Buying Guide for Best Motherboards for i7 and i9

So, you are thinking of building a computer from scratch or want to upgrade your PC. You might be looking for the best components. Many people focus on the graphics card and CPU instead of the motherboard.

Motherboards are a vital PC component when building a computer. This is because they help in better overclocking and make sure the hardware reaches its full potential.

So, when you are building a PC, you must always go with the best Choice. Since they are the foundation of your PC, settling for a cheap motherboard is never good. If you do so, you will have to rebuild your PC again.

In this buying guide, we have listed the best motherboards for i7 and i9 available on the market.

There are hundreds of motherboards available on the market, which makes it a challenging and confusing task. Without proper knowledge and expert guidance, you might get a motherboard that is not the best choice.

Recently, Intel has launched its 9^th generation Core i processors. These processors feature 8-core CPUs along with clock speeds up to 5GHz. The two powerful processors i7 and i9, are great for overclocking and hyper threading. The new processors are developed to work well with the Z390 chipset. Hence, power users and gamers will require the best motherboard.

If you are looking for the best motherboard for i7 9700k or i9 9900k, use this list to choose the best motherboard for your build.

Best Motherboards for i7

1. Asus ROG Maximus XI Hero Wi-Fi- Best Overall

The Asus ROG Maximus XI Hero is the latest addition to the collection of gamer motherboards. This is the best mid-range motherboard that is slightly more expensive than ASRock Z930 Phantom Gaming 9. The core specification of this motherboard is perfect for single and dual GPU PCs. The processor offers outstanding gaming performance with a fast graphics card.

Hero is the best motherboard for 9700k and features 3 PCI-E x16 slots, M.2 SSD heat spreaders, and 2 steel supports. It is capable of running at 8x speed. Along with the dual graphics capability, you can place 2 GPUs. The Maximus is capable of better overclocking than Taichi Ultimate. The firmware advancements are useful for important tasks of overclocking.

Besides this, it has a better aesthetic design than ASRock. The Hero has brushed metal heatsinks with a chunky rear IO cover. The board is black, giving it a sleeker and more classy look. Also, it has an RGB LED in the southbridge heatsink and rear IO.

This ASUS board comes with standard 64GB DDR4 memory, 2 M.2 ports, and 6 SATA sockets. It also has Realtek ALC1220 audio with extra hardware, SupremeFX. This will do a decent job with movies and games.

Other features that the best motherboard for 8700k is equipped with include an extra four-pin CPU power connector, might eight fan connectors, a post display, and start and reset buttons. At the back panel, the board sports BIOS Flashback and Clear CMOS buttons.

As far as the performance is concerned, the board is not made for complex work. It is perfect for high-end gaming and day-to-computing.

In case you are looking for an i7 8700k offering top-tier performance, ASUS Maximus XI Hero is the right choice.

2. Gigabyte Z390 UD- Best Budget

If you are looking for the best motherboards for i7 offering value for money, Gigabyte Z390 UD is an ideal choice. It comes with a good VRM, DIMMs for improving memory, 6 SATA ports, 1 M.2 SSD slots, and 1 PCI-E x 16. This is the only mid-range board that offers excellent performance without compromising VRM throttling.

This board is the best buy i7 9700k as it comes with 3 PCI-E 3.0 slots with the main slot having x16 and metal supports. While the other two operate at x4. The single PCI-E slot can prove to be a problem for you if you were intending on using multiple graphics cards. One of the slots features Ultra Durable PCI-E Armor. It is a remarkable feature because it offers the fastest speed and is great for GPU.

When it comes to storage, the best motherboard for i7-8700k has 6 SATA connectors. The 2 SATA ports have right-angled connectors whereas the rest has straight-angled connectors.

Though it skips on many features like built-in Wi-Fi or RGB lighting, it offers excellent value. You get essential features at a fraction of the cost. Though you cannot achieve 5Ghz on all the cores, at least not without instability. It is better for overclocking.

Hence, Z390 UD is a killer choice if you intend to build a gaming system on a budget.

3. ASRock Phantom Gaming ITX- Best Mini-ITX

Another motherboard on this list is ASRock Phantom Gaming ITX. The Phantom Gaming ITX is best motherboard for i7 7700k equipped with a 5+2 VRM phase design, making it capable of delivering consistent power. It is a great option if you intend to overclock your computer. No matter what you throw at it, this board will handle it.

For building a wonderful computer, you surely don’t need an ATX motherboard. This mini ITX motherboard with chipset Z390 is what you need. This best motherboard for i7 9700k will allow you to put together a system that delivers exceptional performance. Whether you want to play games or work with demanding software, ASRock Phantom Gaming ITX is more than enough.

This board sports 2 RAM slots, capable of providing 4266MHz DDR4 memory. It runs in dual channels offering enhanced performance than the 4 slot boards, this is what makes it special. The ITX motherboard has a lot of storage space. It is equipped with 4 SATA 6Gbs ports.

The NVMe and VRM heatsinks are exceptional as it will keep the thermals down and cool. Moreover, it features dual M.2 and Thunderbolt 3. This is what helps it stand out from the rest; you can find this feature in any other mini ITX motherboard.

Phantom Gaming ITX features a 7.1 sound card that supports Creative Sound Blaster Cinema 5. This is good for providing the best audio experience, similar to live performances and recording studios.

The best feature of this motherboard is the Intel 2T2R dual-band 802.11 ac Wi-Fi chipset. This will enable you to get 1.73Gbps wireless speeds and Bluetooth 5.0 support.

As far as its design and look are concerned, it is pretty basic and simple. Yet, it looks lovely. Both heatsinks and PCB are black, giving it a nice appeal.

With so many features up its sleeves, this is one of the best motherboards for i7 7700k.

4. ASUS ROG STRIX Z390-E Gaming- Best for Gaming Enthusiasts

For gaming enthusiasts, ASUS ROG STRIX Z390-E Gaming is an ideal pick. This best motherboard for i7 8700k comes with 2×2 MU-MINO 802.11 ac built-in Wi-Fi. It provides enhanced connectivity and speed. The board is equipped with M.2 ports for SSDs and USB 3.1 Gen 2 slots.

The memory slot has DDR4 with O.C of 4266+ MHz. Also, the 5-way optimization is upgraded for giving better control over the system. Thanks to thermal telemetry and smart prediction, it is good for overclocking. This is the reason why it is perfect for pro gamers.

When it comes to VRM, it has 4 phase dual-stage VRM, making it one of the best motherboards for i7 8700k. This improves the cooling system of the board. Besides this, the board comes with PWM/DC fan headers that will keep the CPU cool. The audio of the board uses the S1220A codec along with Supreme FX. This is great for offering dynamic and quality sound, making it best gaming motherboard for the i7 9700k. For a high-quality sound experience, you can use headphones.

The best thing about this motherboard is ASUS AURA Sync RGB lighting. This will enable you to customize the color of the board according to your preference. It is one of the best motherboards for i7 8700k that you can get.

Best Motherboards for i9

1. MSI MEG GODLIKE Z390- Best Overall

Without a doubt, MSI MEG GODLIKE Z390 is the beast of the motherboards. As the name suggests, its performance is like GOD. No motherboard matches its performance whether you need it for high levels of professional work or hardcore gaming. This is why it is the best motherboard for i9 9900k and RTX 2080 ti.

When you pair it with your i9, it creates a paradise for gaming fanatics. Despite the high price, it is a high-performing board. The connectivity and speed it provides are unrivaled. The board consists of 2 Killer E2500 LAN and Killer tech Wireless AC 1550 Wi-Fi.

Thanks to the turbo U.2 SSD port, it is capable of transferring data at a high speed. It also features dual USB 3.1 Type-C Gen 2 and triple turbo M.2 with M.2 Shield Frozr. Thus, these features provide a wonderful gaming experience.

GODLIKE comes with tons of features like an extra BIOS button, game boost button, and CMOS button. Besides this, the memory slot is supported by steel for enhanced durability. Another great feature of this motherboard is the overclocking. It is able to deliver overclocking speeds up to 4600 MHz.

Moreover, the board has a customizable OLED display that showcases debug codes, hardware monitor, system status, and much more. For providing better performance, GODLIKE sports 16 phases VRM. It comes with an LN2 cooling system that is great for overclocking. With the exceptional heatsink system, the board offers better stability and precision.

Moving onto the audio, the motherboard has an audio jack of 6.3. It uses ESS AUDIO DAC and ES amplifiers for providing realistic and out-of-the-world sound experiences.

If you want to have a heavenly gaming experience and feel like GOD, this is the best motherboard for i9 9900k.

2. ASRock Z390 Taichi Ultimate- Best Budget

One of the best motherboards for i9 is ASUS TUF H370. It is a feature-loaded board that consists of all the features you can possibly ask for. Though this does not look aesthetically as pleasing as MSI Meg Z390 GODLIKE, it is capable of providing a strong and solid foundation.

This is built for online gaming supporting 10Gb Ethernet. Allowing you to use it as an access point for console gaming. The remarkable thing about this motherboard is its 12-phase design and VRM. The VRM quality has improved from the standard Taichi.

Taichi Ultimate features PCI-E x16 slots, giving you the freedom to use it with any sound card and GPU you like. When you are placing the cards, you must be careful as the longer cards in the upper slot might be up against the top M.2 module whereas the lower slots are close to the RTC battery.

Also, the Taichi has 6 SATA connections and DDR4 RAM with a clock speed 4,200MHz. This makes it easy for you to overclock your computer. Nonetheless, you should avoid automatic overclocking. This is because it is based on voltage, the i9 will draw less voltage. So, it will actually underclock the processor. Taichi Ultimate is an appropriate choice if you don’t intend to do overclocking.

In order to get 5GHz from the best motherboard for i9-9900k, it will be better to increase BCLK along with reducing the core voltage up to 1.3 volts. We recommend increasing the multiplier. With a little fiddling, you can get the performance and speed you want.

If you want to get the best bang for your buck, ASRock Z390 Taichi Ultimate is the best motherboard for i9.

3. Gigabyte Aorus Ultra- Best VRM

When you are looking for the best motherboards for i9, you cannot ignore Gigabyte Aorus Ultra. This board offers outstanding performance like Aorus Master but without costing you an arm and a leg.

Packed with tons of features, it is designed to provide durability with high performance. For this, the board features an advanced thermal solution along with a multi-cut heatsink tech. The heatsink is joined with a direct-touch heat pipe. Thanks to the thermal pads, cooling performance is enhanced. It is a top requirement of hardcore gamers.

The board possesses a Wi-Fi module that is capable of providing 1.73 Gbps speed. It is essential for smooth streaming and gaming experience. Also, the board features 12+1 phase VRM, enabling you to get more power.

With the help of 5 Smart Fan technology, multiple temperature sensors deliver stable performance. The motherboard has USB 3.1 GEN Type-C headers with extra protection.

A drawback of this motherboard is that there is no USB charger booster. Another thing that is not so good on this board is the use of old BIOS.

The Aorus Ultra has RGB LEDs for designing the motherboard with the colors of your choice. The audio is better as it uses ALC 1220-VB for front and rear. This gives the best sound quality without any disturbance.

In case you are searching for a motherboard with great performance, stability, and solid VRM, this is best motherboard for i9 9900kf.

4. ASRock Phantom Gaming 9- Best for Gaming

Next on this list of best motherboards for i9 is ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming 9. This board is crammed with tons of features and a wonderful thing is that it provides good value. It does come with several high-end features like networking is better than other similar motherboards.

It is the best motherboard for i9 9900k as it is equipped with 2 Gigabit Ethernet that is able to provide speeds up to 2.5 Gbps. Also, the ASRock Phantom sports Bluetooth 5.0 and dual-band 802.11ac wireless. This is a better choice than its competitor, ASUS ROG Maximus XI Hero, which includes a standard Gigabit Ethernet.

Phantom Gaming 9 offers exceptional networking features. The board is available with 7 USB 3.1, 1 USB 3.1 Type-C port, 5 audio jacks, and a PS/2 connector. This is a versatile and well-equipped motherboard with faster USB connectivity than its counterpart, making it the best gaming motherboard for i9.

Furthermore, the Phantom features 4 4266MHz DDR4, 3 PCI-E x16 ports, and 2 PCI-E x1 ports. All the port’s PCI-E x16 sockets have steel supports. The main port has 16x bandwidth available while the other 2 runs at 8x speed. Though you get only 2 PCI-E x1 slots, it is more than enough for most computers.

The board supports quad graphics from Nvidia and AMD. This might be an attractive feature for workers who need more GPU power or hardcore gamers.

Moving on to storage, the board is suitable if you want a lot of storage. This board is available with 8 SATA connectors; two more than ASUS. When it comes to audio, the Realtek ALC1220 audio chipset is great from the most affordable motherboards.

It also has 4 memory slots that are capable of supporting 64GB DDR4. This board is excellent for overclocking as it has an additional 4-pin connector that provides more juice. However, the heatsinks are simple and PCB has red and white angled sections. This gives an outdated appeal to the motherboard. Besides this, you get RGB LEDs in the heatsinks, which is not so extraordinary.

Though features-wise it is remarkable, performance-wise it could be better. In comparison with ASUS, the ASRock didn’t perform well in memory and gaming tests. But it is a great choice for someone looking for stellar networking.

Thus, ASRock Phantom Gaming 9 is perfect for fast networking, great storage, and rear IO connectivity, making it the best motherboard for i9 9900k reddit.

Quick Buying Tips

There are several things you should consider to buy the right motherboard for your needs.

• The first thing you must focus on is whether the motherboard supports i7 and i9 or not. You don’t want to end up with a motherboard that is of no use to you.
• It is essential to buy a motherboard that is in accordance with your usage. For instance, you spend a lot of money getting an expensive motherboard. But you are never going to overclock the computer. So, if you will not be using it for work demanding work or pro gaming, it will be better to go with an inexpensive motherboard.
• Keep your budget in mind. This is a vital tip when buying a motherboard. Since there is a wide range of motherboards with different price ranges, it can be confusing to decide which one you should choose. It can even be easy to overspend on the motherboard. So, you must set a budget.
• The size of the motherboard is another factor that you must pay attention to. You should buy the motherboard that is right for your PC.
• Nowadays, motherboards come with tons of features. For instance, the dedicated game boost button, RGB lights, etc. That is why you should buy a motherboard, which makes your digital life hassle-free.

Bottom Line

To conclude, the motherboard is a crucial part of your PC. This is why you should be extremely careful and diligent with your choice. We hope this buying guide helps you select the right pick for your needs. When deciding which motherboard, you should get, pay attention to the size and features of the motherboard. You must also keep in mind your budget and check whether it supports i7 and i9.

So, give your gaming rig a solid foundation with these best motherboards. Which motherboard do you like the best? Let us know in the comments below!