Intel’s Core i7-9700K is one of the fastest processors in the PC hardware market. This is a CPU to prioritize if you are looking for hardcore performance with plenty of cores for gaming or productivity.
The problem is, not many motherboards are compatible with this CPU. That is why we prepared this guide to help you find the Best Motherboard for i7 9700k this year.
Our Top Motherboards for Core i7-9700K
To fully capitalize on the performance prowess of the Intel Core i7-9700K processor, you need a special kind of motherboard. We did some digging and identified the following motherboards to be the most compatible with the Intel’s Core i7-9700K.
Best Overall Motherboard for i7 9700k: ASUS ROG Maximus XI Hero
It‘s rare for ASUS to manufacture substandard PC hardware, the ASUS ROG Maximus XI Hero is proof enough. If you are used to cheap computer hardware, you might not be a fan of this motherboard.
However, if you are willing to look beyond the price and get a motherboard that will explore the full potential of the i7-9700K CPU, this one will hardly disappoint.
The ASUS ROG Maximus XI Hero comes with the much-coveted Z390 chipset and a few bells and whistles to spice your computer’s performance. These include a premium design, RGB lighting, and an integrated input and output shield.
The board has 2 PCIe slots reinforced to support the GPU and also last longer. There are also additional 2 M.2 slots and 6 SATA 3 ports for holding the SSDs and HDDs. What’s more, the ASUS ROG motherboard has 4 RAM slots and can accommodate up to 64GB of RAM.
In terms of speed, while the RAM runs at 4400 MHz, since this board supports overclocking, you can boost the speed as much as possible. Other ports that you will find valuable include USB 3.1 Gen 2, DVI, Displayport, HDMI, and USB-C ports.
There are also signature ASUS features like auto-tuning, AURA sync RGB lighting, FanExpert 4, an 8-channel HD audio, and 802.11ac Wi-Fi.
What We Like
- It comes with ASUS optimum II for better DRAM overclocking stability.
- The FanExpert 4 cooling system ensures dynamic VRM cooling.
- The pre-mounted input and output shield allows for easy and fast installation of the motherboard.
- Use a rebuilt 5-way optimization that overclocks based on smart prediction and thermal telemetry.
- It has a user-friendly BIOS with a flashback button.
What We Don’t Like
- High price
- The M.S SSD screws are too tight
- Designed for 9th 8th Generation Intel Core processors maximize connectivity, speed with Dual M.2,...
- Revamped 5 way Optimization over clocks Intelligently based on smart prediction and thermal...
- Aura Sync RGB lighting with addressable headers features a nearly endless spectrum of colors with...
Best Motherboard for i7 9700k for the Money: Gigabyte Z390 AORUS MASTER
The Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Master strikes a great balance between functionality and affordability. Although the price is still higher compared to our other recommendations, you are getting a sturdy VRM with a host of other valuable features.
The motherboard packs great power and you can easily overclock it to increase performance speed.
The memory overclocking is a bit mediocre compared to ASUS ROG Maximus XI Hero. However, since it comes with a lower price, that’s a compromise you can deal with. On the other hand, CPU overclocking is really good.
The Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Master comes with up to four memory slots that support dual-channel architecture. This kind of architecture helps to boost both performance and speed. Each can accommodate up to 32GB of DDR4 RAM and you can overclock the speed to hit 4400MHz.
The motherboard is also compatible with ECC Un-buffered and Non-ECC Unbuffered DIMM memory modules. Un-buffered, in this case, means that the Random Access Memory lacks a register or additional hardware between it and the CPU.
This way, data goes directly to the CPU without being temporarily held or buffered by the register.
This motherboard is compatible with Intel HD graphics and comes with two PCle 3.0 x 16 slots that can hold discrete graphic cards. Other features you might find useful include a USB Turbo Charger, Triple M.2 with Triple Thermal Guard, Intel 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and an advanced thermal system.
Aside from the slightly high price and mediocre overclocking, the Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Master is still one of the best motherboards for i7 9700k.
What We Like
- Impressive CPU overclocking for increased performance
- Decent and effective thermal design
- Great voltage regulator
- Comes with a host of software options
- It has many Digital LED modes to take advantage of.
- 12 +2 Phase IR Digital VRM
What We Don’t Like
- Mediocre memory overclocking
- A little bit pricey
- Supports 9th and 8th Intel Core processors
- Dual Channel Non ECC Unbuffered DDR4, 4 DIMMs
- Intel Optane Memory Ready. I/O Controller is iTE I/O Controller Chip
Best Cheap Motherboard for i7 9700k: MSI MPG Z390 Gaming Edge AC
The MSI MPG Z390 Gaming Edge AC is a good fit for people looking for budget motherboards for i7-9700k. Just like ASUS and Gigabyte, MSI is a known brand in the PC hardware market and most of its products are credible.
Despite its lenient price tags, the MSI MPG Z390 Gaming Edge AC packs high-end features with a generous dose of durability.
It comes in great color options and a design that will easily find home in most PCs. MSI put a lot of thought on durability while designing this board. The general build quality is solid and two of its PCIe slots are reinforced to make them more durable.
This will make them last longer even when you install beefy graphic cards or drives.
Like most of our other recommendations, it also has 4 RAM slots and can accommodate up to 64 of RAM. The manufacturer’s standard speed for the RAM is 4400 MHz. However, the motherboard supports overclocking and you can boost the speed as much as is possible.
There are two M.2 slots for NVMe storage with 6 SATA 3 ports for storage drives such as SSD and HDD.
For connectivity, the board supports Bluetooth and Intel Wireless-AC 9462. It also supports such ports as USB 3.1, USB-C, Displayport and HDMI.
What We Like
- Versatile and sleek design
- Great LED lighting
- Great overclocking for faster performance
- Impressive BIOS
- Affordable
- Has Sufficient VRM
What We Don’t Like
- Doesn’t have POST code display
- DIMM slots are not reinforced
- Doesn’t have M.2 cooling
- Supports 9th i9-9900K, i7-9700K, i5-9600K and 8th Generation Intel Core / Pentium Gold / Celeron...
- Supports dual channel DDR4 Memory, up to 4400(OC) MHz; DIMM Slots: 4.Operating system: Support for...
- 2x TURBO M.2, Intel Optane Memory Ready, Turbo USB 3.1 GEN2; USB 2.0 ports (Front): 4
Best Motherboard for i7 9700k for Gaming: Gigabyte Z390 AORUS ULTRA
While most of the motherboards in this guide are good fits for gamers, the Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Ultra offers the most gaming features. It boasts a robust thermal design, ingenious heatsink, and support for up to 4400MHz clock speed.
Apart from the host of valuable gaming features, you also get a solid design with RGB lighting.
The Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Ultra mobo comes with three inbuilt M.2 heatsinks with a dynamic VRM cooling system. It supports AMP-UP studio, USB 3.1, Bluetooth 5.0, and 802.11ac 2×2 WIFI. You also get a reliable built-in I/O shield for added protection.
On top of the Intel Core i7-9700k, this motherboard is also compatible with a range of other 8th and 9th generation processors. It ignores the traditional numbering scheme for modern gaming schemes so as to meet the needs of both amateur and professional gamers.
In terms of connectivity, the board packs modern wireless technology with a speed of up to 1.73 gigabytes for improved gaming experience and video streaming. It supports dual channel Non-ECC unbuffered DDR4 and 4 DIMM RAM.
Each memory slot can accommodate up to 32GB RAM with a maximum overclocking frequency of 4400MHz.
If you are looking to engage in hardcore gaming using this motherboard and the i7-9700K CPU, the high-performance thermal design will come in handy. The cooling system uses a combination of the multi-cut heatsink and direct touch Heatpipe for a plausible thermal performance.
This is reasonable since a little thermal defect could cause multiple problems given the performance power of the motherboard and the Core i7-9700k processor.
If you buy the latest model of the Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Ultra, you will get a 24-pin ATX power connector in combination with an 8+8-pin CPU power connector. Other features you might like include the new VRM design and enlarged power plane.
What We Like
- It has a solid and durable design to make it last longer.
- Comes with 3 M.2 slots with heatsinks to prevent overheating
- It has an integrated I/O shield for extra motherboard protection
- Supports impressive overclocking to increase performance speed
- Excellent VRM cooling
- Comes with a clean and updated BIOS
What We Don’t Like
- More expensive than other Z390 boards
- Subpar software options
- Supports 9th and 8th Intel Core processors
- Dual channel non ECC unbuffered DDR4, 4 DIMMs
- Intel optane memory ready
What to Consider When Buying Motherboards for i7-9700K
Compatibility with your CPU is one of the most important factors to consider when buying a motherboard. If you are looking for a motherboard that supports the Intel Core i7-9700K, below are the features you should prioritize.
Form Factor
The form factor is basically a set of standards that determines the motherboard’s specifications for its general shape and size. These include power interface, types ports supported and their placement, the arrangement of the mounting holes, and types of connectors.
There are different types of motherboard form factors. They include ATX (Advanced Technology Extended), Micro ATX, Mini-ITX, Nano-ITX and Pico-ITX.
ATX is the most common type of form factor used by all the motherboards recommended in this guide. The Intel Core i7-9700k is compatible with most of these form factors. You only need to make sure that the motherboard you buy has a form factor compatible with your processor, in this case, the Intel Core i7-9700K.
Processor Socket
This is the most important factor to consider when buying a motherboard for i7-9700k. You don’t want to bring home a motherboard with a processor socket incompatible with this CPU. The most common types of processor sockets today are PGA, LGA, and BGA.
Intel uses the LGA sockets so that is the one you should focus on when buying a motherboard.
All the recommendations in this guide come with LGA CPU sockets.
PGA is for AMD processors while BGA sockets are slowly becoming extinct. In this case, since you’re buying a motherboard for an Intel processor, you should only look out for those with LGA sockets.
The most common LGA model is the LGA 1150 which supports Intel processors from Core i3 to Core i7.
RAM
You will end up with different motherboards depending on the amount of RAM you need.
After determining that the motherboard is compatible with a Core i7-9700K processor, you should check to see how much RAM it can support. Since most Core i7 processors have at least 16GB of RAM, you should stick to not less than this.
Additionally, the board you buy should have at least four memory slots with each supporting at least 16GB. This will allow you to upgrade the memory in the future in case you need more RAM for hardcore gaming, video streaming, or video editing.
PCI Slots
PCI stands for Peripheral Component Interconnect. A PCI slot is basically any port on the motherboard used to attach such devices as the processor or video cards. These slots allow for the expansion of certain computer functions like RAM.
When buying a motherboard for i7-9600k, you need to ensure that it has a slot that is compatible with this processor.
SATA Ports
The number of SATA ports you need will also inform the kind of motherboard you buy. SATA ports incorporate optical and storage drives such as HDD. In addition to the Core i7-9700K CPU, your motherboard needs a number of other drives in order to be functional.
The number of these drives will inform how many SATA ports you need on the board. Most of our recommendations have at least 6 SATA ports.
We recommend that you look out for motherboards that come with the SATA 6 gigabytes standard, also known as SATA 3.0 since it is the fastest. Also keep in mind the kind of peripheral connections your computer uses, for example, types of USB ports.
Conclusion
The Core i7-9700k processor is special in its category and requires a special kind of motherboard to explore its full potential. All the motherboards we have recommended in this guide will work seamlessly with this processor to greatly boost your PC’s performance.
Don’t rush when buying your motherboard only to realize later that it is not compatible with this processor. Make sure to check such factors as SATA ports, form factor, PCIe slots, RAM, and processor sockets to find the best product for you.
