speed for the motherboard.
When it matters: When you choose RAM and want to know the supported speed ceiling.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=6400 MT/s

1,866 MT/s
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 supports memory speeds up to 1866 MT/s, which is lower than that of 91.5% of motherboards and equal to that of 1.5% of motherboards.
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N. of M.2 sockets
What it is: The number of M.2 slots available on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want room for more NVMe or M.2 drives.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=3

1
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has 1 M.2 sockets, which is fewer than 69.2% of motherboards and equal to 19.1% of motherboards.
M.2 slot interface per slot
What it is: The storage or PCIe interface available for each M.2 slot on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want to check which drives each M.2 slot can use.

Importance: HIGH

1x PCIe 2.0 x4/SATA
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 offers 1x PCIe 2.0x4/SATA for M.2 slot interfaces, which is slower than that of 84.5% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.4% of motherboards.
N. of SATA 3 connectors
What it is: The number of SATA 6Gb/s connectors on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you plan to connect multiple SATA drives.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=6

5
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has 5 SATA 3 connectors, which is more than 51.9% of motherboards and equal to 0.6% of motherboards.
Supported RAID levels
What it is: The RAID modes officially supported by the motherboard storage platform.
When it matters: When you plan to use multiple drives in a RAID setup.

Importance: MEDIUM

0/1/5/10
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 supports RAID levels 0/1/5/10, which is broader than 31.8% of motherboards and equal to 68.2% of motherboards.
JBOD excluded from RAID-level set
NVMe RAID support
What it is: Shows whether the board supports RAID configurations that use NVMe SSDs.
When it matters: When you plan to use multiple NVMe drives in RAID.

Importance: LOW

no
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 does not support NVMe RAID. 59.8% of motherboards support this feature.
Show more
N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 5.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want the newest high-bandwidth expansion slots.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slots, which is equal to 68.5% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 4.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 4.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more room for modern expansion cards.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has 0 PCIe 4.0x16 slots, which is equal to 55.6% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 3.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 3.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you need more full-length expansion slots.

Importance: MEDIUM

0
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has 0 PCIe 3.0x16 slots, which is fewer than 59.5% of motherboards and equal to 40.5% of motherboards.
runs at x4 mode
PCIe slot electrical configuration
What it is: The actual lane wiring used by the motherboard PCIe slots.
When it matters: When you need to know how much bandwidth each slot really gets.

Importance: HIGH

?
PCIe bifurcation support
What it is: Shows whether the board can split PCIe lanes across multiple devices from one slot or link.
When it matters: When you plan multi-SSD adapters or more advanced expansion setups.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 does not support PCIe bifurcation. 61% of motherboards support this feature.
Show more
Total USB ports (rear I/O)
What it is: The total number of rear USB ports available on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you use many USB devices directly from the back of the PC.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=8

12
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has 12 USB ports (rear I/O), which is more than 93% of motherboards and equal to 5.5% of motherboards.
Total USB ports (including headers)
What it is: The total number of USB ports supported when rear ports and internal headers are counted together.
When it matters: When you want to know the board's full USB expansion potential.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=14

20
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has 20 USB ports (including headers), which is more than 92.1% of motherboards and equal to 2.9% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (rear I/O)
What it is: The total number of rear USB-C ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more USB-C devices connected without adapters.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=1

1
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has 1 USB-C ports (rear I/O), which is more than 35.4% of motherboards and equal to 48.8% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (including headers)
What it is: The total number of USB-C ports supported when rear ports and internal headers are counted together.
When it matters: When you want more USB-C connectivity across the whole build.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=2

1
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has 1 USB-C ports (including headers), which is more than 30.5% of motherboards and equal to 21.3% of motherboards.
N. of USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C)
What it is: The number of rear USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want very fast USB-C connectivity on the rear I/O.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C), which is equal to 81.6% of motherboards.
Show more
LAN speed
What it is: The maximum wired Ethernet speed supported by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want faster wired networking.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 2.5GbE

1 Gbps
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 supports LAN speeds up to 1 Gbps, which is lower than that of 50.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 49.1% of motherboards.
LAN controller
What it is: The model of onboard Ethernet controller used by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you compare networking hardware quality and features.

Importance: MEDIUM

?
N. of RJ45 ports
What it is: The number of wired Ethernet ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you need one or more wired network connections.

Importance: LOW

1
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has 1 RJ45 ports, which is equal to 85.6% of motherboards.
Wi-Fi connectivity
What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes onboard Wi-Fi hardware instead of requiring a separate adapter.
When it matters: When you want wireless networking without adding an extra card.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 does not support Wi-Fi connectivity. 49.1% of motherboards support this feature.
Wi-Fi version
What it is: The supported Wi-Fi generation, such as Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7.
When it matters: When you care about wireless speed and router compatibility.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)

N/A
Show more
Audio codec
What it is: The onboard audio codec used by the motherboard.
When it matters: When sound quality from the built-in audio matters to you.

Importance: MEDIUM

Realtek ALC1150
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 uses the Realtek ALC1150 audio codec, which is more advanced than that of 52.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 9.3% of motherboards.
Audio channels
What it is: The audio channel configuration supported by the onboard sound solution.
When it matters: When you want surround sound from the motherboard audio outputs.

Importance: LOW

Good value: 7.1

7.1
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 offers 7.1 audio channels, which is more than 4.9% of motherboards and equal to 95.1% of motherboards.
Audio SNR
What it is: The signal-to-noise ratio of the onboard audio solution.
When it matters: When you care about cleaner onboard audio output.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=120 dB

115 dB
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has an audio SNR of 115 dB, which is higher than that of 46.5% of motherboards and equal to that of 8.2% of motherboards.
Headphone amp support
What it is: Shows whether the onboard audio path includes dedicated headphone amplification for harder-to-drive headsets.
When it matters: When you use harder-to-drive headphones from the onboard audio.

Importance: LOW

yes
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 supports a headphone amp. 37% of motherboards support this feature.
N. of 3.5mm audio jacks
What it is: The number of rear 3.5mm audio jacks on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more analog audio connection options.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=5

5
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has 5 3.5mm audio jacks, which is more than 49.8% of motherboards and equal to 36.8% of motherboards.
Show more
VRM phases
What it is: The number of power-delivery phases used by the motherboard VRM.
When it matters: When you care about CPU power delivery and overclocking headroom.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=12

8+2
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has 8+2 VRM phases, which is fewer than 59.1% of motherboards and equal to 4.5% of motherboards.
N. of CPU power connectors
What it is: The number of CPU power connectors on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you care about power delivery for higher-end CPUs.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=2

1
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has 1 CPU power connectors, which is equal to 54.5% of motherboards.
N. of fan headers
What it is: The number of headers available for case or CPU fans.
When it matters: When your build uses several fans.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=6

6
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has 6 fan headers, which is more than 50.3% of motherboards and equal to 22.3% of motherboards.
Pump header
What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes a dedicated header designed for a liquid-cooling pump.
When it matters: When you build with an AIO or custom liquid cooling loop.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has a pump header. 23.1% of motherboards include this feature.
Pump header max current
What it is: The maximum current the dedicated pump header can supply.
When it matters: When you want to make sure the pump header can power your cooling setup.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=2 A

?
Show more

ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 vs the average motherboard

  • 4 more rear USB ports
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has more rear USB ports than the average motherboard (12 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.
    What it is: The total number of rear USB ports available on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you use many USB devices directly from the back of the PC.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=8

    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has more rear USB ports than the average motherboard (12 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.12 vs 8
  • 2 more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports than the average motherboard (3 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2 port/s.
    What it is: The number of rear USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A ports on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want faster USB-A ports for storage or accessories.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=2

    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports than the average motherboard (3 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2 port/s.3 vs 1
  • 5 more total USB connections
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has more total USB connections than the average motherboard (20 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
    What it is: The total number of USB ports supported when rear ports and internal headers are counted together.
    When it matters: When you want to know the board's full USB expansion potential.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=14

    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has more total USB connections than the average motherboard (20 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.20 vs 15
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C ports
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has more USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C port/s.
    What it is: The number of rear USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C ports on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want faster rear USB-C connectivity.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=1

    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has more USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C port/s.1 vs 0
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen1 header/s.
    two internal headers
    What it is: The number of internal USB 3.2 Gen1 headers for front-panel Type-A ports.
    When it matters: When your case has front USB-A ports to connect.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=1

    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen1 header/s.2 vs 1
  • 4 more PCIe 2.0x16 slots
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has more PCIe 2.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (4 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 2.0x16 slot/s.
    What it is: The number of PCIe 2.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you compare older full-length expansion options.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has more PCIe 2.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (4 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 2.0x16 slot/s.4 vs 0
  • Supports ECC memory
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 supports ECC memory, while the average motherboard does not. 20.9% of motherboards support ECC memory.
    supports ECC unbuffered memory.
    What it is: Shows whether the motherboard can work with ECC memory on supported CPU and platform combinations.
    When it matters: When stability and error correction matter in your system.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 supports ECC memory, while the average motherboard does not. 20.9% of motherboards support ECC memory.
  • Includes onboard power button
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has an onboard power button, while the average motherboard does not. 27.7% of motherboards include an onboard power button.
    What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes a built-in power button on the PCB itself.
    When it matters: When you test or troubleshoot the board outside a case.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has an onboard power button, while the average motherboard does not. 27.7% of motherboards include an onboard power button.
  • Includes onboard power button
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has an onboard power button, while the average motherboard does not. 27.7% of motherboards include an onboard power button.
  • Supports ECC memory
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 supports ECC memory, while the average motherboard does not. 20.9% of motherboards support ECC memory.
  • 1 more SATA 3 connectors
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has more SATA 3 connectors than the average motherboard (5 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 SATA 3 connectors.
  • 4 more PCIe 2.0x16 slots
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has more PCIe 2.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (4 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 2.0x16 slot/s.
  • 1 more PCIe x1 slots
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has more PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
  • 4 more rear USB ports
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has more rear USB ports than the average motherboard (12 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.
  • 2 more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports than the average motherboard (3 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2 port/s.
  • 5 more total USB connections
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has more total USB connections than the average motherboard (20 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C ports
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has more USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C port/s.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen1 header/s.
  • 2 more USB 2.0 ports
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has more USB 2.0 ports than the average motherboard (4 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 port/s.
  • 1 more fan headers
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has more fan headers than the average motherboard (6 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 fan header/s.

Total
Platform & Features
Memory
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Power & Cooling
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (AMD 990FX/SB950 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
    Paired with SB950 southbridge.
  • No integrated graphics support
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 does not support integrated graphics, while the average motherboard does. 89.4% of motherboards support integrated graphics.
  • Older CPU socket
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has older CPU socket than the average motherboard (AM3+ vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 CPU socket.
  • Not ready for Windows 11
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 is not ready for Windows 11, while the average motherboard is. 77.1% of motherboards are ready for Windows 11.
  • Narrower Windows support
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has narrower Windows support than the average motherboard (Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7 vs Windows 11, Windows 10). The average motherboard supports Windows 11, Windows 10.
  • 5 years older release date
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 is older than the average motherboard (2,016 vs 2,021). The average motherboard was released in 2,021.
    July 2016
  • 75% less maximum memory capacity
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (32 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
  • Older DDR memory generation
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has older DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR3 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
  • 59.4% lower maximum RAM speed
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has a lower maximum RAM speed than the average motherboard (1,866 MT/s vs 4,600 MT/s). The average motherboard supports RAM speed of 4,600 MT/s.
  • 51.3% lower overclocked RAM speed
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has a lower overclocked RAM speed than the average motherboard (2,400 MT/s vs 4,933 MT/s). The average motherboard supports overclocked RAM speed of 4,933 MT/s.
  • Slower M.2 slot interfaces
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (1x PCIe 2.0x4/SATA vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4). The average motherboard uses 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4 M.2 slot interfaces.
  • No NVMe RAID support
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • 1 fewer M.2 sockets
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has fewer M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (1 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
  • No PCIe bifurcation support
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 does not support PCIe bifurcation, while the average motherboard does. 61% of motherboards support PCIe bifurcation.
  • 1 fewer PCIe 3.0x16 slots
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has fewer PCIe 3.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe 3.0x16 slot/s.
    runs at x4 mode
  • 1 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 DisplayPort outputs.
    no onboard video outputs
  • 1 fewer PS/2 ports
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has fewer PS/2 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PS/2 port/s.
  • 1 fewer HDMI outputs
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has fewer HDMI outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 HDMI outputs.
    no onboard video outputs
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has a lower LAN speed than the average motherboard (1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.
  • No Wi-Fi antenna included
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 does not include a Wi-Fi antenna, while the average motherboard does. 51.1% of motherboards include a Wi-Fi antenna.
  • 2 fewer ARGB headers
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has fewer ARGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 ARGB header/s.
  • 1 fewer RGB headers
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has fewer RGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RGB header/s.
  • Fewer VRM phases
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has fewer VRM phases than the average motherboard (8+2 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (AMD 990FX/SB950 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
    Paired with SB950 southbridge.
    What it is: The chipset that defines the motherboard platform and many of its features.
    When it matters: When you compare platform features, connectivity, and CPU support.

    Importance: HIGH

    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (AMD 990FX/SB950 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.AMD 990FX/SB950 vs Intel B860
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has a lower LAN speed than the average motherboard (1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.
    What it is: The maximum wired Ethernet speed supported by the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want faster wired networking.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: 2.5GbE

    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has a lower LAN speed than the average motherboard (1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps
  • Slower M.2 slot interfaces
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (1x PCIe 2.0x4/SATA vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4). The average motherboard uses 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4 M.2 slot interfaces.
    What it is: The storage or PCIe interface available for each M.2 slot on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want to check which drives each M.2 slot can use.

    Importance: HIGH

    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (1x PCIe 2.0x4/SATA vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4). The average motherboard uses 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4 M.2 slot interfaces.1x PCIe 2.0x4/SATA vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4
  • 75% less maximum memory capacity
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (32 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
    What it is: The largest total amount of RAM the motherboard supports.
    When it matters: When you plan a build with very high memory capacity.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=128 GB

    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (32 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.32 GB vs 128 GB
  • No NVMe RAID support
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
    What it is: Shows whether the board supports RAID configurations that use NVMe SSDs.
    When it matters: When you plan to use multiple NVMe drives in RAID.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • Older DDR memory generation
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has older DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR3 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
    What it is: The RAM generation the motherboard supports, such as DDR4 or DDR5.
    When it matters: When you need the board to match a certain memory platform.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: DDR5

    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has older DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR3 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.DDR3 vs DDR4
  • 1 fewer M.2 sockets
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has fewer M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (1 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
    What it is: The number of M.2 slots available on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want room for more NVMe or M.2 drives.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=3

    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 has fewer M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (1 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.1 vs 2
  • No PCIe bifurcation support
    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 does not support PCIe bifurcation, while the average motherboard does. 61% of motherboards support PCIe bifurcation.
    What it is: Shows whether the board can split PCIe lanes across multiple devices from one slot or link.
    When it matters: When you plan multi-SSD adapters or more advanced expansion setups.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0 does not support PCIe bifurcation, while the average motherboard does. 61% of motherboards support PCIe bifurcation.
Total
Overall
Platform & Features
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Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Power & Cooling

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
4.1
116 Reviews
United States
Amazon_logo.png
3.8
117 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

What customers like about ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0?

  • Excellent build quality with military-standard TUF components for high durability.
  • Comprehensive modern connectivity including four USB 3.1 ports (one Type-C) and an NVMe M.2 slot.
  • Highly stable power delivery with an 8+2 phase VRM, supporting 220W TDP CPUs like the FX-9590.
  • User-friendly UEFI BIOS with extensive overclocking and fan control options.
  • Aesthetically pleasing design featuring AURA RGB lighting and a digital camo PCB.
  • Solid 5-year warranty reflecting the 'TUF' reliability promise.
  • Support for both 3-way NVIDIA SLI and AMD CrossFireX multi-GPU configurations.

What customers dislike about ASUS TUF Sabertooth 990FX R3 0?

  • Built on the aging AM3+ platform and DDR3 memory, limiting long-term upgrade paths.
  • Most USB ports require driver installation before they are functional in the OS.
  • Lack of a graphical interface for fan control within the UEFI (standard menu-based instead).
  • Limited load-line calibration documentation without visual aid for voltage curves.
  • The 990FX chipset itself is quite old compared to the modern features added to this revision.

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