Are you looking for the best Z390 motherboard for your gaming rig? We have got you covered.

The Intel Z390 chipset is the flagship platform synonymous with the 9th Generation Intel Coffee Lake processors.

If you have a premium Intel 9th Gen CPU like the Core i9 9900K, then a Z390 motherboard is the ideal choice for you.

Enthusiast PC builders can maximize the potential of their rig by utilizing the 24 PCIe lanes and various other advanced features of the Z390 platform.

Without further ado, let’s visit our choices for the best Z390 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

Top 3 Best Z390 Motherboards Comparison

Why Should You Trust Us?

With over two decades of experience in the tech industry and a lifelong passion for technology and gaming, our lead author, Konstantinos Chiotis, brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. His dedication to understanding the intricacies of motherboards, GPUs, and processors is unmatched.

This expertise, coupled with his hands-on experience as a PC builder since the age of 14, uniquely positions him to provide reliable and insightful hardware comparisons and reviews.

When we say these are the best Z390 motherboards, it’s not just a claim; it’s a conclusion drawn from years of experience and deep technical understanding. Trust us, we’ve got your back in the realm of PC building and hardware.

How We Choose the Best Z390 Motherboards

The Z390 platform is known for its premium offerings that are targeted at enthusiasts, therefore we had to consider some factors when selecting the best motherboards for this list.

Firstly, the flagship Z390 motherboards have to be able to run the flagship Core i9 9900K CPU at overclocked settings, which is why VRM performance was our primary focus.

We selected motherboards with extraordinary power delivery systems and ranked them based on efficiency and cooling potential.

The ideal home for a Z390 motherboard is a premium gaming PC, therefore we also laid a focus on features. We made sure that the boards we selected had a solid feature set in terms of networking and storage.

High-speed USB ports and the number of M.2 slots were the metrics considered a priority when it comes to features.

Furthermore, we also considered RAM speed compatibility in our rankings. Enthusiasts do like to experiment with RAM overclocking as well.

Aesthetics are a subjective matter, however, we did keep an eye out for any unusual features on controversial design choices made by the manufacturers . RGB lighting was a priority since it has become so popular in the PC gaming community in recent years.

Finally, the price to performance ratio of the Z390 motherboards was the ultimate deciding factor. We selected a healthy mix of premium and value-oriented motherboards so that there was a perfect Z390 board for every consumer.

Keeping all these factors in mind, we have curated a list of the very best Z390 motherboards on the market. Let’s jump right in.

7 Best Z390 Motherboards Reviews

1. Gigabyte Z390 AORUS Ultra – Editor’s Choice

Form Factor: ATX | Chipset: Z390 | VRM: 12+1 Phase | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-4400 | Video Outputs: HDMI | USB: 10x rear IO, 7x internal | Network: 1x 1GbE LAN, 1x Wi-Fi | Storage: 3x M.2, 6x SATA

Gigabyte’s AORUS lineup of motherboards is known for its high-quality components and reliability, and the Z390 AORUS Ultra is no different. It is one of the most robust motherboards you can buy on the Z390 platform, therefore, earning the title of Editor’s Choice in this roundup.

If you have a flagship CPU like the Core i9 9900K, then you’ll love the Gigabyte Z390 AORUS Ultra. It has an excellent 12-phase VRM design that is capable of extreme overclocking even the most power-hungry CPUs on the Z390 platform.

Before we go any deeper it’s important to mention Gigabyte has more options. The Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Elite is great if you’re not that into heavy overclocking, and the Z390 Pro is best if one is interested in performance. However, the Aorus Z390 Ultra has three M.2 slots, superior voltage regulator for better memory overclocking, and few others bells and whistles.

We chose a similar Gigabyte product in our roundup for the best Z590 motherboards.

Gigabyte made sure that the VRM cooling is excellent as well thanks to sizeable VRM heatsinks with multiple fins. The fin design helps to maximize the surface area of the metal in order to improve heat dissipation.

In terms of features, the board is quite well-equipped. Connectivity is handled by a Gigabit LAN port as well as Wi-Fi, which is a good combination for this platform. The AORUS Ultra also has 3 M.2 slots for fast NVMe SSDs. Most other boards only offer one or two M.2 slots in this price range.

The rear I/O is rather impressive as well since there are 10 USB ports there along with an HDMI display output. We would have liked to see a DisplayPort output too since this is a premium Z390 motherboard.

Aesthetically, the Z390 AORUS Ultra looks magnificent in any gaming PC build. There is a combination of neutral tones and the aggressive, angular styling we expect from AORUS. There are splashes of RGB lighting on the I/O cover and the chipset heatsink which give the board a lot of character.

The price point of the Z390 AORUS Ultra is rather steep, therefore it is not a value-oriented motherboard at all. However, the combination of the extraordinary power delivery with an excellent feature set makes it a really easy recommendation for anyone on the Z390 platform.

RATINGS:

• VRM Design: 9/10
• Features: 9.5/10
• Aesthetics: 8.5/10
• Value for Money: 7.5/10
• Overall Rating: 9/10

2. ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E – Best Premium Z390 Motherboard

Form Factor: ATX | Chipset: Z390 | VRM: 8+2 Phase | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-4266 | Video Outputs: HDMI, DisplayPort | USB: 8x rear IO, 7x internal | Network: 1x 1GbE LAN, 1x Wi-Fi | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA

The ROG Strix motherboards from ASUS are synonymous with premium price tags and excellent reliability, and the trend carries on with the ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E. This rather expensive flagship motherboard from ASUS is aimed at enthusiasts who just want the very best for their rigs.

If we had to highlight a single standout feature of the Z390-E, it would be the power delivery system. This is the board to buy if you are thinking of performing competitive-level overclocking on flagship CPUs such as the Core i9 9900K.

The VRM components are top-notch and you will be able to see the difference they make in overclocking. They are cooled by giant VRM heatsinks which are designed to look stylish, but they do perform their function very well.

We know we’re talking about Z390s here, but the ROG Strix Z370-E is another great option if you’re not going with an i9. On the flip side, if you want even more features, the ASUS ROG Maximus XI Hero and the MSI MEG z390 Godlike are great choices. We just think that the Strix Z390-E is the best of both worlds.

You can also find similar ASUS motherboards in our best motherboards for RTX 3080 roundup.

You can’t be disappointed with the feature-set that ASUS offers with the Z390-E. The standard suite of Gigabit LAN and Wi-Fi handles the networking, while 2 M.2 slots and 6 SATA ports are provided for your storage needs.

Although the 2 M.2 slots are plenty for gamers, ASUS should have added an additional M.2 slot since the Z390-E demands a hefty price premium.

ASUS ROG products shine in the department of aesthetics and the same seems to be the case here. The board is an impressive specimen with sharp lines and tight angles everywhere that give it an aggressive look.

The star of the show might be the RGB lighting over the I/O cover which is quite flamboyant. You might not want to purchase this board for a workstation build due to the design language.

There is no doubt that the feature set and power delivery of the Z390-E are among the best Z390 motherboards on the market, but it is also quite expensive. If you can afford it, however, then there are not a lot of Z390 motherboards better than this one on the market.

Hence, the ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E earns the award for the best premium Z390 motherboard.

RATINGS:

• VRM Design: 9.5/10
• Features: 8.5/10
• Aesthetics: 9/10
• Value for Money: 6/10
• Overall Rating: 8.5/10

3. MSI Z390-A Pro – Best Budget Z390 Motherboard – BEST SELLER

Form Factor: ATX | Chipset: Z390 | VRM: 6+2 Phase | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-4400 Memory Slots | Video Outputs: VGA, DVI-D, DisplayPort | USB: 6x rear IO, 8x internal | Network: 1x 1GbE LAN | Storage: 1x M.2, 6x SATA

The MSI Z390-A Pro is our pick for the best budget Z390 motherboard as it covers all the basics and has a really impressive price-to-performance ratio.

At this price point, you cannot really expect much in terms of power delivery features. However, that is not to say that the VRM design of the Z390-A Pro is completely unacceptable.

It is an average VRM setup that will not cause any problems with any supported processors, so long as you avoid overclocking.

It can still perform moderate overclocking on mid-range CPUs such as the Core i5 9600K, however, the VRM cooling leaves a lot to be desired. The small and insignificant VRM heatsinks struggle to keep the temperatures in check under extended loads.

MSI’s other models such as the MPG Z390 Gaming Plus and the Z390 Gaming Edge are also great performance-focused motherboards. However, if we’re talking about budget and overall value, the Z390-A takes the cake.

Speaking of budget motherboards, here are some of the best motherboards for i5 6500.

All the features offered by the Z390-A Pro are acceptable at this price point. You do not get Wi-Fi connectivity which is a bit of a letdown, and there is only 1 M.2 slot for your NVMe drives. However, there are multiple display outputs which is a unique feature that can help you in troubleshooting scenarios.

There are only 6 rear USB ports, which is a somewhat unimpressive number. MSI should have included more high-speed USB port choices even at this price.

At the end of the day, the highlight feature of the MSI Z390-A Pro is still its impressive value proposition. It is a really affordable Z390 motherboard for gaming that gets the job done without breaking the bank. It is a default recommendation for an entry-level motherboard on the Z390 platform.

RATINGS:

• VRM Design: 7.5/10
• Features: 7/10
• Aesthetics: 7/10
• Value for Money: 9.5/10
• Overall Rating: 8.5/10

4. MSI MPG Z390 Gaming Pro Carbon – Best Z390 Motherboard For Overclocking

Form Factor: ATX | Chipset: Z390 | VRM: 11+2 Phase | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-4400 | Video Outputs: HDMI, DisplayPort | USB: 6x rear IO, 9x internal | Network: 1x 1GbE LAN | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA

MSI’s MPG series is the “Performance Gaming” tier of high-quality motherboards that are aimed at enthusiasts. The Z390 variant of this lineup is the MSI MPG Z390 Gaming Pro Carbon, a rather complicated name for a straightforward product.

First thing’s first, the VRM design of the Z390 Gaming Pro Carbon is excellent. This power delivery system should be able to sustain intense overclocks with flagship 9th Generation processors rather easily. The board’s premium price tag is somewhat justified by the robust VRM setup.

MSI has not neglected the VRM cooling at all with the MSI MPG Z390 Gaming. There are two substantial VRM heatsinks that have plenty of fins to improve heat dissipation. These heatsinks might be the largest we have seen among boards in this roundup.

The Gaming Pro Carbon is perhaps the best from MSI’s lineup in terms of performance and features. It’s not as affordable as the Z390-A Pro, but for many, the difference is well worth it. Of course, the next crazy step up would be something like the MEG Z390 Ace, and even above that would be the MEG Z390 GODLIKE.

There are plenty of high-end features to accompany this power delivery system. There are 2 M.2 slots and 6 SATA ports for your storage needs.

For connectivity, MSI has only provided a single 1 Gigabit LAN Port with no WiFi in this variant. There is a separate WiFi variant which is even more expensive. The rear I/O also has relatively few USB ports as compared to other options on the list.

Speaking of premium motherboards, you can also check out our roundup of the best motherboards for i9 10900K.

For aesthetics, the Z390 Gaming Pro Carbon gets full marks. It is a purely gaming-focused motherboard aimed at the enthusiast crowd, and that can be seen in the design language. MSI has taken some brave decisions with the angular and aggressive styling, but they seem to have paid off.

The RGB lighting is a highlight feature as it looks really attractive in any PC build. Most other boards have poor RGB control software options. This is not the only ATX motherboard with decent RGB control software but it’s one of only a few.

MSI has priced the Z390 Gaming Pro Carbon rather high and it competes with other premium offerings such as the ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E. There are a few missing features in this board that hurts its standings, but it is still the best overclocking Z390 motherboard for gaming on our list.

It is recommended for enthusiasts who don’t mind the price tag and want to try their hand at overclocking on a high-end motherboard for maximum performance.

RATINGS:

• VRM Design: 8/10
• Features: 7/10
• Aesthetics: 8.5/10
• Value for Money: 7.5/10
• Overall Rating: 8/10

5. ASRock Z390 Taichi – Fan Favorite Z390 Motherboard

Form Factor: ATX Board | Chipset: Z390 | VRM: 10+2 Phase | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-4200+ | Video Outputs: HDMI, DisplayPort | USB: 8x rear IO, 8x internal | Network: 1x 1GbE LAN, 1x WiFi | Storage: 3x M.2, Six SATA ports

Our next offering comes from ASRock’s fan-favorite Taichi lineup of motherboards. The ASRock Z390 Taichi might just be the best stealthy-looking Z390 motherboard on the market.

As the Taichi is priced in the mid-range of Z390 motherboards, the power delivery system is nothing extraordinary. It is still an impressive design, however, you should not expect overclocking results similar to the more premium offerings we have mentioned above.

The VRM heatsinks are rather sizeable, however, they lack adequate finning for improved thermal dissipation. You may experience VRM overheating and throttling overextended loads when overclocking.

The Taichi is the one you want if you care about aesthetics. Other options from ASRock such as the Z390 Pro 4, Z390 Phantom Gaming 4, and even the uniquely designed Z390 Steel Legend are all great. It’s just that the Taichi manages to stand out the most.

Other mid-range motherboards can be found in our roundup of the best budget X570 motherboards.

An impressive feature of the Z390 Taichi is the inclusion of 3 M.2 slots for storage. It also has WiFi and a Gigabit LAN for connectivity and networking.

There are 3 full-sized PCIe slots x16 on the board that are reinforced with steel housings. This is a feature that may attract users of multiple GPUs such as Cryptocurrency miners.

The Z390 Taichi falls a bit short in terms of aesthetics. There is no RGB lighting on the board which is fine at this price point. However, there are some rather flashy decals and designs on the PCB and the heatsinks which may not sit well with every user.

This is a subjective matter but it does detract from the overall attractiveness of the board.

The ASRock z390 Taichi is a default recommendation on a budget if you want a Z390 motherboard with an all-encompassing approach.

RATINGS:

• VRM Design: 8.5/10
• Features: 8/10
• Aesthetics: 6.5/10
• Value for Money: 7.5/10
• Overall Rating: 8/10

6. Gigabyte Z390M – Best Micro ATX Z390 Motherboard

Form Factor: Micro ATX Motherboard | Chipset: Z390 | VRM: 10+2 Phase | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-4266+ | Video Outputs: DVI-D, HDMI, DisplayPort | USB: 6x rear IO, 6x internal | Network: 1x 1GbE LAN | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA III ports

The rise in popularity of small form factor gaming PCs is quite unsurprising, therefore more and more PC gamers are shifting to compact motherboards as well. The Gigabyte Z390M is our pick for the best micro ATX Z390 motherboard on the market.

Being a budget-focused motherboard, the VRM setup of the Z390M is nothing extraordinary. It still gets the job done, however, and you can expect a limited amount of overclocking on some of the mid-range Intel CPUs on this platform.

Other Z390 micro-ATX options include the MSI MAG Z390M Mortar and the TUF Gaming Z390M-Pro. While both of those are great options, Gigabyte does a much better job at the power delivery system and overclocking stability.

The price tag of the board makes it a perfect pairing for CPUs like the Core i5 9600K for a value-oriented 9th Gen game PC. VRM cooling is acceptable due to the large VRM heatsinks installed by Gigabyte on the power delivery components.

On a related note, we also made a roundup of the best motherboards for i5 10600K.

The feature-set of the Gigabyte Z390M is quite decent for the price. Sure, it only has a 1 Gigabit LAN port with no WiFi connectivity, but that is an acceptable combination in this bracket. You do get 2 M.2 slots for your NVMe storage which is a nice touch, as most budget Z390 motherboards often only offer 1 M.2 slot.

Gigabyte has provided 6 rear USB ports which is a bit of a letdown, and there is no built-in I/O shield as well. However, you do get a combination of different display outputs which can prove helpful in troubleshooting.

The Z390M is very basic in terms of visuals. You do get silver accents over the VRM heatsinks and the I/O cover, but the overall look is quite uninspiring. There is a lack of RGB lighting too which may deter some consumers.

Pricing and value proposition is the strong point of the Z390M. It is a smaller form board for those users who just want to buy a reliable micro ATX z390 gaming motherboard without any need for flashy features and extra gimmicks. For that use case, it is a default recommendation.

RATINGS:

• VRM Design: 7.5/10
• Features: 7.5/10
• Aesthetics: 6.5/10
• Value for Money: 8.5/10
• Overall Rating: 7.5/10

7. Gigabyte Z390 I AORUS Pro WiFi – Best Mini ITX Z390 Motherboard

Form Factor: Mini ITX | Chipset: Z390 | VRM: 6+2 Phase | Memory: 2x DIMM, 64GB, DDR4-4400 | Video Outputs: HDMI, DisplayPort | USB: 6x rear IO, 5x internal | Network: 1x Gigabit LAN support, 1x WiFi | Storage: 2x M.2, 4x SATA

An even more niche market than micro ATX boards is the mini ITX market which caters to a small number of consumers.

The Gigabyte Z390 I AORUS Pro WiFi is deemed to be the best mini ITX Z390 motherboard on our list. It is a good motherboard and quite affordable, so the value proposition is quite high when compared to other z390 boards.

Power delivery is not the strong suit of the Z390 I AORUS Pro WiFi. It does have an acceptable VRM design, however, it is not something you can rely on for heavy overclocking. We would recommend against overclocking on this VRM setup at all.

The Z390 I does however have a lot of competitors. This includes the ROG Strix Z390-I Gaming and the ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming ITX. Both of which are great options, even if the Strix boards cost a lot, as expected. It’s a tough call, but the overall value and features on the Z390 I Aorus Pro make it a better pick.

The VRM heatsinks are minuscule where present, and the cooling system does not handle extended loads very well. This is a drawback of the mini ITX design as well as the implementation by Gigabyte.

Other mini ITX products can be found in our best mini ITX motherboards roundup.

Gigabyte does redeem itself a bit thanks to the feature set of the Z390 I AORUS Pro WiFi. You get a combination of Gigabit LAN and WiFi for networking which is a great addition.

Furthermore, there are 2 M.2 slots for NVMe SSDs as well. This is a unique addition as there is not a lot of space on a mini ITX motherboard, however, Gigabyte has installed a rear M.2 slot to get around this issue.

Due to its mini-ITX design, there are only 2 DIMM slots that limit your RAM upgrade path. The PCI Express expansion slots are few in number as well, and so are the rear USB ports.

All in all, the Gigabyte Z390 AORUS Pro WiFi, does deliver a mixed package to the user. It is a great purchase for those who specifically want a Z390 mini ITX board, especially at a reasonable price point. For everyone else, however, there are probably better options on the market.

RATINGS:

• VRM Design: 7/10
• Features: 7.5/10
• Aesthetics: 7/10
• Value for Money: 8.5/10
• Overall Rating: 7.5/10

Worth Mentioning z390 Gaming Motherboard

• Gigabyte z390 Aorus Xtreme
• MSI Meg z390 Godlike – For maximum overclocking potential

Best Z390 Motherboard – Buyer’s Guide

You might be faced with several choices if you plan to buy a Z390 motherboard. The manufacturers don’t make it easy for consumers to decide which motherboard to buy. There is a general lack of useful information on motherboard product pages.

The following are some of the factors that you should consider when buying a Z390 motherboard.

Connectivity and Features

Z390 motherboards are often packed with high-end features like more USB ports that are high-speed, premium networking, and onboard diagnostics. You should also keep an eye out for some of the basic features while buying a Z390 motherboard for gaming.

RAM Slots

Most Z390 motherboards do come with 4 RAM slots since Z390 is the premium chipset, however, that is not always the case in a micro ATX motherboard. Due to limited space and lower cost, motherboard manufacturers may only install 2 RAM and DIMM slots.

This can limit your RAM upgrade path down the line. Although 2 RAM slots do provide dual-channel functionality, you will have to populate both slots to achieve it.

This means that in order to double your RAM size down the line you will have to swap out the memory sticks entirely.

USB Ports

Z390 chipset provides support for a total of 14 USB ports with 6 high-speed USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports. It is always beneficial to make sure that there are more USB ports on the rear I/O to connect all your peripherals, leaving a few in excess.

Front-panel USB ports are also important to consider if you have a case with high-speed USB ports mounted on the front.

SATA Ports

In the ATX form factor, most Z390 motherboards provide six SATA III ports which should be more than enough for your storage devices. However, it is important to consider how many of those ports remain functional when all the M.2 slots are populated.

In many Z390 motherboards, 2 of the SATA ports are disabled if all M.2 slots are populated. This can cause a problem for you if you plan to use both M.2 memory slots and SATA devices simultaneously.

PCIe slots are also a great way to add more audio ports or more gaming motherboard accessories.

Power Delivery and Overclocking

The best Z390 motherboard options are prized for their excellent power delivery systems, therefore you should consider the VRM (Voltage Regulator Module) of the board in question before making the final decision.

Chances are, you will be running a premium 9th, Gen Intel CPU, with a motherboard from the Z390 chipset, so the overclocking capability of the board is important. Maximum speed, data transfer speeds, and high-quality audio capacitors will all be better with higher power delivery.

Also, pay attention to the Voltage Regulator Module heatsinks, a fins array heatsink if you can find it, and the VRM temperature benchmarks that can be found online. The power delivery system is only as good as its thermal efficiency and fan headers.

Price and Value

Generally, the Z390 motherboards lie at the top of the pyramid when it comes to this generation of Intel CPUs. However, you can still find plenty of good motherboards at reasonable prices that won’t break the bank.

Ideally, mid-range Z390 motherboards hit the sweet spot between price and performance. Look out for additional features, gimmicks, and hardware tech that you don’t need, and choose the motherboard that seems to be the best value for all the PC hardware you may want.

It does not necessarily have to be expensive to be good.

FAQs:

What Socket Does Z390 Use?

The Z390 motherboards use the LGA 1151 socket. This socket can support 8th and 9th Generation Intel processors. However, the CPU support is also decided by the chipset.

What is the Difference Between Z390 and Z370?

The main difference between Z390 and Z370 is the addition of Intel Wireless Networking, up to 6 USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports, as well as some minor features like SDXC and newer IME support. Other basic features are the same in both Z390 and Z370.

Does Z390 Support Core i9 9900K?

Z390 can support the Intel Core i9 9900K. In fact, it is the ideal platform for this CPU due to its unlocked overclocking support and modern key features.

Can I Use Core i9 10900K On Z390?

You cannot use Intel Core i9 10900K on a Z390 motherboard. The 10th Gen Intel Core processors used a completely different socket called LGA1200 which is physically different from the LGA1151 of Z390.

Should I Buy an H370 Motherboard?

You can buy an H370 motherboard instead of Z390 if you are not planning to overclock your CPU, or memory. H370 motherboards are also a bit cheaper than a Z390 motherboard