If you’re looking to build a gaming rig and want to take advantage of the huge overclocks that the latest 10th Gen Intel Core processors can achieve, we can help. We’ve compiled a list of the best Intel Core i9 10900K motherboards for this task, as well as their associated costs.
This is the first time this year that you won’t be able to pick Intel’s top end 10nm Coffee Lake chips up for under $500. That’s because now that the chips are here, they’re not all that cheap. The i9-9900K isn’t anything special, but it is Intel’s first mainstream chip to use the company’s new 10nm process, and it’s also the first mainstream chip to come with an octa-core design.
The i9-9900K is a monster of a processor, and it might be a little difficult to find a good motherboard for it. When it comes to processors, the only thing that really matters is what you can get out of it, and that’s where things get a little tricky. Usually, you want to get the best processor you can afford, but for this processor, it comes down to what you can get out of it. For most people, the best motherboard for the i9-9900K is going to be something with plenty of RAM, lots of storage options, and some great features.. Read more about best motherboard for i9 11th gen and let us know what you think.
Intel has released a new line of motherboards for its Comet Lake CPUs, and if you’re searching for a motherboard to go with your i9 10900K, we have a few choices for you. Hundreds of suppliers provide solid motherboards, but the issue remains: which is the best motherboard for the i9 10900K? It relies on a variety of variables, including memory capacity, PCIe slots, and a few other considerations. So get ready because we’re going to talk about several Z490 motherboards that support Intel’s i9 10900K processor.
Previously, the i9 9900K was the Coffee Lake series’ flagship CPU, and it still wears a gold medal around its neck. Intel has released new ten-core and twenty-core processors with a boost speed of 5 GHz. This CPU is popular among users due of its multi-tasking and gaming capabilities, as well as the availability of hyper-threading. However, because of its great performance, this CPU’s TDP is very high, and overclocking and operating the processor at its peak frequency may need the use of an aftermarket cooling.
Shopping Advice for Motherboards
The Intel Core i9 10900K is one of the most powerful CPUs on the market right now, but you can’t get the most out of it unless you have a powerful motherboard. There are several short shopping tips for purchasing a motherboard that will most likely assist you in selecting the finest motherboard for the i9 10900K.
Socket & Chipset: The first thing you need to look at in a motherboard is the socket, as it ensures the physical compatibility of the processor. The only socket compatible with this processor is LGA 1200, while all of the motherboards with this socket come with a Z490 chipset if you are looking for premium options. The chipset connects different components attached to the motherboard, and if you own some premium chipset motherboard, you will have some overclocking advantage.
Connection Choices: You don’t have to examine the connectivity options on a motherboard before purchasing it, but if you do, you won’t have any problems with a low number of ports and slots. This contains both USB Type-A and Type-C connections, as well as the newest USB 3.2 Gen2 10GBPS ports. Furthermore, the SATA and M.2 slots on the motherboard are critical to consider, as most customers have issues as a result of a lack of storage ports, necessitating the replacement of the motherboard.
RAM & PCIe Slots: Another thing you need to care about the motherboard is the number of memory and the PCIe x16 slots. Some motherboards come with only two memory slots, mostly the ITX boards, while they only have a single PCIe x16 slot that doesn’t support Crossfire or SLI support. So if you plan to install multiple graphics cards on the motherboard, you may need to change it and get some motherboard with more than one PCIe x16 slot.
Budget: No matter what computer component you purchase, you must constantly consider your budget, since the component does not need to be costly, and if it is inexpensive, you will not have to make many compromises. Of course, buying ITX motherboards is costly, and you’ll have to make a number of sacrifices. Also, don’t squander a lot of money on RGB lighting or aesthetics, or spend a significant part of your budget on one component while neglecting the others.
Gigabyte Z490 AORUS ELITE AC Gigabyte Z490 AORUS ELITE AC Gigabyte Z490
In their Aorus line, Gigabyte offers some luxury motherboards like the Z490 Xtreme and other budget-friendly choices like the Z490 Elite AC. Both are suitable for the Intel Core i9 10900K, however it all depends on your price and requirements. The Z490 Aorus Elite AC features powerful heatsinks over the voltage regulators, which allows for a lot of overclocking, but you’ll probably need an aftermarket cooling solution. This motherboard’s networking features include Dual-Band 802.11ac Wi-Fi and a 2.5G NIC for a fantastic online gaming experience.
This motherboard offers great memory support, with four RAM slots enabling users to install 128 GB of DDR4 memory at 4933 MHz. There are two PCIe x16 slots, one of which operates at x16 and the other at x4, resulting in a two-way Crossfire configuration. There are two M.2 slots and six SATA3 slots, with specialized heat spreaders for both of the high-speed slots. This motherboard includes two USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A and one Type-C port on the backside, as well as additional USB, Ethernet, and Audio connections.
On the black base of this motherboard, there are a few RGB lights that you may adjust using the RGB Fusion program to create different effects. Overall, this motherboard is great for a premium CPU like the Intel Core i9 10900K, but consumers will be disappointed by the lack of Wi-Fi 6 and a few USB ports on the back side. Although the price of this motherboard is fair for the capabilities it provides, a price reduction would be ideal.
Summary: For a low price, an entry-level Aorus series motherboard with powerful VRMs and plenty of overclocking space.
MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Edge WiFi (MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Edge WiFi)
The MSI Z490 Gaming Carbon Wi-Fi was a high-end motherboard that was out of reach for most budget builds, but if you’re looking to save money and are willing to sacrifice some features, the MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Edge Wi-Fi is a good option. Even though it’s inexpensive, it still offers premium features including two M.2 slots, one of which has an inbuilt heat sink, six SATA slots, an Intel 2.5G NIC, and four memory slots that can accommodate 128 GB of 4800 MHz RAM. This motherboard resembles the MSI Z490 Gaming Carbon in appearance, however there are a few differences.
Except for a few LEDs under the chipset, this motherboard lacks RGB lighting, but the heatsinks with superb cuts and pattern printing provide fantastic aesthetics. It has two PCIe x16 slots and two PCIe x1 slots, and it supports AMD Crossfire in two ways. This motherboard’s BIOS is simple to use, and it allows you to quickly overclock your CPU. Unfortunately, it lacks a BIOS flashback button, which means you won’t be able to quickly restore the BIOS if it becomes corrupted. Without a doubt, it’s one of the best motherboards for your i9 10900K if you can’t afford its more costly brother.
Summary: The Z490 Gaming Carbon is a low-cost alternative that offers many of the same capabilities as the Z490 Gaming Carbon, with a few exceptions; generally, it’s a solid mid-range choice.
GODLIKE MSI MEG Z490 MSI MEG Z490 MSI MEG Z490 MSI MEG
When you have the Comet Lake flagship CPU in your hands and want to show it off, the MSI MEG Z490 GODLIKE may be the best choice. This motherboard, aimed at enthusiasts, offers good connection choices and a fantastic collection of accessories, but it will also empty your pocket. By providing a better pricing and performance, MSI has made this flagship motherboard compete with Asrock’s Z490 Taichi and Asus’s Z490 ROG Maximus XII Extreme. This motherboard is worth considering if money isn’t an issue and you’re prepared to push the Intel Core i9 10900K or i7 10700K to their limits.
Support for 128 GB of DDR4 RAM clocked at 5000 MHz, six SATA3 slots, three M.2 slots with specialized heatsinks for all of them, two ethernet connections on the back, integrated Wi-Fi, and a lot more are among the motherboard’s highlights. It also features three PCIe x16 slots with PCI Slot Armor, allowing you to add several graphics cards, although only AMD Crossfire is supported. On the back, there are many USB3 connections, including USB Type-A and Type-C, as well as two Thunderbolt ports.
The sole disadvantage of this motherboard is its price, which is too high for a casual gamer and PC construction, and its E-ATX size, which limits its case compatibility. The fast 10Gbit ethernet connector on this motherboard is excellent, and the included M.2 expander adds to its appeal.
Summary: MSI’s top-of-the-line motherboard comes at a premium price and is jam-packed with features that any fanatic would want; nevertheless, it is not designed for casual gamers.
Conclusion
A CPU coupled with a low-cost motherboard will not provide optimum performance, and you will need to replace the motherboard sooner or later. The Intel Core i9 10900K is a flagship CPU capable of maxing out most of the newest gaming titles, but you’ll need a powerful Z490 chipset motherboard to get the most out of it. This will enable you to operate the CPU at its boost frequency, which will allow you to overclock it.
You can’t just match a motherboard with a CPU since there are a lot of factors to consider before purchasing a motherboard. You may not be able to put the board in the case if you miss all of them, since the form factor is the most important item that consumers need to check up first. A motherboard’s form size, socket, chipset, RAM, and PCIe x16 slots are just a few of the features to check for before purchasing one for your project. We could also use a mid-range chipset motherboard with the Intel Core i9 10900K, but it would be a waste of money since this CPU is capable of running single and multi-core programs.
If you have a large amount of money to spare, I recommend the Gigabyte Z490 Aorus Xtreme, which is the finest premium motherboard for the Intel Core i9 10900K. For budget users, the Gigabyte Z490 Aorus Elite AC is sufficient, while for compact setups, the MSI MEG Z490I Unify is recommended. There are a lot more choices in the list above, and trust me when I say that they’re all worth looking into for this CPU.
Most Commonly Asked Questions
What motherboard is ideal for the i9 10900K?
There are many Z490 motherboard options for this CPU, but I would recommend the Gigabyte Z490 Aorus Xtreme only if you have a large enough budget for the mainboard. Although this motherboard is very expensive, and there may be no direct competitors at the same price, Gigabyte does offer several budget-friendly alternatives in their Aorus series.
Which motherboard chipsets are compatible with the i9 10900K?
Every each generation, Intel changes the chipsets for its CPUs, which may be frustrating for customers who must replace their mainboard every time they upgrade their processor. Only Z490 chipset motherboards are suggested for the Intel Core i9 10900K since they operate the CPUs and have some overclocking possibilities.
Which motherboard for the i9 10900K is the cheapest?
Many motherboards are mentioned above, however the MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Edge Wi-Fi or the Gigabyte Z490 AORUS ELITE AC are the cheapest. There may be more inexpensive choices out there, but we found these to be the most cost-effective as well as the most feature-rich. They include built-in Wi-Fi, excellent looks, and a variety of additional features that entice people to utilize them.
With MSI being the only manufacturer known to have a board ready for the upcoming i9 10-core i9-9900K, we decided to start this list with MSI’s X299 Gaming M7 ACK. This is a good price for a board that can actually hold a 10-core CPU, and it offers a decent amount of features for a motherboard in this price range.. Read more about best motherboard for i9-10900k and rtx 3080 and let us know what you think.
Frequently Asked Questions
What motherboards are compatible with a i9 10900K?
The i9 10900K is compatible with the following motherboards.
What motherboard is good for i9?
The i9 is a high-end processor, so it will require a high-end motherboard to support its power. A good motherboard for the i9 would be the Asus ROG Maximus XI Extreme.
Is the i9 10900K the best?
Yes, the i9 10900K is the best processor available.
Tech runs the world - one of his driving quotes. Investing in blogging since 2015. When not surrounded by technology, enjoys rock climbing with his highschool friends.
