The processor becomes one of the most crucial PC components when it comes to playing games at high-resolution graphics settings or creating content. You won’t like to miss a single beat when overclocking your system at its peak potential or doing hefty multitasking. It’s only possible when your computer has a CPU like the Intel Core i7-9700k. Being part of the 9th-generation Coffee Lake family, it features 14nm lithography, an 8-core 8-thread combination, and an effective Hyper-Threading feature. In terms of value, it may not be as good as its closest competitor, AMD Ryzen 7 3700X, but it definitely gives intense competition for excellent performance.
In addition, it’s a “K” variant to achieve any clock speed between 3.6GHz base clock and 4.9GHz boost clock speed. But if there is a high-end cooler and the best motherboard for i7 9700k in your PC, you can achieve the 5.0GHz mark. Well, why is a motherboard so crucial? 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. You can get help from this post too. We have tested and reviewed several motherboards in this article. Read the buying, know your usage, check all the motherboards, and choose one.
Overclocking: Overclocking is the process of running a computer fast for the long term. This process is only possible if you have a good-quality CPU and motherboard. No doubt, the i7 9700K is one of the most powerful CPUs, but it can only be overclocked smoothly if a compatible motherboard complements it. So, choose a motherboard that has minor heat issues and more VRMs. It will positively impact your PC working.
Memory Speed: When you purchase a motherboard, don’t forget to check the maximum memory speed. Few motherboards only have 1000-2000 MHz, whereas some good options give up to 4500 MHz memory speed. However, it would be your personal choice if you want to choose 2 DIMM or 4 DIMM.
GPU Support: Before choosing a motherboard that can support a GPU that you want to use in the future. Some motherboards come with integrated GPUs, but such type of card doesn’t perform as outstandingly. For this purpose, you must install a high-quality graphic card that enables you to enjoy phenomenal gaming and other demanding tasks such as video editing.
SATA Ports: SATA ports connect storage and optical drives such as HDD or SSD. So, you must consider the SATA ports for all your drives. It would be good if your motherboard had a standard SATA 3.0 or SATA 6 gigabytes.
Networking/Connectivity: Ensure your motherboard has enough peripheral connections such as USB 3.0, USB Type-C, audio ports, graphic ports, and other needed connections. At the same time, wireless networking will be the cherry on the cake, like WIFI 6 and Bluetooth 5.0. An adequate number of ports and networks will make your PC usage commendable.
Quick Shopping Tips
Form factor: When choosing a motherboard, you have to decide and check the size of the motherboard. If you’re building a compact PC, you must select either a mini-ITX MOBO or a micro ATX motherboard. ATX motherboards are all-rounder options, while extended ATX motherboards are perfect for building a heavy-duty, more extensive computer for high-end utility.
Chipset and CPU socket: A chipset is like a dedicated processor on the motherboard, while a CPU socket is where a compatible processor will fit in. Intel 9th generation processors come with LGA1151 CPU sockets, so the motherboard must have a compatible socket platform to accommodate these. Remember, these 9th-gen chips work perfectly with the Intel 300-series motherboard chipsets.
Connectivity: Every motherboard comes with specific wired and wireless connectivity options. Ensure that there must be an adequate number of USB ports, PCIe connectors, and SATA connections for effective wired communication. In addition, make sure that the motherboard has onboard WiFi and Bluetooth if you prefer wireless connectivity.
Our Recommendations For Best Motherboard For i7 9700K
ASRock Z370 Extreme4
Best Z370 Motherboard For i7 9700k
Brand: ASRock | Chipset: Intel Z370 | Socket: LGA 1151 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory: 64 GB DDR4 | Memory Speed:4333 MHz
REASONS TO BUY
✓2x M.2 SATA slots
✓LED illumination
REASONS TO AVOID
✗No RGB
✗No inbuilt wifi
ASRock is a famous name among enthusiasts in manufacturing excellent high-end motherboards. One such is the ASRock Z370 Extreme 4 motherboard to get the most out of Intel’s 9th-generation processors. If we compare it with the MSI’s Z390 Gaming Pro Carbon, there is zero difference in performance, but it wins in terms of lesser price and better price-to-performance ratio. In short, if you are a user who wants a best-value motherboard with excellent performance, the Z370 Ext4 is for you.
This motherboard’s specifications are similar to the other Z370 motherboards in the ATX segment. You can run a maximum of 64GB DDR4 RAM at a 4333+ MHz of memory speed split on four memory DIMMs. There are all types of USB connections regarding wired connectivity: three PCIe 3.0 connectors, eight SATA 3.0 6Gb/s ports, and a pair of two M.2 slots. But the downside of this motherboard is that there is no onboard WiFi and Bluetooth support. The Gigabit LAN is there for networking purposes.
I’m sure you will enjoy the sound quality of the Realtek ALC1220 Audio Codec controller and get an enhanced gaming experience. Not only the best audio, but this motherboard features a 12-phase power design to effectively deal with the CPU’s overclocking potential. Additionally, the thermal management is also excellent, with a well-optimized design and an extended aluminum alloy heatsink. Moreover, you will enjoy looking at its black and grey design, especially when the onboard RGB lighting is turned on.
ASUS ROG Maximus XI Hero
Best ATX Motherboard for i7 9700k
Brand: ASUS | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Socket: LGA 1151 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory: 128 GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 2400 MHz
REASONS TO BUY
✓RGB shrouds
✓Built-in Wifi
REASONS TO AVOID
✗Expensive
You may be thinking that ASUS is a master in only designing PCs, laptops, and graphics cards, but not. You can also see the same brand’s masterful touch in the field of motherboards. For example, the ASUS ROG Maximus XI Hero is one of the perfect combinations of performance, all-rounder connectivity, and aesthetics in the 300-series category. In addition, the dual-GPU support makes it the ideal option for gamers, content creators, and other top-tier graphics enthusiasts.
Regarding memory specifications, you can fit four DDR4 DIMMs to make up to 64GB RAM and run it with 4400MHz of memory speed. Besides that, you get plenty of USB ports, six SATA 6Gb/s connectors, five PCIe 3.0 connections, and a pair of two M.2 connectors for expansion purposes. We don’t see many motherboards in this budget with wireless options. But this has WiFi 6 802.11AC support and Bluetooth, so you can connect different devices wirelessly and keep your desktop as clean as possible.
The cherry on top is the Intel Gigabit Ethernet controller with LANGuard technology for networking utility. Suppose you have the latest top-tier Intel 9th-generation CPU that can overclock to extreme limits. The 10-phase power design will support the overclocking performance in such a case. Also, the FanXpert 4 cooling technology will ensure an adequate temperature. Design-wise, the motherboard has an all-black PCB with ROG branding on the heatsink and four RGB headers.
ASUS ROG Strix Z390-I Gaming
Best Mini ITX Motherboard For i7 9700k
Brand: ASUS | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Socket: LGA 1151 | Form Factor: Mini ITX | Memory: 64 GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 2400 MHz
REASONS TO BUY
✓Aura Sync support
✓RGB shrouds
✓Inbuilt Wifi
✓USB Type-C port
REASONS TO AVOID
✗Expensive
✗No SLI support
✗No Crossfire support
✗Only 2 DDR4 RAM slots
The smaller-than-normal ITX estimated ASUS ROG Strix Z390-I Gaming is one of just a few Z390 motherboards to have an HDMI 2.0 video yield, and what’s more, it is a solitary DisplayPort. An Intel I219V Gigabit LAN port is available with radio wire connectors for the included 2T2R Wave 2 802.11ac Intel 9560 Wi-Fi connector. The USB looks somewhat dull, contrasted with the ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming-ITX/air conditioning with two USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-A, two USB 3.0 Type-A, two USB 2.0, and a solitary USB 3.0 Type-C ports; no USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C capacities by any means.
The completing contacts to the Strix Z390-I Gaming is a Realtek-based SupremeFX S1220A HD sound codec which controls the five 3.5 mm sound jacks and S/PDIF optical yield. The ROG logo adorns a thick aluminum M.2 shield with PCIe x4 and SATA-based M.2 drives. A front motherboard, USB 2.0, and a framework fan header are underneath it, the Front Panel sound is behind it, and two SATA 6 Gb/s ports are before it. The metal-protected PCIe x16 space more remote underneath it highlights four metal support pins to forestall harm while moving around finished frameworks that have overwhelming GPUs
A USB 3.0 front-board header, two SATA ports, a PC Speaker, a front-board switch/LED header, and the aforementioned addressable RGB LED connector are situated along the front edge underneath the 24-pin essential force jack. Over that jack, four status LEDs demonstrate the introduction of the boot gadget, designs gadget, DRAM, and CPU. It has two more fan headers found on either side of the “STRIX”- marked back voltage controller heat sink, and the front-board USB 3.1 header is pushed into the upper back corner. If you’re stressed over CPU cooler freedom, the top warmth sink ventures 27mm over the motherboard’s surface, around 20mm over the CPU, and the back sink stands 10mm higher.
Gigabyte Z370 Aorus Gaming 7
Best Value Motherboard For i7 9700k
Brand: Gigabyte | Chipset: Intel Z370 | Socket:LGA 1151 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory: 64 GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 2400 MHz
REASONS TO BUY
✓3x M.2 SATA slots
✓RGB support
REASONS TO AVOID
✗Expensive
✗No inbuilt wifi
Intel’s brand-new 8th-generation Coffee Lake-S processors are breaking records of the previous generation and beating the competition harder. But if you want to purchase a compatible motherboard, you may have to spend a lot of money. Gigabyte is one of the brands with a wide variety of motherboards for these chips, and Z370 must be your choice. You can pair these with the 8th-generation processors and the 9th-generation series for excellent performance.
You get a perfect mixture of robust performance, excellent overclocking, and eye-catching aesthetics to strengthen its positioning. The users can put up to 64GB RAM on its four DDR4 DIMMs and achieve up to 4133MHz of memory clock speed. Regarding connectivity, there are plenty of PCI 3.0 connectors, USB 2.0/3.1 ports, three M.2 connectors, and six SATA 6Gb/s slots. There is no WiFi and Bluetooth on the motherboard, but one Intel GbE LAN chip and a single Rivet Networks Killer E2500 chip are good news.
In addition, the 10-phase power design comes with all-digit pulse-width modulation, or PWM, controller, high-end chokes, and capacitors. Such a motherboard with sturdy power and an excellent thermal design lets you overclock the chip at its peak potential. Not only the design but its look is worth talking about. Overall, the design is clean and minimalistic, with a black, grey, and white color combination that looks eye-catching. For RGB enthusiasts, this motherboard features RGB Fusion LED lighting for more beauty.
MSI MPG Z390 Gaming Pro Carbon
Best Gaming Motherboard For i7 9700k
Brand: MSI | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Socket: LGA 1151 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory: 128 GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 4400 MHz
REASONS TO BUY
✓2x M.2 SATA slots
✓MSI Mystic light RGB
REASONS TO AVOID
✗Expensive
✗No inbuilt wifi
We have seen many ups and downs, mostly ups, in MSI’s MPG Pro Carbon series. Many of the products from this series became the dream for many users due to their all-rounder utility. One such motherboard is the MPG Z390 Gaming Pro Carbon which replaces the earlier-generation Z370 variant with a whole new level of performance and features. There isn’t much difference between the both in terms of price but a huge in their offerings. You get better design, connectivity, speeds, and overclocking.
You can pair all processors from the Intel 9th-generation stack via the LGA 1151 socket and enjoy excellent performance. Like most ATX motherboards, this features four DDR4 DIMMs to accommodate up to 128GB RAM and run it with a whopping 4400MHz memory speed. Regarding connectivity, this motherboard comes with five USB ports, six SATA 6Gb/s connectors, three PCIe 3.0 x16, three PCIe 3.0 x1, two PCIe 3.0 M.2 connectors, one HDMI, DisplayPort video output, and one Intel I219-V Gigabit LAN controller.
There is no WiFi and Bluetooth on this motherboard, but you can use the Pro Carbon-AC variant to get these wireless connectivity options. Further, the motherboard’s 11-phase VRM design is adequate to provide enough power to the 9th-generation chip when running at its full potential. Design-wise, the black, grey, and silver are mixed with each other to present an eye-catching view, especially when RGB lighting is turned on. MSI’s Mystic Light RGB lighting is utilized via one LED header and one RGB strip header.
ASUS ROG Strix Z370-G Gaming
Best Micro ATX Motherboard for i7 9700K
Brand: ASUS | Chipset: Intel Z370 | Socket: LGA 1151 | Form Factor: Micro ATX | Memory: 64 GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 4000 MHz
REASONS TO BUY
✓SLI Supported
✓Crossfire supported
✓3x M.2 SATA slots
✓RGB Aura Sync support
REASONS TO AVOID
✗Expensive
✗No inbuilt wifi
We have seen that tech enthusiasts are more focused on building compact but all-rounder PCs. This is because a small system looks great, plus it is easy to move from one place to another. If you’re one such enthusiast, we have the ASUS ROG Strix Z370-G Gaming for you. Although it has a micro ATX or mATX form factor, you get every feature like the typical ATX motherboard. You can overclock Intel’s 8th and 9th generation processors without compromising performance or power.
Regarding some necessary specifications, four DDR4 DIMMs on this motherboard can let you pair up to 64GB of RAM and run with a 4000MHz memory speed. Other than that, the motherboard has fourteen USB ports, six SATA 6Gb/s connectors, four PCIe 3.0, two PCIe 3.0 M.2 connectors, one HDMI, one DisplayPort, and five audio jacks. Sadly, there is no WiFi or Bluetooth on this motherboard. On the flip side, you can go for its high-end ROG Strix Z370-G AC WiFi version for these features for wireless communication.
In addition, an Intel 1219V LAN controller and the anti-surge LANGuard feature protect it from sudden power fluctuations. Interestingly, the 5-way optimization design of this MOBO is another good reason to go for it and expect excellent overclocking. Structure-wise, this motherboard has an extended heat sink on the 4-phase design, which is doubled to an 8-phase design using doubling power components. The power design and color scheme are also impressive.
MSI MEG Z390 Godlike E-ATX
Best Intel Motherboard for i7 9700K
Brand: MSI | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Socket: LGA 1151 | Form Factor: E-ATX | Memory: 128 GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 4600 MHz
REASONS TO BUY
✓3x M.2 SATA slots
✓RGB MSI Mystic light support
REASONS TO AVOID
✗Expensive
We now have a high-end motherboard, the MSI MEG Z390 Godlike, with an extended ATX form factor. This means that you will get a wide variety of options in almost every aspect. Yes, you heard right. This motherboard comes with plenty of PCIe connectors, a high-end memory storage facility, excellent audio, extreme overclocking, impressive power design, and more. However, you have to spend a lot of money too. It’s even pricier than the closest rival, Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Extreme.
Overall, this motherboard is for you if you want a top-tier platform to perform all the hefty load-intensive tasks like gaming or content creation. It’s here to take over Intel’s 8th and 9th generation processors with LGA 1151 CPU socket and Intel Z390 chipset. Regarding specifications, you can pair four DDR4 DIMMs to get up to 128GB RAM and run it at 4600MHz memory speed. Moreover, it has three M.2 slots, six SATA ports, four PCIe 3.0 x16, one PCIe 3.0 x1 connector, twelve USB ports, and more.
The motherboard has a dual KillerTM E2500 Gigabit LAN controller for networking and dual Realtek ALC1220 Codecs for excellent audio. The pre-installed Wireless module takes the wireless communication aspect in the M2_4 slot and supports dual-band WiFi and Bluetooth 5.0. Moreover, this motherboard has dual-GPU Nvidia SLI and quad-GPU AMD CrossFire support. Design-wise, this motherboard focuses on a clean black, grey, and silver color combination with eye-catching RGB lighting.
ASUS Prime Z390-A
Best Budget Motherboard for i7 9700k
Brand: ASUS | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Socket: LGA 1151 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory: 128 GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 2400 MHz
REASONS TO BUY
✓SLI Supported
✓Crossfire supported
✓Aura Sync support
✓Cheaper
REASONS TO AVOID
✗No RGB onboard illuminations
✗No inbuilt wifi
ASUS isn’t known for manufacturing high-quality laptops and PCs but also for its advanced motherboards. One such masterpiece is the ASUS Prime Z390, representing the brand’s mastery in this field. You can pair any of the processors from Intel’s 8th and 9th generation stack and get the peak performance. Suppose you are a heavy-duty gamer. In such a case, the motherboard’s multi-GPU support is beneficial. Overall, it’s a great option to build mid-tier gaming and content creation rigs with all-rounder utility.
Most of the specifications are similar to the other current-are ATX motherboards. You get the same four DDR4 DIMMs to build up 128GB RAM with up to 4266MHz memory speed. Additionally, the Intel extreme memory profile (XMP) can further enhance the clock speeds and stabilize the performance. There are fifteen USB ports, six SATA 6Gb/s connectors, and six PCIe 3.0/2.o ports, two M.2 Socket 3, one HDMI, and one DisplayPort video connector. In short, the wired connectivity is excellent.
This motherboard has a dual-LAN facility with one Intel 1219V and one Gigabit LAN controller with ASUS Turbo LAN utility and LAN Guard technologies. Sadly, you won’t be able to use onboard WiFi and Bluetooth for wireless connectivity. Other than the absence of wireless communication, all the rest of the critical features are available on this motherboard. Some other important aspects of this motherboard include a multi-layer PCB, enhanced power solution and thermal design, and clear audio output.
A quick intro to Intel Core i7-9700K
Intel Core i7-9700k is an excellent mainstream processor for mid-range gaming and content creation enthusiasts. It’s one of the chips in Intel’s 9th-generation Coffee Lake stack. For your information, it’s perfect for those users who want a one-step lesser performance than the i9-9900k processor at a reasonable price. This has an ideal combination of 8 cores and 16 threads but without Intel Hyper-Threading technology. Still, you can enjoy all the current-era games and do productivity tasks without lag.
Compared to the i7-8700k, the i7-9700k has a 100MHz lesser base clock, 3.6GHZ, than its ancestor but a 4.9GHz boost clock speed which is 200MHz higher. This processor can smoothly change the clock speed between both values, depending upon the load with its unlocked base multiplier. Some other necessary specifications include a 12MB Intel Smart Cache, dual-channel DDR4 RAM support, Intel UHD Graphics 630 built-in support, a 95W TDP value, LGA 1151 CPU socket support, and more in one spot.
In contrast, it has some downsides too. It lacks not only hyper-threading support but also PCIe 4.0 support, a stock cooler, and a heatsink. Suppose you want to utilize the processor’s peak performance potential. In such a case, you must pair a good-quality 300-series motherboard with this chip; go for Z390 for top-tier overclocking. If so, you can run the current-era 3D games at 1080p stable graphics resolution. But you can even get up to UHD gaming resolution using an excellent dedicated graphics card.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is i7-9700K compatible with motherboards?
Yes, the Intel Core i7-9700k is compatible with several motherboards. Remember, pair this chip with any good-quality motherboard with a 300-series chipset and the LGA1151 CPU socket. This way, you can get the most out of the processor without compromising performance or compatibility.
Is an i7-9700K a high-end CPU?
The Intel Core i7-9700k isn’t a high-end chip but an excellent mid-range mainstream CPU to deal with the current-era games at mid-tier settings. Even though it has 8 cores and 16 threads, it lacks to be in the high-end category since it lacks Hyper-Threading and PCIe 4.0 support.
How much RAM can an i7-9700K handle?
The Intel Core i7-9700k can handle DDR4 RAM up to 128GB with a memory clock speed of up to 2666MHz. In addition, you can put dual-channel memory kits with this processor and get a maximum of 41.6 GB/s memory bandwidth. Note that the i7-9700k doesn’t support ECC memory so avoid it.
What chipset does the i7-9700K use?
You can pair any motherboard with the Intel Core i7-9700k with an LGA 1151 CPU socket and a 300-series chipset. This way, you can utilize excellent CPU performance without worrying about compatibility issues.
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