7 Best Motherboards For i9-12900K in 2023
Motherboards For i9-12900K: The Intel Core i9 processor is one of the most influential mainstream processors available. Being a mainstream processor, you will find it on many gaming computers and productivity computers.
Although it is a powerful processor, it is not the most efficient for power consumption. That doesn’t mean that you can’t use it to build a powerful computer. The most important thing is selecting the correct motherboard.
This blog has all the information you need to build a powerful computer while keeping the power consumption as low as possible. This blog gives you a list of the best motherboards to use with the i9 12900K.
Our Best Motherboards for i9 12900K
| 1 | ROG Maximus XIII Hero (Wi-Fi 6E) Z590 LGA 1200 | View On Amazon |
| 2 | GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS Master | View On Amazon |
| 3 | MSI MEG Z590 GODLIKE Gaming Motherboard | View On Amazon |
| 4 | ASUS TUF Gaming Z590-Plus Wi-Fi 6 LGA 1200 | View On Amazon |
| 5 | GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS ELITE AX | View On Amazon |
| 6 | MSI MEG Z490 ACE Gaming Motherboard | View On Amazon |
| 7 | ASUS TUF Gaming B550-PLUS Wi-Fi II AMD AM4 | View On Amazon |
7 Best Motherboards For i9-12900K
1. ROG Maximus XIII Hero (Wi-Fi 6E) Z590 LGA 1200
The Maximus XIII Hero Wi-Fi 6E motherboard is designed to unleash the full performance potential of 11th Gen Intel Core CPUs and Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) technology, delivering faster speeds and a higher range. It has been optimally crafted to provide full power delivery, an integrated and robust platform and cutting-edge features, including ASUS Aura RGB lighting, to elevate gaming.
With its exceptional gaming potential, the ROG Maximus XIII Hero delivers powerful computing performance through various features. Whether your gameplay style is competitive or casual, this motherboard has you covered with a full suite of gaming-grade connectivity and multimedia features.
This motherboard gives you a choice to have multiple network connections to connect up to four devices simultaneously, including 4 x Intel 2.5Gbps 802.11ac wireless AC network cards. The onboard Gigabit LAN also enhances connectivity, Bluetooth 4.2, USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C port and HDMI 2.0b port. You can also enjoy seamless game streaming using NVIDIA GameStream technology.
ROG Maximus XIII Hero gives you the power to overclock the processor to unleash the full potential of its performance while providing premium cooling with an intelligent fan controller. Thanks to the AI overclocking technology, this motherboard offers optimized settings based on your gameplay or your application usage patterns, giving you the best possible performance when you need it.
With an array of intuitive features, the Maximus XIII Hero includes an onboard RGB LED header and Aura Sync lighting to enhance your gaming experience. Many unique features provide gamers with conveniences, such as ASUS-exclusive AI Boost and GameFirst III, to ensure smooth gameplay.
Pros:
- Powerful fast
- Best for Gaming
- Excellent layout
- 4x M.2 slots
Cons:
- Only a single M.2 slot.
2. GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS Master
Gigabyte AORUS Z590 has impressive features such as Intel Optane Memory Ready, Wireless 6E, Tri-m.2/PCIe 4.0/USB 3.2 Gen2X2 Type-C/Intel Wi-Fi 6E, AQUANTIA 10GbE LAN and Gaming motherboard. This AORUS Z590 motherboard supports up to three M.2 SSDs and two M.2 PCIe SSDs, giving you plenty of storage options for any workloads you may be running in this form factor.
With this motherboard, you can add eight SATA III connectors for your existing hard drives. It is not just the hardware that matters. It is also about software, drivers and applications. In other words, the software is the best weapon to boost productivity. The software needs to work well with this motherboard. I will show you how to install some software, drivers, games and more on Gigabyte Z590 AORUS Master.
The Z590 is one of the newest motherboards based on AMD Ryzen 3000 series chips with 10th and 11th Gen Intel Core processors. You can see the power of a dual graphics card configuration here – you have a full PCIe 4.0 x16 slot to use the latest 10G graphics cards. In addition, you also have 4x M.2 slots and 3x M.2-to-SATA slots to plug in SSDs or other high capacity drives.
For VR gamers, there are 6 total USB 3.2 Gen2 ports for connecting various peripherals, and the board has 1 front panel USB 3.2 Gen1 port. For the price of this motherboard, it is a compelling choice. This motherboard is ideal for any user who plays at 1080p or above.
It is also great for those who play more demanding games like Skyrim or Doom with lots of particle effects. With an extra 120W power delivery, you won’t have any trouble powering all your gaming gear. The present invention relates to determining an object size and a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device using the same.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for detecting an object by sensing the light reflected from the surface of the object and a method for detecting an object in which the object is detected based on the detected size of the object.
Pros:
- Powerful processing
- Hardware compatible
- Ultra-fast Wi-Fi 6.
Cons:
- A bit pricey
3. MSI MEG Z590 GODLIKE Gaming Motherboard
MSI MEG Z590 Godlike Gaming motherboard is designed for extreme gaming performance at a great price. This motherboard supports PCIe Gen 4, dual-channel memory DIMMs with speeds up to DDR4-6400MHz, and up to 10 SATA III ports. It offers up to an extra 4GB of RAM on each channel with the fastest DIMM.
It includes 4 X-shaped M.2 slots (SATA III), an 8-pin power connector and audio jack, Gigabit Ethernet and four USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports. The motherboard features an Intel® Xeon® processor with overclocking options. Other hardware components include high-grade VRMs and a new-generation dual BIOS chip for extreme gaming performance and ease of use.
The motherboard supports Wi-Fi 6E and Mystic Light RGB LEDs with 4 modes (Static mode, Random mode, Pattern mode, Strobe mode). It also supports PCIe 4 Gen 4×4 slots for maximum expansion. This motherboard comes with 4 x PCIe 4 Gen4 slots, supports PCI-E 4 Gen4, dual-channel memory DIMMs with speeds up to DDR4-6400MHz, and up to 10 SATA III ports.
It also supports the latest Intel X299 chipset and NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ series graphics cards. The motherboard provides an upgraded core and memory Boost function, which can effectively increase the performance of the CPU. MSI MegaZ590 GODLIKE is the perfect PC to build an ultra-fast system with high-end components to enjoy a next-gen gaming experience.
With its massive power delivery design, 16+1+1 DDR4 support, dual 8-pin CPU power connectors, Core Boost, DDR4 Boost and lightning-fast Gen4 graphics, this is the ultimate system to have and play next-gen games on. It also features dual M.2 slots that support SLI and CFX configurations.
This motherboard gives you an exceptional cooling performance without overheating issues with its premium thermal solution. The Gigabyte® Z390 AORUS™ motherboard provides gamers with the ultimate gaming experience, including an upgraded UEFI BIOS, a unique Lightning Gen 4 x4 M.2 feature, dual 8-pin power connector options, premium thermal solution and more.
Pros:
- Best processor
- Extra slot for memory
- 2.5G Ethernet
- 4 PCIe x16 slots
Cons:
- Heating issue
4. ASUS TUF Gaming Z590-Plus Wi-Fi 6 LGA 1200
The ASUS TUF Gaming Z590-Plus offers everything you need to build a premium PC. With its enhanced power solution, high-end gaming audio, Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 wireless networking, and dual M.2 slots, you have everything you need for high-performance gaming on top of excellent support for PCIe 4 and future technologies.
You must choose a motherboard with the proper connectivity for gaming and the latest technology. A new Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 (802.11ax) wireless LAN technology provides up to three times faster Wi-Fi speeds than existing products and is backwards compatible with older protocols. This will enable you to play your favourite games at lightning-fast speeds.
I recommend the ASUS TUF Gaming Z590-Plus ATX Gaming Motherboard for optimum cooling performance. With 14+2 power phases, the motherboard has the highest total power capacity in its class to ensure your CPU does not overheat even under extreme conditions.
To support all the high-end peripherals and graphics cards needed for gaming and overclock, this motherboard features Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 (802.11ax), PCIe 4.0, Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C, Aura RGB, and more. You can also install 3xM.2 / NVMe drives on the back panel to increase storage capacity while keeping the profile of the board small. And you can finally achieve the fastest speeds when using the onboard USB 3.2 front panel Type-C header.
It is also essential to choose a motherboard with fast networking support. The ASUS TUF Gaming Z590-Plus ATX Gaming Motherboard has Intel I225-V 2. Designed to unleash the maximum performance of 11th Gen Intel Core processors.VRM heatsink, PCH fanless heatsink, M.2 heatsink, hybrid fan headers and Fan Xpert 4 utility
Pros:
- 5x hardware protection
- Easy to configure
- Efficient design with high-quality materials
- Excellent cooling performance
Cons:
- The design is not very attractive
5. GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS ELITE AX
The Gigabyte Z590 AORUS Elite AX supports the newest 10th generation Intel Core series processors and features ultra-high performance dual-channel memory and the latest digital power delivery solutions. This Z-series board supports multiple display connectivity through its three M.2 sockets.
Two of them are equipped with the latest M.2 NVME PCIe x4 M.2 SSD interface to help provide blazing-fast storage speeds. Gigabyte has also equipped this motherboard with a robust feature set that includes triple M.2 sockets for additional expansion possibilities, Intel® Wireless Wi-Fi 6 AX, Direct X™ 12 for the enhanced gaming experience, USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, audio enhancements, and more. Gigabyte Z590 is a high-end gaming motherboard it supports the newest technologies in the market.
This motherboard supports up to six hard drives, supports multiple storage solutions like NVMe SSD, and supports quad-channel memory of 128GB per channel. Besides, this motherboard can support up to 32 GB of high-speed RAM. With the latest X99 chipset, Gigabyte is one of the motherboard industry.1.
The essential part of any motherboard is the thermal design. Heat dissipation is critical in determining how good a motherboard can perform. When it comes to the CPU, it all starts with the CPU itself, and the heatsink is one of the first parts of the entire system. Once a heatsink has a good airflow coming out of it, it’s usually only a matter of time before you start seeing the solid overclocking performance.
If you don’t have adequate cooling, your CPU will never overclock well. I’d also recommend a 60A phase power design on the motherboard. Gigabyte uses some excellent materials and designs when creating its motherboards. Their Z series boards have better cooling capabilities than their previous Z370 boards.
The Z390 was a great release, but I prefer this new design, even though it’s more expensive. My biggest complaint about this board is that it does not have an audio codec on board, so I’m using my AudioEngine Z270 for now.
There are a few other features that are worth mentioning. One is that there is dual-channel memory. Most motherboards only support a single channel memory, and that’s fine. Still, you may run into some odd behaviour if you need to buy more RAM. So, having dual-channel support means you can run 2x.
Pros:
- Extra Fast
- High-quality, solid PCB
- Excellent layout
- Easy to configure
Cons:
- Only a single M.2 slot.
6. MSI MEG Z490 ACE Gaming Motherboard
MSI MEG Z490 ACE is one of the best motherboards available today, featuring dual M.2, Wi-Fi 6, and Killer E2500 NICs. Also equipped with triple turbo M.2 slots and 802.11ac wireless card. You can configure it as the ultimate gaming motherboard.MSI Mega Z490 ACE has one of the best features, including Zero Frozr technology and Frozr Heatsink, both designed for high-performance heat dissipation. The fan doesn’t
need to turn on during heavy loads with zero frozen technology, saving energy consumption. The Frozr heatsink with double ball bearing design and large aluminium fin array makes sure the heat will be effectively dissipated and will give you the performance you deserve.
The pre-installed I/O shield makes your motherboard highly reliable and gives you peace of mind. No worry about being damaged by the electrostatic charge. This motherboard comes with the Intel® 10th Gen CPU, making it a good choice for gamers who need extra performance, including high memory and PCI-E 4.0 support. You can also use this motherboard with Windows 10 and its latest update, which can help you take full advantage of its new features. This motherboard provides three USB 3.2 Gen.
MSI has always been known as a solid motherboard provider. The MSI MEG Z490 ACE Gaming Motherboard (ATX, 10th Gen Intel Core, LGA 1200 Socket, SLI/CF, Triple M.2 Slots, USB 3.2 Gen 2, Wi-Fi 6, Mystic Light RGB) is no exception. It’s their best-selling motherboard, with more than 10 million units sold in just four years. It’s not hard to see why they were able to sell so many. It’s an excellent board.
One thing I’ve noticed, though, is that the MSI MEG Z490 ACE Gaming Motherboard (ATX, 10th Gen Intel Core, LGA 1200 Socket, SLI/CF, Triple M.2 Slots, USB 3.2 Gen 2, Wi-Fi 6, Mystic Light RGB) isn’t that much different from the previous generation. Sure, it has improved graphics support, but there’s not too much new here, and the one feature that does stand out a bit is the Mystic Light RGB.
For starters, let’s go through everything this motherboard has. It supports 10th Generation Intel Core / Pentium Gold / Celeron Processors for LGA 1200 socket. That’s the same processor series you’ll find in most mid-range laptops. The boards also support dual.
Pros:
- Powerful
- Stable and Reliable
- A fully modular design allows for easy upgrades
Cons:
- Extremely high price.
7. ASUS TUF Gaming B550-PLUS Wi-Fi II AMD AM4
ASUS has released some great motherboards in the past few years. The Asus TUF Gaming B550-Plus motherboard is no different. It has everything a gamer could want aboard, from the design to the features. This board was designed explicitly for 3rd Generation AMD Ryzen CPUs. The socket is designed to support up to 8th Gen AM4 chips, but these will be supported later. It also supports DDR4 up to 2666 MHz and even Z270 chips, which AMD does not yet support.
This board will be a significant upgrade if you already have an older CPU. The board is built with a robust power delivery system. It’s got 8 power stages on the power circuit and comes with over 200-watt thermal paste. The power stages are rated at 80-85 amps, which is plenty for the CPU.
It is fanless, so it doesn’t need a constant airflow to keep cool. Instead, it uses a heat sink to keep the area around the power stages cool. As long as your CPU doesn’t have extreme cooling needs, the board will handle it. The heatsink design is very effective. The board also has several fan headers, so you can use a couple of fans if you need more cooling for specific components.
AMD AM4 Socket and PCIe 4.0: The perfect pairing for 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen CPUsRobust Power Design: 8+2 DrMOS power stages with high-quality alloy chokes and durable capacitors to provide reliable power for the last AMD high-count-core CPUsOptimized Thermal Solution: Fanless VRM and PCH heatsink, multiple hybrid fan headers and fan speed management with Fan Xpert 4 or the UEFI Q-Fan Control utility high-performance Gaming Networking: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), 2.5 Gb LAN with ASUS LANGuard.
Pros:
- Heavy slots
- Excellent overclocking capabilities.
- Fantastic quality.
- Extra cool
Cons:
- Heating issue
Buying Guide
In contrast to a PC case, a single unit that encloses your computer’s components, a motherboard is a multi-unit assembly that includes a processor, RAM, expansion cards, and other components. The motherboard is the base unit of the computer, and it’s the only component that holds all of the components together. That’s why it’s an essential component of your computer.
A motherboard is usually the most expensive component of your computer, so choosing the best motherboard for your needs is imperative. If you’re looking for the best motherboard for your budget, you can check out our motherboard guide. However, if you’re looking for the best motherboard for gaming, you’ll need to look at the motherboard features.
Motherboard Features
The features you want to look for in a motherboard are determined mainly by the type of games you plan to play. For example, if you’re a hardcore gamer, you’ll probably want a motherboard to handle the most demanding games. However, if you want to play casual games, you may be OK with a less powerful motherboard. Let’s look at some of the features you’ll want to look for in a motherboard.
A Processor
The processor is the essential part of your computer, so you’ll want to make sure you choose a motherboard that can handle your processor. In most cases, you can choose a motherboard that supports your processor without buying a new processor. However, if you’re looking for the best motherboard for gaming, you’ll need to look at the processor speed.
Processor Frequency
The core is the central processing unit of the processor, and the frequency is the speed at which it operates. For example, the Intel Core i5-9400 is a six-core processor with a base frequency of 3.6 GHz. It’s also a 6-core processor with a base frequency of 3.6 GHz.
Memory
The amount of RAM you have in your computer is one of the most critical factors in your computer’s performance. However, there’s a big difference between the amount of RAM you can add to your motherboard and the amount of RAM you can add to your computer.
Storage
One of the essential features of a motherboard is its storage capabilities. Most modern computers come with a hard drive, and that’s because a hard drive is the most common type of storage. However, you can also add an SSD or a hybrid drive to your computer, basically a combination of an SSD and a hard drive.
Video Card
Video cards are a must for a high-performance gaming PC. The graphics card is what processes the game data, so it’s essential to choose a motherboard that can handle the most demanding graphics cards. If you’re looking for the best motherboard for gaming, you’ll want to check out the video card.
Conclusion
The best motherboards for i9 12900K processors support this processor’s specific features. For instance, the ASUS ROG STRIX Z390-F GAMING motherboard supports the latest Intel Core processors, including the i9-12900K. It also supports dual M.2s, LANs, and the newest 802.11ad Wi-Fi standards. This motherboard is an excellent fit for the i9-12900K.