The new halo i9-10900K ( Amazon ) from Intel has ten cores and 20 threads, two more than the previous i9-9900K, which had eight cores and 16 threads. Additionally, Intel has cut gen-on-generation prices in order to counteract AMD’s Ryzen CPUs, which now top our best gaming processors list and the CPU Benchmark Hierarchy.
The Core i9-10900K, Intel’s latest flagship CPU, is marketed as the world’s fastest gaming processor by Intel. There is a lot of that performance attributed to the processor’s additional cores, as well as the fact that it is pre-overclocked to an all-core speed of 4.9 GHz.
Despite Intel’s Core i9-10900K being able to outperform AMD’s Ryzen 9 3950X in terms of threaded performance, it still falls short. Because of this, the 10900K competes with the Ryzen 9 3900X in terms of both performance and price, but Intel’s CPU has a higher power consumption than any other major desktop processor in recent memory.
It is one of the best gaming processors in the world. It also offers excellent potential for overclocking. But, for better usability, you must have the right motherboard to extract the juice from the 10th Gen Intel processor. Therefore, we suggest you choose the best motherboard for i9 10900k.
There’s no doubt, the Intel Core i9 10900k has enormous overclocking potential. But, it double folds your gaming or editing experience with the right motherboard. It is one of the best processors and has already conquered the market with its incredible features.
With the introduction of this chip, Intel was able to compete on an equal footing with AMD. Intel can now compete on an equal footing with AMD’s high-end RYZEN 5800x processor. Seven per cent quicker octa-core speeds, 13 percent faster turbo frequencies, and 5 percent lower memory latency have all helped the business gain market share.
Most motherboard manufacturers have adapted and adjusted their motherboards to suit with i9 10900k as it needs a new LGA chipset. However, a range of motherboards does support this CPU. It is still difficult to count the number of different motherboards it can support. So, reading the guide will save you time.
Quick Shopping Tips:
Here are some key features that will help you decide what motherboard to buy for this particular CPU to make the best use of this powerful machine.
LGA socket: Socket support is very vital tochoicesLarge-sized fix choices for the particular processor in the motherboard. For Intel processors, you need to know that the motherboard shall have an LGA plug socket. LGA plug socket shall be following the CPU support. Intel i-9 10900K processor supports LGA 1200 socket.
Form factor: It is an essential factor to be considered while buying a motherboard. It covers many critical specifications like mounting hole locations and several ports. The most commonly used form factor is Advanced Technology Extended. E-ATX motherboards are even more significant than standard ATX motherboards. They are used for full tower CPU setup, while ITX can be used for small tower setup as it offers fewer expansion slots than the previous two.
PCI slots and Chipset: Chipset is responsible for the transfer of data from the motherboard to other components. Chipset and PCI slots determine the compatibility of a CPU with the motherboard. Now PCIe 4 is in the market, and new motherboards have started adapting to it. A good motherboard shall have good support for PCI slots.
RAM slots: It determines how much RAM a system can accommodate. Maximum RAM support of motherboards supporting the i9 10900K motherboard is up to 128GB. If the RAM support is extensive and extendable, we can extend it accordingly in the future, depending upon the requirements. So while selecting a motherboard, one shall choose a motherboard having more RAM support.
SATA and NVMe: NVMe is emerging as a faster and more reliable replacement for conventional SSD with the advancement in NAND technology. It is because it draws its power directly from the motherboard via M.2 ports. SATA enables mass storage devices. While buying a motherboard, one shall also consider how many M.2 slots and SATA ports it has to ensure maximum connectivity in the future.
Best Motherboards For i9 10900K at a glance:
- GIGABYTE Z490 AORUS Xtreme
- ASUS ROG Maximus XII Apex
- MSI MEG Z490 GODLIKE
- Gigabyte Z490 AORUS ELITE AC
- MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Edge WiFi
- ASUS Z490-E ROG STRIX GAMING
- ASUS ROG Strix Z490-G Gaming WiFi
- MSI MEG Z490I Unify
The Best Motherboards For i9 10900K You Can Buy Today
GIGABYTE Z490 AORUS Xtreme
Best Premium Motherboard for i9 10900K
SPECIFICATIONS
Socket: LGA 1200 | Chipset: Intel Z490 Express Chipset | Form Factor: E-ATX | Voltage Regulator: 16+1 | PCIe x16: 3 | USB Ports: 16 | Warranty: 3 Years
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Shielded Memory Routing
✓ Multiple Temperature Sensors
✓ Intel Thunderbolt 3 Onboard
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No PCIeX1 Slot
✗ No gold plated audio jacks
GIGABYTE Z490 AORUS XTREME is one of the best choices of motherboards. I worth saying as the Best Premium Motherboard for i9 10900K. Z490 AORUS Xtreme is a flagship motherboard of GIGABYTE. The design of PCI connectors is one-piece stainless steel to provide rugged connectivity to graphics cards. Talking about BIOS, it has a new user interface, storage information, and changelogs. This motherboard consists of full PCI 4.0 design, supports high-frequency memory, and offers full SSD thermal guards. It uses XTREME MEMORY technology to minimize the noise and reach the highest memory clock. All the memory routing is shielded for extra protection.
Being a flagship and best motherboard for i9 10900k, it offers a net generation network, storage, and Wifi connectivity. This board provides an AQUANTIA ethernet controller to grab media and gaming customers, which supports up to 10 GB of network connectivity. It also incorporates For hi-fi gaming experience. It offers powerful quality sound with its onboard sound card. Last but not least, the aesthetics are fantastic. In short, this machine is an all-in-one package, delivering maximum performance with eye-catching looks. The LED lights surrounding the motherboard can be controlled and customized by the user. It incorporates full RGB support, and Fusion 2.0 application gives full LED control to the user.
ASUS ROG Maximus XII Apex
Best Flagship Motherboard for i9 10900K
SPECIFICATIONS
Socket: LGA 1200 | Chipset: Intel Z490 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 16 | PCIe x16: 2 slots | USB Ports: 18 | Warranty: 3 Years
REASONS TO BUY
✓ 3 X M.2 SOCKET
✓ Multi-GPU SLI/CFX support
✓ Hardware-level overclocking controls
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No USB Controllers
✗ No Legacy Ports/Jacks
ASUS is a giant manufacturer of gaming products. ASUS ROG Maximus XII Apex is a top-notch platform for gaming and high-end graphics designing. It has proved itself as the Best Flagship Motherboard for i9 10900K. It offers an excellent margin to increase the performance of your PC with increased overclocking potential. AI overclocking ensures the optimal performance with record-breaking overclocking performance, equipped with an overclocker’s kit and condensation kit. AI cooling ensures the optimum operation of motherboard fans according to usage and climatic conditions. For the users who want to personalize their system, a unique X-shaped PCB lets you personalize and customize your system. The Q-code LED design displays system design.
It is equipped with the best thermal design to dissipate heat in the system and boost its performance as the i9 10900k motherboard. The thermal design consists of a VRM heat sink, C-shaped heat pipe, solid steel backplate, and M.2 slots heatsink. The fastest connectivity is ensured by Inten 2.5G ethernet. It has a RESET button that can hard reset the PC with just one touch. There is an LN2 mode by which we can enable unique options for liquid nitrogen clocking. The slow mode switch reduces the CPU ratio to 8X to bypass benchmark passages.
MSI MEG Z490 GODLIKE
Best Overall Motherboard for i9 10900K
SPECIFICATIONS
Socket: LGA 1200 | Chipset: Intel Z490 | Form Factor: E-ATX | Voltage Regulator: 16+1+1 | PCIe x16: 3 | USB Ports: 19 USB ports | Warranty: 3 Years
REASONS TO BUY
✓ 8-Layer PCB design
✓ Excellent thermal solution
✓ High-bandwidth with low-latency
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ Heavy and bulky
✗ No support for 8-channel audio
MSI MEG Z490 Godlike is a flagship category motherboard equipped with high-end connectivity and top-notch accessories. It is the Best Overall Motherboard for i9 10900K; its features make it the best motherboard for i9 10900k. Having a heavy price tag, it indeed is targeting some severe professional gamers. The Z490 chipset is a top-of-the-line chipset for Intel’s latest desktop PCs, making room for extensive CPU and memory tweaking. A dedicated audio processor and headphone amplifier have been integrated for game-studio grade sound. Sound quality stands higher than the other competitors in the market.
For faster connectivity and smooth online gaming, a 2.5G Ethernet controller is also incorporated. Keeping in mind that this is the best motherboard for i9-10900k but not a modest budget-friendly motherboard, it is must-buy stuff for high-end gamers due to its unmatching set of features and performance. The rear I/O panel has utilized all the available space it has with many USB ports. There are Type-A and Type-C ports along with USB 2.0 ports on the back panel. It allows broader and faster options for connectivity.
Gigabyte Z490 AORUS ELITE AC
Best Enthusiast Motherboard for i9 10900K
SPECIFICATIONS
Socket: LGA 1200 | Chipset: Intel Z490 Chipset | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 12 | PCIe x16: 1 | USB Ports: 17 | Warranty: 2 Years
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Pre-installed I/O Shield
✓ Enlarged Surface Heatsink
✓ Hybrid Fan Headers with FAN STOP
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No PCIe 4.0
✗ No support for thunderbolt 3
GIGABYTE Z490 AORUS ELITE AC is a mid-range motherboard manufactured by GIGABYTE. We consider it as the Best Enthusiast Motherboard for i9 10900K. These features are thermal design, audio quality, and connectivity. PWM Controller delivers accurate voltage to the CPU. The unique copper PCB design helps to remove the CPU heat during peak heat loads. Built-in M.2 slots heatsink is used to prevent overheating of PCIe 3SSDs. It is the best motherboard for i9-10900k due to its design incorporates a greater heat transfer surface area. Cooling is made more innovative and liquid cooling friendly by intelligent next-generation fan 5. Smart fan 5 allows you to interchange fan headers to reflect thermal sensors on your motherboard.
RAM support is up to DDR4, and the speed up to 5000 MHz boosts the performance. You can enjoy next-generation connectivity with 2.5GbE LAN and faster transfer speeds. This motherboard offers an excellent audio experience with onboard high-end WIMA and audio capacitors. There is also a feature known as an audio noise guard that separates onboard audio components from potential noise pollution. Excellent and unique software lets you set your gaming rig according to your style to control the lighting effects over your motherboard.
MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Edge WiFi
Best Budget Motherboard for i9 10900K
SPECIFICATIONS
Socket: LGA 1200 | Chipset: Intel Z490 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 12 | PCIe x16: 2 | USB Ports: 15 | Warranty: 3 Years
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Four DIMM SLOTS
✓ Better EMI protection
✓ Heatsinks with 7W/mK thermal Pad
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ Overkill for beginners
✗ No USB 3.2 gen 2 on front
MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Edge WiFi is a mid-range motherboard for i9 10900K. MPG series is a low-budget i9 10900k motherboard with the best price tag. Due to its size, users believe it the Best Budget Motherboard for i9 10900K. Now gamers can personalize their gaming experience with the front LED strip with in-game and real-time notifications. It features M.2 SHIELD FROZR, a thermal solution for M.2 slots to keep them cool during gaming. It enhances SSD performance. Users love this best motherboard for i9-10900k as they can also control the water pump’s speed to prevent noise and facilitate the cooling of the CPU. To get maximum memory speed and stability, you can enable Extreme Memory Profile with power settings.
This platform offers high bandwidth and low latency network with 2.5G LAN if we talk about network and connectivity. It supports WIfi 6 for better connectivity and speed in signal density environments. With MSI LAN manager, you can prioritize applications and customize bandwidth for each application. All metal construction allows having a larger heat transfer area. With USB 3.2 Gen 2X2, the transfer speed reaches up to 20 Gbps, four times faster than USB 3.2 Gen 1. It offers multiple GPU support. Optimal airflow is provided for graphics card cooling.
ASUS Z490-E ROG STRIX GAMING
Best ATX Motherboard for i9 10900K
SPECIFICATIONS
Socket: LGA 1200 Socket | Chipset: Intel Z490 Chipset | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 14+2 | PCIe x16: 2 | USB Ports: 17 | Warranty: 3 Years
REASONS TO BUY
✓ High-fidelity audio
✓ User-friendly UEFI BIOS
✓ AI Overclocking and AI Cooling
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ M.2 slot is difficult to access
✗ No thunderbolt 3 connector
ASUS Z490-E ROG STRIX GAMING is an efficient platform designed for gamers. It is the Best ATX Motherboard for i9 10900K because of the price; the features it offers are still a profitable deal. Talking about the looks, it comes with a mirrored stainless steel finish coupled with diagonal lines across the IO shield. ASUS AURA allows customization of RGB lights. IO shield is ROG’s patented with sleek matt black finishing. To customize your reset button to provide AURA lighting control and system reset, FLEXKEY is provided on the chassis.
This motherboard paves the way for optimization with 5-way optimization. It is a utility to overclock the processor and tune the fan speed accordingly. It works the same as AI overclocking, but it also goes a bit further by running a Prime 95 based stress test to deliver outstanding results. It encourages comprehensive fan control with FAN XPERT 4. TPU insight is an intelligence-based system that provides AI-based intelligence to acceptable tune voltages, system stats settings. Energy Power Unit allows you to save energy by optimizing the energy consumption according to needs. Talking about UEFI BIOS, it provides everything you need while tweaking and overclocking.
ASUS ROG Strix Z490-G Gaming WiFi
Best mATX Motherboard for i9 10900K
SPECIFICATIONS
Socket: LGA 1200 | Chipset: Intel Z490 | Form Factor: mATX | Voltage Regulator: 14+2 | PCIe x16: 1 | USB Ports: 15 | Warranty: 3 Years
REASONS TO BUY
✓ 5-Way optimization
✓ Superior chokes & durable capacitors
✓ Supports up to 128GB DDR4 memory
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No diagnostic LED
✗ Only one PCIeX16 slot
ASUS ROG Strix Z490-G Gaming WiFi is a perfect blend of performance and looks with the ASUS tag on its chest. It is eligible for an award of being the Best mATX Motherboard for i9 10900K as it provides excellent cooling to its components with a variety of customizations. You can easily customize clocking, cooling, lighting, and network settings. This blend of features makes it one of the best motherboards for i9 10900k. Network connectivity is boosted by WIfi 6 and Intel 2.5G Ethernet. If you want to enhance your gaming experience, a built-in SupremeFX audio technology is introduced. Audio cover, audio-line shielding, and Dual OP amplifiers are installed to boost the audio experience.
You can control the cooling options via FAN XPERT4 or UEFI BIOS. There are dedicated headers for CPU cooling. M.2 heatsink tends to keep the SSD cool and faster. Every fan on the board supports the detection of PWM/DC fans. There are thermal pads of high quality used to transfer heat from the inductor and phase array. It also has room for VRM heatsinks to provide a larger sink area to MOSFETs.
MSI MEG Z490I Unify
Best mITX Motherboard for i9 10900K
SPECIFICATIONS
Socket: LGA 1200 | Chipset: Intel Z490 | Form Factor: Mini ITX | Voltage Regulator: 9 | PCIe x16: 1 | USB Ports: 11 | Warranty: 3 Years
REASONS TO BUY
✓ !0-Layer PCB design
✓ Double ESD protection
✓ Fully aluminum I/O cover
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No PCIe x1 slot
✗ Lesser memory support
MSI MEG Z490I Unify is a mid-range motherboard designed for gamers and enthusiasts. It offers excellent performance and speed. That is why we label it as the Best mITX Motherboard for i9 10900K. Design is of multi-layered PCB type. It has a Thunderbolt 3 port for faster connectivity and data transfer. It also has a Twin Turbo M.2 connector for high data transfer speeds. For quick and uninterrupted networking, 2.5G LAN and Wifi 6 are provided. As far as cooling is concerned, this platform is one of the best. It introduces Zero Frozr technology. It keeps the SSD cool and prevents throttling. It has a full aluminum IO cover for better heat dissipation.
This considered platform offers High definition audio processor and audio capacitors. It has golden audio jacks with S/PDIF. This platform also introduces core boost technology, which assists overclocking. It makes the processor work faster than the marked frequency, keeping the temperature and power within design limits. Motherboard protection is ensured by double ESD protection, which protects it from static charges. MSI APP player allows a seamless gaming experience.
Conclusion
After looking at this variety of motherboards, we can shortlist the top ones to choose from them according to their requirements. For high-end users who require higher clocks for their CPU, GIGABYTE Z490 AORUS Xtreme is the best motherboard for i9 10900k. It is designed for extreme gaming. It has a cooling mechanism and network connectivity that is best for gamers and enthusiasts. Having this elite set of features makes it dwell amongst the pricier options for a motherboard. For mid-range users, the suitable motherboard will be the ASUS Z490-E ROG STRIX GAMING. It is a blend of performance and looks.
It comes with a mirrored stainless steel finish coupled with diagonal lines across the IO shield. Considering the price tag, the features it offers are a profitable deal. This motherboard paves the way for optimization with 5-way optimization. It is a utility to overclock the processor and tune the fan speed accordingly. This set of premium features makes it the best i9 10900K motherboard. The networking and cooling arrangement of this platform are one of the best. It introduces core boost technology, which assists overclocking. Hence, it is concluded that the above-shortlisted motherboards can be considered depending upon the requirements of a particular user.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best motherboard for i9 10900k?
ASUS ROG Maximus XII Apex is the best motherboard for i9 10900k. It provides a top-notch platform for high-end gaming and graphics designing. It offers increased overclocking by introducing AI overclocking. The thermal design consists of a VRM heat sink, C-shaped heat pipe, solid steel backplate, and M.2 slots heatsink. AI cooling ensures optimum operation of motherboard fans according to usage. It has a RESET button that can hard reset the PC with just one touch. There is an LN2 mode for liquid nitrogen clocking.
What chipset is the i9 10900k?
It has the chipset Intel Z490, and the socket type is LGA 1200. All the motherboards are having this chipset support i-9 10900K. It is a high-end Intel chipset supporting all the new models of processors in the market. MSI MEG Z490I Unify is the most efficient motherboard supporting the Z490 chipset.
Which motherboard is best for i9 10900k processor?
MSI MEG Z490 Godlike is the best motherboard for the fromi9 10900K processor. It is a flagship category motherboard equipped with top-notch accessories. A dedicated audio processor and headphone amplifier have been integrated for studio-grade sound. For faster connectivity, a 2.5G Ethernet controller is also incorporated. It is a must-buy for high-end gamers due to its unmatching set of features and performance. The rear I/O panel has utilized all the available space with a good number of connectivity options.
What is the cheapest motherboard for the Core i9-10900K?
MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Edge WiFi is the cheapest motherboard that supports the i9 10900K processor. It offers excellent performance and speed at nominal pricing. It offers attractive looks and high-end features. For fast and uninterrupted networking, 2.5G LAN and Wifi 6 are provided. The cooling arrangement of this platform is one of the best. It introduces core boost technology, which assists overclocking. Motherboard protection is ensured by double ESD protection.
Does Z590 support 10th Gen?
To overclock your CPU, you’ll need a motherboard with the Z590 or Z490 chipset. Intel’s 10th generation Core CPUs are compatible with the Z590, H570, B560, and H510 500-series chipsets.
It is possible to use a Z490 motherboard with an i9 9900k?
Intel Z370 or Z390 motherboards are required for 9th generation CPUs (if bios is updated for it). Z490 motherboards are for the 10th generation of Intel processors. LGA 1151 is the socket on the 9900K. Physically, this will not slide into an LGA 1200 socket.
