The i9 9900K is the leading processor for gaming and threaded applications at present. It took the market the moment it was defeating all its competitors. To enjoy this processor to its maximum capabilities, you need the right housing components such as required airflow, power delivery, and cooling. Now, who’d want to purchase this super expensive processor only to bottleneck it by not getting as powerful motherboard? So in this guide, I’ll take you through the best motherboards for i9 9900k so that you can get the best out of your processor.
Before getting into the details of each motherboard, let me tell you that the chipset Z390 is the best overall with improved performance and efficiency. Hence, all the below mentioned motherboard feature a Z390 chipset. If you have a motherboard with chipset Z370, then you can go with Coffee Lake S CPUs.
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Best Z390 Motherboard for i9 9900k
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1. Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Xtreme
Gigabyte Z390 AORUS Xtreme (Intel LGA1151/Z390/E-ATX/3xM.2 Thermal Guard/Onboard AC Wi-Fi/ESS Sabre DAC/Gaming Motherboards)
Gigabyte offers the best motherboard for gaming and overclocking your i9 900k. Its Aorus Xtreme delivers 250W power to facilitate the 9900K easily. It supports 128GB RAM along with the Optane memory. Such a RAM quantity prevents texture pop-ins even in case of low-ranged GPU. Moreover, you can install dual graphic cards using the four PCIe connectors for an outstanding rig’s functionality.
It features 10 Gb LAN, triple M.2 ports with individual thermal guards. With Smart Fan 5, Aorus houses temperature sensors and hybrid fan headers. Furthermore, the durable plastic, covering the north-south bridges, M.2 ports, and IO shield, is capable of enduring very high temperatures. So despite proper heat disposal, if the internal operating temperature increases, it won’t affect these parts.
Before revealing its price, I’d like you to know that there are other more expensive units, too, like the Maximus Extreme or Godlike that cost around $600 or more. However, the Aorus is available in less than $550. This price tag might be difficult to afford after the expensive 9900k, but it’s worth every penny.
The board itself is super attractive with the RGB lighting, though for people who want to add more lights, there are multiple connectors given for that.
- Large VRM for better power conversion
- Dual type C port with thunderbolt 3
- Super Quick Wi-Fi
- An efficient RGB fan system
- OC touch panel for additional fan headers
- Lacks mounting hardware for OC panel
2. ASRock Motherboard Phantom Gaming 9
ASRock Motherboard (Z390 Phantom Gaming 9)
ASRock’s Phantom Gaming 9 is another game-changer in the industry. It has left behind all its predecessors and a lot of competitors too. It supports up to 64 Gb RAM and has three 2.5 Gbps LAN slots instead of the traditional 1 Gbps LAN.
The Phantom 9 features four PCIe ports, three of which are designed for 2-way SLI while the third is for long graphic cards. Mentioning of graphic card, this motherboard can also support 3-Way CrossFireX, CrossFireX, AMD Quad CrossFireX as well as SLI technology.
Moreover, it sports 3 M.2 slots, but since they do not support SATA, there are eight separate SATA3 slots under the heatsink. The cooling system can maintain VRM temperature to up to 67 degrees. There are several fan headers and added LED connectors too.
Based on its features and performance, a higher price assumption is quite plausible, though it’s not true. You can get this super amazing motherboard for under $150. So you can enjoy the next level performance without emptying your bank account.
- 5 Gbps LAN
- Affordable
- Compatible with several graphic cards
- Additional SATA3 slots
- Consumes more power during overclocking
3. MSI MEG Godlike Gaming Motherboard
MSI MEG Z390 GODLIKE LGA1151 (Intel 8th and 9th Gen) M.2 USB 3.1 Gen 2 DDR4 Wi-Fi SLI CFX Extended ATX Z390 Gaming Motherboard
$761.03
1 used from $499.99
As mentioned before, Godlike is an expensive motherboard, but there isn’t much of a price difference between this model and Aorus Xtreme. Many people label it the best motherboard for i9-9900k and there is nothing wrong with that; it is without a doubt among the best gaming motherboard in the category.
It has four memory slots that together support up to 128 GB of DDR4. Furthermore, you get three M.2 slots with individual heatsinks, six SATA ports, and a U.2 port. The most prominent feature, making this piece stand out, is the thermal pads. There are innovative thermal pads on both sides of the motherboard for excessive heat dissipation and management. Also, it has turbo SSD, offering transfer speeds higher than any other.
Other than these, you’ll also get a postcode and an MSI dashboard with a tiny screen to monitor and diagnose problems. The MSI runs dual SLI and a Quad-GPU CrossFire. The dashboard can also be used to update the BIOS and to display each component’s specifications. You can customize it according to your preference and taste. Mentioning of BIOS, there is a BIOS switch that allows you to have dual-BIOS so that if you have any trouble with the one, you can use the other to repair it or unbreak it.
- Supports up to 128 GB of DDR4
- Dual thermal pads
- Postcode and MSI dashboard
- BIOS switch offering dual BIOS
- Fastest overclocking capability
- 16 phase VRM
- Expensive
- Does not have PLX chips
4. Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro
Gigabyte Z390 AORUS PRO (Intel LGA1151/Z390/ATX/2xM.2 Thermal Guard/Realtek ALC1220/RGB Fusion/Gaming Motherboard)
$169.99
If you are on a limited budget, that does not mean you cannot enjoy an efficient motherboard. With the Gigabyte Aorus Pro, you can enjoy a superior motherboard’s cool features for a very reasonable price. This motherboard is another eye-catching piece by Gigabyte with a black and orange theme and RGB lighting.
It supports 2×16 Gb of DDR4 and has a power phase of about 12+1 that enables you to get the best out of your i9-9900k. This is a significant improvement over the Z370 series. Moving on, there are three PCIe slots on the top for a full GPU support so that you can enjoy superior quality sound effects. With the built-in audio technology, you can also use the processor’s native audio.
Moreover, the unit features two M.2 slots, both of which are SATA compatible and have their individual thermal guards for heat removal. However, there are four other SATA slots as well. At the back of the motherboard, you’ll find a number of connections, including one HDMI port, 5 USB Type-A ports, and one USB Type-C port.
With the VRM cooling system, you can conveniently run your i9-9900K at 5GHz. The Smart Fan 5 keeps your PC cool and running without heat buildup for even a second. It also lets you switch between fan headers to activate different temperature sensors at specific spots.
- Attractive RGB LED
- Powerful VRM system
- Most Affordable
- Several USB connectors
- Limited storage
What to Look for When Buying a Motherboard for I9-9900k?
As I have mentioned earlier, the most preferred chipset for i9 9900k is the Z390. The other chipset floating in the market is the Z370, but it is incapable of unleashing the mind-boggling offerings of the current master of all the processors. Therefore, the best chipset for i9-9900k is Z390. Other than the chipset, here are a few factors that you must consider when buying a motherboard for i9 9900k.
Overclocking
Overclocking is to exceed the system’s given clocking rate. It is based on several factors, and to achieve the maximum; you’ll have to consider all of them. These factors include the VRM, heatsinks, and BIOS. The VRM system converts the regular voltage into the power input suitable for the system. A 12+2 power phase VRM system is preferred for extraordinary results.
Overclocking of a device results in over-heating. Therefore, having the required amount of heatsinks to manage the temperature and keep it cool is crucial. Other features include BIOS, built-in fans, boosting software, etc. These features are important to ensure a safe and practical overclocking.
Expandability
To enjoy the i9-9900k to its maximum, you need adequate connectivity ports. These ports include PCIe ports, DIMMs, M.2 ports, USB ports, and Ethernet. For exceptional gaming performance, you can insert several gaming cards through the PCIe ports; for extended storage, you can use the M.2 ports, and for increasing memory, you’ll need DIMMS.
Price Range
Do not assume the price of a motherboard based on its features and appearance. You can easily get some affordable units without much comprising of the features. You may not find the most affordable one with all the required features right away, but give it some research before giving up.
Conclusion
Core i9-9900k is the most powerful processor of the time, requires an equally powerful motherboard to unleash its maximum capabilities. Therefore, I have reviewed some of the best motherboards that nearly tick all your boxes. These motherboards are among the best motherboard for 2019, and they continue to be so. They vary in prices ranging from the most affordable to the most expensive ones, though all of them are well-equipped with all the required features to give you the perfect gaming experience.
