If you have decided to go with the z390 motherboard, it will be your most reasonable choice because z390 is the second high-end chipset supporting Intel’s 300-series desktop processors. The z390 motherboards are equipped with socket LGA 1151 and support the latest hardware, and are powered by multiple premium features for your gaming rig. We are here to provide you with a complete guide on z390 motherboards so you will be able to pick the best z390 motherboard for your gaming PC. It is imperative to purchase the most compatible motherboards with your other PC components because it is the motherboard that makes the different parts work properly.
Even without a motherboard, you can’t implement the BIOS; neither would the hardware function. These days, z390 motherboards are in a raging vogue. People are going for these boards for all the good reasons. Seriously though, who wouldn’t want a modern motherboard featuring some mind-blowing specifications and with modest price tags? These boards are innovative creations, no doubt. The manufacturers' efforts are shown off as soon as you unbox your board. The looks and reliability of the z390 motherboard deserve praise and acknowledgment. Components can’t connect and interact without a motherboard acting as a backbone for them.
Since a motherboard or known as ‘mobo’ too, houses the most important parts of your PC, choosing the right one can be quite a challenging task for you. But something relieving is that you don’t have to go all broke to get a motherboard for your build. After choosing the CPU that is passionate enough to handle your workloads, you must be in dire need of compatible components. A best z390 motherboard is such an excellent product for new builders and upgraders that you don’t need to worry about a perfect motherboard anymore. What are you waiting for now? Let’s jump into the mesmerizing world of modern motherboards right away!
Quick Shopping Tips:
RAM: with the ever-increasing demand for unbeatable productivity for gaming or content creation, a suitable amount of RAM is a must-have. Your rig would not function well without at least 8 to 16 GB RAM on hand. Especially if you are a gamer, which is zesty beyond the limits, or a workaholic person with a job that demands to multitask, having lesser RAM would be a self-harming tactic for your rig. The more RAM, the more future-proof your build is, pretty simple.
Built-in Wi-Fi & Bluetooth: Not all motherboards have this feature. Only the high-profile boards had it in the past, and they cost pretty much. But now, this modern feature has come down to some affordable motherboards, but again, not all boards. If you want to have it, you have to verify if the board does have it, or that’s just a rumor. Plus, you will probably have to pay a bit more than non-Wi-Fi boards. The same goes for Bluetooth if you need this feature for some reason.
Form Factor: Motherboards come in various form-factors as micro-ATX, Mini-ITX, and standard ATX. What type would be the right one for you? Well, that solely depends on the type of usage and space allotted to your motherboard. If you plan to dedicate enough space to your board, a full-size tower world be just fine. Whereas for a compact and cramped space, you should better choose a smaller form factor.
Overclocking: You need to pay heed to this point if you are a serious over-clocker. Even among the modern boards, not all support CPU overclocking. But some do for sure, and z390 motherboards are among those. So to overclock your system without ruining it due to thermal issues, you ought to choose the best z390 motherboard. They don’t come with sky-high prices and usually provide you with much more than you pay for, with their capabilities.
Best Z390 Motherboards at a glance:
- ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E Gaming
- GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS ULTRA
- ASUS ROG Maximus XI Hero (Wi-Fi)
- Gigabyte Z390 AORUS PRO WIFI
- ASUS ROG Strix Z390-I GAMING
- MSI MEG Z390 GODLIKE
- Gigabyte Z390 AORUS Xtreme
- ASUS ROG Maximus XI Code
The Best Z390 Motherboards You Can Buy Today
ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E Gaming
Best Overall Z390 Motherboard
SPECIFICATIONS
Socket: LGA1151 | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 10 Phase | PCIe x16: 3 | USB Ports: 9 | Warranty: 3 Years
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Multi GPU support
✓ Plenty of fan headers
✓ Dedicated audio PCB layers
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No Quad-GPU support
✗ Only one RGB lighting zone onboard
ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E Gaming is a premium motherboard that provides superior features and excellent work. This board offers everything that a high-end motherboard should provide. Isn’t it astonishing that this board was designed to provide everyone whatever it takes in any harsh situation? Accessories are impressive, and four SATA cables are nice to own. This board has got to be the best z390 motherboard. The software of this outclass product is worth noting, and RGB lighting makes gaming interesting and boring tasks fun. Masses are loving it despite its shortcomings as it has much more to love about than to hate.
ASUS is a well-recognized brand that is known for making users happy with all-rounder products. The best overall Z390 motherboard award is very well-deserved by this board as you get pretty much everything in this package. Buyers who are die-hard fans of ASUS would probably not care for the price. To be honest, the features pretty much justify its price. Furthermore, the price isn’t as much as compared to the higher versions of this motherboard. This value is because the manufacturers built this stable performer for mediocre users in terms of usage and budget, but clearly, there is nothing mediocre.
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS ULTRA
Best Flagship Z390 Motherboard
SPECIFICATIONS
Socket: LGA 1151 | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 13 Phases | PCIe x16: 3 | USB Ports: 10 | Warranty: 3 Years
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Intel Optane Memory Ready
✓ Interoperable Fans and Sensors
✓ USB DAC-UP 2 with Adjustable Voltage
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No support for 8-channel audio
✗ Mediocre memory overclocking potential
When it comes to finding a motherboard for your pc, Gigabyte is one of the top brands you will consider. GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS ULTRA is their proud accomplishment which stirred the market as soon as the brand unleashed it. It has the same elegant design which its predecessors had. The company has kept the tradition of excellent build quality intact. The power phase is quite beefy, and with integrated M.2 heatsinks, this product delivers astounding cooling performance. Want to spice up your dull working routine, don’t you? This motherboard is the best option at hand. RGB feature makes it look more captivating.
It would not be wrong to call this motherboard the best z390 motherboard based on all its capabilities. The overclocking potential isn’t the best, but it is still worth considering since the overall performance, quality, and feature set leave nothing untouched. The best flagship Z390 motherboard out there at a low price point is a boon for sure. As this product has hundreds of positive attributes, negatives, though are a few, are present. The software might not be suitable for some users, but our testing revealed that a bit of tweaking could do wonders. Plus, this board might not be the best choice for OC enthusiasts, but for heavy gaming, you are in for a real treat!
ASUS ROG Maximus XI Hero (Wi-Fi)
Best Premium Z390 Motherboard
SPECIFICATIONS
Socket: LGA 1151 | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 8 Phase | PCIe x16: 3 | USB Ports: 8 | Warranty: 3 Years
REASONS TO BUY
✓ High fidelity audio
✓ Pre-assembled I / O shield
✓ Class-leading overclocking
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No overheating warning
✗ No PCIe 4.0 compatible
ASUS ROG Maximus XI Hero (Wi-Fi) is an effective and well-balanced choice for many of you longing for a z390 motherboard. Being one of our favorite brands, ASUS has always offered feature-packed products with durability and commendable customer care. This product, in many aspects, is the best z390 motherboard. That said, the overclockers are going to love this board for their builds. We won’t exaggerate the power phases, which are merely eight, but they are enough for a mid-ranged build. The open-ended slots of this mobo enable users to fill it with components of their choice, which is appreciable.
It can’t compete with its high-end predecessors in terms of onboard features. Rivals have better connectivity as well. Nevertheless, its specification is good enough for the masses who want an optimal performance with a minimal price tag. This board is the best premium Z390 motherboard, features four SATA cables, RGB implementation, built-in Wi-Fi, an elite high-bandwidth SLI bridge, and whatnot, perfect for most users. Value seekers can keep digging for more options, but this motherboard, however, is the go-to option for most builders. Even if it lacks some bells and whistles and has some software bloats to deal with, it is still a top-tier product with subtle looks.
Gigabyte Z390 AORUS PRO WIFI
Best Budget Z390 Motherboard
SPECIFICATIONS
Socket: LGA1151 | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 13 Phases | PCIe x16: 3 | USB Ports: 12 | Warranty: 4 Years
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Ultra-durable PCIe Armor
✓ Multi-cuts Heatsinks and Heatpipe
✓ Hybrid Fan Headers with FAN STOP
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No onboard buttons
✗ Lacks numerical LED debug
Gigabyte Z390 AORUS PRO WIFI is in our good books ever since we got our hands on it. Often, the first thing to consider while choosing a z390 motherboard for your custom build is selecting the right brand first. Being one of the top brands, Gigabyte has provided us with the most suitable products for quite a while now. This motherboard by the brand mentioned above being discussed here is elegant and a top performer for sure. There’s something exceptionally praiseworthy regarding this board. Yes! You’ve got it right, the robust thermal design! Once you know its thermal capabilities with the incredible thirteen power phases, there is no going back to an average performer.
A few features are, however, absent from this board. The lack of onboard buttons and a buggy BIOS disappointed us. But even with these bit of drawbacks, this board isn’t a wrong choice in the crowded market of motherboards. Its versatile features and affordable cost make this board the best budget Z390 motherboard of these recent and upcoming years. Its solid design with ample PCl makes this board stand out from its rivals at the affordable end of the market. The specifications of this exceptional case tick almost all the boxes that most of its competitors don’t. The brand raised the number of fan headers and made several other improvements, thus being one of the most recommendable ones.
ASUS ROG Strix Z390-I GAMING
Best Mini-ITX Z390 Motherboard
SPECIFICATIONS
Socket: LGA 1151 v2 | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Form Factor: Mini-ITX | Voltage Regulator: 6 Phases | PCIe x16: 1 | USB Ports: 7 | Warranty: 3 Years
REASONS TO BUY
✓ On-board Wi-Fi
✓ Dual OP amplifiers
✓ 5-Way optimization
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ Single PCIe x16 slot
✗ No voltage monitoring points
With the tremendous increase in demand for smaller form factors, every technical brand started to build various compact products. Many people these days tend to have their setups in a cramped space and spend lavishly to squeeze the maximum out of their builds. ASUS ROG Strix Z390-I GAMING is a motherboard with the mini-ITX form factor and a fantastic entry-level product from the famous and widely adapted company, ASUS. People think that smaller form factors give rise to internal issues and don’t perform well. With its arrival in the market, this motherboard ensured that this notion is entirely false. Let’s know some more about this tiny beast.
A perfect feature set and sturdy build with a robust VRM design, and all that with a relatively humble price tag, what an excellent deal it is indeed! The brand has manufactured this motherboard to be the best Mini-ITX Z390 motherboard. The looks and aesthetics aren’t any lesser than other perfections of this board. Heatsinks have a metallic gray finish, and the overall look of this motherboard is gracefully silvery black. While the form factor does bring some limitations, the features make this product a star choice for gamers and enthusiasts. So, isn’t it the best pick for your compact and sleek build? On a lighter note, the installation might be challenging, but you have the best product on your table once it gets done.
MSI MEG Z390 GODLIKE
Best Editor's Pick Z390 Motherboard
SPECIFICATIONS
Socket: Intel LGA 1151 | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Form Factor: E-ATX | Voltage Regulator: 18 Phases | PCIe x16: 4 | USB Ports: 8 | Warranty: 3 Years
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Better EMI protection
✓ Built-in OLED display
✓ Four PCIe x16 & three M.2 slots
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No USB 3.2 port
✗ No wireless connectivity
MSI MEG Z390 GODLIKE is designed to be compatible with 8th and 9th generations are built on an Intel Z390 chipset. This board showcases the excellent features and design that are unique only to MSI. This brand, among ordinary ones, is a class apart and is highly recognized and trusted throughout the world. Let’s talk about the best z390 motherboard here. The motherboard being discussed here is their crowning accomplishment which never fell behind in any area ever since it was unveiled. The users who usually go gaga over components providing good overclocking are bound to love this mobo right at first sight.
Let’s bring up the reasons for its being the best editor’s pick Z390 motherboard now. Who wouldn’t want an excellent performer and the z390 motherboard with painless installation at their doorstep? The moment you bump into this product, you get to know how absurd it was to avoid it all along. The thermal performance of this motherboard is the maximum you could ever get in a z390 board. The features are more than enough for an average user, but the productive ones can make the most use of them. Though there is still room for improvement in gaming performance, at first glance and even after detailed research and testing, this product is something to get right away.
Gigabyte Z390 AORUS Xtreme
BEST GIGABYTE Z390 Motherboard
SPECIFICATIONS
Socket: Intel 1151v2 | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 16 | PCIe x16: 3 | USB Ports: 11 | Warranty: 3 Years
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Thunderbolt 3 controller
✓ Five gold plated audio jacks
✓ L/R separation analog signals
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No ESD protection
✗ No ECC memory compatible
Gigabyte Z390 AORUS Xtreme left a lasting impression on the world. The sensation aroused by this masterpiece led masses to queue up to get it even when the price tag isn’t a humble one. The design is outrageous and leaves everyone stunned, even the nitpickers and cavilers too. The bare looks of this product are enough to outshine the rivals but let’s be more realistic. It is one of the most suitable z390 motherboards for all the right reasons. It features Thunderbolt and USB 3.1 Type-C connectors.
HDMI output and plenty of USB ports make this board amazing to play around with and use. RGB Fan Commander helps to harmonize and synchronize the lights.At first, it had us under the impression that it costs way too much for a mere motherboard. Being the best GIGABYTE Z390 motherboard, it blew us away with the gaming performance it delivers. If you want a steady and robust power phase, you should never miss out on this feature-packed motherboard. It even allows you to tweak the settings and customize it a bit. But you can’t expect anything to be pitch-perfect. This motherboard has a few things which we don’t fan of or which no one adores. The OC you get is undoubtedly friendly to have, but it doesn’t get easily set with HyperX Predator RGB DDR4-2933. We’d love to have a bit more storage that we couldn’t get from this board for some unknown reason. Despite these points, this motherboard is a divine offering by Gigabyte.
ASUS ROG Maximus XI Code
Best Runner Up Z390 Motherboard
SPECIFICATIONS
Socket: LGA 1151 | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 7 Phases | PCIe x16: 3 | USB Ports: 10 | Warranty: 3 Years
REASONS TO BUY
✓ BIOS FlashBack button
✓ Thermoplastic top-plate
✓ A dedicated onboard clock generator
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ Limited HDA bandwidth
✗ No 3-Way SLI technology
ASUS ROG Maximus XI Code is built on the Z390 chipset in vogue for 8th and 9th generation processors. RGB and ARGB fan headers make it impressive and visually attractive. A product with easy installation and great BIOS for everyone ranging from beginners and newbies to experts and upgraders is most competent to be the perfect z390 motherboard. This motherboard almost fills all the hollows and fits right for every user. Space may be a bit less for larger components, but users can tackle that with witty installation. The company indeed had the upper hand on rivals with this mid-profile yet classy product.
In this era of rel=“noopener noreferrer”>technology, it is an achievement to manufacture a product that stands out from the rest of the crowd. With the overclocking capabilities and plethora of accessories it comes with, this motherboard makes standing out feel like a breeze. Considering everything worth considering, we’d instead call this board the best runner up Z390 Motherboard. Even though this product is not widely available because of its lesser fame, it still manages to be the best at most criteria. Plus, with this board on hand, you don’t have to deal with obnoxious warranty limitations. The quality is pretty reliable.
Conclusion
One of the most exciting tasks for a pc builder is an upgrade in his system. With all the breathtaking features available in the market now, it is not hard to find excellent components. But among those components, it might be a bit tiring to choose the best z390 motherboard. Choosing expensive and fragile parts like a motherboard can give a builder a tough time, especially for a first-time builder. Therefore, we have made a little effort to help you get the best one among the famous z390 motherboards. With a plethora of features, these boards must have left you awe-struck for sure.
BEST GIGABYTE Z390 Motherboard has an excellent list of up-to-the-minute features. This motherboard has a great warranty, so you know your purchase is reliable enough. The MSI MEG Z390 GODLIKE is the best choice for gamers as it complements other high-end components and gives you a thrilling bottle-neck-free experience. Others mentioned above have their ranks in the top-recommended products.
Choose the perfect z390 motherboard vigilantly according to your areas of interest and usage type. Just be witty enough to own a motherboard with basic features, a few modern ones, and an excellent VRM design. Your board must not be vulnerable to damage due to upped temperatures. The choice for the best motherboard will significantly vary from average users to gamers who tend to go overboard with overclocking. Keep the budget and tips mentioned afore in mind. This way, you can nail your newly built pc with impressive looks and spectacular performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is z390 a good motherboard?
According to our experts' reviews, testing, and even nitpicking, we pose that a z390 motherboard must be the first choice of a pc builder, precisely a gamer. These motherboards raise the bar for many others supporting 8th and 9th generation processors with additional features and connectivity beyond one’s imagination. MSI MEG Z390 GODLIKE is a perfect example of a z390 motherboard nailing the feature set and performance. Whether you are a gamer, beginner, or an upgrader, you should wait for no further to get a z390 board for your build!
What are the best z390 motherboards?
Z390 boards are the trend for those who want to keep an eye on both features and budget. With built-in USB 3.1 gen 2 (10gbps) and Wi-Fi in most z390 motherboards, these products are the best decision you will ever make in your pc building journey. ASUS ROG Maximus XI Hero (Wi-Fi) is one of the best motherboards with little to no cons and a plethora of pros. It impressed everyone with its sleek looks and robust design. Gigabyte Z390 AORUS Xtreme, among other boards, is a class apart too.
Does z390 support 10th Gen?
Z390 supports a variety of features and is an excellent addition to motherboards. It is broadly adapted these days since it supports 8th and 9th generation processors; however, it does not support the 10th generation. Z490 does support 10th gen, but z390 is built exclusively for the lower ones. They come with top-tier features and make gaming and multitasking a breeze. Currently, GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS ULTRA is an excellent z390 motherboard you can find. It has all the current specifications built right in it and comes in handy, while others in this range go all wrecked due to thermal performance.
Should I buy z370 or z390?
No doubt, the z370 boards have been working wonders for quite some time now, but with the arrival of z390, the brands made sure that you will not find performers like these anywhere else. z390 is the most efficient and modern solution for people waiting for a high-end yet pocket-friendly motherboard for their custom gaming setups. An excellent z390 board like the ASUS ROG Maximus XI Code will give you far more than what you expect from it, so there’s no point in avoiding these motherboards. Even if you already have a z370, it’s high time you should be upgrading to z390 ones.
