The Best Z690 Motherboard of 2023: Expert Picks

For your brand-new Alder Lake CPU, are you seeking the best Z690 motherboard?

In terms of CPU design, Intel's 12th Generation processors, code-named Alder Lake, represent a significant advancement. Performance and efficiency cores are both present in the fully redesigned architecture of these modern CPUs.

Additionally, Intel has added support for PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 memory in the new 12th Gen CPUs. But you need to combine your brand-new Alder Lake processor with a top-tier motherboard to get the most out of it.

1.  ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero

Product’s Specifications

• Brand: ASUS

• CPU Socket: LGA 1700

• Compatible Devices: Personal Computer

• RAM Memory Technology: DDR5

• Compatible Processors: 12th Generation Intel Core

• Chipset Type: Intel Z690

Product’s Highlights

The ROG Maximus series from ASUS must be mentioned in any list of enthusiast-grade motherboard tiers. The high-end motherboard category from ASUS that falls under the ROG brand no longer uses confusing Roman numerals for the Z690 models. What a brilliant idea, they decided to use the chipset's name as the product's name. Although the ROG Maximus Z690 family of boards is among the greatest you will ever find on this chipset, we are most interested in the Hero model.

The Maximus Z690 Hero is more than capable of handling any Alder Lake CPU you can throw at it, even at overclocked settings, with its massive 20+1 VRM design and 90A power stages. Since the Core i9, 12900K and 12900KF have a ton of overclocking potential and can be reached utilizing this outstanding z690 motherboard. We actually advise anyone considering buying one to get the Maximus Z690 Hero. Temperatures should be absolutely safe because the VRM is additionally adequately cooled by sizable heatsinks. The board also supports DDR5 memory at rates of up to 6400MHz. However it remains to be seen whether it is wise to purchase DDR5.

Pros

• Best-in-Class Z690 Motherboard.

• Excellent options for connectivity.

• 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports in total.

• USB-C port with 20Gbps.

• Lovely aesthetics

• Outstanding Power Delivery

Cons

• High-Priced Z690 Motherboard

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2. Gigabyte Z690 AORUS Master

Product’s Specifications

• Brand: Gigabyte

• CPU Socket: LGA 1700

• Compatible Devices: Personal Computer

• RAM Memory Technology: DDR5

• Compatible Processors: 12th Gen Intel Core

• Memory Speed: 2133 MHz

Product’s Highlights

The Gigabyte Z690 AORUS Master is our choice for the finest high-end Z690 motherboard because the company's recent high-end AORUS motherboards have been excellent for both platforms. It features an excellent feature set that is equivalent to some of the most costly Z690 motherboards on the market, as well as an excellent power delivery system that is practically a requirement for the new Alder Lake CPUs. Although the AORUS Master is by no means inexpensive in and of itself, its price is reasonable given what it offers.

I'll start with the massively overbuilt VRM, which is this board's standout feature. It features a mind-boggling 22 phases, 19 of which provide 105A of power to the CPU. Even with a fully overclocked 12900K running continuously, this incredible VRM arrangement will virtually never be used to its maximum capacity. Any Alder Lake CPU, and perhaps even the future Intel 13th Gen flagship, is unlikely to be able to fully utilize the VRM of this Z690 motherboard, making this VRM design genuinely ahead of its time. The board should have no trouble dispersing the heat produced by those VRMs because the VRM heatsinks are also pretty large.

Pros

• VRM Design on the Z690 Motherboard Is Unparalleled

• LAN 10GbE

• Several options for storage

• USB-C port with 20Gbps

• Beautiful Design

• Superior Performance

Cons

• Quite Pricey

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3. MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi

Product’s Specifications

• Brand: MSI

• CPU Socket: LGA 1700

• Compatible Devices: Personal Computer

• RAM Memory Technology: DDR5

• Compatible Processors: Intel Celeron

• Memory Speed: 5600 MHz

Product’s Highlights

Over the past few years, MSI has produced some fantastic boards, particularly for AMD chipsets, but they haven't completely disregarded Intel either. The MPG series from MSI, which stands for MSI Performance Gaming, features some of the most elaborate and expensive motherboards available for either an AMD or an Intel chipset. The MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi is a wonderful high-end motherboard on the Z690 architecture and maybe the finest overclocking Z690 motherboard on our list, continuing this trend for the new Alder Lake platform. In terms of VRM design and features, it unquestionably competes with our two top options.

Over the past few years, MSI has produced some fantastic boards, particularly for AMD chipsets, but they haven't completely disregarded Intel either. The MPG series from MSI, which stands for MSI Performance Gaming, features some of the most elaborate and expensive motherboards available for either an AMD or an Intel chipset. The MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi is a wonderful high-end motherboard on the Z690 architecture and may be the finest overclocking Z690 motherboard on our list, continuing this trend for the new Alder Lake platform. In terms of VRM design and features, it unquestionably competes with our two top options.

Pros

• Excellent VRM For Z690 Overclocking

• 5 M.2 Slots For Storage

• Beautiful aesthetics

• Beautiful Design

• Superior Performance

Cons

• Affordability Issues for Regular Gamers

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4. ASUS ROG Strix Z690-A

Product’s Specifications

• Brand: ASUS

• CPU Socket: LGA 1700

• Compatible Devices: Personal Computer

• RAM Memory Technology: DDR4

• Compatible Processors: 12th Generation Intel Core

• Chipset Type: Intel Z690

Product’s Highlights

Since not everyone can or should purchase a motherboard from the Maximus series, ASUS has also made a number of budget-friendly and entry-level Z690 motherboards available. One of the better mid-range boards with many fantastic features and a respectable VRM architecture is the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-A. Make sure to get a board that supports the precise memory type you intend to use because the standard ROG series offers both DDR5 and DDR4 memory configuration options.

The ASUS ROG Strix Z690-A's power delivery system is undoubtedly not on the same level as the ones previously discussed, but it does not imply in any way that it is inferior. For the Z690-A, ASUS has included a 16+1 phase VRM, which by today's standards is quite respectable. This VRM should be able to comfortably overclock an i7 12700K while also being able to overclock an i9 12900K to some extent. Because ASUS provided relatively large VRM heatsinks with diagonal fins to maximize heat dissipation, the VRM cooling is also acceptable.

Pros

• Power delivery system that is adequate

• The most attractive Z690 motherboard

• A Budget-Friendly Z690 Motherboard Alternative

Cons

• The Core i9 cannot be overclocked

• Slightly Less Compatible DDR5 Memory

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1. Does the Z690 work with the i9 12900K?

Yes, all the new Intel 12th Generation CPUs built on the Alder Lake architecture, including the top-of-the-line Core i9 12900K, are compatible with Z690 motherboards. With 8 Performance Cores, 8 Efficiency Cores, and a total of 24 threads, the i9 12900K is a high-end CPU that requires a rather high-end power supply system to operate at its best. The majority of Z690 motherboards, fortunately, do feature overbuilt robust VRM architectures. Therefore they ought to be able to handle 12900K rather readily. As of the time of writing, the i9 12900KF, i7 12700K, and 12700KF, and the i5 12600K and 12600KF are more CPUs that support the Z690 chipset.

2. The Z690 socket is what?

The latest Alder Lake-based Intel Core 12th Gen processors are supported by the Z690 motherboards' LGA 1700 socket. When compared to earlier Z590 motherboards that supported the LGA 1200 socket compatible with 11th generation Rocket Lake processors, the socket is physically different. Since they have physically distinct sockets, you cannot put an 11th generation CPU on a 12th generation motherboard or vice versa. Doing so under duress may have unintended repercussions.

3. Supports PCIe 5.0 the Z690?

Yes, the Z690 motherboards are capable of supporting PCIe Gen 5. However, since there are currently no consumer PCIe Gen 5 cards available, this new protocol has no practical benefits as of the writing of this article. The only devices that can profit from PCIe Gen 5 technology are graphics cards because all of the PCIe lanes are connected to the first 16x PCIe slot. The Z690 motherboards do not yet include M.2 slots with PCIe Gen 5 capabilities.

As users, we always purchase feature-rich systems, but this is not due to just one component; hardware, CPU, and other features all play significant roles. If you perform an exact DDR5 RAM check, the best Z690 motherboard should be able to produce astounding results. Two of the top producers, Intel and AMD, offer products that are completely reliable and functional, but more significantly, they should have long-term plans for the users' future. You might be curious about whether Intel offers both regular DDR4 support and DDR5 RAM for desktop platforms. Decide for yourself using a solid premise.