The Intel i9-9900K is a new processor that will be released later this year. It’s the first mainstream consumer CPU with 8 cores, 16 threads and up to 5.0GHz clock speed. This means it has the power to handle just about any game you want to play, but it also comes at a price premium over other CPUs in its class.
The i9-10900k motherboard compatibility is a question that many people are asking. There are many different motherboards that are compatible with the Intel i9 10900K, but it can be difficult to find out which one is best.
We all know that despite AMD’s great 3rd Gen Ryzen processors, AMD couldn’t beat Intel’s i9 9900K in gaming no matter how many cores you used. Intel was and still is ahead in purely gaming tasks, and that’s a different matter that we recommend AMD’s 3rd gen processors over them due to their ability to compete head to head with Intel’s i9 9900K.
No other 12 core or 16 core CPU could match the Intel i9 9900K as the fastest gaming processor available. For $500, Intel has launched another gaming beast, the 9900K, which outperforms every other CPU ever produced by gaining 5-10% gaming performance in most instances.
Unlike the 9900K, which has eight cores and sixteen threads, the i9 10900K has ten cores and twenty threads, with base and turbo clock speeds of 3.70GHz and 5.30GHz, respectively. The CPU, on the other hand, now has Thermal Velocity Boost Frequency and Max Turbo Boost. The Thermal Velocity Boost Frequency is explained by Intel as follows:-
“Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost (Intel® TVB) is a feature that increases clock frequency above single-core and multi-core Intel® Turbo Boost Technology frequencies opportunistically and automatically based on how much the processor is operating below its maximum temperature and whether turbo power budget is available. The workload, CPU capabilities, and processor cooling system all influence frequency gain and duration.”
That said, the CPU requires a decent motherboard to reach excellent clock rates utilizing the TVBF, and don’t worry about the temps; they’re much lower than the i9 9900K and should be kept under control with adequate AIO cooling. You may learn more about it by watching Linus’ video below:-
Here are the top LGA 1200 motherboards for the i9 10900K that we suggest for optimal performance in 2020:-
Asus ROG Strix Z490-E Asus ROG Strix Z490-E Asus ROG Strix Z
Specs in a Nutshell:
14+2 power phases in VRM Supported RAM: 128GB, 4600(OC)MHz 3x PCI-E x16, 3x PCI-E x1 expansion slots 6 SATA ports, 2 M.2 ports
The finest Z490 motherboards are presently made by Asus, and this list includes three of the best Z490 motherboards for the i9 10900K. For the greatest performance per dollar paid, the Asus ROG Strix Z490-E is the cheapest and finest motherboard for i9. Despite the fact that the board is just $300, it is essentially the same as Asus’s $100 more costly Z490 Apex motherboard, which has a few additional functions.
It features a strong 16-phase VRM with excellent heatsinks and a copper heat pipe that extends all the way to the chipset. In addition, the board has RGB lighting built in, as well as RGB and ARGB connectors for connecting RGB devices and peripherals. It features three PCI-E x16 slots that can handle up to two-way SLI and three-way CrossfireX configurations.
A Q-LED LCD monitor and EZ debug LEDs are among the debugging tools aboard the board. However, there are no Power/Reset buttons on the device. However, it does provide a number of choices at the I/O, including a BIOS USB port and a BIOS Flashback button for quick BIOS updates.
It includes an integrated wifi adapter with Wifi 6 compatibility for internet connection, which is of course extremely popular in Z490 motherboards. Overall, given the money, this board is a great deal for an i9 10900K. If you go below it, you’ll have to sacrifice on a number of things, including your capacity to overclock.
What is it that is good?
- For excellent overclocking capabilities, 14+2 power phases are used.
- With a copper heat pipe, this VRM heatsink is very powerful.
- Error codes are shown on a Q-LED display.
- RGB lights built-in
- I/O has a number of USB ports.
- Support for Wifi 6
The Asus Maximus XII Apex is a smartphone by Asus (Best Affordable Choice Overall)
Specs in a Nutshell:
14+2 power phases in VRM Supported RAM: 128GB, 4800(OC)MHz 2x PCI-E x16, 1x PCI-E x1, 1x PCI-E x4 expansion slots 6 SATA ports, 3 M.2 ports
As I previously said, the Maximus XII Apex has a powerful 16 power stage VRM, which is comparable to the Z490 E. The heatsinks are also comparable. The design, on the other hand, is a bit different and has some useful improvements. For $400, the design is really distinctive and offers the most onboard features. This is the only motherboard you’ll need for advanced i9 10900K overclocking with extensive tweakings.
If anything goes wrong, the board contains a number of switches for turning things on and off. This allows troubleshooting to be done without having to restart everything. It includes a Q-LED display, Power/Reset buttons, a safe mode switch, MemOK!, Bios Flashback, Clear CMOS, Ln2 mode, Retry button, and other features.
It doesn’t lack in looks while having so many troubleshooting tools. There is a sick-looking parallel line design with RGB lights. There are 3x M on the board. Two SSD slots and two PCI-E x16 slots enable two-way SLI and two-way Crossfire X. It has Wifi 6 and an Intel 2.5Gbps LAN for internet connection.
There are two PS/2 ports on the I/O, which is due to Windows XP’s complete peripheral compatibility. Because it was designed to shatter overclocking records, Asus crammed every conceivable function onto it without overpricing it. If you’re looking for the best overall Z490 board for the i9 10900K, this is the one to buy. Only purchase a different board if you have extra money to spend on a more powerful VRM.
What is it that is good?
- For robust overclocking support, 14+2 power phases are used.
- With a copper heat pipe, this VRM heatsink is very powerful.
- There are many inbuilt troubleshooting features.
- RGB lights built-in
- PS/2 ports (two)
- Wifi 6 compatibility and a 2.5Gbps LAN port
AORUS XTREME Gigabyte Z490
Specs in a Nutshell:
14+2 power phases in VRM Supported RAM: 128GB, 4800(OC)MHz 2x PCI-E x16, 1x PCI-E x1, 1x PCI-E x4 expansion slots 6 SATA ports, 3 M.2 ports
Gigabyte also offers several excellent boards, but the Aorus Xtreme, which has some unique features found on just a few Z490 boards, is the most attractive. The board contains two LAN ports, one of which is a 10GbE port and the other a 2.5GbE port. This is insanely quick and incredible for high-speed internet. You also get an integrated Wifi adapter with Intel Wifi 6 compatibility in addition to these LAN connections.
For high-end overclocking that will be more dependable than overclocking on the two Asus boards mentioned above, the VRM features 16 power phases with 90A Smart Power Stages and Tantalum Polymer Capacitors Array. For passive cooling, they feature extremely thick heatsinks on top. It includes a copper heat pipe that is extremely thick, similar to the previous two boards, to cool down the VRM more efficiently, but it does not extend to the chipset, which I doubt will require it given the huge heatsink that covers half of the bottom part of the motherboard.
Onboard features include an LCD code display, Power and Reset buttons, an OC button, 2x Bios switches, and a Q-Flash Plus button and a Clear CMOS button for BIOS. The board features three PCI-E x16 slots for various GPU configurations, including two Nvidia SLI and two AMD CrossfireX configurations. Due to the aluminum cover that covers the majority of the PCB, the board has a clean appearance. It also has RGB lighting integrated in, which is to be anticipated given the $800 price tag.
This board is the best option for advanced and very powerful overclocking with the i9 10900K, but the main drawback is its price, which is very expensive when compared to the performance increase % it provides over the Apex.
Best USB Type C Cables (Related)
What is it that is good?
- Tantalum Polymer capacitors and 90A smart power stages are used in 14+2 power phases.
- Heatsinks with a copper heat pipe that are very dense
- With an aluminum cover that covers half of the PCB, this is a nice design.
- RGB lights built-in
- 2x LAN ports with a combined bandwidth of 10Gbps and 2.5Gbps
What isn’t it?
- Very costly, or you might argue overpriced
FORMULA ROG MAXIMUS XII FROM ASUS
Specs in a Nutshell:
14+2 power phases in VRM Supported RAM: 128GB, 4800(OC)MHz 3x PCI-E x16, 1x PCI-E x1 expansion slots 6 SATA ports, 3 M.2 ports
The ROG Maximus XII Formula, the big brother of the Z490 Apex, is intended to take overclocking to the next level with a strong VRM and water block architecture. This board has a 16-phase architecture that makes it simple to add a bespoke EK water loop. It’s identical to the Apex in most ways except that it includes two LAN ports, one of which supports 2.5Gb bandwidth and the other of which supports 10Gb bandwidth.
The Q-LED display, Power/Reset buttons, Retry button, Bios Flashback, and Clear CMOS button are among the sophisticated diagnostic capabilities. Apex, on the other hand, offers a few additional choices, which are mentioned above. I have no issues about this board since it is not as expensive as the Gigabyte Z490 Aorus Xtreme, which retails for $500. In terms of performance, it sits in between the Apex and the Aorus Extreme, and it should work well with the i9 10900K.
– Guide to Connecting Motherboard Cables
What is it that is good?
- Water block support for 14+2 power phases
- Onboard troubleshooting features are many.
- RGB lights built-in
- 2x LAN ports with a combined bandwidth of 2.5Gbps and 10Gbps
- Gigabyte Z490 Aorus Xtreme is more expensive.
Unify MSI MEG Z490
Specs in a Nutshell:
14+2 power phases in VRM Supported RAM: 128GB, 4800(OC)MHz 3x PCI-E x16, 1x PCI-E x1 expansion slots 6 SATA ports, 3 M.2 ports
The MSI MEG Z490 Unify is one of the finest inexpensive high-end boards for the i9 10900K. It has a 6 layer PCB design and a 16 power phase VRM architecture with a 90Amp smart power phase, which is great for overclocking. This is available on the $800 Gigabyte Aorus Extreme, however this board has certain limitations compared to the Aorus Extreme. However, at just $300, this is a motherboard that can possibly accomplish anything you desire.
The Q-LED display, EZ Debug LEDs, Power/Reset buttons, and Bios update and clear choices at the I/O are all standard onboard troubleshooting tools. It features 8 USB ports, including a Type C connector and a PS/2 port, providing more interoperability in a variety of situations. It also has a 2.5G LAN connector as well as Wifi 6 for internet access. It has everything except the RGB LEDs and the sophisticated VRM cooling system. The VRM’s heatsink, on the other hand, should be OK since it has a design that allows a lot of air to flow through it and a copper heat pipe linking the two aluminum heatsinks at the bottom.
It also includes 3x M.2 slots for fast storage devices, as well as 3x PCI-E x16 slots that enable 2 Way Nvidia SLI and 3 Way AMD CrossfireX. To be honest, choosing between this and the Asus Z490-E is tough, but I suggest this one since it has a little superior VRM for overclocking.
There are several other excellent MSI motherboards like this one that are expensive, such as the MSI Z490 Ace, which is almost similar to the Unify but has integrated RGB lighting and nothing else for an extra $100. As a result, it’s not worth it. Another monster motherboard with some excellent improvements is the MSI Godlike, but it costs a staggering $900+, so I don’t suggest it either.
– top motherboards for i5 10600K processor
What is it that is good?
- For more stable overclocking, there are 14+2 power phases with a 90Amp smart power phase.
- For just $300, this is a great option for the i9 10900K.
- All of the essential onboard features
- For internet connection, Wifi 6 is supported, as well as a 2.5Gbps LAN port.
Conclusion
You shouldn’t buy anything with a Z490 chipset if you’re buying a $500 CPU like the i9 10900K. A powerful VRM is essential for overclocking, and extreme overclocking will almost certainly result in issues that can only be resolved via the onboard diagnostic tools. To get the greatest potential performance, support for highly overclocked RAM is also necessary. The above-mentioned motherboards are the best for their prices, and I’ve provided reasons why you should choose them over the other boards, which should dispel any remaining doubts about motherboard selection. However, you can always use the comment section below if you have anything to say or if you have any questions.
The asus motherboard i9 10th gen is a great motherboard for the Intel i9 10900K. It has 16 cores and can support up to 64 GB of DDR4 RAM.
{“@context”:”https://schema.org”,”@type”:”FAQPage”,”mainEntity”:[{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”What is the best motherboard for Intel i9 10900K?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”
The best motherboard for Intel i9 10900K is the ASUS ROG Maximus XI Extreme.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Which motherboard is best for Intel Core i9 processor?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”
The motherboard you would need for the Intel Core i9 processor would be a high-end motherboard with a lot of power.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Is the i9 10900K the best?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”
It is not the best, but it is the fastest.”}}]}
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best motherboard for Intel i9 10900K?
The best motherboard for Intel i9 10900K is the ASUS ROG Maximus XI Extreme.
Which motherboard is best for Intel Core i9 processor?
The motherboard you would need for the Intel Core i9 processor would be a high-end motherboard with a lot of power.
Is the i9 10900K the best?
It is not the best, but it is the fastest.
Related Tags
- best motherboard for i9-10900k and rtx 3080
- i9-10900k motherboard combo
- best motherboard for i9-10900x
- intel core i9-10900f motherboard
- msi motherboard i9 10th gen