Looking for the best motherboard for i5 10600K?

The i5 Intel processors have always been known to provide excellent performance for gamers.

That statement has never been as true as it is right now, as the newer generation of i7 and i9 lineup are almost a bit too impressive.

As it turns out, most people don’t need more than an i5 for gaming. The i5 10600K solidifies that fact, as it is an excellent gaming processor.

The best thing about this i5 is that it is an unlocked processor. Meaning that it can overclock quite well, as it has good thermal cooling options, and powerful efficiency.

Pair it with a great GPU, and you are ready for some high-end gaming. However, we all know that a processor is only as good as the motherboard you pair it with.

That’s why we’ll be taking a look at some of the best motherboards for i5 10600K

As the i5 10600K is such a great overclocker, we need to cater to that feature. Going with a high-end motherboard is a good choice, but we don’t want to limit ourselves to that.

More on that later.For now, let’s have a look at the comparison table of the top three motherboards.

Before moving on make sure you check the following detailed tutorial on how to choose the best motherboard for you: How To Choose The Right Motherboard For Your Needs: A Comprehensive Guide

Best Motherboards for i5 10600K Comparison Table

How DID We Choose the Best Motherboards for Intel Core i5 10600K

First off, let’s consider the processor we have at hand here: the Intel Core i5 10600K. This does make things a tiny bit easier, as there are only two chipsets that need to be considered: Z490 and Z590.

While technically you can go with a B560 chipset (we would not recommend H510/H510 at all), you don’t get support for overclocking there. So, which should you pick between the Z490 and Z590?

While either of these two options is great, that’s why we included both on this list. However, going for a Z490 chipset makes more sense for Comet Lake processors that are value-focused, such as the 10600K.

You do miss out on PCIe Gen 4, but the Comet Lake Intel Chipset does not have support for that either way. If you were planning on future proofing, then that’s where the Z590 chipset makes a bit more sense.

Since we’re concerning ourselves with only Z490 and Z590 chipsets, it is important to focus on VRMs.

This CPU supports overclocking, so it is important to cater to motherboards that work well with that feature.

The right flagship motherboard could help with extreme overclocking. High-frequency memory support is also important, as we want a stable system.

After taking all of that into consideration, we score the motherboards on four parameters: You can see that in the “ranking” section below each product.

We then give each product an overall rating based on the average of these four categories. Finally, the motherboards are ranked accordingly.

7 Best Motherboards for Intel Core i5 10600K

1. BEST SELLER: ASUS ROG STRIX Z590-E Gaming – Editor’s Choice

Memory Support: 128GB DDR4 @ 5333MHz | Chipset: Intel Z590 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 14+2 Phases | Storage: 4x M.2, 6x SATA | RGB: Yes | Network: Wi-Fi 6E, Dual 2.5 GbE LAN, Bluetooth

Choosing a motherboard for our top pick, the editor’s choice, can be a bit daunting. Pricing with Z490 and Z590 can get a bit out of hand very quickly, as we’ll explore that later on.

Taking that into account, our top pick needs to have great overclocking support, high-end design, premium features, and a pricing model that makes practical sense. Fortunately, the Strix Z590-E is up to the task.

The Z590-E looks stellar and builds upon the excellent design of previous Strix flagship motherboards like the ASUS ROG Strix z490.

One can see the familiar all-black design on the PCB, and that complements the uniform design of the gigantic heatsinks quite well.

Pair that with Aura Sync, Armory Crate, and excellent RGB lighting for a tremendous combination.

This is a motherboard that features four fast M.2 slots. Two of these are PCIe Gen 4, and the other two are PCIe Gen 3. All of these M.2 slots have aluminum heatsinks, and that goes well with the look and feel of this board.

You even get support for high-frequency memory as you can add in 128 gigs of RAM and overclock it 5000MHz and beyond. Furthermore, you get a two-digit LED debugger near the top right corner. A feature adored by enthusiasts.

As for the power delivery design, you a get 14+2 phase VRM design. It is perfect for the i5 10600K, and it is great for extreme overclockers.

You even get a USB 3.2 G2X2 Type-C port, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, and two more in a Type-A configuration.

Features such as a clear CMOS switch, a BIOS flashback button, and great sound powered by ROG SupremeFX are just the cherry on top.

Needless to say, this is quite a high-end motherboard. You get a lot of overclocking features in the BIOS and Windows software, Wi-Fi 6E, and dual ethernet ports.

It has it all, and that earns it our editor’s choice award. Lots of gaming and productivity applications here.

Overall, this isn’t technically the best choice when it comes to value. As this is not a cheap motherboard.

Not to mention the lack of onboard buttons which can be a deal-breaker for some of the overclocking enthusiasts.

However, it has a reasonable price and it works great for Intel CPU overclocking. It is an overall the best ATX motherboard for i5 10600k!

RATING:

• VRM Design: 9/10
• Aesthetics: 9/10
• Connectivity: 9/10
• Value for money: 9/10
• Overall Rating: 9/10

2. ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Hero – Best Premium Motherboard for i5 10600k

Memory Support: 128GB DDR4 @ 5333MHz | Chipset: Intel Z590 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 14+2 Phases | Storage: 4x M.2, 6x SATA | RGB: Yes | Network: Wi-Fi 6E, 2.5 GbE LAN, Bluetooth

ASUS manages to find another spot on this list thanks to their excellent Maximus series of motherboards. It should be quite evident that this is a very high-end motherboard.

It features an extensive spec sheet. With industry class features like premium controllers, an aesthetically appealing design, and a beefy VRM system.

This beast of a motherboard has the potential to outlive a lot of the components in a gaming PC.

The design of the motherboard usually comes down to personal preference. However, it is quite hard to argue against this being one of the best-looking Z590 motherboards out there.

We have the all-black PCB design along with the uniform heatsink appearance to thank for that. The chipset heatsink stands out a bit, thanks to its light grey finish that provides an interesting accent.

The rear-panel cover has the RGB logo and a ribbed design similar to the M.2 heatsinks.The CPU socket and the CPU chip sits right in the middle of the board with the ribbed design seemingly going “over” it.

Speaking of the M.2 slots, you get four of them, which is an impressive feature. It does not end there. You get the latest and greatest Wi-Fi 6E, two 2.5-gigabit ethernet ports, an impressive USB 3.2 Gen 2 array on the rear, a premium audio codec (with a separate DAC), and, Thunderbolt 4.

You also get a 14+2 phase VRM design with high-quality MOSFETs and electrical components. It is an excellent piece of gear for overclocking.

Furthermore, we have a clear CMOS switch, a BIOS flashback button, and the ROG SupremeFX audio codec. Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth support are a given.

You even get support for excellent memory overclocking, as you can add 128 gigs of RAM and push that to beyond 5000MHz. Aura Sync support and the Armory Crate software are just the icings on the cake.

Regardless of the price and the overwhelming design that might turn off some of the minimalist fans out there, this is an impressive motherboard with premium features.

If you won’t settle for less in terms of sheer power, then this is one of the best premium motherboards on the market right now.

RATING:

• VRM Design: 9/10
• Aesthetics: 9/10
• Connectivity: 9/10
• Value for money: 8/10
• Overall Rating: 8.75/10

3. MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Edge WI-FI – Best Budget Motherboard for i5 10600k

Memory Support: 128GB DDR4 @ 4800MHz | Chipset: Intel Z490 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 12+1+1 Phases | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA | RGB: Yes | Network: Wi-Fi 6, 2.5 GbE LAN, Bluetooth

For gamers on a budget, we believe it does not get much better than the Z490 Gaming Edge WiFi. For the features you get, it definitely makes it the best budget motherboard for i5 10600k.

The MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Edge WI-FI sits below the Z490 Gaming Carbon WI-FI in MSI’s lineup. While it does have fewer features, it’s more appealing to the mainstream gamer audience.

Design-wise this board has a consistent and subtle theme going on. The black heatsinks are complimented by the grey/black accents on the PCB. It features an RGB zone, with RGB LEDs under the chipset heatsink.

You get two full-length PCIe 3.0 x16 slots, and two PCIe x1 slots. For storage, you get two M.2 slots and six SATA ports. Neither the Z490 chipset nor the 10600K feature PCIe Gen 4 support, so you are limited to PCIe 3.0 on those two M.2 slots.

The top M.2 slot features an aluminum chipset heatsink, which is always a nice touch. You also get a robust 12+1+1 phase VRM design, and 12 of those phases are dedicated to the CPU.

High-frequency memory support is a given, and both memory and CPU overclocking are great with this board. You can add 128 gigs of RAM, and with a bit of tinkering, get those speeds to nearly 5000MHz.

The audio jacks and S/PDIF ports are powered by the Realtek ALC1220. Finally, the 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet is powered by a Realtek controller.

Also, the Intel AX201 interface powers the wireless connection and Bluetooth 5.1. Really great as far as budget motherboards go.

So, if you’re looking for a decent motherboard and you want performance and price constraints, this is for you. While this isn’t the cheapest motherboard, it has it all that a gamer could ask for except for the RGB aesthetics. Because MSI only incorporated one RGB zone on this motherboard.

Lastly, functionality-wise the only complaint is that one more M.2 slot would have been appreciated. Nonetheless, this motherboard manages to secure our Best Budget award for the Intel Core i5 10600k due to its amazing price to performance ratio.

RATING:

• VRM Design: 9/10
• Aesthetics: 8/10
• Connectivity: 9/10
• Value for money: 9/10
• Overall Rating: 8.75/10

4. MSI MEG Z490 Unify – Best Enthusiast Z490 Motherboard for i5 10600k

Memory Support: 128GB DDR4 @ 4800MHz | Chipset: Intel Z490 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 16 Phases | Storage: 3x M.2, 6x SATA | RGB: None | Network: Wi-Fi 6, 2.5 GbE LAN, Bluetooth

Featuring a minimalistic aesthetic, impressive spec sheet, and a hefty VRM configuration, this beast of a motherboard is perfect for enthusiasts who are looking for a great price/performance ratio.

If that fits your bill, it does not get better than the MSI MEG Z490 Unify for the i5 10600k.

The MEG Z490 is a bit of an outlier in terms of design. Featuring a “No RGB” philosophy, this motherboard lands on the opposite end of the spectrum. We know many people are a fan of this quirk, and it also makes the motherboard very stealthy.

It manages to look great regardless thanks to the matte black finish on the exterior. The metallic heatsinks, black PCB, and mostly black components make this quite the looker.

The MSI dragon is sophisticatedly embossed onto the rear panel cover.

In terms of expansion, the MEG Unify impresses yet again. You get three full-length PCIe 3.0 slots, two PCIe Gen 3 X1 slots, and three M.2 slots.

All three of these M.2 slots are PCIe 3.0 x4. Quite impressive. You get the usual six SATA ports for storage as well.

The beefy 16-phase VRM design makes this a dream for overclocking enthusiasts. It pairs beautifully with the 10600K and brings out a lot of performance not possible with some other motherboards.

As for the rear panel, you get a single 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet controller, BIOS Flashback, and CMOS buttons, as well as a good selection of USB ports. This includes a 20Gbps Type-C port, and two 10Gbps Type-A ports.

All of that makes this an excellent enthusiast motherboard. It’s also a suitable motherboard for overclockers if they can accept such a price tag and the fact that there are no RGB zones incorporated on a motherboard of this segment.

RATING:

• VRM Design: 9/10
• Aesthetics: 9/10
• Connectivity: 9/10
• Value for money: 7.5/10
• Overall Rating: 8.6/10

5. Gigabyte Z490 Vision G – Best Looking Z490 Motherboard for Intel Core i5 10600k

Memory Support: 128GB DDR4 @ 4400MHz | Chipset: Intel Z490 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 12+1 Phases | Storage: 3x M.2, 6x SATA | RGB: Yes | Network: 2.5 GbE LAN

In a world where every modern motherboard looks good, the Z490 still manages to turn some heads thanks to a unique design philosophy. Hands down, this is the best-looking Z490 ATX motherboard for i5 10600k.

Gigabyte likes producing motherboards that are good looking, and some of the best mid range motherboard for i5 10600k options.

Naturally, let us talk about that first then. The Vision G features a black PCB with silver stenciling. That PCB is contrasted beautifully by the white/silver aluminum heatsinks all around.

That’s what gives this board its unique look. The larger chipset heatsinks are massive, and they have a vertical look to them which makes them look futuristic.

Accented by purple edge lighting all-around, you can see we people might be drawn to the design here.

Furthermore, you get three full-length PCIe 3.0 x16 slots and two X1 slots. You get support for 128 gigs of memory that support speeds of up to 4800MHz. 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet is present as well, along with a decent selection of rear I/O.

The audio output is also good enough on this mid-range motherboard for most gamers. More surprisingly, all of this is available to consumers at a highly competitive price point.

While it does lack a few features that work with Intel processors, it makes up for its design and competitive pricing. This is a most suitable motherboard for our readers who are fond of the aesthetically pleasing look and feel of this board.

But beware, there’s no Wifi or Bluetooth support and the memory OC performance is mediocre as well. So no ultrafast wireless networking speeds with this beauty.

RATING:

• VRM Design: 8/10
• Aesthetics: 9/10
• Connectivity: 9/10
• Value for money: 8/10
• Overall Rating: 8.5/10

6. Gigabyte Z490 Aorus Elite AC – Fan Favorite 10600K Motherboard for i5 10600k

Memory Support: 128GB DDR4 @ 4800MHz | Chipset: Intel Z490 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 12 Phases | Storage: 3x M.2, 6x SATA | RGB: Yes | Network: 2.5 GbE LAN, Intel WiFi 802.11ac

This entry-level Aorus motherboard appeals to the mainstream audience thanks to its gaming-oriented features and competitive pricing. It’s a stellar board all-around for the i5 10600k.

Surprisingly, this motherboard does not cut any corners, and that’s reflected in the design as well. While it is similar to other Aorus Elite motherboards, that’s not a bad thing.

It uses a mostly black PCB with silver stenciling, along with grey heatsinks that provide a good bit of contrast.

This board features two full-length PCIe slot choices of 3.0 x16, along with two x1 slots. You also get three M.2 slots, two of which have metallic heatsinks for heat dissipation.

The VRM configuration is quite good here, especially considering the price. This motherboard features a 12 phase VRM design, which is quite good for the i5 10600K.

Overclocking should not be too much of a problem unless you go completely overboard with this one. High-frequency memory support is also a feature that is always nice to have on hand.

Thermal performance could be better, but it still has AORUS Thermal Guard and hybrid fan headers.

Furthermore, you get Intel 802.11ac Wi-Fi along with Bluetooth 5.0 support for connecting wireless devices. As for connectivity, we have USB 3.2 10 Gbps Type-A, four USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and four USB ports 2.0.

Overall, this is quite a decent choice for the average gamer. Possibly not so much for the enthusiasts and for crazy overclocks and it lacks a Type-C port along with a sub-standard audio output as well.

However, this is still one of the best motherboard for i5 10600k options.

RATING:

• VRM Design: 7.5/10
• Aesthetics: 8/10
• Connectivity: 8/10
• Value for money: 9/10
• Overall Rating: 8.1/10

7. ASROCK Z590M PRO4 – Cheap Micro-ATX Motherboard For i5 10600k

Memory Support: 64GB DDR4 @ 4800MHz | Chipset: Intel Z490 | Form Factor: mATX | Voltage Regulator: 10+2 Phases | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA | RGB: Yes | Network: Intel GbE LAN

Last but not least, we have one of the cheapest Z590 motherboards on the market. There might be a few out there that are even cheaper, but we would not trust something from a relatively unknown brand.

So, if you want to have a decent experience without breaking the bank, and still get one of the best mATX motherboard options, the Z590M Pro 4 could be the right choice for you.

The Pro 4 is a micro-ATX motherboard. We know many are not a fan of this form factor due to the limitations. However, the PRO 4 makes up for that with its functionality.

The design serves its purpose well. This black and white PCB pairs nicely with the mostly white aluminum heatsinks on here. You can find these on one of the M.2 slots, and the VRM and chipset heatsink, which also features RGB.

Other than that, this motherboard is quite solid. In terms of connectivity, you get USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, decent overclocking on the memory, and a good amount of ports for storage, USB devices, and more.

While it lacks wireless connectivity, the port selection and pricing make up for that in the end.

Still, this motherboard is not the best in terms of compatibility because of the lack of the third M.2 slot, and if you’re someone who does a lot of visual content editing you needs more than 64 GB of RAM you might have to steer away from this motherboard.

However, if you are looking for a cheap mATX motherboard for the i5 10600K, then this is the one to buy.

RATING:

• VRM Design: 7/10
• Aesthetics: 7.5/10
• Connectivity: 7.5/10
• Value for money: 9/10
• Overall Rating: 7.75/10

Best Motherboard for i5 10600K Buyer’s Guide

When it comes to buying the best motherboard for i5 10600k, you need a board that has solid overclocking capabilities and a lot of great features.

From dual bios to AI overclocking features, and Dual sided cooling solution options, there is a lot to consider when buying one of the best motherboard for i5 10600k choices.

Our buyer’s guide will help you get one of the best motherboards, and get your i5 10600k gaming rig ready.

Overclocking

When it comes to overclocking, you are pushing the CPU past the stock speeds set by CPU manufacturers. This is done in order to get more performance out of the system.

The CPU will attain higher frequencies, while also consuming more power. The same can be said for RAM overclocking.

In both cases, the VRM configuration matters a lot. VRMs supply clean and stable power to the CPU so it performs accordingly. You can imagine how VRMs play a big role in overclocking.

You’ll often see manufacturers state their board has “10+2 phase VRMs”. This means that the VRMs have access to 12 power stages. Generally, higher is better.

However, the quality of the VRMs matters just as much if not more than the number of power stages. This can not be toned down to just numbers, as the quality of the controllers is important to consider.

Now, you can’t exactly measure the quality of the VRMs yourself, so it is best left to professionals. A lot of review pieces, YouTube videos, and even guides, such as ours, cover this topic on nearly every motherboard out there.

Network Options and Connectivity

A lot of people care about network and connectivity options. Some boards will have more USB ports, while others will have faster or newer generations of ports.

Important ports include USB ports with 3.2 Gen 2 or Gen 1, Thunderbolt support, Video output ports, Gigabit Ethernet, RGB headers, SATA ports, fan headers, etc.

The number of DIMM slots is also important for RAM compatibility. The speed and number of PCIe expansion slots and M.2 slots are also quite vital.

Most motherboards also come with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. However, if you don’t need those two, you can generally save some money by buying a variant of the same motherboard that omits those features.

Options For RAM and Storage

A lot of gamers use their PCs for more than just gaming. If that is the case, you will likely need more storage than you might initially think. For that, you want to make sure you have enough SATA and M.2 ports available.

In terms of speed, SATA caps out at 6Gbps, while PCIe 3.0 M.2 storage is more than twice as fast. M.2 slots can use PCIe 3.0 or PCIe 4.0 lanes from the chipset/processor, depending on the generation of both processor and motherboard.

Next, let’s talk about RAM. A lot of processors will benefit from faster memory, especially more modern CPUs from both Intel and AMD. So, 3000MHz-3600MHz seems to be the sweet spot for most people.

Most motherboards will support this with ease if they are relatively recent. Capacity is not as big of an issue as most newer motherboards will support 64 or 128 gigs of RAM with enough memory slots.

Expansion Slots

Expansion slots are crucial to consider for any motherboard buyer. The two major expansion slots are PCIe x1 slots and PCIe x16 slots.

The x1 slots are useful if you want to connect network adapters, sound cards, or other expansion cards to the motherboard. This helps in providing extra ports or connectivity features.

The full-length x16 slots are the most important. These are used to connect the graphics card to the motherboard. They use PCIe lanes from the CPU to run at max speed.

Depending on the processor and motherboard, they may use PCIe Gen 4 or Gen 3 lanes. The top slot always uses 16 lanes, while the bottom may use 8 lanes, whether that be PCIe 3.o or 4.0.

This is not as important right now, as nearly every graphics card runs at the same speed, regardless if it is PCIe Gen 4 or 3. This is subject to change down the line

We have already talked about M.2 slots in the previous section. However, remember that these slots also use PCIe lanes from the motherboard. Some boards will have triple slots, all of which can run at the Gen 4 speeds.

This is only seen on higher-end motherboards, so don’t expect it to be common. More often than not, the first slot will use Gen 4, and the second/third one will use Gen 3.

It is important to be aware of this before buying so that you don’t waste a high-speed drive.

FAQs

What Motherboard is Best for i5 10600K?

The best motherboards for i5 10600K are Z490 and Z590. But you should get a Z490 because while Z590 brings PCIe Gen 4 support, Comet Lake processors cannot take advantage of that. As such, it makes more practical sense to go with a Z490 board, unless future proofing is one of your concerns.

Is B460 Compatible with 10600K?

B460 motherboards are compatible with i5 10600K. However, you will be limited to slower memory, as most B460 motherboards cannot support speeds higher than 2666MHz. B460 also lacks any support for overclocking, which makes it a questionable choice for the 10600K.

Is Z490 Better than B460?

Z490 is better than the B460. You get support for overclocking and for faster RAM as well. However, if your processor does not support overclocking, then it might make more sense to save that money and buy a B460 motherboard for better value.