In 2020, the i9-9900K processor was produced for rugged build and design. They come with exceptional performance for gaming, programming, and video editing. If you are into these fields, then you will find this review helpful for designing your new PC.
We can say that the Intel Core i9-9900K is the prince of the processors at the moment. Of course, you knew it; otherwise, you wouldn’t be reading this post. When you want to make the most out of your processor, you will want to implement the right components.
In this guide, we are going to read about the best motherboards for Intel Core i9-9900K. You really do not want to choose a substandard board when producing your CPU. It can provide you with ultimate proofing enabling you to upgrade your system.
This ensures that it provides you with effective efficiency and performance. You will not require the processor for 20 phases. It would help if you had airflow and cooling technology infused in the motherboard.
It helps in ensuring that the motherboard does not get too hot upon usage. You do not want your CPU to heat up soon when playing games or programming. This is very often the case with several motherboards.
As you know, for any CPU, the motherboard plays a crucial role in the functioning. A motherboard comes with several features and specifications infused in it. You have the overclocking, cooling technology, and support for the processors.
We research quite profoundly so that you can get the best motherboards that there is in the market for now. The Intel Core i9 9900k is one of the most powerful processors in the world today. Talking about gaming performance, it comes with ample power and speed.
It comes with 8 cores and 16 threads that are sufficient to easily beat most of the other applications you can find these days. The core clock is of 3.9Ghz, which is good quality. It comes with a factory unlocked.
It takes close to 5Ghz comes with a Z390 chipset board. We did the proper research to compile the best motherboards. All you have to do is select the best motherboard according to your budget and get it for this chip.
Things to Know Before Purchasing Motherboard for Intel Core I9-9900K
The Intel Core i9-9900K processor is not the latest model available in the market. This is an exceptional choice for several buyers. You can get good performance from the motherboard thanks to the fact it comes with efficient overclocking capabilities.
Below are few things to keep in mind when purchasing a motherboard for Intel Core i9-9900K.
The Form Factor
When you are designing a PC, you can find several form factor choices to select. Some of them also include ATX, EATX, Micro ATX, and Mini ITX motherboards. The thing is, the form factor should blend with the size of your cabinet.
The Kind of Chipset
The i9-9900K CPU should be compatible with your chipset. Yes, you can make use of entry-level chipsets for designing a new PC. We recommend that you choose the Z390 motherboard to help you enhance the value of the Intel CPU.
The Connectivity of the Motherboard
The motherboard is the core specification between the PC and the components. You need to ensure that the elements infused in the PC combine well. This enables you to get immense capability from your device.
That is why you may want to check for the number of M.2 slots, multiple RAM slots, USB type C ports, Wi-Fi connectivity, high-speed USB ports, and several other things. This ensures your device is flexible, reliable, and extremely powerful, which is what you want in the end.
These were some of the pointers you would want to keep in mind when purchasing the Intel Core i9-9900K processor. Based on the above factors, we have compiled our list. We have made sure to include products from different price ranges for the benefit of our readers.
The Best Motherboards for Intel Core I9-9900K
Want to set up a new PC with an exceptional processor? If that is the case, then you would like to make use of the suitable board for i9-9900K. What is unique about this processor? Firstly, it helps you to overclock exceptionally well.
We also felt that the processor is ideal for those wanting to build gaming PCs. You can also consider this model for video editing and similar purpose. Thanks to the fact that it is available at affordable rates, you can choose from the 10 high-performance units we have mentioned.
You will learn more about the chipsets and find out more about them. We have also mentioned their pros & cons so that you can make your decision easier. When you search for a unit that can meet your PC requirements, we can assure you that it is here.
Let us read the review carefully and find out.
1. Gigabyte Z390 AORUS MASTER
Gigabyte Z390 AORUS MASTER not only appears gorgeous with the RGB fusion, but it also comes with multi-zone addressable LED lighting. Unlike most of the models from the producer, this one is nicely designed.
The board comes with 12+2 IR Digital VRM. Its cooling is handled very well. There is also the PowrStage system. The unit provides you a chance to overclock for you to experience the power of the stable performance.
If you love listening to music, you will like using the Realtek ALC1220 and Sabre DAC audio suite. This provides you with opulent sound quality. There is also the 4-slot DDR4 RAM system and the USB auto charger.
We loved the BIOS feature found on the CPU. It comes with an intuitive UI, and the fan control is easy to use. If you add the fins array heatsink using the heat pipe, this turns into a powerful board.
The performance of the board is one of the best in the market. Our tester found the Wi-Fi found on the chipset as one of the most powerful. The gaming experience and the live streaming process become eloquent with speeds of 1.73Gbps.
It is priced close to $380 making it quite expensive.
PROS
- The product has unique lighting aspects.
- It comes with 4 DIMM slots for DDR4 RAM.
- It has fantastic cooling technology using the 12+2 Phase VRMs.
- The product comes with outstanding Ethernet & wireless adapters.
- The unit has decent audio with an ALC1220 chipset.
CONS
- It is quite expensive, in the range of $400.
Gigabyte Z390 AORUS MASTER has everything in it one can expect. You have stunning overclocking, excellent performance, and excellent quality materials used in it. When you search for the best product in the market today, then it is this without a doubt.
2. Asus PRIME Z390-A
Asus PRIME Z390-A is second on the list of the best motherboards for Intel Core i9-9900K. This provides an ideal balance with features and price. The board is priced less than $200 containing all the elements that any gamer would delight in seeing.
It comes with 4 DIMM slots that can easily support 64GB of DDR 4 RAM. The motherboard also comes with overclocking of 4266 MHz. You do not have to worry about the storage as there are dual m. two slots.
They are integrated with the Intel Optane Ready. You can swap data with tremendous speeds at 32 Gb/s. These slots come with thermal pads suitable for heat diffusion. At the I/O front, you can notice the board has USB C and USB 3.1 sockets.
You can also find the USB C on the front panel. It comes with exceptional cooling technology that is infused in it. Most of the boards come with stupendous cooling, but the Asus unit was stunning at this price.
The m2 slots and the chipset can use the heatsink and heat shield. You would be delighted to know that there are 7 fan connectors. These connections are Asus AURA Sync compliant. Gamers can utilize RGB components using the synchronized colors.
We liked the color combination found on it with 2 RGB strips. It comes with an ordinary sliver, and the PCB has black colors. Sadly, we noticed that it does not come with a protective backplate.
We also did not find the RGB connector. It is priced under $180, making it one of the cheapest in the market today for your i9 CPU. You can be assured of designing a decent-powered PC without having to cost your arm.
PROS
- The unit supports close to 64GB of RAM.
- It is suitable for overclocking.
- The product has dual m.2 slots.
- It is an Asus AURA-compliant motherboard.
- The unit is priced cheap.
CONS
- It comes with no protective backplate.
The Asus PRIME Z390-A is one of the best motherboards for Intel Core i9-9900K. You can see instantly that it comes with exceptional features embedded in it. The product is reliable, durable, and is priced cheap.
3. Asus ROG STRIX Z390-E GAMING
Asus ROG STRIX Z390-E GAMING is among the ROG series product lineup that comes with breathtaking features infused in it. There is no denying the fact that the ROG series is one of the best models in Asus production.
It can provide you with a high-performance Z390 ATX board, offering you with the LGA1151 socket. The Intel 8th gen and 9th gen CPU can be quickly produced with the help of the board. Coming to the motherboard’s memory, it comes with 4 memory slots that can support close to 128 GB RAM.
There are also dual SSD slots, including 6 SATA3 ports, type A, USB type C, and ethernet. There is Wi-Fi in it, and the speeds are somewhat limited. However, you can also make use of a separate network card.
It comes with 6 PCIe slots. There is an abundance of ports that can be found in the front and the rear. Using them, you can design your powerful PC for gaming, coding, and designing. Any manufacturer who is confident about their product gives warranties.
That is precisely what has happened here. Asus provides you with a 3-year warranty, ensuring that you can design a stunning gaming PC. It is priced less than $450 making it very expensive. Now, unless you are a professional gamer or somebody who requires a gorgeous model, then you might want to go for it.
Of course, if the budget is affordable for you, you can take the leap; you have no reason for regret.
PROS
- The Asus design and performance are matchless.
- It comes with outstanding overclocking performance.
- It has several connectivity options for users.
- There is adequate support for 8th gen and 9th gen processors.
- The model comes with a 3-year warranty.
CONS
- The Wi-Fi speeds are average.
Asus ROG STRIX Z390-E GAMING is a very expensive model priced close to the $500 range. Though it comes with exceptional features embedded with it, you may also want to know that this is an Asus model. It comes with a 3-year warranty too. You have nothing to lose.
4. Asus ROG MAXIMUS XI HERO (WI-FI)
The Asus ROG MAXIMUS XI HERO (WI-FI) is truly a beast. That is why we decided to have it on our list of the best motherboards for Intel Core i9-9900K. This is a phenomenal board that combines everything you would ever require to design your new gaming PC.
It looks stunning as most of its ROG product lineup. There are no surprises in that. ROG series products always come with a terrific design and tones added to them. The black finish on the unit and the brushed metallic color infused with the ROG logo make the board appear elegant.
You can expand the functions using the RGB and the headers. They come powered by Asus Aura Sync. You can also fully customizable using the Aura software. It comes with loads that can mean business.
The overclocking of the can be done on the processors of 8th and 9th Gen Intel. When you want to provide power to the i9, you can use the 8-pin and 4-pin power connector. To get the right kind of heat dissipation, you can make use of the heatsink.
There is also the decent I/O module, heat sink above the PCH, and the heat sinks on both M.2 slots. You can find dual m.2 sockets infused with the Intel Optane Ready when you look at the storage.
Please do note here that the M.2 slot works effectively with both PCI and the SATA bandwidth. We found it surprising that the manufacturer did not have the secondary M.2 slot. It makes use of PCI bandwidth.
You can find 4 DIMM slots on the memory front, and the 4 RAM can intensify the overclocking the speeds of up to 4400Mhz. It also comes with 6 SATA ports and 3 PCIe x16 slots. We also liked the connectivity found on the motherboard.
There is a USB Gen 2 Type-C connector and a USB 3.1 Gen 1 connector. Besides, you can also find 1 type C connector. The cooling technology infused into the chipset is one of a kind. It comes with 8 fan connectors, an additional CPU header, and 6 chassis fan headers.
It is priced less than $200 that makes it very cheap.
PROS
- The model has a smashing design and finish.
- It can effortlessly support 64GB of DDR4 RAM.
- The product comes with extreme overclocking ability.
- The unit has excellent I/O choices.
- It comes with the Nvidia SLI & AMD crossfire support.
CONS
- There is no SATA support for a secondary M.2.
Asus ROG MAXIMUS XI HERO (WI-FI) comes with a terrific design and features that can match it. When you are in search of a knightly unit that can enable you to produce an outstanding gaming PC, then you might as well place an order for this product today itself.
5. Gigabyte Z390 AORUS PRO WIFI
Gigabyte Z390 AORUS PRO WIFI is from the makers of Gigabyte. They manufacture some top-notch chipsets in the market. The AORUS PRO Wi-Fi consistently ranks high in most of the list of best motherboards for Intel Core i9-9900K.
We may want to tell you that you do not want to expect too much from it. For a lower price tag, that is something you may have to sacrifice. It comes with the standard ATX form factor. Besides, the unit also comes with the LGA1151 socket.
We also liked the expansion options that came with 6 PCIe slots. These slots came in different sizes and options on the board. However, this model is not the ideal choice for overclocking. There is a wide range of connectivity options with it.
Some of them include dual M.2 slots with heatsinks, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, USB type C, 6 SATA 3 ports, and 4 memory slots that can work to 128 GB RAM. You would also like to work using ethernet, HDMI, and others.
The manufacturer has offered the model with a 3-year warranty. It is priced less than $230 making it relatively affordable. When you are on the lookout for a reasonably priced motherboard, you will want to use the AORUS PRO Wi-Fi product.
PROS
- The model comes with attractive design options.
- The unit has the ATX form factor.
- It is an affordable option to use in the i9 9900K.
- It provides you with exceptional connectivity and Wi-Fi.
- The product comes with an excellent 3-years warranty.
CONS
- It is not infused with suitable overclocking performance.
Gigabyte Z390 AORUS PRO WIFI meets all your needs, including the fact that it comes at a low price. Sadly, the overclocking could not meet the gamer’s expectations. That simply means you can perform mild to average tasks using it for the given price.
6. Asus ROG STRIX Z390-F GAMING
Asus ROG STRIX Z390-F GAMING is another exciting product from the Taiwanese manufacturer. The ROG series is always an interesting one as it comes infused with sufficient power to take you through your new gaming PC.
We have noticed that besides producing sublime gaming PCs, using this chipset, you can also produce stunning PCs for various other activities. The board is exceptionally well designed, as all Asus models are known for.
You can effortlessly operate on the 8th and 9th generation Intel Core processors. Besides, gamers can also enhance connectivity and speed. They can do that with the help of the dual M.2, USB 3.1 Gen 2, and the and ASUS Optic-MEM II.
This immensely helps in the overclocking speeds. There is also the Gigabit LAN for this purpose. You can also make use of the revamped 5-way Optimization that runs based on the thermal functions.
With the help of the FanXpert 4, you can expect incredible cooling powers from the chipset. Probably the cooling feature of this board was second to none. There is also the pre-mounted I/O shield providing you with a smooth installation, and it also represents the detail of the motherboard for all to see.
When you mention the ROG STRIX board, then you also have the lighting factor. The Aura Sync board comes with exceptional RGB lighting highlighting all the colors effortlessly. You can also synchronize their effects on the product.
You won’t be left disappointed with the lighting. There are also the audio features embedded into the board in Channel HD Audio and the S1220A codec. However, our tester felt that you might have to update the BIOS.
Otherwise, you may have problems getting the motherboard started up. A user, after few months, realized that the CPU had been overclocked to 4.9GHz. You may want to keep an eye on that because high overclocking can shorten the unit’s life.
It is priced less than $300, making it slightly on the pricey side of things. If you are a new gamer, then you might want to look elsewhere. But when you want a sublime option, then you will want to place an order for this motherboard today without fail.
PROS
- The product comes with a sublime ROG design.
- The unit is a feature-rich product.
- It has a top-notch overclocking.
- It comes with a stunning cooling system infused on it.
- The audio system present on it provides eloquent music.
CONS
- It can be an expensive option for new gamers.
Asus ROG STRIX Z390-F GAMING can be the best motherboards for Intel Core i9-9900K. It can also help you design great PCs for a wide range of tasks. You do not have to be an Asus fan to purchase the unit because the specifications speak for themself.
7. GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Ultra
The GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Ultra is another exceptional product from the makers of Gigabyte. With this unit, they have placed themselves among the best motherboards for Intel Core i9-9900K. The board can power ultimate performance with the help of aesthetics.
It comes with phenomenal 12+1 VRM phases. With the help of that, the board remains cool. Besides, the board works exceptionally well in the overclocking aspect of it. When the overclocking transfers the heat, the board provides sufficient heat dissipation.
The components are covered with 2 heatsinks. Each of them is extended to the MOSFETs. It is done with the heat pipe, and the storage comes with triple m.2 slots. The slot can retrieve the NVMe support.
We were happy to note that it also came with 3 PCIe sockets that can work at x16, x8, x4. The primary socket comes with the highest bandwidth. At the top of the unit, you can notice 4 DIMM slots that can run workably for 64GB of DDR-4 4133Mhz RAM.
For ensuring that the I/O works well, it comes with 6 thunderbolt SATA slots. You can also find that they come with 6Gb/s bandwidth. You can also find 4 USB 3.1 Gen 2 connectors, Wi-Fi antenna.
Sadly, it comes with a single display output. Gamers cannot connect using the secondary display. But that must not be a significant problem as users do not use the integrated graphics. When you are an extreme gamer, then you would take delight in the 5 intelligent fan headers.
The aesthetics appear extraordinary with the RGB that is spread all around. You can find them at the front as well as the rear. It is capable of providing you with exceptional delivery and fantastic voltage to manage heat.
Does it come with any flaw? Yes, sadly, there is only a single display port. Many users may not be appreciative of that. It is priced under $380.
PROS
- The product has an anesthetic design.
- The unit comes with a 12+1 VRM phase.
- It has triple M.2 slots.
- It comes with exceptional overclocking potential.
- The board has sufficient ports for performing strenuous tasks.
CONS
- It comes with only one display port.
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Ultra is a mid-range motherboard that comes with the capacity to meet your requirements. When you are in search of a powerful, reliable, and durable chipset, then you know what to do.
8. MSI MPG Z390 GAMING EDGE AC (MS-7B17)
MSI MPG Z390 GAMING EDGE AC (MS-7B17) is a dual-GPU-designed motherboard. These can be found in today’s motherboard market. They also come with a dual-M.2 PCIe x8 add-in cards. The cards can offer you with outstanding performance.
The developments have ensured that the gaming production is enhanced with the Micro ATX motherboards. Boards that are priced under $150 generally cannot generate sufficient power to hold this CPU at 4.70 GHz.
The unit comes with 4 SATA ports; getting rid of the other ports means you may not be able to have more storage features. Besides being cheaper than most of the ATX models, the unit also provides a Wi-Fi module with Ethernet.
The product comes with slots that have only two spaces apart. You might not be able to pair up cards with more than two slots thick. The 2 double-slot cards work fine when there is sufficient space for the air to enter the cards.
Gamers can place 2 cards of different thicknesses in the lower slot. The heatsinks found at the top of the VRM enable you to get rid of the excess heat. Besides, they also come with more surface area for effective thermal dissipation.
A notable feature of the motherboard is the ALC1220 audio processor and the audio capacitors. You can use quick system booting, intense application load time, and high data transfer for a new PC.
With the help of the light scheme available on the board, you can now set your tones using the MSI mystic light utility. You can get to choose from more than 16 million colors and close to 28 LED effects.
It sells for $160 and cannot be termed as expensive at all. Gamers, programmers, and video editors can find the board helpful for their cause. When you are looking for a performance board, then it has to be this product.
PROS
- The unit has exceptional overclocking capabilities.
- The product comes with stunning performance.
- It can support SLI, Crossfire, and additional x8 storage card.
- It has features that are enabled simultaneously.
- The model also comes with Intel 1.73Gb/s module.
CONS
- The voltage regulator becomes quite under-cooled for extreme usage.
MSI MPG Z390 GAMING EDGE AC (MS-7B17) voltage regulator cooling can work only with the Core i9-9900K. The slots are arranged such that they can work only for 2 double-slot cards. Gamers who are looking for similar configurations having limits might want to consider this.
9. MSI Z390-A PRO (MS-7B98)
MSI Z390-A PRO (MS-7B98) belongs to the Z390-A PRO. The main difference between this model and others is that it is not very ideal for gamers. It is a good unit and comes with several specifications ideal for users.
The motherboard’s aesthetics is quite simple, and the brown color PCB comes with a silver texture around it. The board that is found around the edges comes in silver and black heatsinks. However, the main USP of the would be the brand for value and the controller options.
This unit also comes with an Intel I219V Gigabit Ethernet controller. It does its job, and so does the exceptional Realtek ALC892 HD audio codec. The audio got from the chipset is quite unique and stunning in a way.
You can also find 2 PCIe 3.0 slots that are located on the slot. It runs at x16. You can also find the second slot working at x4. We were delighted to see the PCIe 3.0 x1 ports, coming 4 in total. The storage options present on the unit come with a single PCIe/SATA M.2 slot.
Besides, you can notice 6 SATA ports that can offer adequate support to the RAID 0. 1. 5 and 10 arrays. The board comes packed with 4 RAM slots providing a maximum capacity of 64GB. In the rear, you can find a USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-A and Type-C port.
This is probably the only unit that includes a D-Sub video output. It replaces the HDMI and comes included along with a DisplayPort. All in all, this is a good board that is capable of performing what it is supposed to do.
It is priced less than $138 that makes it relatively cheap.
PROS
- The model comes with the stunning build quality.
- The product has an exceptional BIOS that is customizable with a great UI.
- It has plenty of overclocking features useful for users.
- It comes with a decent software suite and live updates.
- The unit is priced relatively cheap.
CONS
- The performance of the board can be termed as average.
MSI Z390-A PRO (MS-7B98) cannot be called as a gamer’s paradise. Then why consider it? First, when you search for a cheap motherboard, want decent performance, and a reliable operation, you might want to choose this model.
10. Gigabyte Z390 AORUS PRO
The Gigabyte Z390 AORUS PRO is the final product. This unit from Gigabyte could be one of the best motherboards for Intel Core i9-9900K. It is safe to say that the AORUS PRO is the cheapest board on our list.
All the fantastic specifications for offering you strenuous performance and intense modern games are provided. You will be delighted to know that the model comes with the 13-Phase VRMs.
There is also power delivery for extreme overclocking sessions without issues. Having a higher frequency of VRMs distributes the load for handling the board. Though the VRMs are quite efficient, the overclocking is average, according to our tester.
Additionally, the unit can see more temperature. If there is thermal dissipation, the board comes with heatsinks offered to MOSFETs through the heat pipe. A notable feature of the board is the memory capacity.
You can find that it supports 128GB. Not to mention, it also comes with quad DIMM slots. Overclocking here can reach 4266 MHz. This is sufficient for designing a gaming PC. When you want to store data, then the unit makes use of dual m.2 slots.
These slots also have dedicated thermal heatsinks. Unfortunately, it does not come with a third M.2 slot. This is used for the wireless card. You can also find 6 four-pin fan headers that are spread on the motherboard.
Gamers can also make use of the 6 PWM four-pin fan headers. It comes with 4 lighting strip headers and a dozen ports in the rear for ensuring that you are left behind in portability. The RGB light having a matte black finish is truly a design worth appreciating.
Is it a perfect motherboard? Well, we found that BIOS was not that friendly compared to the ones used on Asus. The maker has to work on it or do something about it. Unless you are an expert in these things, it can go smoothly; otherwise, you are in for some frustration.
It is priced less than $250 that is affordable for the features embedded with it.
PROS
- The model has a sublime design and look.
- It comes with 13 VRM phases.
- It has a dedicated M.2 heatsink.
- The overclocking feature found in it is powerful.
- The product comes with built-in Wi-Fi.
CONS
- The BIOS update can be cumbersome.
Gigabyte Z390 AORUS PRO is a cheap motherboard capable of handling the Intel Core i9-9900K processor. The unit comes with features that can power your new gaming PC with average performance. But when you look at the price, then this is more than a bargain.
Summing up
We have ended our review on the best motherboards for Intel Core i9-9900K. We can assure you that we have provided you with the best products sold today in the market. Compiling the list was not easy because of the intense competition.
We have also ensured that all the models mentioned in the review are affordable. That is why we refrained from naming motherboards priced above $500. It is not advisable to get them either because you can use that saved money for purchasing other components for your PC.
Although, if you are still confused while making the right buying decision, consider getting the ideal recommendations for the best motherboards for i9 9900K Gigabyte Z390 AORUS MASTER, Asus PRIME Z390-A, and Asus ROG STRIX Z390-E GAMING.
They are way about the rest of the motherboards in terms of specifications. Each of them comes with remarkable features and powers. Of course, they are priced slightly above the other motherboards that we have read in the above review.
If you haven’t yet found your true calling, then we suggest that you read through the review again carefully. We have provided you with the best motherboards for Intel Core i9-9900K.
James Smith has always been intrigued by electronic products since his childhood. After his post graduation in electronics from a popular university, he decided to pursue a career in the electronics sector. But his calling for writing about these marvellous pieces of work got the better of him. That is how UBG was started. With a writing career spanning more than 12 years, James has worked on several hundred product reviews. During his free time, he like to spend time with his pet dog and relax in the swimming pool.