Best Motherboards For i7 9700K in 2024

The Intel Core i7-9700K is an 8-core, 8-thread unlocked 9th generation Coffee Lake desktop processor  that can boost up to 4.9 GHz. With its high single core and multi-core performance, the i7-9700K is a popular choice for programming, 4K gaming, live streaming, and content creation builds. However, to take full advantage of this CPU cores, it is critical to pair it with a compatible i7 9700k motherboard. Choosing the best motherboard for i7 9700k involves understanding key aspects like VRM phases, heatsinks, BIOS settings and onboard audio to ensure optimal performance.

Award	Design	Best	Retailer
Best Z390 Motherboard For i7 9700k		Gigabyte Z390 Motherboard	View
Best Z390 Motherboard for i7 9700k		ASUS ROG Maximus XI Hero Z390	View
Best Mini ITX Motherboard For i7 9700k		ASUS ROG Strix Z390-I Motherboard	View
Best Value Motherboard For i7 9700k		Gigabyte Z370 Aorus Gaming 7	View
Best Gaming Motherboard For i7 9700k		MSI MPG Z390 Gaming Pro Carbon	View
Best Micro ATX Motherboard for i7 9700K		ASUS ROG Strix Z370-G Gaming	View
Best Intel Motherboard for i7 9700K		MSI MEG Z390 Godlike E-ATX	View
Best Budget Motherboard for i7 9700k		ASUS Prime Z390-A	View

The “K” variant goes clock speed between 3.6GHz base clock and 4.9GHz boost clock speed. But if there is a high-end cooler, you can achieve the 5.0GHz mark. The motherboard lets different computer elements coordinate and performs various tasks. Therefore, you must purchase a good-quality motherboard while building a custom gaming rig or purchasing a pre-built PC.

8 Best Motherboard For i7 9700K

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Buying Guide for Selecting the Best Motherboard for i7 9700K

The Intel Core i7-9700k is an 8-core, 8-thread 9th generation Coffee Lake desktop processor that was released in late 2018. It offers high performance and overclocking potential for gaming and productivity applications. When choosing a motherboard for this CPU, there are a few key factors to consider regarding compatibility:

Chipset

The i7-9700k is designed for the Intel 300-series chipset. This includes the Z390, H370, B365, and H310 chipset motherboards. However, not all chipsets are equal in terms of features and performance. For full functionality and overclocking support, a Z390 chipset motherboard is recommended. The Z390 chipset allows CPU and memory overclocking, as well as providing more PCIe lanes, USB ports, and M.2 slots than the other chipsets.

Socket

The i7-9700k uses the LGA 1151 socket. This means that the motherboard must have an LGA 1151 socket to be compatible with the CPU. However, not all LGA 1151 motherboards are compatible with the 9th generation processors. Some older LGA 1151 boards may require a BIOS update to support the 9700k. Therefore, it is advisable to check the motherboard’s compatibility list before buying.

Power

The 9700k has a 95W TDP (thermal design power). This is the amount of power that the CPU consumes under normal operation. However, when overclocking or under heavy load, the power consumption can increase significantly. Therefore, it is important to make sure that the motherboard VRMs (voltage regulator modules) are capable of delivering stable power to support the CPU. High-end Z390 boards designed for overclocking usually have beefier power phases, higher quality components, and better cooling solutions for the VRMs.

Cooling

Since the 9700k runs hot, especially when overclocked, a good cooling system is essential to keep the CPU temperatures under control. A motherboard with good VRMs and power design will help provide adequate power delivery for the CPU. Quality onboard heatsinks will also help dissipate heat from the VRMs and chipset. Additionally, a good CPU cooler is required to cool down the CPU itself. A liquid cooler or a high-end air cooler is recommended for optimal cooling performance.

Memory support

The i7-9700k supports dual-channel DDR4 memory up to 2666MHz speed. This means that the motherboard should have at least two DIMM slots to enable dual-channel mode, which improves memory bandwidth and performance. However, most motherboards with 4 DIMM slots are recommended to allow installing more RAM for future upgrades or multitasking purposes. Overclocking RAM will require a Z390 motherboard, as well as compatible memory modules that can support higher speeds and timings.

PCIe lanes

The 9700k has 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes for graphics and storage devices. These lanes are directly connected to the CPU and offer the highest bandwidth and lowest latency. Z390 boards have additional PCIe lanes from the chipset, which are shared among other devices such as USB ports, SATA ports, and M.2 slots. Multiple PCIe x16 slots are ideal for multi-GPU setups, such as SLI or CrossFireX. However, note that using more than one GPU will split the CPU’s PCIe lanes into x8/x8 or x8/x4/x4 configurations, which may affect performance slightly. M.2 NVMe SSD slots will require PCIe lanes for peak performance. Some motherboards have dedicated M.2 slots that use the CPU’s PCIe lanes, while others use the chipset’s PCIe lanes or share them with other slots.

Overclocking

For overclocking the CPU and RAM, a Z390 motherboard is required. Overclocking allows increasing the clock speed and voltage of the CPU and RAM to achieve higher performance levels. However, overclocking also increases power consumption, heat generation, and instability risks. Therefore, a good motherboard with good VRM components and power phase designs will impact stable overclocks. High-end boards often offer simplified OC controls and settings in the BIOS or software utilities. They also have features such as debug LEDs, voltage checkpoints, clear CMOS buttons, dual BIOS switches, etc., to help troubleshoot any issues that may arise during overclocking.

i7-9700K Motherboard Compatibility

The i7-9700K is designed for the Intel 300-series chipset, which includes the Z390, H370, B365, and H310 chipsets. However, not all chipsets are equal in terms of features and performance. For full functionality and overclocking support, a Z390 chipset motherboard is recommended. The Z390 chipset allows CPU and memory overclocking, as well as providing more PCIe lanes, USB ports, and M.2 slots than the other chipsets.

Z390 Chipset

The Z390 chipset is the best option for the i7-9700k, providing full support and overclocking capabilities. It is the flagship chipset of the Intel 300-series and offers the most features and performance for the 9th generation processors. Key features:

• Supports overclocking the CPU and memory: This means that you can increase the clock speed and voltage of the CPU and RAM to achieve higher performance levels. However, overclocking also increases power consumption, heat generation, and instability risks. Therefore, a good motherboard with good VRM components and power phase designs will impact stable overclocks. High-end boards often offer simplified OC controls and settings in the BIOS or software utilities. They also have features such as debug LEDs, voltage checkpoints, clear CMOS buttons, dual BIOS switches, etc., to help troubleshoot any issues that may arise during overclocking.
• Higher transistor limits for more power delivery to CPU: The Z390 chipset has a higher transistor density than the other chipsets, which allows it to deliver more power to the CPU. This is especially important for overclocking, as higher power delivery can improve stability and performance.
• More PCIe lanes – up to 24 from chipset. The Z390 chipset provides up to 24 PCIe 3.0 lanes from the chipset, which are shared among other devices such as USB ports, SATA ports, and M.2 slots. These PCIe lanes are in addition to the 16 PCIe lanes that the CPU provides directly. Having more PCIe lanes allows you to connect more devices and peripherals to your motherboard, such as graphics cards, SSDs, sound cards, etc., without compromising bandwidth or performance.
• Supports NVMe PCIe SSDs: The Z390 chipset supports NVMe PCIe SSDs, which are the fastest type of SSDs available. They use PCIe lanes to communicate with the CPU, instead of SATA cables, which offer lower speeds and latency. NVMe PCIe SSDs can offer up to 4 times faster read and write speeds than SATA SSDs, which can improve boot times, load times, and overall system responsiveness.
• Allows memory speeds up to 4600MHz when overclocked: The Z390 chipset supports DDR4 memory speeds up to 2666MHz natively, but it also allows you to overclock your memory modules to higher speeds if they are compatible. Some Z390 boards can support memory speeds up to 4600MHz or even higher when overclocked, which can improve memory bandwidth and performance.

The Z390 chipset is ideal for performance users and overclocking enthusiasts who want to maximize the potential of their i7-9700k processor.

H370 Chipset

The H370 is a mid-range chipset option for the i7-9700k. It offers basic functionality and compatibility without overclocking support or advanced features. Key features:

• Supports standard CPU speeds without overclocking: This means that you can use the i7-9700k at its default clock speed of 3.6GHz (4.9GHz boost) without any adjustments or modifications. However, you cannot increase the clock speed or voltage of the CPU or RAM beyond their specifications, which may limit your performance potential.
• Allows memory speeds up to 2666MHz: This means that you can use DDR4 memory modules up to 2666MHz speed without any issues. However, you cannot overclock your memory modules to higher speeds, even if they are compatible.
• Fewer PCIe lanes than Z390 – up to 12 from chipset: The H370 chipset provides up to 12 PCIe 3.0 lanes from the chipset, which are shared among other devices such as USB ports, SATA ports, and M.2 slots. These PCIe lanes are in addition to the 16 PCIe lanes that the CPU provides directly. Having fewer PCIe lanes means that you may have fewer options to connect devices and peripherals to your motherboard, and you may experience lower bandwidth or performance if you use multiple devices that require PCIe lanes.
• No support for CPU overclocking: The H370 chipset does not support overclocking the CPU or RAM, which means that you cannot increase their clock speed or voltage beyond their specifications. This may limit your performance potential and customization options.

The H370 chipset is a good value pick for basic users who do not care about overclocking or advanced features and just want a compatible motherboard for their i7-9700k processor.

B365 Chipset

The B365 has essential features for the i7-9700k. It is similar to the H370 chipset but with some minor differences. Key features:

• No overclocking support: Like the H370 chipset, the B365 chipset does not support overclocking the CPU or RAM, which means that you cannot increase their clock speed or voltage beyond their specifications. This may limit your performance potential and customization options.
• Support for 2666MHz memory speeds: Like the H370 chipset, the B365 chipset supports DDR4 memory speeds up to 2666MHz without any issues. However, you cannot overclock your memory modules to higher speeds, even if they are compatible.
• Just 6 PCIe lanes from chipset: The B365 chipset provides just 6 PCIe 3.0 lanes from the chipset, which are shared among other devices such as USB ports, SATA ports, and M.2 slots. These PCIe lanes are in addition to the 16 PCIe lanes that the CPU provides directly. Having just 6 PCIe lanes means that you have very limited options to connect devices and peripherals to your motherboard, and you may experience very low bandwidth or performance if you use multiple devices that require PCIe lanes.
• Basic CPU features without overclocking: The B365 chipset supports basic CPU features such as Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 and Hyper-Threading Technology without any issues. However, it does not support advanced features such as Optane Memory or vPro Technology.

The B365 chipset is an entry-level option for basic users who do not need any overclocking or advanced features and just want a cheap motherboard for their i7-9700k processor.

H310 Chipset

The H310 is the most affordable chipset option but with limited features:

• No overclocking support: Like the other chipsets except Z390, the H310 chipset does not support overclocking the CPU or RAM, which means that you cannot increase their clock speed or voltage beyond their specifications. This may limit your performance potential and customization options.
• Only supports up to DDR4-2666 memory: Unlike the other chipsets, the H310 chipset only supports DDR4 memory speeds up to 2666MHz, and not higher. This means that you cannot use faster memory modules, even if they are compatible.
• Just 6 PCIe lanes from chipset: Like the B365 chipset, the H310 chipset provides just 6 PCIe 3.0 lanes from the chipset, which are shared among other devices such as USB ports, SATA ports, and M.2 slots. These PCIe lanes are in addition to the 16 PCIe lanes that the CPU provides directly. Having just 6 PCIe lanes means that you have very limited options to connect devices and peripherals to your motherboard, and you may experience very low bandwidth or performance if you use multiple devices that require PCIe lanes.
• Basic power design and components: The H310 chipset has a very basic power design and components, which may not be able to deliver stable power to the CPU under heavy load or stress. This may affect performance and stability.

The H310 chipset is a very budget-oriented option for basic users who do not care about any features or performance and just want the cheapest motherboard for their i7-9700k processor.

Conclusion

The Intel Core i7-9700k is an excellent 8-core chip with effective Hyper-Threading and an unlocked base multiplier for overclocking. Moreover, this processor can reach up to the 5.0GHz clock speed if your system has the best motherboard for i7 9700k. But finding a compatible one isn’t easy since there are so many motherboards in the market that confuse us when choosing one. Therefore, we have tested and reviewed some best-suiting motherboards in this post with their pros and cons for your ease. 

Suppose you’re looking for a best-value motherboard. The Gigabyte Z370 Aorus Gaming 7 or ASUS Prime Z390-A is perfect for you. On the other hand, you can check the MSI MPS Z390 Gaming Pro Carbon for all-rounder utility or the MSI MEG Z390 Godlike in case you want to build a top-tier gaming PC with every possible option. Moreover, compact-PC builders can check out the ASUS Rog Strix Z370-G Gaming, a micro ATX motherboard, and ASUS Rog Strix Z390-I Gaming, a mini ITX motherboard. For more, you must check the list.