Best Motherboard for i7 9700K: Complete Reviews With Comparisons
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The Intel Core i7-9700K processor features excellent gaming performance with eight cores that excel in parallelized workloads.
It uses a single thread for robust operation, and its soldered thermal interface material improves thermal transfer during high-speed workloads.
All of these features can be attainable if you choose the best motherboards for i7 9700K.
We have come up with a comprehensive list of top-ranking motherboards best suited for the i7-9700K.
Read ahead for in-depth reviews and decide which motherboard to choose.
Comparison Chart
Motherboard for i7 9700K: A Review
1. MSI MPG Z390 Gaming Plus LGA1151 Motherboard
The MPG Z390 is a gaming-focused mainstream motherboard from MSI.
It caters to simple home and business applications, but it pairs well with the Intel i7-9700K processor.
Product Highlights
The appearance of the Z390 Gaming Plus is an improvement to the Z370 version.
It features the same black ATX PCB and the same red decals printed on the board and heatsinks, emphasizing MSI’s red and black gaming theme.
The LGA 1151 board has four DDR4 RAM DIMMs with alternating black and red colors, and you can stack up RAM modules up to 64 GB.
You will find MSI’s EZ Debug LEDs by the board's edge to the right of the DIMMs, right above the 24-pin.
Expansion slots include one full-length x16, one full-length x4, and four single-lane PCIe 3.0 slots.
There are six SATA ports and two M.2 slots available for storage.
You will find USBs, a single dual-link DVI-D and HDMI, a LAN port, and six 3.5 mm audio jacks for input and output.
Rear panel USBs include two Gen2 3.1, one Type-C, two 3.0, and two 2.0. Extend USB options by tapping into the internal USB headers.
ALSO READ: Motherboard for i7-10700k
The Good
The MSI MPG Z390 Gaming Plus belongs to the affordable end of gaming motherboards compatible with the i7-9700K.
Additionally, the red LEDs embedded into the board allow built-in aesthetics without separate RGB lighting.
Although the board is a little light on features, it can work for various applications with the i7-9700K.
The Bad
The MPG Z390 Gaming Plus does not have a Wi-Fi adapter built into it.
The board can also run high temperatures because of the minimal VRM cooling.
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CONS
2. Asus TUF Z390-Plus Gaming (Wi-Fi) LGA1151 Motherboard
TUF motherboards from ASUS offer extra durability compared to other brands.
The TUF Z390-Plus Gaming motherboard has capacitors and VRMs that can survive up to five times longer than the same components on other brands.
Product Highlights
The board has four 4266 MHz DDR4 DIMMs that can hold memory capacities up to 64 GB.
It has two PCIe x16 and four PCIe x1 slots, two M.2 sockets, and six SATA 3 ports.
The main PCIe slot has steel protection on both sides, a feature that some motherboards in the same price range do not have.
For connectivity, it offers six USB 3.1, one Gigabit Ethernet adapter, one HDMI, one DisplayPort, two Wi-Fi antenna outlets, and three audio jacks.
For aesthetics, the southbridge heatsink and IO cover have yellow accents on an overall dark gray color.
The TUF Z390-Plus Gaming motherboard has many temperature sensors across the circuit board matching its five fan headers, one of which is for water cooling.
The Good
The TUF Z390-Plus Gaming motherboard has a solid set of entry-level features, and each of these features comes with outstanding durability.
Its components last longer than the parts of other motherboard brands and models, allowing upgrades in other elements over a more extended duration.
The Bad
However, some motherboards in the same price range can have better features, including better connectivity and more onboard slots and sockets.
Its cost ties up with lifespan and durability, while other products in the same category have better speeds and added features.
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3. Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Ultra LGA1151 Gaming Motherboard
The Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Ultra is the median option for Aorus motherboards in its Z390 lineup.
It offers the most features available to a Z390 motherboard in addition to some nice perks.
Product Highlights
Aesthetically, not much has changed from the Z370 Aorus Gaming 5.
The Z390 Aorus Ultra has integrated RGB LED lighting at several points across the PCB, and it has RGB headers for additional lighting.
For connectivity, the Z390 Aorus Ultra has an integrated 802.11ac Wi-Fi aside from the LAN port.
The board features a 13-phase VRM that gives allowances for overclocking with the i7-9700K.
Three full-length, steel-protected PCIe expansion slots offer x16, x8, and x4 operation from top to bottom, respectively.
Additionally, the board has three PCIe 3.0 x1 slots. The Z390 Aorus Ultra comes with three M.2 slots, each with a heatsink, and six SATA slots that support RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays.
For memory, the Z390 Aorus Ultra carries four RAM slots that can hold up to 64 GB.
The rear I/O panel offers eight assorted USB ports, two Wi-Fi antenna slots, an I219V Gigabit Ethernet port, HDMI for display, five audio jacks, and a SPDIF output.
The Good
All the features of the Z390 Aorus Ultra make it a medium to high-end Z390 motherboard.
It offers more features than those available to other motherboards on this list.
Its full-length expansion slots allow the use of multi-graphics, and its M.2 supports NVMe drives.
The Bad
The only bad thing we can find about the Z390 Aorus Ultra is that it is more expensive than other motherboards for the i7-9700K processor.
However, you can offset this bad trait with the comprehensive list of features unavailable to other products in this list.
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4. MSI B360 Performance Gaming Plus LGA1151 Motherboard
Like the MPG Z390, the B360 Gaming Plus belongs to MSI’s red-and-black-themed gaming motherboards.
The MSI B360 Gaming Plus can run smoothly with the i7-9700K CPU, and you can expect to spend less on a B360 than a Z390.
Product Highlights
The MSI B360 Gaming Plus has four SATA ports and a single PCIe x4 M.2 slot for storage.
For expansion, the MSI B360 Gaming Plus offers two full-length PCIe slots, one of which has steel reinforcement.
In addition to the two full-length PCIe slots, the board has four x1 slots the offer a wide array of possible connections for low-bandwidth peripheral devices.
The MSI B360 Gaming Plus includes several USB ports, a DVI-D port, and a DisplayPort for connectivity.
Networking goes through an I219V Gigabit Ethernet adapter, and audio uses a Realtek ALC892 codec.
The Good
A good thing we can say about the MSI B360 Gaming Plus motherboard is that it has plenty of options for cooling.
Water cooling is possible through a 2-ampere pump header.
Additionally, you can alter its aesthetics by installing RGB LED strips into the board’s built-in RGB headers.
The Bad
The downside to B360 motherboards, including the MSI B360 Gaming Plus, is that they cannot overclock.
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5. Asus Prime B360M-A LGA1151 Motherboard
The Asus Prime B360M-A is a micro-ATX motherboard capable of running the Intel i7-9700K processor.
Although it is a motherboard meant for 8th generation Intel Core processors, it can be the most affordable alternative before shifting to a better board.
Product Highlights
This micro-ATX board has four DIMM sockets allowing memory capacities up to 64 GB.
The four PCIe slots include two x16 lanes and two x1 lane expansions.
For memory, this board has two M.2 Intel Optane memory slots and six SATA ports.
Video outputs include DVI, VGA, and HDMI, while audio I/O uses Realtek jacks.
The Asus Prime B360M-A has five assorted USB ports and two PS/2 ports for peripheral devices.
The Good
The Asus Prime B360M-A is excellent for everyday business use.
It can be an exceptional tool for small homes and businesses.
The Bad
Like the MSI B360 Gaming Plus motherboard, the Asus Prime B360M-A is compatible with the i7-9700K, but they do not have overclocking capabilities.
The Asus Prime B360M-A may not be a reliable motherboard for high-end graphics applications and video editing software.
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Choosing the Right Motherboard
There are a few things to consider when looking for a motherboard for the Intel i7-9700K processor.
Answer these questions carefully, and gauge all your available choices.
Is It Compatible With the i7-9700K?
The i7-9700K is compatible with motherboards having the H310, B360, H370, Z370, and Z390 chipsets.
The Z370 and Z390 support overclocking with the i7-9700K, while the rest does not support its increased clocking features.
Can You Use It for Overclocking?
Overclocking depends on what applications a PC will have.
If you would like to use the i7-9700K for overclocking, stick with the Z370 and Z390 motherboards.
But if overclocking is not an issue, choosing a chipset for your next motherboard is negligible, as long as it is compatible with the CPU.
How Much Expansion Do You Need?
When replacing a motherboard, make a list of all the parts you need.
Determine whether you’ll be using a single GPU or if you want to run two or more GPUs simultaneously.
Also, check whether a motherboard has sufficient storage ports and slots to give you all the memory capacity you require.
What Input and Output Options Does It Offer?
You might be using several peripheral devices other than your mouse and keyboard.
Think about other components or hardware you need setup on your PC.
Doing this will help you decide how many USB ports, what type of networking connectivity, and what sort of audio and video output capabilities your setup can provide.
What Extra Features Does It Have?
If you plan to overclock, pick a motherboard that has adequate diagnostic tools.
CMOS clearing switches, BIOS Flashback buttons, POST-code displays, and diagnostic LEDs help determine the root cause of many setup problems.
Also, being a fan of graffiti and aesthetic RGB lighting might be of interest to you.
If so, look for built-in LED lights, RBG headers, and water-cooling options.
RELATED: Motherboard for i7 8700k (Guide)
Motherboard for i7 9700K FAQs
1. Is the i7 9700K Good In 2021?
While Intel has already launched its 10th generation processors to compete with AMD’s Ryzen 5000 Series processors, speculation might confuse you about getting the i7-9700K.
The newer Intel processors may offer better specifications, but they come at a steep price for a slight upgrade.
Getting the i7-9700K is practical, and it can deliver high-speeds for more years to come.
What’s more, you can grab it at a discounted rate, even when manufacturers make them rare to spring up the more recent models.
2. Is i7 9700K Overkill for Gaming?
The i7-9700K is more than capable of handling any game a gamer can throw at it.
However, its value for gamers may seem unwarranted and negligible as long as the cheaper i7-8700K is still available.
3. Should I Get i9 9900K or i7 9700K?
The i9-9900K only offers around a three percent speed boost compared to the i7-9700K.
At a cost 25 percent higher than the i7-9700K, the i9-9900K is actually the less practical choice.
4. Is the i7 9700K Overclockable?
With the correct motherboard, yes. Some motherboards, like those carrying the B360, are not able to overclock.
Overclocking the i7-9700K can produce speeds up to 5.30 GHz.
5. How Many Cores Does i7 9700K Have?
The Intel Core i7-9700K processor has eight cores.
Which Is the Top Motherboard for the i7-9700K CPU?
The top motherboard for i7 9700K is the Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Ultra. It packs in so many features unavailable to the other models presented here.
With the i7-9700K processor, the Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Ultra can maintain overclocking speeds while keeping the temperatures at optimum levels.
Its 12+1 VRM feature effectively regulates the voltage levels, thereby optimizing heat generation.
This board can also run multiple graphics cards simultaneously, making it the better choice for video and image rendering for creative applications.
The Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Ultra is an attractive motherboard with all the aesthetic RGB features anyone can combine with an i7-9700K-compatible motherboard.