Best Motherboards For Intel I9 12900k

1. Gigabyte Z690 AORUS Master

If you are looking for the best motherboards for Intel i9 12900k that excel in every domain and have excellent user reviews, then you should choose none other than Gigabyte Z690 motherboard. The AORUS series from the Gigabyte is highly praised and appreciated by users for its powerful performance with the AMD and the Intel that continues with the core i9 12900k.

It has a Z690 chipset that ensures that the motherboard provides excellent power support to the processors and other equipment and also has exciting and unique features that come with it. Anyone can expect what it should provide at such a high price tag, but it is worth the price because it is one of the most reliable motherboards in the gaming industry. 

Thanks to the robust VRM design of the motherboard, the gamers can overclock their processor to reach the maximum potential without having to worry about the motherboard. It has 22 phases in VRM, of which 19 are dedicated to the CPU and have 105 amperes of power. It is a dream for the over clockers, and they can use it if they want to have risk-free overclocking of their systems. 

As per my review, heavy overclocking requires a powerful heat sink, and this motherboard is well prepared for that. It has a powerful heat sink with increased numbers of fins, so the temperature should be the last concern. 

Talk about anything and master that domain. It supports the DDR5 Z690 memory that can reach up to 6400 Mhz DIMMs. The motherboard also has unmatchable network connections with an Aquanta-made 10 GbE LAN port and WiFi 6E protocol for wireless networking. It has 11 USB ports with 2 USB C configurations.

The best thing about this is storage, and it has 4 M.2 drives with PCIe Gen 5 protocol, so there is nothing that it does not offer. The only drawback is the bit high price, which makes it out of reach for some entry-level gamers.

Specifications

• Brand                                                             : Gigabyte
• CPU Socket                                                    : LGA 1700
• Chipset                                                           : Z690
• Compatible Devices                                      : Personal Computer
• RAM Memory Technology                          : DDR5
• Series                                                              : Z690 AORUS MASTER
• Graphics Card Interface                              : PCI Express
• Memory Slots Available                               : 4
• Wireless Type                                                : 802.11ax
• Video Outputs                                               : DisplayPort
• USB Ports                                                      : 11x rear IO, 9x internal
• Network                                                         : 1x 10 GbE LAN, 1x Wi-Fi 6E
• Storage                                                           : 4x M.2, 6x SATA
  

2. ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero

Talk about the best motherboards for Intel i9 12900k, and there will be a ROG series motherboard from ASUS. ASUS has provided some of the most competitive gaming equipment for a long time, and this motherboard continues that legacy. It seems like the ideal motherboard you can use with a core i9 12900k, and there are many good reasons to support that claim.

Starting with the power delivery system, this motherboard has a 20 + 1 VRM design that provides 90A of power, which is more than the requirement of the processor. It leaves plenty of energy left that the overclockers can use to reach the best combination of speed and gaming experience.

The biggest problem in overclocking is the production of heat, and this piece counters that by providing a large heat sink to counter the VRM heat generation. It has enormous fins with an innovative design for maximum heat dissipation. 

The features of this motherboard are decent, with nothing to complain about. It has 4 RAM slots that support DDR5 memory of up to 6400 Mhz and excellent network connectivity. 2.5 GbE LAN port and WiFi 6E are enough for most gaming needs. With 5 M.2 devices and decent I/O that also include 2x Thunderbolt 4 ports. 

The motherboard’s design is simple and stealthy, and it also has two RGB lightings, one the I/O cover and the chipset heat sink. The best part about this motherboard is the heat dissipation, and it is covered with heat sinks that make sure that it remains in service for a long time without losing its durability.

Many features are included, but they come at a price that some users might not want to pay.

Specifications

• Chipset                                   : Z690
• Memory                                  : 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR5-6400
• Video Outputs                       : HDMI
• USB Ports                              : 11x rear IO, 9x internal
• Network                                 : 1x 2.5 GbE LAN, 1x Wi-Fi 6E
• Storage                                   : 5x M.2, 6x SATA
  

3. MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi

MSI has also competed for producing some of the best motherboards for mid-range gamers, and the products are considered reliable and appropriate. MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi is one of the most recent innovations of the MSI that can work perfectly with the core i9 12900k.

First of all, in terms of power delivery, it has a robust VRM design that offers high-end features to pair with most of the processors of alder lake CPU to reach the best results. It has an 18 + 1 + 1 phase VRM power system with 75 amperes that is ideal for overclocking. It is best suited for the gamers who want their motherboard to be fully overclocking capable and can handle extreme conditions efficiently. 

To support the heavy overclocking and control the heat generated from it, the motherboard has the feature of extensive heat sinks that enable it to provide the sustainable working condition for the components despite having the maximum overclocking for an extended period.

It is much cheaper than the above-discussed motherboards and is a more considerable choice if you want a powerful motherboard for core i9 12900k within the range.

I found the best part about this motherboard is the memory handling capacity, which is more than many motherboards. It supports the DDR5 RAM with a maximum speed of 6666 MHz. It can hold 128 GB of full memory in 4 RAM sticks.

To supports the high-end capabilities,this motherboard is also equipped with standard PCIe Gen 5. Regarding networking, it has a 2.5 GbE LAN port for ethernet and WiFi 6E for wireless support. There is nothing to worry about in terms of storage with its 4x M.2 slots. In short, it has everything in proportion to what the users might need. It attracts gamers towards its unique design that comprises carbon fiber and has a CARBON logo in RGB over the I/O cover, which makes it stand apart from the crowd. This motherboard is perfect for mid-range gamers who want a reliable platform for overclocking.

Specifications

• Chipset                                   : Z690
• Memory                                  : 4x DIMM, DDR5-6666
• Video Outputs                       : HDMI and DisplayPort
• USB Ports                              : 9x rear IO, 7x internal
• Network                                 : 1x 2.5 GbE LAN, 1x Wi-Fi 6E
• Storage                                   : 5x M.2, 6x SATA
• Memory Storage Capacity   : 128 GB
  

4. ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I

If you are building a compact PC, then the size of the motherboard would be a significant problem. Searching for a competitive motherboard that can fit into the tiny space can be a difficult task, but things get more manageable when you know what to look for. ROG Strix by ASUS is one of the best mini ITX motherboards for Intel i9 12900k that provide decent features in low profile.

Gaming enthusiasts are now shifting towards the mini ITX systems because they are much smaller than the conventional system and offer more mobility, and are easier to build. For this purpose, this motherboard is up to the task of providing maximum support to the core i9 12900k.

There is little to worry about, and it provides a robust VRM design of Z690i consisting of 0+1 phase VRM with 105 amp power stages that can be used for some middle-level overclocking when combined with core i9 12900k. 

This has a powerful heat sink to support the powerful features and offers an innovative design for more heat dissipation without taking up too much space. It has nothing less than the previous version in terms of memory and offers DDR5 memory at up to 6400MHz speeds which is even higher than most of the DDR5 Z690 motherboards. 

I found this motherboard offers high networking features and supports a 2.5 GbE LAN port in ethernet with a WiFi 6E wireless network. In terms of storage, it has two M.2 slots that are designed for PCIe Gen 4 connectivity

It also has the PCIe 16x slot for the PCIe Gen 5 connectivity, but it has little to no impact on the system’s original performance.

Despite having a small size, it has the Clear CMOS button, BIOS flashback, 12v and 5v lighting headers, and two additional PCBs that are proof of its versatile design. The I/O is also competitive and serves as the heatsink for M.2 slots.

Specifications

• Chipset                                   : Z690
• Memory                                  : 2x DIMM, 128GB, DDR5-6400
• Video Outputs                       : HDMI
• USB Ports                              : 9x rear IO, 5x internal
• Network                                 : 1x 2.5 GbE LAN, 1x Wi-Fi 6E
• Storage                                   : 2x M.2, 4x SATA
  

5. ASUS ROG Strix Z690-A

It is a mid-priced motherboard and is perfect for intermediate-level gamers who are not interested in heavy overclocking but want to have a decent platform for their core i9 12900k.

There are a lot of features because of which it made into the list of best motherboards for intel i9 12900k .Z690-A is a more cost-effective solution to use with the core i9 12900k as compared to the Maximus series, and both of them are produced by ASUS. It has everything in decent balance and can also do some light overclocking. 

It provides the user with the power of VRM that uses 16 + 1 stages and is equivalent to the Maximus Hero in most of the capabilities. Although it might be similar to that, we will not recommend you to do competitive overclocking with this motherboard. 

This motherboard also has powerful heat sinks to cool the high-power VRM system and keep the temperature below the acceptable range.

What surprised us the most was the RAM capabilities of this motherboard. It can support 128 GB of RAM with 5333 MHz of speed. More than that, it can also help the DDR5 memory. The memory is slightly lower than the previous motherboard, but it is enough for the job.

In terms of storage, you can compare it with any high-end motherboard because it supports four M.2 slots with PCIe Gen 4 functionality and has the PCIe 16x slot that can support PCIe Gen 5. It offers good connectivity with 2.5 GbE LAN ethernet and WiFi 6 wireless net. The I/O has high-speed USB ports, HDMI, and a display port.

Very few things can stand a chance against the beauty of this motherboard. It has a large white heat sink and spreader that provide a unique and attractive look without affecting the performance. Moreover, it also has the RGB on the I/O cover, making it aesthetically pleasing.The motherboard comes at a competitive price range without cutting any features short.

Specification

• Brand                                     : ASUS
• CPU Socket                            : LGA 1700
• Chipset                                   : Z690
• Memory                                  : 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR5-5333
• Video Outputs                       : HDMI and DisplayPort
• USB Ports                              : 10x rear IO, 7x internal
• Network                                 : 1x 2.5 GbE LAN, 1x Wi-Fi 6
• Storage                                   : 4x M.2, 6x SATA
  

6. MSI Pro Z690-A WiFi

If you are looking for a competitive yet under-the-range motherboard with a Core i9 12900k that ultimately makes you out of money, then it is better to choose the MSI Pro Z690-A WiFi because of its high features combined with an affordable price tag.

Despite being low in price, it offers excellent overclocking abilities that can be used to take the core i9 12900k potential to whole new levels. Thus, this is something that attracts me. Moreover,  It has the support of VRM design that Z690-A, which features the 8+4 phase VRM power stages that can provide some moderate overclocking for core i9 12900k; be careful not to go too far.

Powerful heat sinks are also installed in the motherboard to ensure that all the heat leaves the system. The heat sink is powerful and innovative and can keep the system within the desired range. Although it is not the best choice when you compare it to the above-discussed motherboard, it can have some decent features as compared to the price. 

The biggest surprise is the Z690 chipset, which is impressive compared to the price that it comes for and a plus point. It also has DDR5 memory support and PCIe Gen 5 as well. Hence, in my review there is nothing to worry about in terms of storage, and it has 4 M.2 slots comparable to what other high-end motherboards offer.

This motherboard also has a 2.5 GbE LAN port for ethernet and WiFi 6E for wireless connectivity. But there are several limitations associated with the low cost of this motherboard, such as the lack of an I/O shield and the lack of attractive design. The looks are reasonably simple and dull, and there is not much to discuss. However, it can support the RGB if you install them separately.

Specifications

• Brand                                     : MSI
• CPU Socket                            : LGA 1700
• Chipset                                   : Z690
• Memory                                  : 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR5-6400
• Video Outputs                       : HDMI and DisplayPort
• USB Ports                              : 6x rear IO, 9x internal
• Network                                 : 1x 2.5 GbE LAN, 1x Wi-Fi 6E
• Storage                                   : 4x M.2, 6x SATA
  

7. ASUS PRIME Z690-A

ASUS provides some of the best motherboards for Intel i9 12900k no matter what your preferences are, and the PRIME series is one of the best options when you are looking for a budget-friendly motherboard. 

As it is considered the budget option that can go with the core i9 12900k, you must not expect some fancy feature from it, but it has something that might gather your attention. It provides enough support to run the core i9 12900k at the stock setting, and you can just do a little bit of overclocking for a short period. It does not have the most robust power delivery system but can do the job well. It has 16+1 phase VRM, comparable to most of the mid-priced motherboards. The cooling systems are also powerful enough to handle the heat with their large heat sinks, increasing their durability. 

The best thing about this motherboard is that it supports the DDR5 memory with speeds up to 6000 MHz, which is comparable to most high-end options. It also supports PCIe Gen 5 on the primary PCIe 16x slot, which is quite helpful for some operations. 

It disappointed us in the connectivity and only features the 2.5 GbE LAN without any wireless support, which is entirely unacceptable for some users in 2022, primarily on a Z690 motherboard. This problem can be solved by using an external PCIe WiFi card. There is nothing to worry about in terms of storage, and it features 4 M.2 slots designed to work with PCIe Gen 4 operation. The I/O is also competitive with the touch of thunderbolt 4, which is quite unusual in a budget motherboard like this.

Thus, according to my view it is amazing and you should try it once. When you think of a budget motherboard, you will take the appearance as nothing serious, but this will change that concept. It has a much cleaner and refined look that provides it aesthetically, and no one can say that it is one of the cheapest designs to use with a core i9 12900k when they see it.

Specifications

• Brand                                     : ASUS
• CPU Socket                            : LG1700
• Chipset                                   : Z690
• Memory                                  : 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-6000
• Video Outputs                       : HDMI and DisplayPort
• USB Ports                              : 8x rear IO, 7x internal
• Network                                 : 1x 2.5 GbE LAN
• Storage                                   : 4x M.2, 4x SATA