I’m excited to write about the best motherboards for the new i9-12900K. In case you missed it, Intel launched its 12th-generation Alder Lake processors, including the i3, i5, i7, and i9, on November 4th, 2021. One major update with this generation is the switch from the LGA1200 socket (10th & 11th gen) to the LGA1700 socket, meaning you’ll need a new motherboard to upgrade.
The star of the show, the Intel i9-12900K, is a 12-core/24-thread processor with a base clock of 3.2GHz and a boost clock of up to 5.2GHz, making it perfect for gaming, video editing, and other demanding tasks. It also brings PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 support when paired with a Z690 motherboard. However, upgrading will require new RAM, as DDR5 is not backward compatible with DDR4.
In this article, I’ll focus exclusively on Z690 motherboards since it’s the only chipset that allows overclocking of the i9-12900K. While other Intel 600-series chipsets (B660, H610, H670) are compatible, Z690 offers the best potential for this processor.
As usual, I’ll divide the motherboards into three categories: high-end, mid-range, and budget, though the price ranges are higher due to the newness and cost of Z690 boards.
Let’s dive into the high-end options.
Related Article: 6 Best Motherboards For Ryzen 9 5950x
Best High-end Motherboards for I9 12900k ($600+)
If you want the best system performance and features, these are the best motherboards for the i9 12900k. They are pretty pricey, but if you have the money, they are definitely worth it.
1. ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero
Socket Type: LGA1700 | Form Factor: ATX | Chipset: Z690
The ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero Wi-Fi is my top pick and probably the best enthusiast motherboard for the i9 12900k. It is an absolute beast and comes packed with features that will make any PC enthusiast drool.
Power Design
So let’s start with the power design. The ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero Wi-Fi comes with a 20+1 90A direct phase power design. This means it will be able to deliver up to 1800A of power to the processor. Needless to say, this is more than enough for even the most power-hungry processors like the i9 12900k. So if you plan on doing some CPU overclocking, this motherboard will definitely be able to handle it.
Cooling System
The ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero Wi-Fi excels in cooling, featuring a 6-layer PCB design that aids in heat dissipation. It also includes an L-shaped aluminum VRM heatsink, 2 double-plate M.2 heatsinks, and an active chipset heatsink without a fan.
Additionally, there are 2 water cooling headers and 8 PWM fan headers, allowing for extensive cooling control and the option to install custom water cooling solutions.
So, overall I think the cooling design of the ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero Wi-Fi is absolutely amazing, and it should be more than enough to keep even the i9 12900k cool, even when overclocked.
Memory
Now let’s talk about memory. The ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero Wi-Fi comes with 4 dual-channel memory slots that support up to 128GB of DDR5 memory with speeds of up to 6400 MHz (OC). Yes, it is not a typo; these are the frequency speeds that the ASUS ROG Maximus XI Hero Wi-Fi supports.
Expansion Slots
Another innovation that the ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero Wi-Fi has is the inclusion of PCIe 5.0 slots that can offer speeds up to 128 Gb/s. The ASUS ROG Maximus XI Hero Wi-Fi has 2x PCIe 5.0 x16 (x16/x0, x8/x8) slots and 1x PCIe 4.0 x16 (4 lanes) slot. This means that you will be able to install the latest graphics cards on this motherboard without any problems. It also has a new button PCIe slot opener, making installing and removing graphics cards easier.
Storage Options
The storage options on the ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero Wi-Fi also didn’t fail to impress me. It has three M.2 PCIe 4.0×4 slots and 6 SATA ports. So, you will be able to install up to 3 M.2 NVMe SSDs and have plenty of storage space for all your games and programs. But the best part is that it also comes with a ROG Hyper2 Card, which offers two more PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots.
Networking and Connectivity
Networking on this board is top-tier, featuring an Intel 2.5 GbE LAN port and Intel Wi-Fi 6 for wireless speeds up to 2400 Mbps. Bluetooth 5.2 is also included for seamless connectivity. The motherboard is packed with USB options, including 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports, 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C, 7 USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (6 Type-A + 1 Type-C), and several USB 2.0 ports, ensuring plenty of connectivity for peripherals.
Why I Like the ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero
I don’t want to sound like a fanboy, but this is one case where I really like everything about a product. The ASUS ROG Maximus XI Hero Wi-Fi has innovated in many areas, and it really is the best motherboard for i9 12900k that money can buy.
What I Dislike About the ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero
As you can imagine, the only thing I don’t like about this motherboard is the price. It is a bit on the expensive side but, in my opinion, it is worth every cent.
2. GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Xtreme
Socket Type: LGA1700 | Form Factor: E-ATX | Chipset: Z690
AORUS Xtreme is Gigabyte’s flagship Z690 motherboard. It is one of the most feature-packed motherboards you can buy, and it comes with a hefty price tag to match.
Design
The Gigabyte AORUS Xtreme boasts a premium design, featuring a sleek black and silver color scheme with integrated RGB LEDs for a standout aesthetic. The high-quality finish adds a stylish, modern touch that will make your build visually impressive.
Power Design
The motherboard comes with a robust 20+1+2 105A phase power delivery system, capable of delivering up to 2100A to the CPU. This exceeds the power capabilities of many competitors, making it one of the best motherboards for overclocking, particularly for high-end processors like the i9-12900K.
Cooling System
The cooling system of the Gigabyte AORUS Xtreme is also well-designed; first of all, it is an 8-layer PCB motherboard which really helps with heat dissipation. It has 2 massive VRM heatsinks that are connected with a huge Heatpipe that helps even further with heat dissipation.
It has M.2 and chipset heatsinks to keep your drives and chipset cool and a DDR cover/cooler, which is a bit problematic, though, as it doesn’t fit with taller RAM sticks. If you want to plug water cooling into your motherboard, then the Gigabyte AORUS Xtreme got you covered as it comes with 1 water-cooling CPU header and 4 system fan/ water cooling pump headers.
Memory
Just like the ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Hero Wi-Fi, the Gigabyte AORUS Xtreme comes with DDR5 memory support, and it has 4 DIMM slots that can support up to 128GB of RAM with speeds up to 6600MHz. PCIe Gen 5 support is also included on the Gigabyte AORUS Xtreme as it has 2 PCIe 5.0 x16 slots (x16/x0, x8/x8) and 1 PCIe 3.0 x16 (x4) slot. So, you will be able to install up to 2 graphics cards with full PCIe 5.0 support.
Expansion Slots
Gigabyte AORUS Xtreme comes with 4 PCI Express Gen 4 M.2 slots and 4 SATA ports. So, you will be able to install up to 4 NVMe M.2 drives that support speeds of up to 4 GB/s and enjoy extremely fast data transfer speeds.
Storage Options
For storage, the motherboard offers 4 PCIe Gen 4 M.2 slots and 4 SATA ports, allowing for the installation of up to 4 NVMe M.2 drives with speeds up to 4 GB/s. This provides ample storage capacity and extremely fast data transfer speeds, making it ideal for high-performance setups.
Networking and Connectivity
The Gigabyte AORUS Xtreme excels in networking, featuring a Wi-Fi 6 module, Bluetooth 5.2, and dual LAN chips (2.5 GbE and 10 GbE). With wired speeds up to 10 Gbps and wireless speeds up to 2400 Mbps, it ensures top-tier connectivity. It also offers extensive USB support with 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 header, 6 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, and additional USB Gen 1 ports for versatile connectivity.
Why I Like the GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Xtreme
There are quite a few things that I like about the Gigabyte AORUS Xtreme. First of all, I like the power delivery system as it is able to power any CPU you throw at it. I also like the cooling design with the 8-layer PCB and all the heatsinks. The PCIe 5.0 x16 slots are also very good and will support up to 2 graphics cards. Finally, I like the networking options, especially the Wi-Fi 6.
What I Dislike About the GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Xtreme
I don’t like the DDR5 cover/cooler as it is a bit problematic, and with such an expensive motherboard, I would expect everything to be perfect. I would also like to see PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots like on the ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Hero Wi-Fi as it is something that can help a lot with the performance of NVMe SSDs.
3. MSI MEG Z690 GODLIKE
Socket Type: LGA1700 | Form Factor: E-ATX | Chipset: Z690
The most expensive Z690 motherboard on this list, the MSI MEG Z690 GODLIKE, comes with almost everything you would expect from a high-end motherboard and even more.
The first thing I would like to talk about is something I haven’t seen on any other motherboard: an LED touchscreen. Godlike has a touchscreen LED display next to the DDR5 slots that shows some useful information like temperatures, fan speeds, and a debug LED. This is a very cool and unique feature that I really like.
Design
The design of the MSI MEG Z690 GODLIKE has a very premium and futuristic look to it with its all-black aluminum design touch screen and AIO-led displays. The build quality is also excellent, as you would expect from a high-end MSI motherboard.
Power Design
The power delivery system on the MSI MEG Z690 GODLIKE is also excellent as it comes with a 20+2 phase design with 105A power stages, meaning it will provide 2100A to your CPU. As you can understand, this is more than enough to power any 12th gen CPU and overclock it to its maximum potential.
Cooling System
The cooling system is also very good; it is an 8 PCB layer design with huge VRM and chipset heatsinks. It is pretty much covered in aluminum and has a very premium look and feel to it. A nice touch is that the M.2 heatsinks work with magnets making them very easy to install and remove.
Memory
MSI MEG Z690 GODLIKE comes with 4 DIMM slots that can support up to 128GB of DDR5 RAM with speeds of up to 6666MHz (Godlike and 6666 is it a coincidence or what? :P).
Expansion Slots
Of course, it has PCIe Gen 5.0 support and it comes with 2x PCIe 5.0 x16 slots (x16/x0, x8/x8) and 1x PCIe 4.0×4 slot. It also supports both NVIDIA SLI and AMD Crossfire.
Storage Options
The storage options are out of this world as it comes with 6x M.2 slots (1x PCIe 5.0 and 4x PCIe 4.0 and 1x PCIe 3.0) and 6x SATA 6Gb/s ports. At this point, I need to mention that there are certain limitations when using all the M.2 slots or PCIe slots. For example, if you use the PCIE_2 slot (the second PCIe 5.0 x8 slot), the M2_3 (The PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot) will be disabled. So make sure to check that before you buy this motherboard.
Networking and Connectivity
MSI MEG Z690 GODLIKE has good networking options with 2x LAN controllers, one is an Intel I225-V 2.5Gb Ethernet, and the other is an Aquantia AQC113CS 10Gb Ethernet. It also has Wi-Fi 6E support with up to 2.4 Gbps and Bluetooth 5.2.
The connectivity options are also excellent as it has 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports with 40Gb/s of bandwidth and 2 USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 ports with 20Gb/s of bandwidth. It also has 8 USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports and headers, 4 USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, and 4x USB 2.0 ports.
When you buy this motherboard, you will get 2 Kingston Fury DDR5 RAM modules with 32GB of total capacity and a MEG CORELIQUID S360R 360mm AIO cooler (more on that later).
Why I Like the MSI MEG Z690 GODLIKE
I like everything about this motherboard, but if I had to pick one thing that I like the most, it would be the unique and premium design with a touchscreen display. I won’t mention all the premium features like the 20+2 phase power delivery system or the excellent cooling system because those are kinda expected at this price range.
What I Dislike About the MSI MEG Z690 GODLIKE
Unfortunately, there are not only great things about the MSI MEG Z690 GODLIKE there are also some drawbacks that you should be aware of.
First of all, this is a very expensive motherboard; it will cost you around $2000, which is insanely expensive. If you are not planning to use this motherboard’s features, then you are better off with a cheaper option.
The second thing is that it has some PCIe and M.2 slot limitations. As I already mentioned, if you use certain slots, then other slots will be disabled.
Finally, I am not so thrilled that this motherboard comes with the Kingston Fury RAM modules and the MEG CORELIQUID S360R 360mm AIO cooler. I am not thrilled because these two cost around $600, and I would prefer to pay less and get my RAM modules and AIO cooler.
Related Article: 9 Best Motherboards For Ryzen 9 5900x
Best Mid-Range Motherboards for i9 12900k ($400-$600)
The second category of motherboards that I will be talking about is the mid-range category which consists of motherboards that cost between $400 and $600. They are very good motherboards, but they might not have all the extra features that high-end motherboards have. They are still good and will provide you with great gaming and overall experience.
4. Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Master
Socket Type: LGA1700 | Form Factor: E-ATX | Chipset: Z690
The first mid-range motherboard on my list is the Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Master, one of the best mid-range motherboards for I9 12900k you can buy.
Design
The design is ok; it is a black and gray motherboard with RGB lighting. It doesn’t have anything too fancy or eye-catching, but it looks good. I think the high-end motherboards look better, but this is something subjective.
Power Design
This motherboard has a very good power design as it has a 19+1+2 phase power delivery system with 105A DrMOS power stages capable of delivering up to 1995A of power. This is very close to the high-end motherboards and can easily handle the i9 12900k at stock and overclocked speeds.
Cooling System
Cooling is handled effectively with an 8-layer PCB that aids in heat dissipation. The board features a massive VRM fin-array heatsink for cooling the power delivery system, along with an active chipset cooler to maintain low temperatures. The PCIe and M.2 slots are also covered by an aluminum heatsink for added thermal performance.
Memory
The Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Master offers 4 DIMM slots supporting up to 128GB of DDR5 RAM with speeds reaching 6400MHz+, providing strong memory performance comparable to higher-end boards.
Expansion Slots
It features one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot for the latest graphics cards and two PCIe 3.0 x16 (x4) slots. However, for those looking to run multiple GPUs, this may not be the best choice, as it’s not optimized for dual graphics setups.
Storage Options
The motherboard includes 5 M.2 slots: three PCIe 4.0 x2, one PCIe 3.0 x4, and one PCIe 4.0 x4. It also has 6 SATA 6Gb/s ports, though these will be disabled if all M.2 slots are in use, so users will need to plan their storage configurations accordingly.
Networking and Connectivity
Networking is top-tier with a Marvell® AQtion AQC113C 10GbE LAN chip for high-speed wired connections, and a Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax Wave2 card offering up to 2.4Gbps of wireless bandwidth. Bluetooth 5.2 is also included for additional connectivity options.
Why I Like the Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Master
I think AORUS did a great job with this motherboard as it covers all the basics like power delivery, cooling, networking, and connectivity. It also has some nice features like the 5 M.2 slots, 2 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports, and a very good audio system.
What I Dislike About the Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Master
The only thing that I don’t like about this motherboard is that it has only one PCIe x16 slot, so if you are a gamer who wants to use 2 graphics cards in SLI or Crossfire mode, then you won’t be able to do that. The design also could be better, but if you are happy with the rest of the features, then you shouldn’t care too much about it.
5. ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I Gaming WiFi
Socket Type: LGA1700 | Form Factor: Mini-ITX | Chipset: Z690
The second mid-range motherboard on my list is the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I Gaming WiFi, a good mini-ITX motherboard for I9 12900k. While its name suggests it is a gaming motherboard, I am not sure if it is the best gaming motherboard…
Design
There is not much to say about the design as it is a mini-ITX motherboard, so there is not much room for fancy designs. I think it looks good with its black color scheme and LED lighting.
Power Design
It comes with a 10+1 phase power delivery system with 105A DrMOS power stages that are capable of delivering up to 1050A of power to the CPU. This is pretty good for a mini-ITX motherboard, and it should be able to handle I9 12900k at stock speeds but probably not overclocked.
Cooling System
The thing that surprised me the most is that it is a 10 PCB layer motherboard which is very good for heat dissipation. It is pretty smart to use a 10-layer PCB on a mini-ITX motherboard to help with heat dissipation as there is not enough room for big heatsinks. Speaking of heatsinks, it has a sizable VRM fin-array heatsink that should keep the VRMs cool and an M.2 heatsink to keep the M.2 drives cool.
Memory
It has 2 DIMM slots that support up to 64GB of DDR5 RAM with speeds of up to 6600MHz+, which is pretty good for a mini-ITX motherboard.
Expansion Slots
There is not much to talk about when it comes to expansion slots, as it has only one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot (Remember when I mentioned that I am not sure this is the best option for gamers?)
Storage Options
ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I Gaming WiFi storage options are pretty good as it has 2 M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 slots and four SATA 6Gb/s ports.
Networking and Connectivity
The networking capabilities are provided by an Intel 2.5Gbps Ethernet controller and an Intel Wi-Fi 6E chip that supports up to 2.4Gbps of bandwidth and Bluetooth v5.1.
With this motherboard, you will get many connectivity options: it has 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports, 2 USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 ports, and many other regular USB ports.
Why I Like the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I Gaming WiFi
I think it is a decent motherboard for those who want to build a small form factor PC. I like the fact that it has good power delivery, cooling, and storage options. The Thunderbolt 4 ports are also a nice addition.
What I Dislike About the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I Gaming WiFi
To be honest, I don’t appreciate the fact they are calling it a gaming motherboard. I think it is a marketing gimmick as it doesn’t have features that gamers need, like multiple graphics card support or power to support overclocking. Finally, it is also a bit expensive for a mini-ITX motherboard.
6. MSI MEG Z690 UNIFY
Socket Type: LGA1700 | Form Factor: ATX | Chipset: Z690
The last mid-range motherboard on my list is the MSI MEG Z690 UNIFY. It is MSI’s top-of-the-line mid-range motherboard for LGA 1700 processors, so let’s see how good it is.
Design
The biggest surprise for me was the design of this motherboard. If you are not aware, MSI likes its RGB lighting, but with this motherboard, they have gone with a more subtle approach, and I think it looks great. There is no RGB lighting on this motherboard, just a black stealthy design that I really like.
Power Design
This motherboard has a 19+2 phase power delivery system with 105A direct power stages that are capable of delivering up to 1995A of power to your CPU. This is more than enough for I9 12900k at any clock speed, even if you decide to overclock it.
Cooling System
It is an 8-layer PCB motherboard which, as you already know, is good for heat dissipation. The Voltage Regulator Module heatsink on this motherboard is also very large, and it should keep the VRMs cool even when overclocking. Plus, the lower part of this motherboard is covered with a large aluminum heatsink that will keep your M.2s and chipset cool. The final touch is the Aluminum backplate which will also help with heat dissipation.
Memory
This motherboard has 4 DIMM slots that support up to 128GB of DDR5 RAM with speeds of up to 6666MHz+. This is more than enough for most people, even gamers.
Expansion Slots
Unify’s expansion slot configuration is also very good as it has 2x PCIe 5.0 x16 slots (x16/x0, x8/x8), and one PCIe 3.0 x4 slot. If you want to build a gaming PC with two graphics cards, UNIFY is the motherboard you have been looking for as it supports SLI and Crossfire.
Storage Options
It comes with great storage options as it has 5 M.2 slots, with 4 of them being PCIe 4.0 x4 and one being PCIe 3.0 x4 and 6 SATA 6Gb/s ports. This should be more than enough for most people.
Networking and Connectivity
MSI MEG Z690 UNIFY comes with two Intel 2.5Gbps Ethernet controllers and one Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 chip that supports up to 2.4Gbps of bandwidth and Bluetooth v5.2. The USB ports on this motherboard are good in both quality and quantity as it has 2 USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 ports, 7 USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, and many other regular USB ports.
Why I Like the MSI MEG Z690 UNIFY
I like the power delivery system, the 8-layer PCB, and the large VRM heatsink on this motherboard. It also has great expansion slots, and I like the design of this motherboard.
What I Dislike About the MSI MEG Z690 UNIFY
I think MSI could have included a couple of Thunderbolt 4 slots on this motherboard as it is their top-of-the-line mid-range motherboard. I would also like to see a PCIe Gen 5 M.2 slot as it is the latest standard. But overall, I think it is a great value-for-money motherboard.
Related Article: 9 Best Motherboards For Ryzen 7 5800x
Best Budget Motherboards for i9 12900k (Under $400)
The last category I would like to talk about is the best budget motherboards for I9 12900k. These motherboards are the most affordable Z690 motherboards and offer good value for money. They don’t come with all the features that are available on the mid-range and high-end Z690 motherboards, but they will do the job for most people.
7. Asus TUF GAMING Z690-PLUS WIFI D4
Socket Type: LGA1700 | Form Factor: ATX | Chipset: Z690
The first motherboard on my list is the Asus TUF GAMING Z690-PLUS WIFI D4. It is an affordable TUF Gaming motherboard and has some great features.
Power Design
This motherboard has a 14+2 80A phase power delivery system that is capable of delivering up to 1120A of power to your CPU. Asus utilizes a teamed setup with two phases and no phase doubler, which is good for heat dissipation. With 1120A of power, you will be able to run your i9 12900k at any clock speed without any issues.
Cooling System
It is a 6-layer PCB motherboard and comes with a large VRM heatsink that will keep the VRMs cool. Three out of four M.2 slots are covered with heatsinks, and the chipset is also covered with a heatsink. Finally, there are 7 fan headers on this motherboard, with 3 being 4-pin PWM/DC headers.
Memory
Asus TUF GAMING Z690-PLUS WIFI D4 has 4 DIMM slots that support up to 128GB of DDR4 RAM with speeds of up to 5333MHz. This is the biggest difference between Asus TUF GAMING Z690-PLUS WIFI D4 and most Z690 motherboards on my list. This is a DDR4 motherboard, while most of the other motherboards are DDR5. Being a DDR4 motherboard has its pros and cons, with the pros being that you won’t have to buy new memory and can use your existing memory modules. The cons are that you won’t be able to take advantage of the higher speeds that are available with DDR5.
Expansion Slots
The PCIe slot configuration is ok – it has 1x PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, 1 PCIe 3.0 x16 (x4 mode) slot, 2x PCIe 3.0 x4 slots, and 1 PCIe 3.0 x1 slot. To be honest, I am not thrilled with the PCIe slot layout as I would like to see more PCIe 5.0 slots or at least a PCIe 4.0 x16 (x8 mode) to be able to plug in more GPUs. Just like with the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I Gaming WiFi, Asus named this motherboard a gaming motherboard, and it doesn’t offer basic gaming features like a second PCIe slot for a GPU.
It has 4 PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots, and 4 SATA 6Gb/s ports. This should be more than enough for most people, so not much to complain about here.
Networking and Connectivity
The networking options on this motherboard are decent as it offers a 2.5G LAN connection with an Intel chipset, WiFi 6 support up to 5 GHz, and Bluetooth 5.2 support. USB-wise, you are getting 15 USB ports and headers, with one being a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 20Gbps header, another one being a USB 3.2 Gen 2 connector Type-C, and the remaining 13 being USB 3.2 Gen 1 and USB 2.0 ports.
Why I Like the Asus TUF GAMING Z690-PLUS WIFI D4
I like that the price is very good compared to other Z690 motherboards, it comes with a very good power delivery system, the cooling design is decent, and it offers good storage options.
What I Dislike About the Asus TUF GAMING Z690-PLUS WIFI D4
My biggest issue with this motherboard is that it has only one real PCIe x16 slot. I think this is more important than the DDR4 support because if you want to use this motherboard for hardcore gaming, you will need a second GPU. Other than that, as I already mentioned, the lack of DDR5 support might be an issue for some people.
8. Gigabyte Z690 AORUS ELITE DDR4
Socket Type: LGA1700 | Form Factor: ATX | Chipset: Z690
The next motherboard on my list is the Gigabyte Z690 AORUS ELITE DDR4. This is another affordable motherboard that offers some good features.
Power Design
It has a 16+1+2 70A phase power delivery system that is capable of delivering up to 1120A of power to your CPU. This amount of power is more than enough for any CPU on the market at base speeds, including the i9 12900k.
Cooling System
Gigabyte Z690 AORUS ELITE DDR4 is a 6-layer and x2 copper PCB design that will help with heat dissipation. It also comes with two large heatsinks that cover the VRMs, plus the half bottom of the motherboard is covered with a huge heatsink.
Memory
Like the Asus TUF GAMING Z690-PLUS WIFI D4, this motherboard has 4 DIMM slots that support up to 128GB of DDR4 RAM with speeds of up to 5333MHz. Once again, you have the pros and cons of being a DDR4 motherboard, so if you bought a new RAM recently or had some lying around then, this is a good motherboard for you.
Expansion Slots
The PCIe slot configuration of Gigabyte Z690 AORUS ELITE DDR4 is good as it has 1x PCIe 5.0 x16 slot and 2 PCIe 3.0 x16 (x4 mode) slots. Again this motherboard only has one real PCIe x16 slot, but I guess that is to be expected at this price range.
Storage Options
The storage options are also good as it has 4 PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots and 6 SATA 6Gb/s ports which are pretty standard for a Z690 motherboard.
Networking and Connectivity
Gigabyte Z690 AORUS ELITE DDR4 has basic networking options, and you won’t get WiFi or Bluetooth support. The LAN connection is 2.5Gbps which is pretty good. USB-wise, you are getting 17 USB ports and headers, one being a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 connector Type-C, and the remaining 7 being USB 3.2 Gen 1 and USB 2.0 ports.
Why I Like the Gigabyte Z690 AORUS ELITE DDR4
I really like that this motherboard has the basics covered with good CPU power phase design, cooling system, and storage options. You get a good-looking motherboard with decent features, so you aren’t paying for features that you don’t need.
What I Dislike About the Gigabyte Z690 AORUS ELITE DDR4
The biggest issue with this motherboard is the lack of DDR5 support. This is something that might be a problem for some people in the future. Other than the lack of a second PCIe x16 slot might be an issue for some people who want to use this motherboard for gaming, but at least Gigabyte didn’t name this motherboard a gaming one.
9. MSI MPG Z690 CARBON WIFI
Socket Type: LGA1700 | Form Factor: ATX | Chipset: Z690
The last motherboard on my list and probably the best budget motherboard is the MSI MPG Z690 CARBON WIFI. This motherboard lies between the budget and mid-range price range, so it has some good features, but it is also a bit more expensive than the other budget Z690 motherboards reviewed earlier.
Power Design
MSI MPG Z690 CARBON WIFI has an 18+1+1 75A power delivery design that is capable of delivering up to 1350A of power to your CPU, which means you will have no issues rocking the i9 12900k with this motherboard, at stock or even overclocked.
Cooling System
It is an 8 -layer PCB design with 2 huge aluminum heatsinks that cover the VRMs connected to a heat pipe. The whole bottom of the motherboard is covered in dark heatsinks, which will not only keep the motherboard cool but also make it look good.
Memory
The biggest difference between MSI MPG Z690 CARBON WIFI and the other budget mobos I reviewed is the DDR5 support. Unlike the other mobos that support DDR4, this one supports DDR5. It has 4 DIMM slots that support up to 128GB of DDR5 RAM with speeds of up to 6666MHz. This is an important feature for those who want to future-proof their system.
Expansion Slots
The PCIe configuration of the MSI MPG Z690 CARBON WIFI motherboard is also a bit better as it has 3 PCIe x16 slots, with two being PCIe 5.0 x16 (x16/x0, x8/x8) and the other one being PCIe 3.0 x16 (x4 mode). So if you are looking to do some multi-GPU gaming, this is a good option for you.
Storage Options
MSI MPG Z690 CARBON WIFI has 5 M.2 slots and 6 SATA ports, which is much more than the other budget mobos in this list. Keep in mind that you won’t be able to use all of them simultaneously as some are shared with other devices.
Networking and Connectivity
The MSI MPG Z690 CARBON WIFI also has a very good networking configuration as it has an Intel® I225V 2.5Gbps LAN controller and an Intel® Wi-Fi 6E chip (preinstalled to one M.2 slot) that supports speeds up to 2.4Gbps. You also get Bluetooth v5.2 support with this motherboard.
As for the USB ports, you are getting a total of 18 USB ports and headers, one being a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 connector (Type-C), 6 being USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps ports, and the remaining being USB 3.2 Gen 1 and USB 2.0 ports and headers.
Why I Like the MSI MPG Z690 CARBON WIFI
I think MSI MPG Z690 CARBON WIFI is the best value for money motherboard for the i9 12900k. It has a good power delivery system, great VRM cooling, DDR5 support, good PCIe configuration, 5 M.2 slots, and a really nice design.
What I Dislike About the MSI MPG Z690 CARBON WIFI
This is probably the first time I am not going to complain about something, I would like to see Thunderbolt support on this motherboard, but that is really the only thing I can think of and not something to expect from a mid-range to budget motherboard.
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How to Choose Motherboard for the Intel i9 12900k
Now that I have talked about the best motherboards for the i9 12900k, it is time to give you some advice on how to choose a motherboard for the Intel i9 12900k.
1. Socket Compatibility
The first thing you should pay attention to is the motherboard socket type. The i9 12900k is an LGA1700 socket processor, so you need to make sure that the motherboard you choose has this socket type in order to be compatible with your CPU.
2. Chipset
The chipset is another critical factor. At the time of writing, only the Z690 chipset offers overclocking support for the i9-12900K. Ensure the motherboard you choose features the Z690 chipset if you plan to overclock.
3. Power Delivery
Given that the i9-12900K has a 125W TDP, the motherboard must provide sufficient power to the CPU. It’s also essential that the motherboard has a reliable VRM cooling system to handle the power demands, especially during overclocking.
4. Memory Support
With Intel’s 12th generation Alder Lake processors, DDR5 RAM support is key to maximizing performance. You’ll need to decide whether to opt for DDR4 or DDR5 RAM, depending on the motherboard’s compatibility and your performance needs.
5. PCIe Configuration
The i9-12900K also supports PCIe 5.0. For those planning to use multi-GPU setups or other high-end PCIe devices, ensure the motherboard offers a robust PCIe configuration to take full advantage of this feature.
These are the main things you need to look at when choosing a motherboard for the Intel i9 12900k. It is not rocket science, and you should be able to find a good motherboard for this CPU if you keep these things in mind.
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Conclusion
You now know everything there is to know about choosing a motherboard for the Intel i9 12900k and which are the best motherboards for the Intel Core i9 12900k.
Just remember to keep the factors we discussed in mind when choosing your motherboard, and you should be able to find a good one for this CPU no matter what your budget is. Good luck! If you still have any questions or need more advice, don’t hesitate to ask in the comments below.