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The Intel Core i7-9700K still is a pretty capable gaming CPU. It features eight cores and plenty of gaming punch. While it lacks hyper-threading, the CPU can churn pretty high frame rates when paired with a proper GPU. The i7-9700K demands a quality motherboard to unleash its full potential. That means a board that supports overclocking. In other words, either the Z370 or the Z390 chipsets are in play. Other motherboards won’t do for this particular CPU.
You can go with a Z370 board, but we wouldn’t recommend that. First of all, you need to update your BIOS in case you pick a Z370. That means mounting an 8th gen Intel processor for the BIOS update before installing your i7-9700K. Next, many Z370 boards are more expensive than their X390 counterparts by now. Because of this, we only included Z390 boards in our list of the best motherboard for i7-9700K.
Before you jump into the list, check out the best CPU coolers for the i7-9700K. You could also visit our guide for the best graphics cards for i7-9700K. Finally, the 9700K is still a decent CPU for fast refresh gaming. If you want to experience games in all their high fps glory, do read our best 1440p 240Hz monitor guide.
1. Gigabyte Z390 UD: Best budget motherboard for i7-9700K
The Gigabyte Z390 UD is a great all-rounder motherboard that won’t break the bank and the best value board for the Core i7-9700K. It offers a great VRM (Voltage Regulating Module) that also supports i9-9900K. Running Core i7-9700K won’t be a problem for this board.
The board also features excellent cooling, its audio chip (Realtek ALC887) is great for the price, and the list of features is the same as with more expensive models. The Gigabyte Z390 UD also looks rather nice. It sports a simple black and gray design that is striking to look at. The layout is simple and optimized to allow easy component installation and swapping.
The board comes with six SATA 6Gb/s ports, one PCIe Gen3 x4 M.2 connector, and 4 RAM slots that support dual-channel memory. The main PCIe 3.0 X16 port is armored, and the board also comes with 8 USB 3.1 ports. There’s also support for Intel Thunderbolt 3 and support for RGB light strips if you’re into that thing.
2. Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro: Best mid-range motherboard for i7-9700K
There are lots of Z390 motherboards that offer great performance and lots of handy features. Our pick for the best mid-range motherboard for 9700K is the Z390 Aorus Pro by Gigabyte.
The Z390 Aorus Pro offers a slew of excellent features. You get a superb VRM (12+1 phases) along with excellent expansion potential. There are 4 DDR4 DIMMs with dual-channel memory support. They can run memory up to DDR4 4133 MT/s and support up to 128GB of RAM.
Next, we have 6 x SATA 6Gb/s ports and two M.2 slots, both equipped with thermal armor. There are three PCIe x16 3.0 ports (one runs at x8, one at x4) along with three PCIe x1 ports. Two PCIe x16 ports are armored so they can protect your graphics cards in case you go with a dual GPU setup.
The board sports a flawless audio department, with a full 7.1 surround audio, ALC1220-VB audio chip, and optical connector. On the back, you have 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports, 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, 4 x USB 2.0, and one USB Type-C port, along with a massive I/O shield. You also get one M.2 port for Intel SNVi wireless module, allowing you to have a wireless internet connection.
The board has a striking design with lots of orange details and easy access to almost every expansion port. The advanced thermal design in combination with quality VRM is enough to overclock your Core i7-9700K over 5.0GHz, and the Smart Fan 5 feature will optimize fans to provide the best cooling possible.
Finally, you have lots of RGB lights and support for LED & RGB LED Strips. If you like this board and are looking for more RGB components, we have lists of the best RGB case fans and best RGB cases you can visit.
3. MSI MEG Z390 Godlike: Best high-end motherboard for i7-9700K
When it comes to the best high-end Z390 motherboard for the Core i7-9700K, the best choice is the MSI MEG Z390 Godlike.
This board has it all. Beastly VRM and superb cooling. Maximum DDR4 speed support. 10-gigabit networking. Overkill when it comes to expansion slots.
Top-of-the-line audio department. Insane RBG lighting. Yes, it’s more expensive than the Core i9-9900K, but it offers the best of the best.
4. Gigabyte Z390 M Gaming: Best micro ATX motherboard for i7-9700K
There aren’t many Micro ATX Z390 boards. You can find just a handful of them. For us, the best mATX mobo for the i7-9700K is the Gigabyte Z390 M Gaming. It’s a good mid-range mobo and comes with more than a solid 10+2 phase VRM. It offers Dual Channel memory support for DDR4 2666 MT/s, and it supports up to 64GB of memory.
You have 2 PCIe x16 slots, but the second one only works at x4. In other words, SLI is supported in theory, but it isn’t recommended. You also have 6 x SATA 6Gb/s ports and 2 M.2 connectors, which is great for a Micro ATX board.
The audio section supports up to 7.1 channels but comes with a Realtek ALC892 chip, which isn’t as powerful as the one found in more expensive boards. Also, you won’t find an optical audio connector here. The back features 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2, 4 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports. Luckily, you also get one USB Type-C port, which is great.
The board comes with a fully armored back I/O panel and humble RGB capabilities. On the other hand, it supports the installation of RGB strips, and its grey and black design look sleek.
5. ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming-ITX/AC: Best Mini ITX motherboard for i7-9700K
Finally, we have one option for those who want to build a no-compromise compact setup. The best ITX motherboard for the Core i7-9700K is the ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming-ITX/AC.
The reason is simple. Mini ITX form factor greatly limits manufacturers, thus leading to most Mini ITX boards having poor VRMs. Well, you won’t find a better VRM section than on this board, and this is important if you want your powerful CPU to work stably under load.
This board features 5 phases VRM with 60 Amp power stages along with a large heat sink that offers solid cooling. And that’s what’s important if you go with a Mini ITX board.
Other features are excellent for a board of this size. It supports DDR4 up to 4500 and a total of 32GB of RAM. You get two DIMM slots, but that’s the case with every Mini ITX board. There are also 4 x SATA3 6.0Gb/s connectors and two M.2 slots, which is great news for everyone wanting lots of fast SSD storage.
You have one PCIe 3.0 x16 slot, and on the back, there are 4 x USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-A Ports, 2 x USB 3.1 Gen1 Ports, and one Thunderbolt 3 port. You also get an excellent audio unit with a full 7.1 channel support and optical audio connector.
The board comes with Wi-Fi and full Bluetooth 5.0 support. The design is cramped but with lots of heat pipes, ensuring stable work under load. You don’t have lots of RGB, but you can install RGB LED strips if you desire. Yes, the price is a bit higher, but this is by far the best Mini ITX board for the Core i7-9700K on the market.
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