Table of Contents
Introduction
The first motherboard was sold back in 1981; technology has come a long way since then! The International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) invented it for their first personal computers. You do not have to be a technology aficionado to know what a motherboard is and how essential it is for our treasured laptops and PCs. It is the most delicate piece of technology placed into devices and the motherboard tends to be the most expensive part of a computer as well.
This simple guide has the latest top picks of motherboards for the i7-9700K. For all the readers who are still wondering what a motherboard is, it is mainly composed of two materials: layers of fiberglass for insulation and copper to create conductive pathways. The motherboard is the backbone of the computer. It works together with the Central Processing Unit (CPU).
The motherboard contains various slots, and you put all the connectors and electronics into them. It is the largest Printed Circuit Board (PCB) inside the device. It connects all the various components of the computer for a smooth performance. A motherboard’s main task is to make sure that all signals go to the right place and everything is stored where it is supposed to be without causing any interruptions.
Computer parts, like the GPU, SSD, and CPU, simply would not function precisely if it were not for the motherboard. The whole motherboard functionality is crucial for a computer to work properly. A motherboard can last between 10-20 years of use if you use it carefully.
Motherboard Requirements of an i7 9700K Processor
In the world of technology, there are a great number of options for processors, but Intel’s Core i7-9700K knocks the rest to the ground. This is an 8-core and 8-thread processor that provides great performance. It provides almost the same performance in games as the Core i9-9900K at a significantly lower price while consuming less power.
You can further overclock the 9700K to almost 5.1Ghz, which provides considerable performance advancements in rendering and gaming alike. Intel’s Core i7-9700K should be a top pick for any enthusiast looking to play modern AAA gaming titles.
i7 processors have Hyper-Threading. Hyper-Threading is the term used for simultaneous multithreading (SMT). This is a procedure where a CPU splits each of its physical cores into virtual cores, which are known as threads. Hyper-Threading permits each core to do two things concurrently. It boosts the CPU performance by enhancing the processor’s proficiency.
i7 processors contain more cache capacity, have faster turbo boost, and better onboard graphics; hence, they require a compatible motherboard. The only socket compatible with an i7-9700K is the LGA 1151, which you can find on the Intel 300 series of motherboards. Various 300 series motherboards do not support the 9th generation chipset out of the box; therefore, this necessitates a BIOS update. BIOS updates are important if your motherboard is outdated, these updates help in fixing bugs, etc.
The Picks: 5 Best Motherboard for i7 9700K
Gigabyte AORUS H370 Gaming 3 WIFI
The AORUS H370 Gaming 3 WIFI supports the 9th and 8th Generation Intel Core processors. This gives the consumer an option to use this motherboard for their device.
It contains dual-channel unbuffered DDR4 (non-ECC). ECC means Error Correction Code. Memory in conjunction with it helps look through the data and if there have been any errors, it corrects them and stores data properly. ECC memory is inbuilt only for servers and is not essential in average PCs. It also reduces the performance of the device. Hence, it does not contain ECC which gives it a boost in performance.
This motherboard has a PWM design, together with fully external pin-strap resistors that provide a recognizable engineering design flow and eradicate the need for non-volatile memory. It also contains a thermal guard which protects the device from overheating. Moreover, it contains smart fans with many temperature sensors which help the device from overheating as well.
The H370 AORAS Gaming 3 Wi-Fi also gets massive operating of RGB LEDs, both in the shape of onboard lighting and external device headers. External headers consist of a set of RGBW headers and a set of addressable LED strip headers.
Key Features
- Supports the 9th and 8th Generation Intel® Core™ Processors.
- It has unbuffered DDR4 and dual-channel non-ECC
- Intel® CNVi 802.11ac Wave2 along with 2T2R WIFI
- Brand-new Hybrid Digital PWM Model
- Intel® Native USB 3.1 Gen2 with USB Type-C™ and Type-A
- Intel® GbE Local Area Network with cFosSpeed Internet Accelerator Software
- High-Class Audio Condensers and Audio Noise Guard as well as Path Lighting of LED Trace
- SATA interface along with PCIe Gen3 X4/X2 (1 with Thermal Guard) Dual M.2
- Gen1 USB Type-C™ USB 3.1 of Intel
- Digital LED Light design of RGB FUSION 2.0, digital LED & RGB LED strips supported
Pros
- Dual-channel memory support
- Has Intel Wi-Fi
- PCIe Gen3 along with dual ultra-fast M.2
- RGB LEDs
- Good connectivity with USB Type-C and USB 3.1
- Supports AMD CrossFire
Cons
- Low memory speeds
- Does not support memory overclocking
- Does not support Nvidia SLI
Verdict
The AORUS H370 GAMING 3 WIFI contains enough PCIe lanes to support AMD CrossFire and 2 M.2 SSDs in RAID. As it is an H370 motherboard, it might require a BIOS update to support the i7-9700K processor. The processor can be overclocked with adequate cooling.
The memory supported only goes up to 2666 MHz, which may result in slow memory performance. The price to performance of this product is not great. Overall, it performs okay and there are other, superior options available for the same price range with much-improved specifications as well. This card is recommended for those who don’t need memory overclocking.
Gigabyte AORUS Z390 Xtreme Waterforce
Like many other motherboards, Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce also supports both 9th and 8th Core Processors from Intel. It also contains non-ECC unbuffered dual-channel DDR4. ECC memory is only for servers and is not a necessity in normal PCs. It also brings down performance a little bit. Hence, it does not contain ECC which gives it a boost in performance.
It has an onboard Intel CNVI 802.11ac which gives it faster speed, better coverage, and a larger capacity. It also contains smart fans to help make sure that the device stays cool and does not reach high temperatures. The water-cooling thermal design is made up of thermal conductivity pads with nanocarbon baseplate which further assures cool temperatures. It is the first motherboard that contains water-coolants.
Key Features
- 9th and 8th Gen Intel® Core™ Processors (socket 1151) supported
- Non ECC dual-channel DDR4 (unbuffered) as well as 4 DIMMs
- Digital VRM 16 Phase IR Solution with PowIRstage
- Intel Optane Memory Ready
- 802.11ac Intel CNVI 2×2 2 Wi-Fi Wave with AORUS Antenna
- AQUANTIA® 10GbE BASE-T LAN, Intel® Gigabit LAN cFosSpeed
- Thunderbolt™ 3
- Overclocking touch for case modders and overclockers; Fan Commander RGB supported
- Triple Thermal Guards for PCIe Gen3 x4 interface and M.2 Ultra-Fast
- Fast charging support with Turbocharger USB for mobile gadgets
- USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C™ Header
- Multi-zone addressable LED design for RGB Fusion 2.0, support LED & RGB LED strips
Pros
- Overclocking support for dual-channel memory
- Supports water cooling
- High-definition audio
- 10 Gigabit and 1 Gigabit LAN
- Front USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C™ Header
- Supports NVIDIA SLI and AMD CrossFire
Cons
- Expensive
- Not recommended for non-water-cooled builds
Verdict
The AORUS Z390 Xtreme Waterforce is a powerful motherboard as it has 10 Gigabit and 1 Gigabit LAN as compared to all other motherboards which only have 1 Gigabit LAN. This product has a state-of-the-art cooling mechanism that keeps the temperature low. It also supports memory overclocking, which results in good, smooth performance.
The consumer gets great connectivity with Thunderbolt 3. This product supports AMD CrossFire as well as NVIDIA SLI, which only a handful of motherboards have the option of. This product may be heavy on the pocket, but it does pack a punch. This motherboard is recommended for technology enthusiasts who need to overclock their memory and can afford this product.
ASRock Motherboard Z390 PRO4
The ASRock Motherboard Z390 PRO4 has a lot of graphics output options, providing consumers with many connectivity options. This motherboard supports DDR4 at 4300MHz+ (overclocking) which helps it with smoother and better device performance.
This motherboard also contains various USB ports/slots, which helps the consumer as they have more options to choose from. It also contains 6 SATA3 (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) ports; SATA3 is an interface for transferring data between a computer’s central circuit board and storage devices. This also helps to ensure that the data is transferred safely and is stored where it is required.
Key Features
- Power Phase Design 10
- DDR4 4300MHz+ (OC) supported
- 2 PCIe 3.0 x16, 3 PCIe 3.0 x1
- CrossFireX™ as well as AMD Quad CrossFireX™
- 6 SATA3, 2 Ultra M.2 (PCIe Gen3 x4 & SATA3)
- Intel® Gigabit LAN
- Various output graphics options: HDMI, DVI-D, D-Sub
- 2 USB 3.1 Gen2 (Rear Type-A & C), 6 USB 3.1 Gen1 (4 front, 2 rear)
- 7.1 Ch high-definition audio, ELNA audio caps
Pros
- Overclocking support for dual-channel memory
- 2 PCIe 3.0 x16, 3 PCIe 3.0 x1
- AMD Quad CrossFireX™ and CrossFireX™
- 2 Ultra M.2 (PCIe Gen3 x4 & SATA3) along with 6 SATA3
- Excellent connectivity
Cons
- No built-in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
- You need a BIOS update to use 9th Gen processors
Verdict
The ASRock Motherboard Z390 PRO4 is an early-mid range motherboard. It supports memory overclocking and AMD CrossFire which ensures better performance and more memory. It offers several PCIe lanes which result in faster speeds and better connectivity.
This product does not include built-in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, so the consumer may have to use an external chip for this purpose. This motherboard requires a BIOS update to use 9th Generation processors. Overall, it has good performance and is a good option for those who want to overclock their memory or processor.
Asus Prime B365M-A
The ASUS Prime B365M-A has ASUS OptiMem which ensures careful routing of traces and vias to preserve signal integrity for improved memory stability. It also has GPU temperature sensing for cooler gaming as well as flexible controls for ultimate cooling and quietness. This product has 5X Protection III, meaning it has safeguards for multiple hardware which translates to all-round protection.
There is an RGB LED strips onboard connector, that can be synced easily with hardwares that are Aura-Sync capable. The product also has supreme flexibility with native M.2 support to ensure lightning-fast storage speeds. It also supports 9th, 8th Intel as well as Pentium and Celeron processors, giving consumers more choices.
Key Features
- ASUS OptiMem
- 5X Protection III
- ASUS Aura Sync RGB
- Supports 9th and 8th Core™ Generation Intel® as well as Pentium® Celeron® processors
- Supports DDR4 Memory, up to 4400(OC) MHz
- Xpert 2+ Fan
- Fast connectivity
Pros
- Low cost
- Great value
- Dual-channel memory
- Decent connectivity for the price range
Cons
- Only 2666Mhz memory is supported
- No Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
Verdict
The Asus Prime B365M-A is a low-cost great-value motherboard that is recommended for consumers who are new to building their own computers. This product also supports dual-channel memory.
However, it does not support memory and processor overclocking. It also supports only 2666MHz memory. Since it does not support Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, you will require an external chip. This is an economical motherboard that has good overall performance.
MSI Z390-A PRO
The MSI Z390-A PRO contains dual-channel DDR4 memory with up to 4400MHz overclocking. This product also has different USB ports which help ensure that the connection does not get interrupted and has faster speed. It has a multi-Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) with steel armor PCI-E slots. It supports 2-way AMD CrossFire which is the ultimate GPU for gaming enthusiasts who have a lot of load on their devices.
The product has a state-of-the-art extended heatsink design, which, with an enhanced design, ensures that even high-end processors run at full speed. The audio boost results in great audio quality. This motherboard had a premium network solution from Intel for professionals and multimedia use. It ensures a secure, stable, and fast network connection.
Key Features
- M.2 turbo
- Runs at PCI-E Gen3 x4 amplifies presentation for NVMe based SSDs
- Core boost, DDR4 boost
- Extended design for heatsink
- Intel® LAN
- Multi-GPU
- Audio boost
- USB 3.1 Gen2 Intel Turbo
Pros
- Dual-channel DDR4 memory, up to 4400(OC) MHz supported
- Good quality connectivity
- Turbo M.2 runs at PCI-E Gen3 x4 plus boosts performance for NVMe centered SSDs
- Multi-GPU: With Steel Armor PCI-E slots, it supports 2-Way AMD CrossFire™
- Intel Turbo USB 3.1 Gen2 also powered by Intel USB 3.1 Gen2 controller
Cons
- Single M.2 slot
Verdict
The MSI Z390-A PRO is a mid-range motherboard. It supports dual-channel DDR4 memory and memory overclocking as well as processor overclocking. It has Multi-GPU which results in maximum performance as two graphic cards are built-in. Additionally, it has many PCIe Generation3 lanes which give it better speed and connectivity.
This motherboard also supports two-way AMD CrossFire. It has many slots for USB connections. The special heatsink design gives it an upper hand at keeping the temperatures low. It has 1 Gigabit LAN which is great for this price range. Furthermore, it can hold multiple SSDs. It has built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi; hence, you require no external chip. This product is relatively cheaper and performs perfectly. This product is recommended for consumers who need to overclock their memory.
What To Look for in an i7 9700K Motherboard
There are a few features that are very important to be supported by the i7-9700K motherboard.
Overclocking
Overclocking is the feature that overdrives and allows for a speed boost. With overclocking, you can have faster memory as well as, helping in amplifying the device’s performance by a lot. Overclocking is a great feature if you feel like giving the device a little boost and want to make the best out of the device.
It increases the computer’s processing rate, which helps it to execute numerous operations in a second. However, it also produces extra heat. Hence, they often need further cooling and care. While on this topic, the other important feature is that the i7-9700K motherboard should have thermal sensors that can alert the consumer when the device is getting heated up.
More Than One GPU Slot
Another important thing an i7-9700K motherboard should have is room for more than one graphic card. It actually depends on your usage type if you need more than one graphic card. However, tech enthusiasts appreciate it as they have better as well as a smoother performance with two graphic cards. Graphic cards are a specialized electronic unit that speeds up the formation and presenting of videos and images as well as animations in High Definition. The graphic card supports the Central Processing Unit (CPU) to perform other tasks easily.
The motherboard should be able to support both AMD’s CrossFire as well as NVIDIA’s Scalable Link Interface (SLI), which connects both the graphic cards to work together effortlessly. Graphic cards are very important for overall smoother and faster performance. While many consumers do not require two graphic cards, it is better to have that option available.
M.2 Slot
This next feature also depends on the consumer; the motherboard should have an M.2 slot. The M.2 slot is important to insert an SSD into. SSD stands for a Solid State Drive which works as a second storage unit and helps the device with storing data speedily and also gives more space in the device. The SSD provides great reliability as well as efficacy over hard disk drives. In addition to that, SSDs do not use any moving parts. Hence, they use comparatively less power which results in the prolonged battery life of the device. With a laptop, the consumer can have better battery life, and they also get more storage, as well as better overall laptop performance.
It all comes down to the preference of the consumer and their requirements in terms of upgrades or high performance.
Recommendation
We selected five top-of-the-list motherboards, but only one can be the ultimate motherboard for the i7-9700K processor. The criterion for selecting these five motherboards was established to allow for diverse price ranges and use cases.
Some might ask why we did not choose the Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce; that is because this is a high-end motherboard which not many people can afford. Hence, we chose the MSI Z390-A PRO. The other motherboards like the ASUS Prime B365M-A and ASRock Z390 PRO4 are fairly good, but they do not have one of the most basic requirements, i.e., built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth!
The AORUS H370 Gaming 3 Wi-Fi does not support memory or processor overclocking, which is quite important for smooth performance and decent memory storage. The AORUS H370 Gaming 3 WIFI and the Asus Prime B365M-A have a reduced amount of memory speed but considering they are motherboards for beginners, it is still tolerable.
After analyzing the motherboards under a microscope, we have concluded that the best motherboard for i7 9700K is the MSI Z390-A PRO. This motherboard is a mid-price range option, has many amazing features like two-way AMD CrossFire, and multiple M.2 SSDs. This product, the MSI Z390-A PRO, is comparatively cheap and operates seamlessly. The extended heatsink design works flawlessly to control the device’s temperature. It is a win-win product. Its price-to-performance ratio is unmatched by other motherboards.
Final Words
Buying a motherboard is no easy task, so we decided to help you out with a list of the best and latest motherboards in the market. Motherboards are extremely complex pieces of technology, and the whole functionality of the device is affected by the motherboards. Each of the products offers excellent concrete performance, and the gaming community loves them.
To help clear your confusion, we have also delivered our top choices in terms of performance, quality, and development. All these products are sleek and beautifully designed. We hope that this in-depth buyer’s guide will help you find the best motherboard that complements your needs.
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