Intel’s Core i9-9900K CPU is one of the most powerful processors you can buy. The first-ever Intel i9 chip, equipped with eight cores and 16 threads that can boost up to 5.0GHz clock speed.
Gaming on this incredible processor will be mind-blowing, but you need an equally capable motherboard to get the most out of it. And in this review, we will show you the Best Motherboards for i9-9900k builds.
Z370 compatible…
Unlike the Intel Coffee Lake processors, you don’t need to spend extra money buying a new motherboard for your new gaming pc builds. Intel’s Core i9-9900K has a bonus for those who want to upgrade their existing build, as the i9-9900K is compatible with old Z370 motherboards.
Furthermore, when it comes to i9-9900K motherboard compatibility, Z390 motherboards are recommended. This is because they provide many features like 2nd Gen USB 3.1 support and integrated 802.11ac WiFi 5 cards.
In this review, we’ve featured motherboards based on different price points and categories, as well as form factors to make your life easier with every build. So, let’s dig into our motherboard recommendations for i9-9900k processors and find the perfect one for you…
Contents
- 1 Top 5 Best Motherboards For i9-9900K In 2023 Review
- 1.1 1 ASRock Z390 Taichi Ultimate – Best Overall Motherboard For i9-9900k
- 1.2 2 ASRock Z390 Phantom – Best Mini-ITX Motherboard for i9-9900K
- 1.3 3 Gigabyte Z390 AORUS Pro WiFi – Best WiFi Motherboard For i9-9900k
- 1.4 4 ASUS ROG Maximus XI – Best Micro-ATX Motherboard for i9-9900K
- 1.5 5 MSI Meg Z390 – Best Motherboard for i9-9900k Video Editing
- 2 Best Motherboards for i9-9900K Buyer’s Guide
- 3 Looking For Something Else?
- 4 What Are The Best Motherboards For i9-9900K?
Top 5 Best Motherboards For i9-9900K In 2023 Review
1 ASRock Z390 Taichi Ultimate – Best Overall Motherboard For i9-9900k
- Form factor: ATX
- Chipset: Intel Z390
- CPU Socket: LGA 1151
- Memory: 4 x DDR4 (64GB)
- VRM: 12 Phases
- Display Ports: HDMI, Display Port
- Slots: 5 x PCIe 3.0 and 3 x M.2
For those who need a ten Gigabit Ethernet connection, options are quite limited. Often you have to buy a card and then find a place to install it. The ASRock Z390 Taichi Ultimate features an Aquantia controller and is more cost-effective than the combination of the Z390 Taichi and a separate Aquantia card.
10GbE as well as dual-Gigabit networking…
If you opt for the Z390 Taichi Ultimate motherboard, you won’t lose the dual-Gigabit networking found on the Z390 Taichi. You also get a 10GbE, and the WiFi controller has been upgraded to 1.73Gbps. The Aquantia’s 10 GbE port is colored red, making it easy to identify.
Another update is the chrome-colored power and resets buttons instead of the older Z390 Taichi board’s circular black spots. The Z390 Taichi Ultimate uses the same PCIe/USB interface as the predecessor, and the WiFi module looks almost the same even though it’s been upgraded.
Converting CPU pathways…
ASRock uses a different layout than most competitors’ solutions by converting the CPU pathways from x16/x0/x0 to x8/x4/x4 and x8/x8/x0 when the 2nd and 3rd slots are occupied with cards. This benefits the users that utilize the PCIe x4 storage solutions, as it doesn’t for them to use a slot that shares bandwidth across the PCH.
The bottom edge hosts the front panel audio, D-LED, fan, USB 2.0, and Thunderbolt upgrade.
Our verdict…
The ASRock Z390 Taichi Ultimate is an excellent choice if you pair it with the Core i9-9900K CPU since the board provides good overclocking and network capabilities. It supports DDR4 4200+(OC) and has three PCIe 3.0 x16 and two PCIe 3.0.
It would be fair to say it’s the best feature-rich motherboard for i9-9900K that you can buy.
(4.1 / 5)Pros
- Features 1.73Gbps WiFi.
- Offers 10GbE as well as dual-Gigabit Ethernet.
- Excellent value for the provided features.
Cons
- Adequate VRM cooling.
2 ASRock Z390 Phantom – Best Mini-ITX Motherboard for i9-9900K
- Form factor: Mini-ITX
- Chipset: Intel Z390
- CPU Socket: LGA 1151
- Memory: 2 x DDR4 (32GB)
- VRM: 7 Phases
- Display Ports: HDMI, DisplayPort
- Slots: 1 x PCIe 3.0 and 1 x M.2 Key E
The Z390 Phantom Gaming-ITX/AC has a mini-ITX form factor, but what’s most astonishing is that a mini-ITX board finally stepped into the high-end market. The mini-ITX boards were initially developed to accomplish more straightforward tasks like surfing the internet and day to day routine work. Nowadays, smaller computers perform these tasks, and you can slap a high-end SSD on a mini-ITX board without any problems.
ASRock is the first company that managed to provide sufficient power and keep the i9-9900K cool in such a small form factor, and yes, you guessed it, it’s the Z390 Phantom Gaming-ITX/AC motherboard.
Premium features…
The board is filled with features but doesn’t come with a hefty price tag. The design is simple; heatsinks and the PCB are all blacks, which provides a nice look and matches well with other system components. It also has an RGB strip on the underside of the board.
The oversized voltage regulator heatsink is designed to support overclocking. The half-speed Thunderbolt 3 controller and two M.2 slots are some of the other premium features.
Without the premium price…
With all these features, you would expect the Z390 Phantom Gaming-ITX/AC to be expensive, but ASRock managed to keep down the costs, and the board offers tremendous value for money.
It also features Intel’s new CNVI PHY with the integrated controller of the Z390 chipset, which boosts the WiFi to 1.73Gbps.
Outstanding connectivity and outputs for a mini-ITX…
The back panel has two USB 3.1 Gen1 ports, a PS2 port, HDMI 2.0, and a DisplayPort for integrated graphics.
A Type-C connector lies between the four USB 3.1 Gen2 ports, which also supports graphics output and data output. You also get a Gigabit Ethernet port, five analog audio jacks from Realtek’s high-end ALC1220 codec, and an optical digital audio output.
Our verdict…
The ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming-ITX/AC pairs up well with the i9-9900K, thanks to the oversized voltage regulator heatsink. It supports some serious overclocking, and best of all, it comes in a small form factor.
Easily one of the Best Motherboards for i9-9900K on the market. And certainly a contender for the best budget motherboard for i9-9900K processors.
(4.5 / 5)Pros
- Affordable.
- Significantly improved efficiency of the Core i9-9900K.
- Supports extreme overclocking.
- Outstanding performance.
- It offers 1.73Gb/s WiFi and Thunderbolt 3 at a reasonable price.
Cons
- Half-speed (20Gbps) Thunderbolt 3.
- Doesn’t have a USB 3.1 Gen2 header for the front panel.
- DIMM overvoltage.
3 Gigabyte Z390 AORUS Pro WiFi – Best WiFi Motherboard For i9-9900k
- Form factor: ATX
- Chipset: Intel Z390
- CPU Socket: LGA 1151
- Memory: 4 x DDR4 (64GB)
- VRM: 12+1 Phases
- Display Ports: HDMI
- Slots: 5 x PCIe 3.0 and 2 x M.2
The Z390 AORUS Pro WiFi motherboard offers good performance and a nice set of features at a reasonable price. It has four DDR4 DIMM slots, two M.2 slots, and six SATA 3.0 ports. Each M.2 slot is equipped with an Aorus M.2 shield for cooling.
Brighten up your day…
The Z390 AORUS Pro WiFi uses Intel’s CNVi 2×2 802.11ac wireless for speeds up to 1.73Gbps. The RGB lighting is something else; clearly, Gigabyte is taking a different path here. Apart from the fantastic aesthetics, you also get eight 4-pin hybrid fan headers.
The difference between the two M.2 slots is the size that they support. The one closest to the CPU socket supports 110mm while the other supports 80mm. Both slots support both SATA M.2 and PCIe SSDs, and both slots are also covered with heatsinks.
Excellent outputs and USB connectivity…
The AORUS Pro WiFi also features the Realtek 1220 codec for excellent audio output. Gigabyte didn’t reduce the number of audio outputs and gave you six ports, including the optical.
The back I/O panel has nine Type-A USB ports, including two USB 3.1, three USB 3.0, and a USB 3.1 Type-C. The remaining four are USB 2.0.
Our verdict…
The AORUS Pro WiFi pairs nicely with the i9-9900K due to the excellent overclocking capabilities. The Gigabyte Z390 AORUS Pro WiFi also offers a fair amount of premium features, including 1.73Gbps WiFi. It could be the best ATX motherboard for i9-9900K processors on the market.
(4.6 / 5)Pros
- Good value for performance.
- Heat sinks for M.2 slots.
- Intel’s CNVi WiFi.
Cons
- Can seem expensive for some.
4 ASUS ROG Maximus XI – Best Micro-ATX Motherboard for i9-9900K
- Form factor: Micro-ATX
- Chipset: Intel Z390
- CPU Socket: LGA 1151
- Memory: 2 x DDR4 (32GB)
- VRM: 12 Phases
- Display Ports: HDMI 1.4b
- Slots: 1 x PCIe 3.0 and 2 x M.2
To accommodate consumers who wanted a compact mATX board, ASUS went all out on their ROG Maximus XI Gene. This motherboard didn’t sacrifice features, but since it’s an mATX, there isn’t as much space as we would have liked. It’s equipped with two DIMM slots to fit an extra pair of NVMe SSDs.
The Maximus XI Gene has a single PCIe x16, which is now more acceptable than it was in the past. But instead, it increases the storage support, and you can install up to five NVMe SSDs.
Two M.2 slots connected to the PCH are hidden under an aluminum heat spreader between the DDR4 slots and the DIMM.2 riser interface. The front edge of the board has a USB 3.0 and a USB 3.1 Gen2 header. A little towards the left, you will find one of the two RGB headers.
Special ASIC to flash the firmware…
The Maximus XI Gene also has a special ASIC allowing the firmware to be flashed by only using a power supply and a USB drive. This is very helpful for users that bought the motherboard before the relatively new i9-9900K was launched.
The rear I/O panel hosts two USB 2.0, three USB 3.0, the HDMI port, the Gigabit Ethernet port, and a USB Type-C port.
The motherboard also has a WiFi antenna for Intel’s 1.73Gbps module, but it lacks the WiFi module. However, it offers a digital optical output along with five audio jacks.
Our verdict…
The ASUS ROG Maximus XI Gene fits nicely with the i9-9900K. It includes a great set of features and has excellent overclocking abilities as well. With extra storage and compact size, it’s a great option if you are opting for a smaller form factor.
Additionally, it is probably the best gaming motherboard in our review.
(4.8 / 5)Pros
- Dual M.2 connected to the CPU.
- Graphics cooler clearance.
- Double-Capacity DRAM.
Cons
- Doesn’t have a WiFi module.
- Only two memory slots.
- Doesn’t support dual graphics cards.
5 MSI Meg Z390 – Best Motherboard for i9-9900k Video Editing
- Form factor: E-ATX
- Chipset: Intel Z390
- CPU Socket: LGA 1151
- Memory: 4 x DDR4 (128GB)
- VRM: 18 Phases
- Display Ports: N/A
- Slots: 5 x PCIe 3.0 and 3 x M.2
The MSI Meg Z390 GODLIKE is not only a high-end Z390 motherboard, but it’s also one of the most expensive motherboards available. It has four memory slots supporting DDR4 RAM up to 128GB. It also offers three M.2 slots, all of which have their heatsinks and a total of six SATA ports, and a single U.2.
Plenty of slots…
With four PCIe x16 slots, it supports multiple GPUs, and you can have two of the slots running at x speed. The Meg Z390 GODLIKE also supports both Nvidia SLI and AMD crossfire with Quad GPUS. There is also added a PCIe x1 slot to increase the number of available slots.
The audio uses the Realtek ALC1220 chipset with 8-channel 32-bit DAC, which is better than the 2-channel codec used on the Aorus.
Dedicated M.2 bandwidth and a U.2 connector…
The Meg Z390 GODLIKE has dedicated M.2 bandwidth, and the U.2 connector adds more versatility to the storage options. It offers enthusiasts many features, which also helps with overclocking and a bit of tweaking here and there.
Furthermore, it has two eight-pin connectors for the CPU, which deliver a tremendous amount of power to the high-end processor. It also has built-in WiFi and RGB lights.
This is an E-ATX board, and you need a full tower case. Otherwise, you might have some compatibility issues.
Our verdict…
There is no doubt that the Meg Z390 GODLIKE has a fantastic set of features, but it’s still expensive. The storage performance couldn’t be much better. Also, most motherboards come with a 10Gbps Ethernet port for this price, which this board lacks.
Although the high is cost, it’s a perfect fit for the i9-9900K. And there is no doubt that it’s the best premium motherboard for i9-9900K on the market.
(4.4 / 5)Pros
- Solid performance.
- Great storage features.
Cons
- Doesn’t overly impress for gaming.
- Just so expensive.
- Lacks 10Gbps Ethernet port.
Best Motherboards for i9-9900K Buyer’s Guide
If you’re still thinking about which motherboard to choose for the i9-9900K, we don’t blame you. It’s not easy, but we’ll help you with that too. This guide teaches you about the most important factors to think about before making your final choice.
Chipset And Socket
Today there are only two chipsets available in most motherboards that work with the i9-9900K – the Z370 and the Z390. Sure enough, the Z390 is the more powerful and reliable of the two. That’s why we only chose motherboards with the Z930 chipset.
It will make your PC and processor perform better. Don’t forget about the socket, though. You need an LGA1151 socket on the motherboard to install the i9-9900K properly. Even though the odds are pretty slim, you’ll find a motherboard with a different socket nowadays. But still, be aware.
Overclocking Capacity
Overclocking capacities depend on several different factors. First, it will be the board’s VRM. This refers to the way it transforms voltage into something the processor and the graphics card can handle. The best VRM systems are the ones with 12+1 or 12+2 phases.
The second thing to consider is the amount and quality of the heatsinks. Extra sinks that keep your RAM, CPU, M.2 SSDs, and the VRMs cold are necessary. They prevent every overclock from overheating and burning your components.
Other overclocking features like automatic fans, easy-to-use BIOS systems, and boosting software included with the motherboard are well worth considering. The more comfortable and more practical the overclocking is, the better your experience with the i9-9900K will be.
Expandability And Ports
If you want the best motherboard for intel’s i9-9900K, you need a board with enough ports. You have to consider PCIe ports, DIMM slots, and M.2 ports for storage. For example, if you want to build a super-gaming PC with several GPUs, you’ll need several PCIe ports.
Likewise, if you want a minimum of 32GB RAM, you should go for 4 DIMM slots or choose a board that can support 32GB per slot. And last but not least, choose a board with at least two M.2 slots for SSDs.
Other useful ports are USB 3.0 and Ethernet ports. Extra USB ports and HDMI/Display ports never hurt anyone.
Connectivity
For the best experience, always opt for a motherboard with stable Ethernet and fast WiFi adapters. You could also consider Bluetooth as an extra option. If you can connect to the internet via NFC or other wireless connections apart from WiFi, it is also an excellent addition to consider.
Size And Form Factor
The best motherboard for the i9-900K is large and spacious enough to handle several PCIe ports.
Additionally, while they can be hard to fit inside small cases, you could consider a mini-ITX or a micro-ATX. They feature a slightly smaller motherboard design that fits in smaller cases. They save tons of space but don’t have as many slots and ports.
Audio And RGB
Nothing compares to a well-sounding PC that doesn’t need a dedicated sound card. If you can enjoy high-quality directly from the motherboard, the better it is. You want to be able to connect a 7.1 home theater without losing any quality.
Another bonus to consider is the RGB system. With enough lights and good-looking strips, you can make even the dullest case look more enticing. And you’ll have an excellent replacement for holiday lights, too.
Looking For Something Else?
Then take a look at our in-depth Best Micro ATX Motherboards Review, our Best LGA 1155 Motherboard Reviews, our Best B450 Motherboards for AMD Ryzen Review, our Best CPU For Gaming Reviews, and our Best Motherboard CPU Combos Review for a selection of what’s available in 2023.
For any gamers, check out our Best RTX 2080 Ti Graphics Card Review, our Best GTX 1080 Ti Graphics Card Review, our Best External Graphics Card Review, our Best Silent Mouse for Gaming Review, and our Best RAID Controllers Review to find out what’s currently on the market.
What Are The Best Motherboards For i9-9900K?
Are you eager to get started on your new PC build with a powerful processor? Then use our recommendations and buyers’ guide to get the perfect model for your needs. There’s one for every purpose and demand. So choose wisely and take your PC to a whole new level.
For us, the best motherboard for i9-9900K is the…
ASRock Z390 Taichi UltimateIt has high-speed WiFi, dual-Gigabit Ethernet ports, five PCIe slots, and supports up to 64 GB of RAM. To top it all off, it’s very affordable. We promise you won’t regret it!
And don’t forget, if you can dream it, you can build it.
