13 BEST Motherboards for i9-12900K: DDR4 & DDR5

It is happening, everyone! The Alder Lake processors by Intel are here and so are the motherboards. While the motherboards are here, there also comes the hassle of choosing one from many as there are plenty of motherboards from ASRock, ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte, and other manufacturers. Worry not, when there is a competition, there is a clear chance that you can easily get the Best Motherboard For I9-12900k, at a cheap cost while having access to premium features.

At present, Intel has gained a huge lead followed by a remarkable release of their 12^th Gen Alder Lake CPUs. With the release of this generation, Intel surprises their competition and consumers a bang of more cores and threads in each of their entries in the Alder Lake lineup. Not only in the Tier-A CPUs, but there is an equal overhaul in the Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7 processors as well. Here is a comparison of i9-12900k Motherboards, that we will pick; these are the top 6 out of 13. We have now also updated the article with H670 and B660 Motherboards entry at the bottom after they were released earlier.

Here are all our picks compared to each other.

Last update on 2023-06-07

With the release of Alder Lake CPUs, Intel has rolled out Z690 chipset with the LGA 1700 socket to fully support the Intel 12^th Gen CPUs. These CPUs won’t be compatible with previous chipsets and the new socket type makes sure that it doesn’t fit anyways. Besides, you must also know the latest available Ram and CPU Coolers For I9-12900k.

The CPU we are concerned about in this chapter is the monstrous Intel Core i9 12900K. Although it is top of the line CPU among other siblings, to begin with, and ultimately has the best number of cores and number of threads followed by other attributes.

Intel Core i9 12900K Features And Specs

• Total Cores: 16
• Number of Performance-cores: 8
• Number of Efficient-cores: 8
• Total Threads: 24
• Max Turbo Frequency: 5.20 GHz
• Performance-core Max Turbo Frequency: 5.10 GHz
• Efficient-core Max Turbo Frequency: 3.90 GHz

How To Select Motherboard For I9-12900k

To choose a motherboard for the Core i9-12900K, you must look out for these factors.

• Price
• Design
• VRM
• Connectivity
• Upgrading

The price is an obvious factor which is never been different in any case. The design, however, maybe get you concerned because every Core i9 consumer would like to light things up inside his PC chassis. So, the delightful design of the motherboard is always encouraged by such enthusiastic consumers.

VRM is short for Voltage Regulator Module. VRM is a major section of every motherboard, but it gets very less consideration by many consumers out there. The Z690 chipset is for powerful CPUs (intel will also launch H670, B660, and H610 chipsets after sometime to target budget consumers market), but VRM determines the voltage that is driven by the processor on normal and stressed sessions. So, the VRM should be checked before considering running a huge CPU on a motherboard or before trying to overclock it.

The connectivity options on the motherboard are never enough. There are ethernet ports, USB ports, and display ports at the back of every motherboard, so you should look out for enough connectivity bays before buying a motherboard.

Upgrading is different from connectivity in the way that some hardware sits inside the PC chassis and we are talking about them in upgrading. If you plan to buy things later, there must be enough room and connection spared for it on the motherboard. Let’s say you want to upgrade storage and RAM later, there must be more slots over the motherboard to attach new hardware later.

Best Motherboards For i9-12900K

If you are already determined to buy the 12900K processor or already have bought or placed your order, then this guide will make you capable enough to choose one piece among many confusing names and specifications. Just remind the budget you have and things that come to you all together in one motherboard, that might be your door to finally select a motherboard without getting into any headache. So, let’s get started!

ASROCK Z690 Taichi

Best Performance i9 12900K Motherboard

Specifications= Chipset: Z690 | Memory:  DDR5 6400, 128GB | Video Outputs: HDMI | USB Ports: 2 Thunderbolt 4 Type-C ports (40 Gbps), 3x USB 3.2 | Network: 2.5 GbE, Wi-Fi 6E | Storage: 3x M.2, 7x SATA 3

ASROCK has been in the motherboard market for so long and it has gained fame through the trust of its consumers. Many reviews tell why the consumers stick to ASROCK once they get their hands on their well-designed motherboards. ASROCK Phantom Gaming division consists of the affordable entries in any chipset lineup which has been a beacon for many E-Sports players out there. ASROCK Taichi is also a legendary trademark that is determined to provide top-of-the-line features with the best set of 20-phase 105A stages VRM sitting on it, which are even overkill for processors like i9 12900k.

The ASROCK Z690 Taichi is a piece of art by just having a look at it. Opening it to make it sit inside the PC case is just a matter of pleasure. It consists of the gear artifacts printed on many of its components shielding. If you are planning for a mean black rig, the Z690 Taichi might be your best pick.

The price for this premium class motherboard is set to be much higher for a reason that it is not holding back on any modern and most wanted feature. For example, there are Thunderbolt ports that are seen in high-end machines so far and there is a WIFI 6 radio built-in for your speedy wireless coverage.

There is a little exposure of the IPC, but much of it is covered by the metallic cover and the chipset is cooled by the metallic housing and the heat being carried out to spreaders by the copper pipe.

For upgrading, the Z690 Taichi has 2 PCIe Gen 5 (x16) slots and one PCIe Gen 4 (x16) slot to house 3 high-end GPUs directly over the motherboard without any resulting bottleneck. Also, the Slots are soldered well on the board so any heavy GPU may not cause it to sag in any case. To ensure a high-temperature immunity, the Z690 Taichi has 8 layers of PCB for extra headroom to overclock your RAM up to 6,400MHz without any damage.

Rounding up everything except for the price, the ASROCK Z690 Taichi proves its spot to be the best performance i9 12900K motherboard because it has a 14 Phase Dr.MOS power design that can withstand a great overclocking range and power consumption.

It is worthy to be in your stylish rig and might be your companion in a long run. With all the credibility it is an enthusiastic motherboard that will work very well with your Core i9 12900K CPU with extreme overclocking extent.

MSI MEG Z690 Unify

Best High Speed i9 12900K motherboard

Specifications= Chipset: Z690 | Memory:  DDR5 6666, 128GB | Video Outputs: N/A | USB Ports: 9x Gen2, 4x Gen1| Network: 2.5 GbE, Wi-Fi 6E | Storage: 5x M.2, 6x SATA 3

MSI has been a trustworthy partner of many entry-level and enthusiastic gamers because they provide a wide range of products at lower prices as well as action-packed motherboards of the Tier-A category. MSI has a bunch of departments working on many domains, these include keyboards, mice, AIO coolers, motherboards, graphics cards, and even joypads. With the growing trust, MSI has been working on the demands of many needs of their consumers and targeting the E-Sports market with top-tier monitors and other responsive peripherals which are although affordable yet stylish to have on the desk.

MSI MEG Z690 Unify is the pinnacle of decency thanks to its matte dark finish. It is designed to be most appealing just by sitting underneath all the components. It looks like one mean motherboard due to its color scheme and stealth design. It is mainly made for noir black builds and for people who are anxious about pure performance by compromising on RGB glory.

By looking at its individual components, it has an M.2 lock to house an M.2 SSD without the need of screwing it on it, a WIFI 6E module with an extra WIFI extender antenna, and an aluminum backplate. It comes with a total of 5 M.2 slots and all the slots are covered with metallic heatsinks and thermal pads. To tackle a high temperature, the MSI MEG Z690 Unify has 8 layers of server-grade PCB for extra headroom to overclock your RAM up to 6,666MHz without any potential harm and performance spike.

This RAM frequency is unseen in any motherboard until now and this very capability makes MSI MEG Z690 Unify the best high-speed i9 12900K motherboard. This motherboard doesn’t only settle here, also the direct 19+2 power phases with 105A SPS ensure power-driven CPU overclocking to a great extent.

While the Z690 Unify could be the point of joy for many, it will not do as such with synchronized RGB lighting, as it has none by any stretch of the fancy. Assuming you’d like some RGB show, there are dedicated headers on the board to add your own. The Mystic Light software in the MSI Dragon Center controls the illumination. Generally, the board looks great with its dull vibe, yet don’t anticipate that it should point out itself as the RGB doesn’t mean better performance.

Gigabyte Z690 AORUS Pro

Best Value Motherboard For i9 12900K 

Specifications= Chipset: Z690 | Memory:  DDR5 6200, 128GB | Video Outputs: Display port | USB Ports: 1x USB Type C, 4x USB 3.2, 4x USB 3.0 | Network: 2.5 GbE, Wi-Fi 6E | Storage: 3x M.2, 6x SATA 3

Gigabyte Aorus series is itself a durable choice, but the Z690 Aorus Pro edition comes with the coolest features and better durability when you aim for overclocking the CPU. The Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Pro is the best fit for your Intel Core I9 12900K due to its price and the output in the result.

The Z690 Aorus Pro has the best price to performance ratio and turns out to be easily available in the market unlike other top-tier motherboards with higher price tags.

The Aorus Pro has the same typical assortment and appearance, but this time you get a very slight RGB light show because of its price barrier. It is also surprising to see quad GPU Crossfire support in such a price range.

The CPU is powered by 8+2 pin PSU power cables, which means that there is room for overclocking the Core i9 12900K on it. Perhaps the best thing about Intel’s new CPU setup is that, other than DDR4, they likewise support DDR5 RAM. The Gigabyte Z690 AORUS Pro motherboard works with the high-speed DDR5. There are four DDR5 slots on the board, ready to fit up to the greatest limit of 128GB.

The mainboard upholds XMP 3.0 which, reliant upon the RAM modules you use, allows you effectively to set their speed at up to 6200MHz thanks to the 6 layers of PCB that helps maintain such a high-speed capability. 16+1+2 Direct Digital VRM design plays a vital role in cranking up the CPU clocks a bit high for better results.

These characteristics are rare in such a price point which clearly tells why the Gigabyte Z690 AORUS Pro is the best value for money i9 12900K motherboard among all the enlisted boards.

The Gigabyte Z690 AORUS Pro is a full-highlighted motherboard that offers nearly all that you really want as far as equipment and choices to plot an incredible PC powered by an Alder Lake processor, high-speed SSDs, and DDR5 support, a durable 6-layer PCB design, premium chokes, and capacitors. In general, we like the form quality in all aspects. However, with respect to the manner in which it looks, everyone would love a totally dark contrast on it, including the heatsinks.

GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Xtreme

Best Overclocking Motherboard For i9-12900K

Specifications= Chipset: Z690 | Memory:  DDR5 6600, 128GB | Video Outputs: N/A | USB Ports: 2x Thunderbolt ports, 10x USB 3.2 Gen 2 | Network: AQC113C 10GbE (LAN1), Intel 2.5GbE (LAN2), Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX210| Storage: 3x M.2, 4x SATA 3

Unlike the previous Aorus Pro, the Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Xtreme is one expensive entry and covers all the top-notch features as it is made for it. Aorus Xtreme is a rare motherboard to see on market shelves because of its supply and components need to manufacture and due to its price. Coming out of the entry-level group this motherboard has too many finest features to offer to have the RGB light show on the top.

The whole circuitry of this motherboard is hidden behind a well-brushed metallic shield. Even you cannot see the IPC pretty much from the rear side because the whole backside is covered with a metallic backplate, giving it the premium look on which the very motherboard is based.

The Z690 Aorus Xtreme is a dull board color-wise, dipped in dark and gunmetal colors, which make it look stunning in all the dark and good ways. You get three PCIe x16 slots; all safeguarded, heat-guided VRM sinks, and a massive heat spreader for the NVMe. Memory and VRM are contained with RGB covers, and the power and reset buttons are tucked to the extreme right, as they were with Z590.

Under the heatsink, there is a sum of four M.2 slots, which is incredible information for the people who need to put a number of M.2 SSDs in their rig. The primary M.2 opening is associated with the CPU while the last three go to the chipset, and this multitude of spaces supports up to PCIe 4.0. PCIe 5.0 is right now just accessible on the first and second x16 spaces, which can be arranged in single x16 or x8/x8 modes.

Right now on the back I/O panel, there are 10 x USB 3.2 ports, and 2 x USB Type-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 compatibility, that is all that could possibly be needed, and we consider it best for many others as well. The additional Wi-Fi 6E is just a cherry on the top.

Checking out the VRM, the Z690 AORUS Xtreme has a combination of 8-pin EPS 12V and a 20+1+2 Direct Digital VRM unit.

The VRM is all about handling the CPU with stability and Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Xtreme proves to be the best Overclocking i9 12900K motherboard because it is made to ensure your comfort when you are planning to be rough in overclocking aspects.

Gigabyte has also added the DDR5 Auto booster feature in BIOS, which can automatically increase native DDR5-4800 to 5000 Mbps with the click of a single button but it doesn’t settle here, you can manually overclock your RAM frequency up to 6,600MHz thanks to the 2X copper on PCB inner layer.

ASUS ROG Strix Z690-E Gaming

Best Motherboard For I9 12900k In 2023

Specifications= Chipset: Z690 | Memory:  DDR5 6400, 128GB | Video Outputs: HDMI, DP Port | USB Ports: 8x USB 3.2, 4 x USB 2.0 | Network: Intel 2.5Gb Ethernet ASUS LANGuard, Intel Wi-Fi 6E | Storage: 3x M.2, 6x SATA 3

Coming up next to the famous ASUS ROG stuff. The ASUS ROG Strix Z690-E Gaming is a complete motherboard packed with all the design goodies and action-packed features.

The Asus ROG Strix Z690-E Gaming WIFI motherboard has a strong metal form and the second main thing you see is that it feels premium, additionally looks premium with that adjustable RGB lightning along the edge. The ROG Strix Z690-E Gaming WIFI motherboard features an 18+1 VRM design @ 90 A is responsible for extreme power delivery.

You see very good quality resistors and tough capacitors along the edge of the processor plate and an assorted printed circuit board configuration gives better heat sinking. The critical element of this motherboard is the powerful Integrated I/O Cover and VRM Heatsinks. Otherwise, the PCB construction ensures high-speed RAM support of 6,400MHz in DDR5 standard, which is more than enough to have in your daily motherboard.

Two thick VRM heat spreaders associated with a temperature line and gripped to a pre-mounted metal I/O safeguard give the best cooling to these power-hungry Alder Lake Intel processors. The utilization of thermal pads effectively moves heat from the inductor and stage collectively to the heatsink.

With all the good performance, durability, capability, and aesthetics combined in one package, the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-E Gaming clears its way to become the best Overall i9 12900K motherboard.

ASUS ROG Strix Z690-A Gaming

Best DDR4 Motherboard For i9 12900K

Specifications= Chipset: Z690 | Memory:  DDR4 5333, 128GB | Video Outputs: HDMI, DP Port | USB Ports: 8x USB 3.2, 1x Type-C), 2x USB 2.0 | Network: Intel 2.5Gb, Intel Wi-Fi 6E | Storage: 4x M.2, 6x SATA 3

The ASUS ROG Strix A Gaming motherboard is mainly built with white finishing and is well equipped with modern features. The ASUS ROG Strix Z690-A Gaming is anyhow sustaining the classy layout of the Asus A Gaming series.

ASUS ROG Strix Z690-A Gaming Wi-Fi D4 is the main ROG Strix board with DDR4 memory compatibility. Besides, this is the most costly and complex model for DDR4 among all motherboards with the Z690 chipset. Since now the brand new DDR5 unit costs about as expensive as a mid-tier graphics card.

So if you want to spare some bucks for the GPU, we highly recommend getting along with this motherboard, so that you may spend less money on DDR5 memory and get a good graphics card instead and you can also use your spare DDR4 ram from your last build, as DDR5 Ram kits prices are touching sky these days due to low supply and high demand.

The ASUS ROG Z690 Strix-A D4 is packed with all the bells and whistles from decent VRM to good overclocking potential in RAM support with up to 5333Mhz with XMP.

ASUS ROG Strix Z690-A Gaming is a one-of-a-kind Alder Lake board with this much DDR4 OC potential which makes it the best DDR4 motherboard for i9 12900K.

You could apply AI Overclocking to overclock the processor. However, 16+1 DrMos with ProCool II VRM ensures a decent OC potential. Though, there is not much to talk about this motherboard at the present time, except for the white vibe and standard features. For gamers, however, the Strix-A will be a superb choice in all aspects.

GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Elite AX DDR4

Best Gaming Motherboard For i9 12900K

Specifications= Chipset: Z690 | Memory:  DDR4 5000, 128GB | Video Outputs: HDMI | USB Ports: 9x USB 3.2 , 4x USB 2.0 | Network: Intel I225-V (2.5 Gbps), Intel Wi-Fi 6 | Storage: 3x M.2, 6x SATA 3

When Talking about Best Motherboards For I9-12900k, the Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 has everything that you need to make your PC flashy as well as well-performing in all aspects. It has WIFI 6, PCIe 5.0 slots, and RGB lights along the edge. One thing it lacks is the DDR5 RAM support but for a good reason.

The Z690 Aorus Elite is targeted for a budget segment for anyone who is not going to spend a lot of money on DDR5 memory yet have a high-speed DDR4 memory @5,000MHZ to pair up with.

Having a look over the Z690 Aorus Elite, we see a matte-dark PCB, alongside some dim lines wrought on the board matching the heatsinks and covers. The VRM heatsink exhibits the Aorus trademark, while the chipset has an Aorus Eagle on with a glossy finish. The dark and grey circuit supplies data streaming on the essential PCIe lanes and every one of the four DRAM lanes to free up the EMI and extra lanes for dedicated GPUs.

Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Elite is considered to be the average motherboard in DDR4 category but it has something more to offer. 6-Layer & 2X Copper PCB is there to achieve and maintain a good clock speed. This solid construction makes it possible to achieve 5,000MHz from memory modules.

The design is pretty straightforward; however, we might want to see it darker all things considered. There are fewer heatsinks on the chipset and overall, on the board unlike the MSI MEG Z690 Unify that we had a look at previously.

For gaming, you need a decent RAM frequency, good GPU bandwidth support, and a top-of-the-line CPU, and surprisingly this motherboard support all these things to encourage the gaming experience which is the reason that Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Elite is the best Gaming i9 12900K motherboard.

GIGABYTE Z690 AERO G

Best White Motherboard For I9-12900k

Specifications= Chipset: Z690 | Memory:  DDR5 6000, 128GB | Video Outputs: HDMI, Display port | USB Ports: 2x USB 2.0, 6 x USB 3.2, 1x Type-C | Network: Intel 2.5Gigabit, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Storage: 4x M.2, 6x SATA 3

The Gigabyte Z690 Aero G is somehow similar to the Asus ROG Strix Z690 A-Gaming that we discussed previously, but it is more decent and has more exposed IPC. However, it has a big shroud over the I/O pane, which looks pretty cool when paired with a good white AIO Cooler and a white-colored graphics card which highlights Gigabyte Z690 Aero G as the best white i9 12900K motherboard in the market.

The GIGABYTE Z690 Aero G puts together one high-speed slot of PCIe 5.0 x16, with two full-length slots of PCIe 3.0 x4. In storage expansion, we have 3x slots of PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2, with 6x SATA ports equipped for supporting Intel RAID 0, 1, 5. For the RAM aspect, there are 4 DIMM slots positioned in the upper right-hand corner, which can uphold up to DDR5-6,000MHz, with a sum of up to 128 GB. You may read our full review of the GIGABYTE Z690 AERO G.

ASUS TUF Gaming Z690-Plus WIFI

Best Durable Motherboard For I9-12900k

Specifications= Chipset: Z690 | Memory:  DDR4 5333, 128GB | Video Outputs: HDMI, Display port | USB Ports: 2 x USB 3.2, 7 x USB 3.1 | Network: Intel 2.5Gigabit, WiFi 6 AX 201 (802.11ax) | Storage: 4x M.2, 4x SATA 3

TUF GAMING Association is a cooperation among ASUS and believed PC part brands to guarantee similarity across a wide scope of parts, for example, power supplies, PC cases, memory units, CPU coolers, and the sky is the limit from there. The TUF Gaming Alliance is set to grow even stronger with the invention of new counterparts being rolled out in the market.

Asus TUF Gaming Z690-Plus WIFI has mostly an exposed IPC, but the color scheme and shades don’t make it look that much incompetent as compared to other top-notch motherboards with proper IPC shielding.

The RGB illumination is just a complement to its matte black finishing making it come out nice once put to sync with other AuraSync devices.

Asus TUF Gaming Z690-Plus WIFI has a memory scaling support of up to 128GB using 32GB X 4 configuration. With this massive memory running at 5333MHz, you will not feel the absence of DDR5 support because all the gaming and productivity needs will be fulfilled.

ASUS TUF Gaming Z690-Plus offers 14+1 DrMOS VRM and 6 layer PCB with alloy chokes, and durable capacitors for stable power delivery also this combo helps this motherboard to be titled as the best durable i9 12900K motherboard.

Taking care of many advancements with time, Z690-Plus WIFI offers the M.2 locks at the PCIe bays, so you won’t be needing to screw down your SSDs with a screwdriver and it sits easily with just a flick.

GIGABYTE Z690 Gaming X

Best Budget Motherboard For I9-12900k

Specifications= Chipset: Z690 | Memory:  DDR5 6000, 128GB | Video Outputs: HDMI, Display port | USB Ports: 1 x USB Type-C, 3x USB 3.2 | Network: Intel 2.5Gigabit | Storage: 4x M.2, 4x SATA 3

GIGABYTE Z690 Gaming X is a piece of art for its attractive black and grey combination with shapes and artifacts wrought on it finely. All the heat spreaders are aligned so perfectly that they cover the delicate parts and sink their heat quickly.

Gaming X Alliance is a matter of budget-friendly stuff with uncompromised style and looks like this motherboard is going to be at our Editor’s Pick. With all the necessary features, it also has the speed to exhibit. With the flashing speed of 6000MHz at its DDR5 department. It helps load things faster which is the first thing that is promised by DDR5 standard.

GIGABYTE Z690 Gaming X has a durable power design. A 16+1+2 Twin Hybrid Digital VRM Design with 60A DrMOS is a big thing that is being offered at the lowest possible price point making GIGABYTE Z690 Gaming X the best budget i9 12900K motherboard.

It doesn’t settle here, the Z690 Gaming X exhibits a comprehensive thermal design as well thanks to the 6 layers of PCB. High Coverage MOSFET Heatsinks and Fully shielded thermal design, massive thermal guards make sure that no thermal mishap can possibly harm the motherboard performance or health.

GIGABYTE Z690 motherboards accompany renovated power configuration with high-grade components, and an extraordinary grid that empowers you to upgrade your rig without any fuss in the power department.

ASUS Prime Z690M-Plus

Best Entry-Level Motherboard For I9-12900k 

Specifications= Chipset: Z690 | Memory:  DDR4 5333, 128GB | Video Outputs: HDMI, Display port | USB Ports: 6x USB 3.2, 2x USB 2.0 | Network: Intel 2.5Gigabit| Storage: 4x M.2, 4x SATA 3

New Asus PRIME Z690m Plus D4 is a Micro ATX factor motherboard equipped with four DDR4 DIMM slots in Dual channel memory. It supports DDR4 RAM starting from 2133 MHz to 3200 MHz and to 5333 in the overclocking perspective.

ASUS Prime series motherboards are well calculated to release the maximum capacity of i9 12600k processor. Spectacular and dynamic power plan, far-reaching cooling solution, and easy tuning options with Prime Z690M-Plus give you a scope of tuning and upgrading choices by means of plug & play and firmware capabilities.

ASUS Prime Z690M-Plus has an upgraded VRM in comparison with its predecessor: 10+1 DrMOS, 4-pin+8-pin ProCool connector, a combination of sturdy capacitors, and resistors for stable power transmission. ASUS Prime Z690M-Plus comes with a complete cooling package, a large VRM heatsinks, PCH heatsink, hybrid fan headers, and Fan Xpert 4 technology to tweak RPMs and intelligently control fans when they are needed.

ASUS Prime Z690M-Plus also integrates ASUS OptiMem II tech that provides careful steering of tracks and vias, in addition to ground layer enhancements to protect signal strength for further developed memory overclocking.

Many entry-level motherboards are made to compromise on high-speed RAM frequency but the Asus Prime Z690M-Plus offers 5,333MHz of memory speed marking itself as the best entry-level i9 12900K motherboard.

ASUS PRIME B660-PLUS D4

Best B660 motherboard for i9-12900k

Specifications = “Chipset: B660 Chipset | Form Factor: ATX | Memory Support: 4 DIMM slots, Dual channel DDR4 5066MHz (OC) max, 128GB | Storage: 3x M.2 Gen4 slots, 4x SATA 3.0 Ports | USB Ports: 7x USB 3.2 Ports and 6x USB 2.0 Ports | Video Output: 1x D-Sub port, 1x DisplayPort 1.4 and 1x HDMI 2.1 | Network: 1x Realtek 2.5Gb Ethernet, No Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support”]

With the launch of Intel’s 12^th generation processors and chipsets, ASUS came out hot with their latest lineup of motherboards for these CPUs. There’s no doubt i9-12900k is a competent processor, and it needs a motherboard that could facilitate it properly. Well, we’ve got one today by the giant ASUS named ASUS PRIME B660-PLUS D4.

ASUS PRIME B660-PLUS D4 is an ATX motherboard with a silver and black colour combination, putting it into the limelight. A robust industry-acclaimed DIGI+ VRM powers the motherboard with 8 power stages. DIGI+ is a powerful VRM designed to provide stable and clean input to the CPU and other components providing smoother and steady performance. ASUS PRIME B660-PLUS D4 receives power using the 8 pin ProCool connectors. You can also read our article on B660 Motherboards for better understanding on these 12th supported motherboards.

To properly dissipate heat generated from the i9-12900k and passed to the PCB, ASUS has cared to add a VRM and M.2 heatsink. VRM heatsinks remove the heat from the VRM, and the M.2 heatsinks enable NVMe SSDs to work at optimum without any thermal throttling issues. ASUS PRIME B660-PLUS D4 contains 4 DIMM slots supporting a maximum of 128GB of DDR4 RAM operating at a maximum frequency of 5066MHz with the Memory overclocking support. The Memory also has the backing of ASUS OptiMem for enhanced memory performance.

With a powerful processor, you should be playing more games requiring more storage space. There won’t be an issue with ASUS PRIME B660-PLUS D4 as they have got you covered. ASUS PRIME B660-PLUS D4 comes with three M.2 Gen4 x4 slots and four SATA 6Gb/s ports enough for NVMe SSDs and expansion storage options. As for expansion slots, a PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, a PCIe 3.0 x16 slot supporting x4 mode, and two PCIe 3.0 x1 slots have covered the domain.

The USB sector with a Type-C USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 port, two Type-A USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, four USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports containing a Type-C port and six USB 2.0 ports is also secured. You can enjoy the latest and fastest USB 3.2 generation interfaces with ASUS PRIME B660-PLUS D4. There’s no wireless support of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, which is a considerable drawback. However, the Realtek 2.5Gb Ethernet support powered wired connectivity provides faster speeds than traditional ethernet connections. Realtek 7.1 Surround Sound High Definition Audio CODEC ensures premium-grade audio for an immersive audio experience.

ASUS TUF GAMING H670-PRO WIFI D4

Best H670 motherboard for i9-12900k

Specifications = “Chipset: H670 Chipset | Form Factor: ATX | Memory Support: 4 DIMM slots, Dual channel DDR4 5333MHz (OC) max, 128GB | Storage: 4x M.2 Gen4 x4 slots, 4x SATA 3.0 Ports | USB Ports: 10x USB 3.2 Ports and 4x USB 2.0 Ports | Graphics: 1x DisplayPort 1.4 and 1x HDMI 2.1 | Network: 1x Intel 2.5Gb Ethernet, Intel Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 ax) module, Bluetooth v5.2”]

ASUS is rocking the stage as our Best H670 Motherboard for i9-12900k is also an ASUS motherboard. We found many great H670 motherboards in the market, but ASUS TUF GAMING H670-PRO WIFI D4 took the lead in almost every aspect. ASUS TUF GAMING H670-PRO WIFI D4 is an extremely powerful motherboard built right for a beast like i9-12900k. It is a masterpiece for black aesthetic lovers as the motherboard comprises a black PCB with an additional black-themed heatsink giving it some ‘Batman’ vibes.

ASUS TUF GAMING H670-PRO WIFI D4 is an ATX motherboard powered by the same DIGI+ VRM with 14+1 DrMOS power stages. The 50A DrMOS helps it to deliver enough power to juice the i9-12900k properly without any issues. With more power input comes more heat. ASUS has taken some steps for heat dispersion by using a 6-layer PCB design and 8+4 ProCool connectors, which help slow heat conductivity and easy removal. VRM and M.2 heatsinks addition help in keeping the components cooler.

ASUS TUF GAMING H670-PRO WIFI D4 supports 4 DIMM slots plugging a maximum of 128GB DDR4 RAM at a whopping data transfer rate of 5333MHz. Not only this, but you also get support for Memory overclocking. The assistance of DDR5 would have been great, but we have DDR4 only. The motherboard comes with three M.2 Gen4 x4 slots, one M.2 Gen4 x4 slot, which you can use as a SATA 3.0 slot, and four SATA 3.0 ports that are enough for primary NVMe SSDs and storage expansion.

ASUS TUF GAMING H670-PRO WIFI D4 supports the latest PCIe 5.0 interface for the x16 slot, bringing your GPU the fastest interface speeds. Additionally, the motherboard supports one PCIe 3.0 x16 slot supporting x4 mode and two PCIe 3.0 x1 slots which won’t let you face any issues with the expansion slots. There should have been a PCIe 4.0 x16 slot for supporting the PCIe 4.0 supported GPUs rather than the PCIe 3.0. ASUS TUF GAMING H670-PRO WIFI D4  USB support is pretty strong with a Type-C USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 port, two Type-A USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, seven USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports containing a Type-C port and four USB 2.0 ports.

As for network connectivity, ASUS TUF GAMING H670-PRO WIFI D4 has Intel 2.5Gb Ethernet assistance for wired connections. The wireless angle is also covered by the Intel Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth version 5.2. The motherboard gets a prime audio driver, Realtek 7.1 Surround Sound High Definition Audio CODEC, providing you with an enveloping audio experience.

i9-12900K vs. Ryzen 7 5800X3D

When we talk about Intel processors, we shouldn’t forget about their AMD counterparts. For the i9-12900K, there are two: the Ryzen 9 5900X and the Ryzen 7 5800X3D. For now, let’s look at the i9-12900K vs. Ryzen 7 5800X3D.

While there aren’t many differences in core specifications between both, the 5800X3D surpasses the 12900K in terms of L3 Cache. Furthermore, the 5800X3D requires significantly lesser wattage, making it more efficient.

However, the i9-12900K has an iGPU along with a superb boost clock than the Ryzen 7 5800X3D. Nonetheless, the remarkable boost clock allows the 12900K to gain a slight margin in gaming benchmarks and overall FPS.

In contrast, the 5800X3D has significantly lower response times which shooter games demand. On one hand, the i9-12900K is some ~0.6% faster through FPS. Meanwhile, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D shows ~10% lower latency in the same games.

Therefore, while the 12900K has better raw performance, to utilize L3 Cache, the 5800X3D is your best bet. So, it depends on your use-case scenario and overall budget which should influence your purchase. If you want to play more competitive and shooter-type games, going with the 5800X3D is better. Although, if you want maximum performance in both games and productivity, then the 12900K is your best bet. You may also want to read Motherboard For Ryzen 7 5800X3D Guide. 

If you want to read our detailed article on the i9-12900K vs. Ryzen 7 5800X3D, click here!

i9-12900k vs i7-12700k

Both the i9-12900k and the i7-12700k are part of Intel’s 12th-generation processors, which are based on the Alder Lake architecture. With the 12th generation CPUs, Intel has moved to the 10nm manufacturing process, which is a huge improvement over the previous generations.

The overwhelmingly positive response on the 12th generation has led to one question, is the i9-12700k worth it over the i7-12700k? Simply put, yes, the i9-12900k does provide significant improvements over the i7-12700k.

Comparing the specifications, it becomes clear that the i9 12900k is superior in almost every way. The 12900 features 16 cores in total, with 8 performance cores and 4 efficient cores. The i7-12700k on the other hand, comes with 12 cores, using the same amount of performance and efficiency cores as the i9-12900k.

Moreover, the i9-12900k comes with a total of 24 threads, which is an upgrade over the 20 threads in the i7-12700k. There is also a slight difference in the maximum boost frequencies, with the 12900k providing frequencies up to 5.2GHz and the 12700k having a maximum boost frequency of 5 GHz.

In addition to that, the core i9-12900k has an L3 cache of 30MB which is a 5MB increase compared to the 25MB L3 cache on the i7-12700k.

In conclusion, the i9-12900k provides several improvements over the 12700k, including a higher clock speed, more cores, and more threads.; however, the i7-12700k is still an extremely capable chip that should perform well in most scenarios. 

However, if you are someone looking for the best processor money can buy, then the i9-12900k is definitely the way to go. You can also check out our article on the i9-12900k vs i7-12700k, for a detailed comparison between these two processors

DDR4 Vs DDR5 Motherboards

Aside from talking about Best Motherboards For I9-12900k, let’s talk more into DDR4 vs DDR5 Motherboards.

DDR5 motherboards have just entered the market with a sudden surprise. No one was prepared for it and have many have made Ryzen 5xxx builds already. Now the 12^th Gen of Intel also has dominated in the gaming and overall performance neglecting the price and power consumption, many PC users are now planning to upgrade to Intel 12^th, Gen Alder Lake CPUs. However, we are well aware that they will be needing a motherboard with LGA 1700 socket to run the CPUs. Also, get a decent LGA 1700 CPU Cooler to keep temperatures under control.

Now many consumers will try to shift their trusty DDR4 RAMs to an Alder Lake setup and some may have enough money to buy a brand new DDR5 RAM with a costly DDR5 supported motherboard. In that case, this debate comes up and creates a hassle to either stick with DDR4 or buy a new DDR5 to not face any bottleneck in the near future.

Our take on this aspect is that the DDR5 is the future. We already have seen improved load times with the DDR4 coming into the scene, the same is the case with DDR5. Expect to instantly or slowly slip into the DDR5 family so that other upcoming hardware with PCIe 5.0 will co-op best with the motherboard and other insidious components and buy you a lot of time in loading whiles.

i9-12900k Motherboard Buying Guide

There’s no denying that i9-12900k is a powerful processor. The support for DDR5 Memory and PCIe 5.0 makes it built to beat the best and achieve the best. However, the processor is nothing without the motherboard. A motherboard is a crucial component that powers the processor and enables it to perform top of the line performance. It ensures stable and clean power, meeting the processor’s requirements for tasks like CPU overclocking. There are countless options in terms of motherboards supporting different 600 series chipsets. However, we chose the Best Motherboards for i9-12900k after going through a listicle of guidelines which helps us narrow down the options. After reading these, you can also have an edge in purchasing the correct motherboard, as it will help you make a proper decision.

Checking Compatible Chipset

Firstly, you should look for a compatible chipset for your processor. You can go to the vendor’s website and look for a well-suited chipset. As for Intel, all 12^th generation processors support 600 series chipsets, including Z690, H670, B660 and H610. Z690 is the most premium chipset with exclusive support for CPU overclocking. H670, B660 and H610 are the budget kings and have their own set of traits like Memory overclocking, whereas these chipsets don’t support the CPU overclocking like the Z690. All these chipsets have the new LGA1700 socket, which is significant compared to the older sockets.

Choosing the right VRM

i9-12900k is a power-hungry CPU compared to the other processors in the series. It needs a steady and consistent power supply for a competitive performance which is the motherboard’s responsibility. However, it will be very alarming if a component starts receiving more power than its requirement as it can blow it up. That’s where the VRM has its holding. VRM (Voltage Regulator Module) is a step-down circuit used to control the voltage delivered to the components, so there isn’t any hardware damage. The better the VRM, the more solid and steady the power, allowing the CPU to go above its limits. If you’re onto a Z690 motherboard for CPU overclocking, then VRM is exceptionally pivotal to the performance of your processor.

Assessing the Form Factor and Thermals

Before buying the motherboard, you should know the form factor and what type of build you want. Small builds and bigger builds don’t fit in the same motherboard size. There are different motherboard sizes in the market, including some popular ones like ATX, Micro ATX and Mini-ITX. ATX is the most significant in size compared to the Mini-ITX, the smallest. The decision for the form factor is entirely dependent as it has some characteristics depending on it. i9-12900k is a powerful processor and will get hot quickly. According to the form factor, it needs an excellent thermal solution for optimal performance. The smaller your form factor will be, the harder will it be to cool it, and you will have to implement multiple strategies. First of all, check the motherboard’s heatsinks and PCB layers. Your motherboard should have VRM and M.2 heatsinks for better cooling components. More PCB layers slow down the heating process of the motherboard. Along with that, you need to have an efficient cooling solution concerning your form factor from the water or air cooling.

Looking for the I/O Connectivity

You will have to add multiple devices to your system to make it work, including the peripheral devices. For that, you need USB ports and Expansion Slots. Different gadgets like GPUs and SSDs have compatible PCIe interfaces. You can’t plug a PCIe 5.0 compatible GPU in PCIe 4.0 for those faster speeds. You can do it the other way round as all-new interfaces have compatibility with the previous interfaces. Check their compatibility and match the PC components with your desired motherboard if you own the PC components. If not, you can choose the components accordingly with your motherboard’s assisting interfaces. You will also love having the latest USB interfaces for your PC for high-speed access, which will help improve the performance of your PC overall. Also, it is necessary to have minimum USB ports required for fast data transfer on USB storage and connecting your gaming peripherals supporting the latest USB 3.2 interfaces.

Picking out the enchanting one

Considering all the points mentioned above and narrowing down the names, the last point to ponder is the motherboard’s looks. It is personal to everyone, but you can look out for some things like the PCB colour, heatsinks colour and the inclusion of lightning. Motherboards can have different colour PCBs and heatsinks to form a contrasty look. Along with that, there’s also support for single-coloured LED or RGB in some motherboards.

PCIe Gen 4 Vs PCIe Gen 5

Well, PCIe 4.0 was already a far cry for so many people due to the lack of PCIe 4.0 GPU availability in the market, now the PCIe 5.0 came into the scene and we got no hardware fully compatible to draw its full potential. Perhaps it is in exitance now especially in consumer motherboards, so we will be taking a full account of it.

With PCIe 4.0, the transmission rate was expanded to 1.97 GB/s and 16 GT/s, multiplying from PCIe 3.0’s 985 MB/s and 8 GT/s.

PCIe 5.0 isn’t just a minor upgrade. PCIe 5.0 is the immediate replacement of the PCIe 4.0 norm. But then once more, the transmission capacity and transmission rate twofold over the past age, letting information be moved at apparently quicker speeds. 32 GigaTransfer per second, or 32 GT/s, and a 3.94 GB/s transmission rate are largely on the motherboard.

So in a conclusion, PCIe 5.0 is a thing to consider for your future upgrades, otherwise, you might not be taking full potential out of PCIe 5.0 compatible devices in near future. Select a motherboard from the list we stated above so you might plot your upgrade plan.

For Full PCIe Gen 4 vs PCIe Gen 5, read our full comparison.

Why Should You Buy the i9-12900K?

All things considered, the i9-12900K is an amazing processor to buy, both for gaming and productive tasks. However, it is important to know that every product has its pros and cons. As such, the 12900K is no exception. Having said that, let’s look into both for the i9-12900K.

Pros

1. Hybrid Architectural Design allows for more efficiency when needed.
2. DDR5 RAM compatibility.
3. PCIe Gen 5.0 compatibility.
4. Amazing processor for productivity tasks.
5. No form of bottleneck.

Cons

1. Along with the processor, it’s mandatory to buy a new motherboard.
2. DDR5 RAM is extremely costly.
3. Thermals aren’t spectacular.
4. Extreme power consumption.