The race of cores and threads in processors is still on, and it seems to be a never-ending one. Witnessing the release of core i3 up to i7 was something that nobody had ever seen before. However, Intel doesn’t stop there. The i9-9900K has a standard of its own, and if you’re concerned about performance, it surely is a big step up.
Buying a new processor isn’t that hard even if you’re a newbie; however, the real challenge comes when you have to find an equally compatible motherboard for it. A lot of newbies make this decision in a rush, which turns into regret when they realize that they can’t update their dream machine in the future the way they want it to be.
The processor is undoubtedly the essential part of the PC, and it’s probably one of the more costing ones as well. However, the motherboard is the backbone, even if it comes at a low price. There are a lot of options in motherboards; some support the AMD chipsets, while some support the Intel ones. But the question is – What are you required to look for in general to avoid messing up your machine?
Well, for starters, you need to look for a board that is compatible with your processor. Compatibility, in general means, that you have to find a motherboard that will support your processor. The latest Intel processors plug into the LGA 1151 socket only, so you can’t buy a board that has the AM4 socket that AMD processors support. You need to keep a lot more factors in mind, especially if you’re purchasing the Intel i9-9900K, which comes at a hefty price.
- 1. Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Xtreme
- 2. ASRock Z390 Taichi Ultimate
- 3. Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro
- 4. ASUS ROG Maximus XI Gene Z390
- 5. ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming ITX
- 6. Gigabyte Z390 AORUS MASTER
- 7. ASUS ROG Maximus XI Hero
- 8. MSI MEG Z390 ACE LGA1151
- 9. MSI MEG GODLIKE Z390
- 10. ASUS ROG Strix Z390-I Gaming
- 11. ASRock Phantom Gaming 9
- 12. ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI FORMULA Z390
- Final Thoughts!
1. Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Xtreme
The first board in our list is an absolute beast and comes with a price tag that isn’t suitable for average buyers as well. The form factor on this one is ATX so that you can fit it in any tower case. It comes with the latest LGA 1151 socket; however, it’s most suitable with the 9th Gen Intel processors rather than the 8th Gen. You get a total of four DIMM slots that can take up to 128GB of Ram sticks with no issues.
Furthermore, this board is packed with RGB illuminations all over it, and even the I/O can be illuminated with your favorite colors. The board is stuffed with all kinds of slots, and to handle all that heat, ten temperature sensors are sitting inside. You get three latest Gen M2 slots for blazing-fast NVMe SSDs, which are surrounded by perfectly placed heatsinks.
The audio unit of this board is powered by Realtek and is absolutely bonkers in quality. On top of all that, you get an additional fan commander out of the box, which is capable of handling even more fan headers and RGB units. You also have the turbocharging facility at the back of the board, so you never have to worry about charging your phone separately. Last but not least, you get all the latest versions of USB and ethernet ports at the back of the board for ultimate speeds.
2. ASRock Z390 Taichi Ultimate
Another flagship in our list is the ASRock Z390 Taichi Ultimate that can handle the i9 9900K in a buttery smooth way. The form factor on this one is ATX as well, so you can easily buy a transparent tower case for your machine. This board will seamlessly support the 9th generation Intel processors on its LGA 1151 socket. To make things even better, the board is offering 12-phase power management capacitors to unlock ultimate overclocking capabilities from your i9.
Furthermore, this beast can easily handle four 32GB sticks of Ram in the DIMM slots, which can be clocked at 4200mhz max. You get three ultra M2 slots that can handle the latest NVMe SSDs without any hassle. The M2 slots are covered with one heatsink solution that will boost the storage speeds to the max. There’s a large Aluminum heatsink available on the board as well for better performance.
The RGB lighting on the board is fully customizable with your favorite colors with the help of software. On top of that, you get the premium sound system on the board, which is powered by Realtek. The I/O section at the back is stuffed with the latest ports as well. For Graphics Card enthusiasts, you get three 16 speed PCIe 3.0 ports on the board that can handle your favorite Graphics Card without fretting too much, and there are eight SATA 3 slots as well for all kinds of storage options.
3. Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro
There has to be something that provides value for money, and the Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro does precisely that. It is affordable but has a lot to offer at the same time. The Intel i9 9900K isn’t a cheap buy; however, if you combine it with something like Aorus Pro, you can make the perfect package out of it. If you have a look at specs, the Aorus Pro features a 12-phase VRM solution, which is enough to get your machine pumping high performance even upon overclocking.
You get two M2 slots, which are covered with thermal guards to ensure that your storage sticks keep pushing data at higher rates without heating up. The board is equipped with heatsinks with Heatpipe to avoid any damage to the processor even if you rev it on higher speeds. On top of that, there are multiple heat sensors on the board as well to keep the device going. For Ram lovers, the board is capable of handling 128GB of Ram at a max clock speed of 4400mhz.
The sound system you’re getting on the board is powered by Realtek and will adequately suffice your audio needs. You also get plenty of USB ports, both on the back of the board and internal as well. Overall, this board offers a lot for its price, and the aesthetics are appealing as well. The features and price point make this an excellent choice for newbie gamers, and even for pros.
4. ASUS ROG Maximus XI Gene Z390
The Asus ROG Maximus XI Gene Z390 is a perfect choice for those wanting a more compact board size without having to compromise on features as well. The XI Gene comes in the micro ATX form factor, and you can easily fit this one in any suitable case. Despite the smaller size, it costs a heck more than a lot of other boards in our list. If we analyze the specs, you get a dedicated water cooling system on the board, and there are plenty of fan headers to keep the system running as well.
Surprisingly, for some reason, Asus has only included two DIMM slots on this board. You can’t go all out in Ram selection. However, the 64GB mark can be achieved by installing two units of 32GB each that can be overclocked at 4400mhz max. There are two M2 slots for high-performance SSDs, and because of the compact size, you get only four SATA 6GBps ports. Heatsinks cover the M2 ports for ultimate storage speeds.
Just like other premium boards, this one is stuffed with all kinds of USB ports as well, which include the latest ones as well. If you like starring at RGB lights changing their colors, this board won’t disappoint you as it comes with addressable RGB headers. This motherboard surely has a lot to offer, however, with a price point like this, you can opt to go for other choices too.
5. ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming ITX
This is the first ITX sized board in our least, and it’s packed with all the goodness you can imagine. The advantage of the ITX form factor is that you can easily find a small case for it and place it anywhere you want with ease. For the techy persons, this board is capable of handling two Ram sticks in the dual DIMM slots. You can opt to go for the 32GB version and push it to a max of 64GB with a clock speed 4500mhz each.
Despite the small size, this board doesn’t come at a low price. Moreover, there’s one PCIe 3.0 × 16 slot available on the board for ultimate Graphics Card performance. However, you don’t get the SLI support for future upgrades, and this can be a put off for a lot of gamers out there who require frequent updates with modern games rolling every now and then.
If you further explore the features, you will find a built-in Wi-Fi card system by Intel pre-installed on the board. You also get four SATA3 ports on the board, which may seem less but are fair numbered if you consider the size factor of the board. When it comes to the I/O section at the back of the board, there’s no shortage of latest USB ports, and you can handle three monitors at a time as well.
6. Gigabyte Z390 AORUS MASTER
There are many motherboards in this list, but the Gigabyte Z390 AORUS MASTER has to be one of the Best Motherboards for i9-9900K. What makes this board special is the price point and tons of features. You get the standard ATX form factor in this board, and the aesthetics are off the hook as well. The first thing you’re going to notice is the 12-phase digital VRM, which is capable of overclocking the i9 9900K without any worries.
The board is packed with a trio of Ultrafast NVMe M2 slots, which also have three heatsinks to keep them thermally stable. Most boards at this price range only offer two M2 slots; however, with this one, you’re going to experience everything premium. To make things even better, Gigabyte has also added a Wi-Fi chip on the board, which is powered by Intel and is capable of providing blistering fast speeds.
If you analyze the memory section of the board, you get SLI support for the dual Graphics Card solution. On top of that, you get four DIMM slots to install your Ram sticks. You can stuff four 32GB Ram sticks on the slots that can be overclocked at 4400mhz max. For the lighting lovers, there are multiple RGB headers available on the board, so you don’t have to worry about getting bored out of looking at the same colors. Apart from all that, there are plenty of high-end USB slots available at the back of the board, and the audio system is fully packed too.
7. ASUS ROG Maximus XI Hero
If the motherboard is intelligently designed, it can overclock your CPU to the limits and can intake future updates as well. The ASUS ROG Maximus XI Hero is one of the brilliantly designed boards on our list. It is built to push your 9900K to its limit because the specialty on this one is overclocking. For optimal thermal solution, you get a dedicated water cooling system on the board that will prevent any damage to the board or the parts.
There’s the latest technology used on this board that provides synchronized RGB lighting. You get both addressable and standard RGB headers on the board to illuminate it; however, you like it. The techy part of the board makes it even more exciting. You get two M2 slots for better storage, and the SLI support makes it worth investing in. You can push the performance of your machine by installing 128GB of DDR4 Ram, which seems to be overkill as for now, but you can always rely on it for future updates.
The sound system on this one is absolute bonkers, and SupremeFX powers it. There are multiple audio jack slots on the back, which is perfect for those who like gaming with their headphones on, or like attaching numerous audio devices with their machine.
8. MSI MEG Z390 ACE LGA1151
Another ATX form factor board on our list is the MSI MEG Z390 ACE, which is an absolute stunner by both price range and qualities. To match other brands offering support for the 9th Gen Intel processors, MSI has pushed this board to the limits. You get a 13-phase VRM power solution, which will manhandle the i9 9900K even upon overclocking.
There’s a trio of turbo M2 slots, which are covered with heatsinks as well. If you’re a newbie gamer, you must look for at least dual M2 slots on your board, because standard storage can’t handle big games that take up to 300GBs of your storage. To further push the machine, you can install four Ram units of 128GB, which will clock at 4500mhz max. There are three PCIe × 16 slots available on the board, and you can optimize them however you like. Not to forget, there’s SLI and crossfire support as well, so you can expect extreme gaming experience from this board.
9. MSI MEG GODLIKE Z390
The MSI MEG GODLIKE Z390 is an absolute beast, you can bet on this beautifully made powerful piece of hardware, and it won’t disappoint you. Let’s be clear if you have deep pockets, and really want to push your i9 9900K to the extreme, like beyond 5.0GHz, then this board is a no-brainer for you. We’re talking about 18-phase VRM solution on the board, and 16 of them are dedicated to the CPU alone, which is an insane amount of power and will push that little 9900K to the max.
This gem comes in the extreme EATX form factor, and it totally makes sense as well if you consider the features it has to offer. We’re looking at triple turbo M2 slots for ultimate storage performance. With the price range of more than five hundred bucks, consider this board as the fully-loaded version of all the available ones.
10. ASUS ROG Strix Z390-I Gaming
Let’s just admit, not everyone likes the big form factor boards because the case usually takes most of the space on your table. The mini-ITX boards are designed for everyday users, who like working on their machines as well as like using them for gaming. The ASUS ROG Strix Z390-I Gaming is the perfect choice for people wanting a smaller sized beast on their desk. This board offers two DIMM slots, and you can stuff 64GB of Ram on them with an overclocking capacity of 4800mhz.
There’s no SLI or crossfire support on this board. However, you get two M2 slots to boost the storage pushing capabilities. Furthermore, there’s a Wi-Fi chip pre-installed on the board, and there’s an 8-Channel audio chipset sitting on the board, which is powered by SupremeFX. Despite the small size, this beast isn’t a cheap buy, yet features do match some of the big-sized boards.
11. ASRock Phantom Gaming 9
The second prominent board by ASRock on our list is the Phantom Gaming 9. This board comes equipped with the LGA1151 socket, and can easily handle the latest Gen processors of Intel, including the i9 9900K as well. Just like other flagship boards, this one has good aesthetics too, and the features take it to the next level. If you look at the power management section of the board, you will find 12-phase design, which will help in overclocking the i9 in a very optimum way.
The form factor on this one is the standard ATX, and the most prominent thing on the board is the trio of Ultra M2 slots. The advantage of having these storage slots is that you can pump as much power as you want out of your machine. For gamers, there’s SLI support, so you can expect to play heavy-duty games in buttery smooth speeds. You can push 128GB DDR4 Ram into this board, and overall there’s nothing to complain about this board.
12. ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI FORMULA Z390
When it comes to the Best Motherboards for i9-9900K, you can’t ignore what ASUS has to offer. Even if you buy an AMD processor, somehow, ASUS will always pop up among the best motherboards list. The ROG MAXIMUS XI FORMULA Z390 isn’t for amateur buyers, as it costs more than five hundred dollars. The competition to make the best motherboards among the companies is sky-high. This one focuses on aesthetics and performance. At first sight, you will fall in love with its modern looks and sleek looking design.
For nerds, this board comes packed with a dedicated water-cooling system which is visible on the board as well. There’s Wi-Fi chipset pre-installed on the board, and you get M2 heatsink solution preinstalled as well. There are two M2 sockets, and for graphics card lovers, there’s SLI and crossfire support as well. Just like normal ATX sized boards, you get four DIMM slots for Ram. and you can shove 128GB of it in four pieces. You get the high definition 8-channel audio codec in this board, which is powered by SupremeFX.
Final Thoughts!
We’ve given a wide range of boards to choose from in this article, and undoubtedly all of them are the Best Motherboard for i9-9900K you can buy. Now the i9-9900K isn’t a cheap processor, and matching it with a suitable motherboard is kind of tricky. You have to keep a lot in mind to make the final decision of what you need precisely.
For example, if you’re a hardcore gamer and streaming online is your daily activity, you need to consider the pricey options from this list for better future upgrades. However, if you only like playing games occasionally, and just want a powerful machine for multitasking, then a small-sized board will do the job for you as well.
At the end of the day, prioritizing your needs is a must when buying anything, and without analyzing your requirements, a half-headed will only lead you towards regretful experience.
