ReviewsMotherboardsBEST Z690 Motherboards In 2024

BEST Z690 Motherboards In 2024 [Our Top Picks]

In this roundup, we rank the best Z690 motherboards on the basis of Budget, VRM Performance, Features, Value, Aesthetics, and Price.

Expert Verified by Sameed Hussain

With the plethora of Z690 motherboards, it has become really difficult to choose the right one. Furthermore, now that both the 12th and the 13th Gen Intel CPUs are compatible with 600-chipset motherboards, their demand has gone higher than ever. Therefore, to help you choose the right Z690 motherboard for your PC build, I tested a great variety of these motherboards, then picked my Top 6 that span various categories.

  • Why you can trust Tech4Gamers: Our round-ups feature products that are based on dedicated hands-on testing by our team of experienced hardware experts. Find out more about how we test.

Take a look at my picks; all compared to each other:

Motherboard
ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero
MSI MAG Z690 Tomhawk Wi-Fi
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi
ASUS ROG Strix Z690-A
MSI Pro Z690-A WiFi
ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I
Looks
ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero WiFi 6E ATX Gaming Motherboard with PCIe 5.0, DDR5, 20+1 Power Stages, Thunderbolt 4, 5xM.2
MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi Gaming Motherboard (Supports 12th/13th Gen Intel Processors, LGA 1700, DDR5, PCIe 5.0, M.2, 2.5Gbps LAN, USB 3.2 Gen2, Wi-Fi 6E, ATX)
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi Gaming Motherboard (ATX, 12th Gen Intel Core, LGA 1700 Socket, DDR5, PCIe 4, CFX, M.2 Slots, Wi-Fi 6E)
ASUS ROG Strix Z690-A Gaming WiFi D4 LGA1700(Intel® 12th Gen) ATX Gaming Motherboard(PCIe 5.0,DDR4,16+1 Power Stages,WiFi 6,2.5 Gb LAN,BT v5.2,Thunderbolt 4,4xM.2 and Front USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C)
MSI PRO Z690-A WiFi DDR4 ProSeries Motherboard (ATX, 12th Gen Intel Core, LGA 1700 Socket, DDR4, PCIe 4, CFX, M.2 Slots, Wi-Fi 6E)
ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I Gaming mini-ITX Motherboard - WiFi 6E, PCIe 5.0, DDR5, Thunderbolt 4, M.2
Award
Best Overall Z690 Motherboard
Best Overall Z690 Motherboard
Best Overclocking Z690 Motherboard
Best White Z690 Motherboard
Best Value Z690 Motherboard
Best Mini-ITX Z690 Motherboard
Things We Liked
Excellent Connectivity, Aesthetics, & Power Delivery
16+1+1 VRM structure, Good Pricing, All-Black Theme
Decent Storage, Good VRM, Aesthetics & Performance
Good Power Delivery, Looks, and Affordable
Affordable, Good Connectivity & Storage
Solid Power Delivery, Compact & Excellent Value
Things We Disliked
Expensive
No RGB, No Thunderbolt Connectivity
Affordability for regular gamers
Not suitable for Core i9 Overclocking, Unimpressive DDR5 speed support
Mediocre Design, Weak VRMs
Expensive
Memory Support
4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR5-6400
4x DIMM, 192GB, DDR5-6400
4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR5-6666
4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR5-5333
4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR5-6400
2x DIMM, 128GB, DDR5-6400
USB Ports
11x rear IO, 9x internal
8x rear IO, 7x internal
9x rear IO, 7x internal
10x rear IO, 7x internal
6x rear IO, 9x internal
9x rear IO, 5x internal
Storage
5x M.2, 6x SATA
4x M.2, 6x SATA
5x M.2, 6x SATA
4x M.2, 6x SATA
4x M.2, 6x SATA
2x M.2, 4x SATA
Motherboard
ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero
Looks
ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero WiFi 6E ATX Gaming Motherboard with PCIe 5.0, DDR5, 20+1 Power Stages, Thunderbolt 4, 5xM.2
Award
Best Overall Z690 Motherboard
Things We Liked
Excellent Connectivity, Aesthetics, & Power Delivery
Things We Disliked
Expensive
Memory Support
4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR5-6400
USB Ports
11x rear IO, 9x internal
Storage
5x M.2, 6x SATA
Amazon
NewEgg
Motherboard
MSI MAG Z690 Tomhawk Wi-Fi
Looks
MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi Gaming Motherboard (Supports 12th/13th Gen Intel Processors, LGA 1700, DDR5, PCIe 5.0, M.2, 2.5Gbps LAN, USB 3.2 Gen2, Wi-Fi 6E, ATX)
Award
Best Overall Z690 Motherboard
Things We Liked
16+1+1 VRM structure, Good Pricing, All-Black Theme
Things We Disliked
No RGB, No Thunderbolt Connectivity
Memory Support
4x DIMM, 192GB, DDR5-6400
USB Ports
8x rear IO, 7x internal
Storage
4x M.2, 6x SATA
Amazon
NewEgg
Motherboard
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi
Looks
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi Gaming Motherboard (ATX, 12th Gen Intel Core, LGA 1700 Socket, DDR5, PCIe 4, CFX, M.2 Slots, Wi-Fi 6E)
Award
Best Overclocking Z690 Motherboard
Things We Liked
Decent Storage, Good VRM, Aesthetics & Performance
Things We Disliked
Affordability for regular gamers
Memory Support
4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR5-6666
USB Ports
9x rear IO, 7x internal
Storage
5x M.2, 6x SATA
Amazon
NewEgg
Motherboard
ASUS ROG Strix Z690-A
Looks
ASUS ROG Strix Z690-A Gaming WiFi D4 LGA1700(Intel® 12th Gen) ATX Gaming Motherboard(PCIe 5.0,DDR4,16+1 Power Stages,WiFi 6,2.5 Gb LAN,BT v5.2,Thunderbolt 4,4xM.2 and Front USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C)
Award
Best White Z690 Motherboard
Things We Liked
Good Power Delivery, Looks, and Affordable
Things We Disliked
Not suitable for Core i9 Overclocking, Unimpressive DDR5 speed support
Memory Support
4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR5-5333
USB Ports
10x rear IO, 7x internal
Storage
4x M.2, 6x SATA
Amazon
NewEgg
Motherboard
MSI Pro Z690-A WiFi
Looks
MSI PRO Z690-A WiFi DDR4 ProSeries Motherboard (ATX, 12th Gen Intel Core, LGA 1700 Socket, DDR4, PCIe 4, CFX, M.2 Slots, Wi-Fi 6E)
Award
Best Value Z690 Motherboard
Things We Liked
Affordable, Good Connectivity & Storage
Things We Disliked
Mediocre Design, Weak VRMs
Memory Support
4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR5-6400
USB Ports
6x rear IO, 9x internal
Storage
4x M.2, 6x SATA
Amazon
NewEgg
Motherboard
ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I
Looks
ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I Gaming mini-ITX Motherboard - WiFi 6E, PCIe 5.0, DDR5, Thunderbolt 4, M.2
Award
Best Mini-ITX Z690 Motherboard
Things We Liked
Solid Power Delivery, Compact & Excellent Value
Things We Disliked
Expensive
Memory Support
2x DIMM, 128GB, DDR5-6400
USB Ports
9x rear IO, 5x internal
Storage
2x M.2, 4x SATA
Amazon
NewEgg

Last update on 2024-03-18

Considering the newer Z790 chipset instead? I’ve got you covered: 

Best Z690 Motherboards

Following are the Best Z690 Motherboards you can get today:

  1. Best High-End Z690 Motherboard: ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero
  2. Best Overall Z690 Motherboard: MSI MAG Z690 Tomhawk Wi-Fi
  3. Best Overclocking Z690 Motherboard: MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi
  4. Best White Z690 Motherboard: ASUS ROG Strix Z690-A
  5. Best Value Z690 Motherboard: MSI Pro Z690-A WiFi
  6. Best Mini-ITX Z690 Motherboard: ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I

 ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero

Best High-End Z690 Motherboard

 ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero
 ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero

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

Pros

  • Top Of The Line Z690 Motherboard
  • Excellent Connectivity Options
  • 2x Thunderbolt 4 Ports
  • 20Gbps USB-C port
  • Nice Aesthetics
  • Excellent Power Delivery

Cons

  • Very Expensive

Design & Build Quality: ASUS has gone for a sort of modernized look with the pixelated ROG script on the I/O cover and the ROG eye on the chipset heatsink, also pixelated. These surfaces are finished in a glossy material which meant my fingerprints were visible, so its best to be careful about that. Build quality is excellent.

Performance: Packing a monstrous 20+1 VRM design with 90A power stages, the Maximus Z690 Hero is more than enough for Raptor Lake CPU, as it was for the i9-14900K in my testing. The VRM is also cooled effectively by large heatsinks, and the VRM sensor showed me ~66°C, the coolest I’ve seen in Z690 boards.

Features & Connectivity: Asus manages to stuff 6x USB 3.0 Type-A ports, 3x USB Type-C, and 2x USB 2.0 legacy ports, one of which works with Asus’ BIOS FlashBack feature. DDR5 support is up to 6400 MHz, and we have 2x Thunderbolt 4 ports, a staggering 5 M.2 SSD slots, and 6x SATA III ports.

WARNING: For M.2 Gen5 x4 support, the included ROG Hyper M.2 Card must be inserted into the third PCIe slot, which will disable the second M.2 socket on the card.

Buy It If

✅ You’re seeking top performance: The ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero is the perfect Z690 motherboard for those who want a solid allrounder that nails every aspect of being the best motherboard. 

Don’t Buy It If

What Makes It The Best High-End Z690 Motherboard?

All in all, you can’t really go wrong with the Maximus Z690 Hero, and that’s why it is my pick for the best high-end Z690 motherboard. It has one of the best power delivery systems of any motherboard available on the market and combines that with a premium feature set that doesn’t really lack anything of note. The price is hefty, understandably, but it might be worth it in the long run if you plan to keep a premium Alder Lake system with you for years down the line.

VRM Performance: 10/10 Value: 7/10
Features: 9.5/10 Design: 9.5/10

MSI MAG Z690 Tomhawk Wi-Fi

Best Overall Z690 Motherboard

MSI MAG Z690 Tomhawk Wi-Fi
MSI MAG Z690 Tomhawk Wi-Fi

Chipset: Z690 | Memory: 4x DIMM, 192GB, DDR5-6400 | Video Outputs: DisplayPort | WiFi | USB Ports: 8x rear IO, 7x front| Network: 2.5G LAN, Wi-Fi 6E | Storage: 4x M.2, 6x SATA

Pros

  • 16+1+1 VRM structure
  • Good Pricing
  • All-Black Theme

Cons

  • No RGB
  • No Thunderbolt Connectivity

Design & Build Quality: The MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk Wifi has a minimalistic look, with continuation military theme and black appearance. Although I would have liked some RGB, the overall aesthetics of this board are still fascinating. Moreover, its 6-layer PCB with 2oz thickened copper means its super-durable. 

Performance: MSI has used its Duet Rail Power VRM system (16+1+1) in this motherboard for smooth power-delivery, which kept the i9-12900K running like clockwork in my testing. For cooling, it has an extended heatsink and 7 W/mK MOSFET Thermal Pads, and double-sided M.2 Shield Frozr for the M.2 SSDs.

Features & Connectivity: There is support for up to 192 GB of 4x DDR5 (up to 6400MHz, which I confirmed in my testing). With 4x PCIe slots (including one PCIe 5.0 x16), there’s support for AMD Crossfire. For storage, there are 4x M.2 slots and 6x SATA 3.0 ports. Lastly, we get 7x USB slots up front, and 8x in the rear.

Editor`s Note
Image

Other than absence of built-in RGB, the MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk hits the spot in every factor, whether its looks, performance, storage, capabilities; you name it!

– Nauman Siddique

Buy It If

✅ You’re seeking robust VRMs: The 16+1+1 Duet Rail Power VRM sets this board apart in its price range.

✅ You need multi-GPU support: It offers multi-GPU support which further adds to its value.

Don’t Buy It If

❌ You prefer integrated RGB: There is no integrated RGB lighting.

What Makes It The Best Overall Z690 Motherboard?

The MSI MAG Z690 Tomhawk Wifi is an excellent motherboard in this price range that features high-quality 18-phase VRM, effective thermal solutions, and multi-GPU support. On top of that, the board also has a display port alongside an HDMI port that sets it apart from other boards in this price range. Considering these factors, I have regarded the MSI MAG Z690 Tomhawk Wifi as the Best Overall Z690 Motherboard.

VRM Performance: 8.5/10 Value: 8.5/10
Features: 9/10 Design: 9/10

MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi

Best Overclocking Z690 Motherboard

MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi

Chipset: Z690 | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR5-6666 | Video Outputs: HDMI and DisplayPort | WiFi | USB Ports: 10x rear IO, 7x internal | Network: 1x 2.5 GbE LAN, 1x Wi-Fi 6E | Storage: 5x M.2, 6x SATA

Pros

  • Great VRM For Overclocking on Z690
  • 5 M.2 Slots For Storage
  • Attractive Aesthetics
  • Attractive Design
  • High-End Performance

Cons

  • Not Affordable For Regular Gamers

Design & Build Quality: This is one of the finest-looking motherboards you can get, particularly thanks to the unique, angular pattern across it. The I/O cover has an illuminated MSI dragon which looked very cool when powered on, and its 8-layer PCB, built mainly from server-grade copper, showed superb build quality. 

Performance: MSI has hit the nail on the head with an 18+1+1 phase VRM design (75A each), so I managed to overclock the i9-13900K with ease. MSI has also provided massive VRM heatsinks that are finned to increase the metal’s surface area, plus, the MOSFET is almost fully covered with a heatsink and high-quality thermal pads.

Features & Connectivity: The Z690 Carbon supports DDR5 memory up to a whopping 6666 MHz. Connectivity is handled by a 2.5 GbE LAN port or WiFi 6E. It also has 5x M.2 ports, and on the rear, the MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi boasts 10 ports, including a 20 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C; very impressive all-round!

PRO TIP: For overclocking, it is absolutely vital that you invest in an adequate CPU cooler, too.

Buy It If:

✅ You’re seeking top-notch VRMs: If you’re looking for a motherboard with excellent VRMs for overclocking, the MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi more than fits the criteria. 

Don’t Buy It If:

❌ You’re on a budget: The MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi is anything but affordable for regular gamers. 

What Makes It The Best Overclocking Z690 Motherboard?

Overall, the MSI MPG Z690 Carbon is an extremely competent motherboard from MSI for the Z690 platform. It trades blows with the premium AORUS Master and Maximus Z690 Hero motherboards but is slightly cheaper while offering similar VRM performance, therefore it is our preferred choice for high-end overclocking. The price is still not cheap by any means, but it is competitive in the context of the features that it offers.

VRM Performance: 9.5/10 Value: 7.5/10
Features: 9/10 Design: 9.5/10

 ASUS ROG Strix Z690-A

Best White Z690 Motherboard

Best Z690 Motherboards
ASUS ROG Strix Z690-A

Chipset: Z690 | Memory: 4x DIMM, 64 GB , DDR5-6400 MHz| Video Outputs: HDMI and DisplayPort | WiFi | USB Ports: 10x rear IO, 7x internal | Network: 1x 2.5 GbE LAN, 1x Wi-Fi 6E | Storage: 4x M.2, 6x SATA

Pros

  • Decent Power Delivery System
  • Gorgeous Design

Cons

  • Not Suitable For Core i9 Overclocking
  • Slightly Lower DDR5 Memory Compatibility
  • Expensive

Design & Build Quality: Thanks to its sizeable white heatsinks and I/O cover, the board is clad beautifully in white and shows a premium build. The RGB design and the Strix script on the I/O cover are my absolute favorites as they give off a glassy appearance. You can see a bit of the black PCB, but that takes nothing away from its looks.

Performance: ASUS has packed a 16+1 phase VRM for the Z690-A, through which I managed to overclock the i7-14700K’s P-cores to 5.2GHz, but I could hardly push the i9-13900K at all. The VRM cooling is quite good as ASUS has provided quite large VRM heatsinks with diagonal fins to maximize heat dissipation.

Features & Connectivity: Firstly, you have both DDR4 (up to 5333 MHz) and DDR5 (up to 6400 MHz) options, so choose accordingly. There are four M.2 slots that support PCIe Gen 4 functionality, a 2.5 GbE LAN port, and WiFi 6 integration. Several high-speed USB ports are also present on the rear I/O with different speeds.

PRO TIP: When overclocking, its best to increase values in small increments and stopping when temperatures are too high, or your system crashes, at a particular frequency or voltage.

Buy It If

✅ You’re building a white-themed PC: Its black and white finish gives it a sleek and standout appearance, ideal for white-themed PC builds.

Don’t Buy It If

❌ You’re looking to overclock an i9 CPU: While the VRM is decent, I wouldn’t recommend overclocking the Core i9-13900K or even the 12900K with it.

What Makes It The Best White Z690 Motherboard?

The white aesthetics mixed with the black PCB, along with its diverse set of features and decent VRMs, are what make the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-A the Best White Z690 Motherboard.

VRM Performance: 8/10 Value: 8/10
Features: 8.5/10 Design: 10/10

MSI Pro Z690-A DDR5 WiFi 

Best Value Z690 Motherboard

Best Value Z690 Motherboard
MSI Pro Z690-A WiFi

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

Pros

  • Relatively Affordable
  • Solid Connectivity
  • Great Storage Options

Cons

  • Poor Design
  • Mediocre VRM Design

Design & Build Quality: The MSI Pro Z690-A is as basic as they come, and I did not find much to admire. It is just a massive chunk of black PCB with multiple black heatsinks, and no RGB. This is one area where MSI has disappointed me, since several cheaper boards look way better than this one. Build quality, though, is quite good.

Performance: When we talk about value-oriented motherboards, we have to be reasonable with our expectations when it comes to power delivery and VRM design. The MSI Pro Z690-A motherboard packs a decent 8+4 phase VRM that managed to run the i7-13700K on stock settings with no problems in my dedicated testing.

Features & Connectivity: The Pro Z690-A has 4 M.2 slots with PCIe Gen 4 capability, plus 6x SATA III ports. There is no built-in I/O shield, and the rear I/O itself was a slight letdown with its USB ports selection, but I understand that MSI had to cut costs somewhere. Lastly, it offers a GbE LAN port along with WiFi capability. 

Editor`s Note
Image

With the Z690 being part of the most premium chipset series, the price tag of the MSI Pro Z690-A is a godsend, as you get all the amazing I/O and connectivity of the Z690 chipset at an extremely reasonable price.

– Nauman Siddique

Buy It If

✅ You’re seeking a budget Z690 motherboard: Its on the cheaper spectrum of Z690 boards but manages to offer a decent set of features.

Don’t Buy It If

❌ You want RGB: There is no integrated RGB, which may be disappointing for the RGB enthusiasts out there.

What Makes It The Best Value Z690 Motherboard?

Conclusively, the MSI Pro Z690-A is certainly one of the more value-oriented motherboards on the market and one that puts the price-to-performance ratio as first priority. It is for this reason that the MSI Pro Z690-A is my pick for the Best Value Z690 Motherboard out there. It just does everything you would want from a Z690 motherboard on the Alder Lake platform, and it does it at a cheaper price than most competitors. It does have its flaws, but that is to be expected given the price point.

VRM Performance: 7.5/10 Value: 9/10
Features: 8/10 Design: 7/10

ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I

Best Mini-ITX Z690 Motherboard

Best Mini-ITX Z690 Motherboard
ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I

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

Pros

  • Solid Power Delivery
  • Great For Compact Builds
  • Impressive Connectivity

Cons

  • Only 2 DIMM Slots
  • Expensive

Design & Build Quality: The design of the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I is quite interesting and also quite daring. Of course, being a ROG board, the Z690-I also has a healthy share of RGB on the lower-left corner of the I/O cover in the form of the ROG eye. All in all, a sturdy and very nice-looking board for its compact size.

Performance: Obviously, ASUS has downgraded the VRM a little in order to adapt to the size constraints, but the 10+1 phase VRM with 105 amp power stages was enough for mild overclocking of the i7-13700K while the VRM temperature peaked at a reasonable 72°C in my dedicated testing.

Features & Connectivity: Its mini-ITX design bears dual M.2 slots, cooled by ASUS’ ‘triple-decker heatsink’ design which I found highly impressive. For I/O, it sports dual Thunderbolt 4 (Type-C) ports (40 Gbps), multiple USB Type-A ports, and an HDMI 2.1 port for graphical output. Lastly, memory support is up to 6400 MHz.

Editor`s Note
Image

While its a compact motherboard, ASUS did not miss anything when it comes to aesthetics, producing yet another fantastic looking ROG Strix motherboard!

– Nauman Siddique

Buy It If

✅ You need compactness with decent VRMs: The Asus ROG Strix Z690-I offers a compact form factor suitable for tight spaces, but still manages a fairly decent VRM design.

Don’t Buy It If

❌Concerned about pricing: The pricing of the Asus ROG Strix Z690-I might be disappointing for some users.

What Makes It The Best Mini-ITX Z690 Motherboard?

It can be said that the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I is the absolute best mini-ITX Z690 motherboard on the market right now. Its great power delivery system and a robust feature set make it an excellent choice for enthusiasts building a compact gaming PC on the Raptor or Alder Lake platform. It does not come cheap, but it seems to be worth it for the specific use cases that it’s designed for.

VRM Performance: 8/10 Value: 7.5/10
Features: 8.5/10 Design: 9/10

How We Choose The Best Z690 Motherboard

Let’s go over a few factors that you should also consider whenever you’re on the lookout for the Best Z690 Motherboards.

  • VRM: Voltage Regulatory Modules (VRMs) are one of the most essential parts of a motherboard. The main difference between chipsets is usually the difference of VRMs. Better VRMs can transmit and handle more voltage, resulting in fewer chances of voltage-related damage to any PC parts. All the Z690 motherboards I chose have excellent VRMs. 
  • Heatsink/PCB Layers: Good-quality heatsinks can improve the thermal cooling of your processor, RAM, and storage devices. Sometimes, better heatsinks can prevent thermal throttling, saving users from a potentially unwanted upgrade. Moreover, thicker Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) result in lower temperatures. 
  • Expansion Slots/Connectivity: I only selected the motherboards with PCI-E 5.0 slots, ensuring faster data transfer. Many motherboards in the article also support two or more M.2 SSD slots, allowing interested consumers to have extra memory. The same goes for connectivity, with me choosing motherboards with various connectivity options, ranging from USB 2.0 to USB 3.2 Gen 2.
  • Form Factor: Before purchasing the motherboard, you must know what form factor suits your case. If you purchase an E-ATX motherboard for an ATX case, the motherboard won’t fit. On the other hand, if you purchase an ATX motherboard for an E-ATX case, you will have too much free space, making your build look ugly. 
  • Budget: If you’re on a tighter budget, the Z690 chipset will be out of your range, and you’d be better with a B660, H670, or H610 chipset. However, even within the Z690 chipset, I chose motherboards from various price ranges for consumers of all budgets. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Z690 compatible with i9 12900K?

Yes, the Z690 motherboards are compatible with all the Intel 12th-Gen and 13th-Gen CPUs, including the Intel Core i9 12900K.

What socket is Z690?

The Z690 motherboards have the LGA 1700 socket, which supports the Intel Core 12th and 13th Gen processors.

Does Z690 support PCIe 5.0?

Yes indeed, the Z690 motherboards do support PCIe Gen 5 capability.

Can I use 11900K with Z690?

No, the Z690 platform is an entirely differently platform that is not compatible with any Intel 11th Gen or below generations.

Does Z690 support DDR5?

Yes, the Z690 platform does officially support DDR5 memory. To use DDR5 RAM, you would need to have a motherboard that is compatible with DDR5 memory since the memory sticks are physically different from DDR4.

We have also personally tested and recommended motherboards for the other 600-series chipsets, too:

Recent Updates


  • March 13, 2024: Few text and grammar changes to improve readability. No products were changed/removed.

 

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