Intel is not only focusing on manufacturing some top-tier processors but also mid-range or affordable chips for budget-conscious users. Intel Core i5 9600k is one such processor that comes with an impressive list of features at a reachable price. There may be some AMD alternatives with either similar or better performance for productivity applications but the i5 9600k must take some leads for gaming. For your information, it features a basic combination of six cores and six threads together with effective hyper-threading technology to take multi-tasking up to the next level.
Since the CPU has an unlocked multiplier, the base clock speed of 3.7GHz can quickly boost up to 4.5GHz without any hassle. But if there is the best motherboard for i5 9600k and a good-quality cooling solution, it won’t mind touching the 5MHz mark. Therefore, finding an excellent motherboard can boost the performance and ultimately, your gaming experience to the ideal mark. Well, if you’re finding it difficult to spend your hours researching on the internet or moving through the tech market, this post is for you. You must check all the tested and reviewed products in this post.
Quick Shopping Tips:
Several factors, aspects, and specifications are there that you must check when purchasing a motherboard. You can take help from this motherboard purchasing guide to know everything in detail. For the sake of this post and simplicity, we have added a few important of them. Let’s explore this short and to-the-point motherboard buying guide!
How much RAM can it accommodate? I’m sure you know how crucial volatile memory is for a gaming rig. Every main circuit has a maximum capacity to accommodate the RAM or random access memory. The minimum amount of required memory, especially for gaming, is 16 GB. You should go for a motherboard that can run the latest DDR5 or DDR4 type memory with 16 GB or more capacity. Also, the mobo should have some room for expanding the memory; we may need to increase the capacity.
Form factor and compatibility: We have decided to keep this factor due to its cruciality and because many buyers ignore it before buying a mobo. Tell me, what if you buy the primary circuit and cannot fit it into the PC case? Hence, make sure the motherboard you are buying is ideally according to the case’s form factor. Most of the circuits have an ATX form factor, which is obviously very common; however, some have micro-ATX or mini-ITX as well.
Overclocking and Cooling: Possibly every modern graphics card and processor is unlocked to overclock its frequency for optimal output. As these components are fitted into the motherboard, it allows them to perform this vital task. Hence, it should be allowing overclocking. However, overclocking causes an increase in heat production that led damage to other components. Despite permitting overclocking, the motherboard can handle and dissipate heat fast.
Motherboard’s chipset: Chipset for a motherboard is like a micro-brain for the element that decides about the data flow between various parts connected to it. It also determines the compatibility between CPU and mobo. There are two chipsets best for i5 9600k, Z370 and Z390, nothing else. Check before buying that your mother circuit should have one of these, and don’t even try to buy one with something else. In short, you must consider checking the chipset of the motherboard.
Connectivity: Another important factor that you must check in every motherboard when purchasing it is connectivity. You have to ensure that there are all types of wired connectivity options including USB ports, audio jacks, SATA connectors, PCIe expansion options, and others. In addition, check out the presence of WiFi and Bluetooth for wireless communication along with LAN Ethernet port to establish stable networking.
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We test processors, graphics cards, motherboards, RAM kits, CPU coolers, laptops, and other PC peripherals to ensure that every tech enthusiast gets what he needs. No brand can buy our recommendations. Instead, we have a team of expert testers and reviewers whose duties are to practically test every item that we get from the brands or purchase from the market and test to prove its validity and utility. In addition, we also mention the ideal users’ spot for every item, along with all possible pros and cons.
Moreover, we don’t forget modern inventions too. This is why we have created a separate news category to ensure that the readers are up-to-date with everything happening in the tech field. Suppose you’re a guy who is related to the tech field and wants to know everything before creating their next computer. In such a case, you must scroll to the latest news to carry on things. We also know that everybody often faces some issues with their computing machines. All types of guides are on this platform.
As I mentioned, we test all types of PC components and peripherals to give the users some truthful information. You can see the same thing in this article. We tested several but reviewed a few perfect products that met our standards. If you want a high-end motherboard with all the current-era features, we have the ASUS ROG Z390 Maximus XI Hero for you. On the other hand, you can go for the Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro WiFi, which is a satisfying staff choice. But the ASUS Prime Z390-A is for budget-conscious users.
The Best Motherboards for i5 9600K You Can Buy Today
ASUS ROG Z390 Maximus XI Hero
Best High-end Motherboard for i5-9600K
Brand: ASUS | Series: ROG Maximus | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Socket: LGA 1151 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory Architecture: Dual channel | Memory Slots: 4 DIMMs | Memory Size: 128GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 4400MHz | Onboard WiFi: Intel 802.11AC Wi-Fi | SATA ports: 6 SATA 3.0
REASONS TO BUY
✓WiFi and Bluetooth 5.0
✓XMP profile
✓Excellent overclocking performance
✓Consistent, well-balanced performance
✓Attractive aesthetics
REASONS TO AVOID
✗Maybe pricier in some circumstances
The ASUS ROG Z390 Maximus XI Hero is a top-tier motherboard meshed with lots of features. The product has a standard ATX form factor, and an aggressive black and silver design conveys a bold look for which this series is acknowledged. With its Intel Z390 chipset, the LGA 1151 socket of the circuit can Intel’s processors with the 8th & 9th generation core family. You might feel it is slightly expensive; hence, if you have a deep pocket and can afford it, you will be surprised by the performance of this best high-end motherboard for I5-9600K.
Like other products on the list, it is based upon dual-channel memory architecture and can support four DIMM DDR4-type modules running at 4400 MHz of frequency. Memory overclocking will be highly smooth as the component supports Intel’s XMP or extreme memory profile. Wired connectivity features USB 3.1 / 2.0 ports with both Type-A and Type-C. The back panel has clear CMOS and BIOS flash drive buttons with USB connectivity options. You will also be able to use Wi-Fi 802.11 with Intel Wireless-AC 9560 chip and Bluetooth 5.0 for fast wireless communication.
For the sake of expansion slots, it includes 3x PCIe 3.0 x16 (x16/x4 electrical), 3x PCIe 3.0 x1, and a pair of M.2 slots. Six SATA ports with a 6Gb/s rate further support Raid 0, 1, 5, and 10. The product runs on an 8+2+2 Extreme Engine Digi+ VRM supply structure where VRM has two metallic heatsinks. The heat-pipe cooling structure runs across a full-length heatsink for the sake of better heat dissipation and cooling. On top of that, there are onboard and one addressable RGB header for RGB lighting for those who like to add lighting on the board.
Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro WiFi
Best Value Motherboard for i5-9600K
Brand: Gigabyte | Series: Aorus Pro | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Socket: LGA 1151 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory Architecture: Dual channel | Memory Slots: 4 DIMMs | Memory Size: 128GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 4266MHz | Onboard WiFi: Intel 802.11AC Wi-Fi | SATA ports: 6 SATA 3.0
Gigabyte has two motherboard variants; the Z390 Aorus Pro comes without WiFi support, while Aorus Pro WiFi has this support for improved wireless connectivity. We have added and reviewed the without-WiFi variant on our list. Anyhow, built on Intel’s latest Z390 chipset, the motherboard is ready to power up your Intel’s 8th and 9th generation core processors via an LGA-1151 type socket. Like the Z390 Aorus lineup, it has a similar black, orange, and silver color theme that is a falcon-inspired design. The board will impress with its advanced and stunning features.
Based on dual-channel memory architecture, it’s calling you to fit four DIMM DDR4 type memory nodules allowing for up to 128 GB capacity running at 4266 MHz, which means the board support 32 GB UDIMMs. The graphics support side is covered by one HDMI 1.4 port supporting up to 4k resolution for onboard graphics. You get USB 3.1 Type-A and Type-C and USB 2.0 support, plus PCIe x4 / x8 / x16 support with one M.2 socket connector. The board has an Intel GbE LAN chip for ethernet, Bluetooth 5.0, and Intel CNVi interface 802.11 for wave 2 WiFi for fast wireless connectivity.
The 12 + 1 power phases Digital VRM solution supports DrMOS to ensure regulated voltage input. We still have a lot to explain why Z390 Aorus Pro WiFi is the best value motherboard for i5-9600k. The cooling becomes really smooth with its advanced thermal design, which comprises a screw-mounted MOS heatsink, a 1.5 mm thick thermal pad, and a heat pipe. The ALC1220-VB chip is wisely merged with a high-end audio capacitor resulting in ear-friendly sounds. There are two addressable LED headers and a pair of RGB LED headers; both can be controlled by RGB FUSION 2.0.
REASONS TO BUY
✓Acknowledged for value
✓Wifi and Bluetooth 5
✓Cooling and Audio
✓Attractive look
✓Addressable RGB lighting
REASONS TO AVOID
✗May be expensive for some users
ASUS Prime Z390-A
Best Mid-Range Motherboard for i5-9600k
Brand: ASUS | Series: Prime | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Socket: LGA 1151 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory Architecture: Dual channel | Memory Slots: 4 DIMMs | Memory Size: 128GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 4266MHz | Onboard WiFi: Not available | SATA ports: 6 SATA 3.0
REASONS TO BUY
✓Excellent performance
✓12+2 DrMOS power stages
✓Perfect for mid-end builds
✓Overclocking works fine
✓Impressive cooling
✓Quite a mid-range price
REASONS TO AVOID
✗No Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
ASUS has carefully designed this motherboard to effectively deal with users who need good performance quality for their mid-end builds. You can utilize its ASUS Prime Z390 chipset to power up Intel’s 8-9th Generation core processors. It can accommodate up to four DIMM DDR4 memory sockets running at 4266 MHz of frequency. Despite the Intel extreme memory profile or XMP being enabled, this mobo is also intelligently redesigned for automatic overclocking. But ensure utilizing all the board’s cooling features to maintain an adequate temperature in the surroundings.
In the mid-range price tag, this best mid-range motherboard for i5-9600K will let you enjoy the many latest features and specs. You get USB 3.2 Gen 1 and Gen 2 ports as well as USB 2.0 ports. For your information, the data transfer rate of 10Gb/s with USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A and USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C connectors is pretty enough for a seamless wired connection. On the other hand, PCIe 3.0 and 2.0 M.2 can communicate between various components with a 32 Gb/s of transfer rate. In contrast, the board doesn’t have WiFi and Bluetooth support but comes with top-tier Ethernet support for networking.
It has multi-GPU support for those enthusiasts who want every monitor pixel full of visual quality scenes. The multi-layer PCB layout with OptiMem II technology precisely adjusts memory signal paths and improves buffer area. As the mobo allows overclocking, heat production could be an issue. That’s why you will get an ultra-efficient M.2 heatsink, enhanced power solution, and custom topology design. Another reason to call the Prime Z390-A the best motherboard for i5 9600k is the audio system that uses Realtek S1220A for clear-quality audio output.
Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro
Best Overclocking Motherboard for i5 9600K
Brand: Gigabyte | Series: Aorus Pro | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Socket: LGA 1151 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory Architecture: Dual channel | Memory Slots: 4 DIMMs | Memory Size: 128GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 4133MHz | Onboard WiFi: Not available | SATA ports: 6 SATA 3.0
REASONS TO BUY
✓Impressive performance
✓Stable overclocking
✓Versatile wired connectivity
✓Solid VRM design
✓Plenty of USB ports
✓Exceptional Cooling
REASONS TO AVOID
✗No debug LEDs
✗BIOS updating may be complex
Every gamer wants to turn its processor at its full extent and if you’re that, performance-enthusiast person, go for Z390 Aorus Pro. Honestly, we’ve reviewed hundreds of motherboards before, and Gigabyte has taken a significant market share. The product from the brand is well-known for its overclocking capabilities and features a lot to pair with Intel’s 8th and 9th generation core processors via the Z390 Express chipset. The dual-channel memory architecture allows us to connect four DIMM ECC or Non-ECC unbuffered DDR4 sockets running at 4133 MHz.
For wired connectivity, you get USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A and Type-C ports and USB 2.0 Gen 1 ports as well. As far as expansion slots matter, the mobo has 1 x PCIe 3.0 (x16), 1 x PCIe 3.0 (x8), 1 x PCIe 3.0 (x4), and 3 x PCIe 3.0 (x1) slots where all of these feature thermal shielding. The 12 + 1 power phases digital VRM with DrMOS solution ensures stable voltage with a 24-pin main power connector or two other 8-pin / 4-pin 12V connectors. You can use an Intel GbE LAN chip for ethernet LAN wireless connectivity; however, you wouldn’t have Wifi or Bluetooth with this product.
If we look at the design and aesthetics of the board, the black PCB with an orange finish has beautifully meshed with aluminum-silver painted heatsinks. As far as cooling efficiency is concerned, this best overclocking motherboard for i5 9600K can overclock up to 5 GHz while maintaining an adequate temperature. Moreover, the fan headers carry Smart Fan 5 technology to automatically adjust the fans’ speed depending on the temperature and heat. On top of that, there are two massive heatsinks with thick thermal padding and a heat pipe to maintain MOSFETs’ heat.
Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Master
Best Overall Motherboard For I5-9600K
Brand: Gigabyte | Series: Aorus Master | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Socket: LGA 1151| Form Factor: ATX | Memory Architecture: Dual channel | Memory Slots: 4 DIMMs | Memory Size: 128GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 4133MHz | Onboard WiFi: Intel WiFi 6 | SATA ports: 6 SATA 3.0
REASONS TO BUY
✓Built-in rear I/O shield
✓Good voltage regulator cooling and feature set
✓Bluetooth 5.0
✓A lot of connectivity options
REASONS TO AVOID
✗Maybe slightly pricey for some users
✗No Wi-Fi support
Gigabyte is famous for making every type of hardware component to target possibly every user. We have got the Z390 Aorus Master on the list where we’re trying to figure out the best motherboard for i5 9600k. This ATX form factor motherboard was launched as a replacement for the Z370 Aorus Gaming 7 of the previous generation. The Z390 Express chipset is ready to push the performance of 8th Gen and 9th Gen intel core processors beyond their limits. You get an all-inclusive mixture of rich features, looks, and performance.
You can connect four DIMM DDR4 type ECC or non-ECC unbuffered memory modules based on dual-channel architecture to get 128 GB of memory running at 4400 MHz of frequency. It plays really well on wired communication, and it has Bluetooth 5.0 but not WiFi for wireless communication. Both the rear side and I/O panel have connectivity-rich options like USB 2.0 / USB 3.1 slots to connect numerous peripherals, three M.2 slots to run your SSDs in RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10, and six SATA III connectors.
The mobo has a lot to tackle the thermal issues like a large around the CPU socket, a heatsink over the chipset, and another one covering the audio area. Starting from crystal-clear sound quality, this is the best overall motherboard for i5-9600k due to many reasons. You can use an old-school 24-pin connector or a pair of 8-pin connectors to power the 12 + 2 power phases design. Other features include 16x PCIe slots, a multi-GPU feature, a port to use an Intel GbE LAN chip, RGB lighting, and a fan header controlled by Gigabyte Smart Fan 5 software.
MSI Z390-A Pro
Best Budget Motherboard for i5 9600k
Brand: MSI | Series: Pro | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Socket: LGA 1151 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory Architecture: Dual channel | Memory Slots: 4 DIMMs | Memory Size: 128GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 4400MHz | Onboard WiFi: Not available | SATA ports: 6 SATA 3.0
We know the fact, many customers are looking for some sort of budget-friendly option to choose while having a good performance. Well, if you’re one of them, MSI Z390-A Pro is going to make you excited with its price as well as through its stunning features. We understand this is the best budget motherboard for i5 9600k due to its price, but it also has a bunch of solid highlights. Like it’s very famous for having an Intel I219V Gigabit Ethernet controller for faster speeds and a Realtek ALC892 HD audio codec to tackle the onboard audio.
The dual-channel memory architecture can take four DIMM memory slots worth 128GB to run with 4400 MHz of frequency. With the LGA 1151 type socket, the Intel Z390 chipset can effectively power up to maximum i9 processors and lower versions. The backside has one USB 3.1 generation 2 Types-A and Type-C port and four USB 2.0 ports to make wired communication attractive. There are plenty of PCIe 3.0 x1 ports and two onboard PCIe 3.0 slots with full-length, where one runs at x16 and the other operates at x4.
The component has an 8 + 4 power phases architecture to provide a stable voltage to power it up. While looking wise, you can see a chocolate-colored PCB having silver patterning around the board’s edges and heatsinks with silver and black colors. The motherboard’s aluminum body architecture ensures faster heat dissipation, lowering the temperature. Moreover, the platinum cooling system is enough not to make your hands feel the warmth via the mobo. I hope missing RGB wouldn’t be a big issue for you; if yes, I happily go for this product.
REASONS TO BUY
✓Affordable
✓Planty of wired connectivity options
✓Good looking aesthetics
✓Ear-friendly sound quality
REASONS TO AVOID
✗No Bluetooth and WiFi
Gigabyte Z390 M Gaming
Best micro ATX Motherboard for i5 9600K
Brand: Gigabyte | Series: Unknown | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Socket: LGA 1151 | Form Factor: micro ATX | Memory Architecture: Dual channel | Memory Slots: 4 DIMMs | Memory Size: 128GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 4266MHz | Onboard WiFi: Not available | SATA ports: 6 SATA 3.0
REASONS TO BUY
✓Many connectivity options
✓Use of up-to-date design
✓Enough memory capacity
REASONS TO AVOID
✗No built-in Wi-Fi support
Many gamers and developers often have to move their systems from one place to another. As this is a micro-ATX motherboard, it would be the best option to fit into small covers. The Gigabyte Z390 M Gaming motherboard can effectively run Intel 8th- and 9th-generation Core processors. Like Z390 Gaming X and Gaming SLI boards, you get a classy black and grey theme look with red accent details on the heat sink. The dual-channel memory structure lets us connect four DIMM DDR4 memory modules to get 128GB of memory capacity.
You can utilize a pair of full-length PCIe 3.0 x16 / x4 slots and a pair of PCIe 3.1 x1 slots. Besides these expansion options, the I/O panel features four USB 2.0, four USB 3.0, and two USB 3.1 slots to make wired communication more systematic. For graphics and visuals, the board has DisplayPort 1.2 and HDMI. Your ears will be more comfortable hearing the sounds produced by the Realtek ALC892 codec chip. The 12-power phases structure allows smooth voltage input when connected to a 24-pin or 12 V 8-pin connector. Despite being built on a small PCB, this best micro ATX motherboard for i5 9600k has the features of a bigger one.
There are also six SATA ports and two M.2 slots supporting both SATA drives and PCIe 3.0 x4 outputs. These M.2 slots are fast NVMe M2 SSDs and can transfer data with a 4 GB/s rate. We will run your components on a motherboard with an advanced thermal design to effectively monetize the temperature. The Smart fan 5 features allow the fans to work according to the amount of heat produced. You also get multi-way graphics support built with PCIe Armor and Ultra-durable design to ensure graphics cards work appropriately.
ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming
Best Mini ITX Motherboard for i5 9600K
REASONS TO BUY
✓Affordable
✓Excellent performance
✓Wi-fi and Bluetooth v5.0
✓Overclocking up to 5GHz
✓VRM heatsinks
REASONS TO AVOID
✗Thunderbolt 3 is only half-speed
✗Odd RGB system
After reading about ASRock Z390 Phantom gaming, you will be amazed that this small and powerful powerhouse is pretty affluent with high-end features. The Intel Z390 chipset can run 8th- and 9th-generation Intel Core processors via LGA 1151 socket. Dual-channel memory architecture can accommodate two DIMM DDR4 type memory modules with 64 GB of maximum capacity running at 4300+ MHz. During the testing session, our performance researchers noticed a memory boost of more than 5000 MHz by an increasing voltage of 1.38V; this was really a jaw-dropping discovery for me.
You will be surprised despite being the best mini ITX motherboard for i5 9600k, and it comes with decent wired and wireless communication. The rear panel includes antenna ports, an Intel Thunderbolt 3 port, one HDMI port, display ports 1.2, 2 x USB 3.1 Gen1 ports, and a pair of USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports. Also, one USB 3.1 Gen 2 header support and one USB 2.0 header. Alongside, the component has Bluetooth v5.0, an Intel Gigabit LAN chip, and an Intel 2T2R Dual Band 802.11ac built-in Wi-Fi supporting up to 1.73 Gb/s data flow rate.
Four SATA ports and a pair of M.2 sockets holding up both SATA and PCIe would be enough to fulfill the storage needs. The seven power phases solution features DrMOS technology to obtain smooth current and voltage that further help in monitoring the temperature. For cooling, there are two heatsinks connected with a heat pipe. The 7.1 channel HD audio featuring the Realtek ALC has excellent audio quality. The matte black-finished board with the copper color scheme has three LEDs at the bottom that can be controlled by polychrome RGB lighting software.
Conclusion
We have reviewed eight motherboards from various brands having numerous similar as well as distinct features and specifications. Our motto was to bring something valuable and practical for you. Honestly, just naming one product out of the entire market is not appropriate without deep research. Moreover, a buyer needs to keep many crucial factors in mind; these can vary from user to user. If someone like to read about those factors before buying the best motherboard for i5 9600K, visit buying guide section at the top of this article but find your core need first.
Furthermore, users who need a budget-friendly option to power up their Intel’s 9th generation core processor can go for MSI Z390-A Pro. If you need a board with a smaller size, go and check out ASRock Z390 Phantom gaming with mini-ITX form factor or Gigabyte Z390 M Gaming offering micro-ATX form factor. However, choosing the winner on the list was something very complicated. We must check price, performance, power usage, and many other aspects. The Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro WiFi meets the winner’s requirements; this is overall the best out of the bests product.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the i5 9600k overkill?
The simple answer is ‘NO’. The i5 9600 is mid-tier processing and an affordable option for content creators, developers, and gamers. If you connect it with other hardware components of the same caliber, it will perform impressively well. Although being a mid-end processor, it would be overkill if you pair it up with some premium components.
Will the i5 9600k be good in 2023?
The answer to this question purely lies in the type of usage you’ll put on this processor. Talking specifically for gaming, you should go for this masterpiece if you want to play games at 1920×1080. For higher load tasks, like eng-end gaming and content creation, I think you should invest in some powerful Ryzen instead of this Intel’s i5 9600k processor.
What motherboard is best for i5 9600k?
Before selecting a perfect motherboard for the i5 9600k processor, you first need to know your primary need. However, according to our research, the Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro WiFi would be a perfect choice for your rig. Starting from wireless connectivity to soothing RGB lighting, it’s capable of fulfilling all the gamer’s needs.
