15 Best Z390 Motherboards: ATX, Micro ATX, and Mini ITX

When you’re looking for the best Z390 motherboards for your build, there are a lot of options out there. You will find budget motels, you will find high-end models, and quite a few options in between in terms of price.

So, to make things a bit easier to choose, these are the Z390 motherboards for overclocking, gaming, content creation and a multitude of use cases. We’ll start things off with a few budget motherboards, below $200, and we’ll gradually move up to the top Z390motherboard for 9900k.

Our Top Z390 Motherboard Picks:

Budget ATX: The MSI MPG Z390 Gaming Edge AC crams an impressive feature set in a board that comes at a very reasonable price.

Midrange ATX: ASUS’s ROG Maximus XI Hero is our pick for the midrange ATX board, with features such as AC Wi-Fi, dual M.2 slots and USB 3.1 Gen 2.

High-End ATX: MSI has done a great job with the MEG Z390 Godlike, and with memory support up to 4600 MHz and SLI/CrossFireX.

Micro ATX: The MSI MPG Z390M Gaming Edge doesn’t cut many corners to obtain its smaller form factor when compared to its bigger brother. This makes it a great choice for a micro ATX build.

Mini ITX: Gigabyte’s Z390 I AORUS PRO Wi-Fi comes with an impressive feature set, and even though pricey, is well worth the title of the best mini ITX board.

Budget ATX Z390Motherboards Under $200:

1. MSI MPG Z390 Gaming Edge AC

MSI has been on a roll with their motherboards lately, and the MSI MPG Z390 Gaming Edge AC is one of their best options, especially for users who want a good ATX motherboard on a budget. It manages to have an excellent feature set in a board that costs below $200, so let’s take a look at everything you get with it.

First things first, this comes with an LGA1151 socket, so you can use Intel’s 8^th and 9^th gen CPUs. What you won’t find with many of the competitors’ products is support for dual-channel DDR4 memory that goes up to 4400Mhz.

This is actually pretty impressive. Fast RAM isn’t as necessary as it is with AMD builds, but it’s nice to know you can have it. Its CPU overclocking ensures that you have clock speeds that are high enough.

Aside from this, connectivity is great, too. There are two TURBO M.2 slots, as well as support for Intel Optane memory, and a few USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports. Add to this support for both SLI and CrossFireX, as well as MSI’s Mystic Light RGB, and you’ve got yourself a great budget board.

2. ASUS Prime Z390-A

When it comes to a good Z390motherboard on a budget, the ASUS Prime Z390-A is a great option. It comes with an attractive white-on-black design that feels right at home in just about any build and doesn’t cut any corners.

It supports Intel’s 8^th and 9^th generation processors and comes with an LGA1151 socket. In addition to that, you’ll find an M.2 slot, as well as USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports, so you’re pretty much covered in terms of connectivity. What’s interesting is the addition of ASUS’s 5-Way Optimization, which can automatically overclock your CPU.

The PCIe slots are Safe Slot Core, which is a patent-pending technology that ensures no damage to the motherboard is done, even if you use heavy GPUs that stress it quite a bit. It’s also nice that ASUS has added DTS Headphone:X, as well as an 8-channel audio module with Realtek’s ALC887 HD audio codec.

In terms of the visual looks, the Prime Z390-A is excellent. On the black PCB you’ll find white accent elements, something you won’t find with many other boards, as well as RGB lights with ASUS’s AURA Sync support. It’s overall a great board, and an excellent pick if you’re on a budget.

3. GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Ultra

Even though some might argue that the price isn’t really budget, the Z390 AORUS Ultra is a great motherboard that you can get at this price. It comes with an excellent feature set and a great VRM section, which is welcome at this price point.

For starters, the LGA1151 socket supports both 8th and 9th generation Intel CPUs. You will also find 4 DIMM slots that work with dual-channel, non-ECC DDR4 memory. While we’re talking about memory, it’s worth mentioning you get Intel Optane memory support, which is nice. There are three M.2 slots with thermal guards, so there’s plenty of room for storage.

What’s interesting is that this board comes with a 12+1 phase digital VRM solution, making for an admirable overclocking motherboard. Get something like Intel’s 9700K and you’ll get a great combination.

The onboard AC Wi-Fi 2×2 wave 2, as well as the inclusion of Bluetooth 5, make this a great option for users who don’t want to bother with wires. The audio section is pretty good, too, with ALC1220 taking care of that. Add to this RGB Fusion, and you’ve got an excellent board for the money.

See Related Article: Motherboards for i5-9600k Processor

4. MSI Z390-A PRO

If you don’t really need RGB or aboard that’s extremely flashy, MSI’s Z390-A PRO is a great way to save a few bucks without sacrificing on any of the most necessary features. Some might consider it pretty barebone, but it actually has a lot of features.

To begin with, the LGA1151 socket means you can use both an 8^th gen and a 9^th gen Intel CPU. MSI also includes support for dual-channel DDR4 memory, and at up to 4400Mhz with overclocking, which is impressive at this price point.

There are M.2 slots with PCIe Gen3 x4 speeds, which will give you pretty good performance out of your NVMe SSD. With an 8+4 pin CPU power connector, overclocking won’t be an issue, and we’re glad to see CrossFireX support at this price point. A truly great budget pick.

Midrange ATX Z390Motherboards under $300

ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E

1. ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E

ASUS has quite the reputation when it comes to motherboards, and their ROG Strix Z390-E is an excellent example of why. It’s a board that comes with quite a lot of functionality and excellent performance, at a pretty reasonable midrange price.

You get plenty in terms of connectivity, from two M.2 slots to USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports, which is pretty great. ASUS has also included their Optimum II technology, so you can overclock your RAM if necessary. Speaking of RAM, there are four DIMM slots that support DDR4 memory. We also see ASUS’s 5-Way Optimization for automatic overclocking, as well as Fan Xpert 4, which makes sure cooling is kept at bay.

With the motherboard, you get 802.11 AC Wi-Fi, which works admirably, but we’d still recommend Ethernet for gaming. The pre-mounted I/O shield makes installation a breeze, and the PCIe slots are Safe Slots, which prevents motherboard damage due to heavier GPUs. Add to this RGB lights with AURA Sync support, and the Strix Z390-E is a very attractive mid-range option.

2. ASUS ROG Maximus XI Hero (Wi-Fi)

The Maximus XI Hero is another great Z390 motherboard by ASUS that blurs the lines between a midrange and a high-end Z390 motherboard. It is somewhat pricey, but the feature set is excellent and it’s obvious ASUS didn’t cut any corners here.

To begin with, the Maximus XIHero comes with a dedicated onboard clock generator. This will give you the possibility to make the most out of your CPU when overclocking, and it actually makes overclocking simple for people who aren’t too well versed with it. FanXpert 4 will take care of the cooling here, and if you want to, you can give5-Way Optimization the opportunity to basically overclock things for you.

Aside from this, you will appreciate the two M.2 slots, as well as USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports and the 802.11 AC module. Connectivity shouldn’t be an issue here, as you can see. The motherboard also comes with not just an HDMI port, but a DisplayPort one, too. While we’re talking connectivity, the motherboard supports 2-way SLI or 3-way CrossFireX, so you can use multiple graphics cards if you want to.

3. GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Master

GIGABYTE does have a lot of motherboards, which might make things confusing. But if you’re looking for a midrange board below $300, the Z390 AORUS Master is the one to go for. It has a pretty great feature set, as well as a good VRM section for overclocking.

To begin with, there are four DIMM slots that support dual-channel, non-ECC unbuffered memory. There’s also support for Intel Optane memory, which is nice. Speaking of Intel, you will also find their CNVi 802.11 AC 2×2 wave 2 Wi-Fi module, so connectivity shouldn’t be an issue even if you don’t have a cable going from your router or modem to your system.

Storage won’t be an issue, thanks to the three M.2 slots which all have thermal guards to keep your SSDs cool. Speaking of cool, you get an advanced thermal design with a direct touch heat pipe and a fins-array heatsink, which should help with the cooling, too.

By far the most impressive part of the Z390 AORUS Master, and something we haven’t seen in any other board at this price, is the audio section. The ESS Sabre DAC and Realtek ALC1220 codec, combined with Nichicon Fine Gold capacitors make this a true pleasure for audio lovers.

4. MSI MEG Z390 ACE

MSI’s MEG series has always been the most high-end premium lineup of MSI motherboards, and it doesn’t disappoint this time either.

MSI’s MEG Z390 ACE hovers right around the $300 mark, which is perfect for a midrange Z390 motherboard. It comes with a truly admirable feature set, with things that you wouldn’t expect at this price point.

To begin with, you have four DIMM slots with support for up to 4600Mhz RAM. This is extremely fast, and not something any of the competitors offers. To add to this, you have three M.2slots, USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C connectors, as well as an excellent networking section comprised of a Killer E2500 LAN chip and Intel’s 802.11 AC Wi-Fi.

The motherboard is made for over clocking, and it does have an admirable VRM section that supports this fact. For hardcore gamers, you get both SLI and CrossFireX support, which is a nice addition for anyone looking to run a multi-GPU setup. The ESS audio DAC and Nahimic 3 make for a great sound section, too, and you get a pre-installed I/O shield as well.

Last but not least, there are also MSI’s Mystic Light Infinity RGB lights, which add a colorful splash to another wise all-black motherboard. It’s a very appealing design, though, and it should fit in just about any color scheme you have in mind.

High-End ATX Z390Motherboards

1. MSI MEG Z390 GODLIKE

MSI’s MEG Z390 GODLIKE is very likely one of the most expensive motherboards you’ll come across when looking to build a system based on Intel’s platform. However, with a couple of features that set it apart from everything else, it’s well worth the asking price. So, what do you get out of MSI’s flagship motherboard?

For starters, memory support is excellent. There are four DIMM slots for DDR4 memory, and you can push it up to4600Mhz if necessary, which is impressively fast. In terms of ports, you have three M.2 slots with a heat management shield, as well as two front USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C connectors, so you should be good to go.

The networking section is pretty well taken care of. You not only get two Killer E2500 LAN modules but also a Killer Wireless-AC 1550 Wi-Fi module, which is pretty great. There’s support for both SLI and CrossFireX, so multi GPU setups shouldn’t be an issue here.

The all-black motherboard gets a splash of color thanks to MSI’s Mystic Light Infinity RGB lights, and there are additional headers for even more lights.

2. ASUS ROG Maximus XI Extreme

When you’re looking at high-end motherboards, the ASUS ROG Maximus XI Extreme is a pretty great option for a variety of users. If you’re going to be building a high-end system based around an Intel 8^th or 9^th gen processor, you should definitely give it a shot.

This is a board that has all the connectivity you might need. You will not only get four M.2 slots, but also USB 3.1 Gen 2, as well as 802.11 AC Wi-Fi and Gigabit LAN. You can also get M.2 RAID, as well as make use of ROG DIMM.2 expansion card.

It’s also nice that you have dedicated water cooling zones and headers that let you monitor your liquid loop’s flow and temperature. The 5-Way Optimization is made to work with this, so you can overclock your system if necessary, without a lot of fuss.

Even though it is admittedly pricey, it’s still a high-end motherboard that’s full of great features. Oh, and we shouldn’t forget the AURA Sync RGB lights, which do add a bit of flash to an otherwise all-black motherboard.

3. GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme

GIGABYTE is another household name in the motherboard industry, and their Z390 AORUS Xtreme is their vision of a high-end Z390 motherboard. It’s excellent and comes with an excellent feature set and a great ability for overclocking.

You have four slots for DDR4 memory, which is just about standard for these motherboards. There’s also support for Intel Optane memory, something not a lot of boards offer. In terms of connectivity, you do get three M.2 slots with their own thermal guards, and that should have your storage covered. There’s also AQUANTIA 10GBE BASE-T LAN, as well as Intel Gigabit LAN, so networking won’t be an issue either. Oh, and yeah, you have Intel 802.11 AC Wi-Fi if you’d rather avoid a cable.

The audio section is particularly great, with an ESS SABRE 9018K2M DAC and WIMA audio capacitors, which should completely negate the need for a separate audio card. It’s interesting that you also get Thunderbolt 3, something that’s usually reserved for laptops.

Add to this an RGB fan commander and RGB Fusion 2.0 support for a bit of light in your case, and you’ve got an excellent high-end motherboard for your build.

Micro ATX Z390Motherboards

1. MSI MPG Z390M Gaming Edge AC

MSI’s lineup of motherboards is pretty extensive, so it makes a lot of sense that they have one of the top microATX Z390 motherboards on the market with the MPG Z390M Gaming Edge AC. It’s a compact motherboard that makes sure not to sacrifice on any of the important features.

It comes with four DIMM slots that support memory up to 4500Mhz, which is quite impressive. You also get two turbo M.2 slots, as well as support for Intel Optane memory, something that’s picking up a lot of steam lately. It does have 802.11 AC Wi-Fi, too, which is pretty nice. The small form factor doesn’t limit you as far as GPUs go, because you have the choice between SLI and CrossFireX if you want to use multiple GPUs in your setup.

As far as the aesthetics of the motherboard go, this is an all-black design, but you do get MSI’s Mystic Light RGB lights. It’s a well-thought-out software for customization, paired with RGB on the board and additional headers as well. The MPG Z390M Gaming Edge AC is an excellent micro ATX choice.

2. GIGABYTE Z390 M Gaming

Even though their higher-end motherboards all gain the AORUS moniker, the Z390 M Gaming motherboard by GIGABYTE is still a very respectable choice for a lot of users. It covers a lot of features that most of the competition doesn’t have, and it does so with a compact micro ATX form factor and a reasonable price.

First things first, you get four DIMM slots that all support unbuffered, non-ECC DDR4 memory. As with any otherLGA1151 socket motherboard, you do have support for Intel 8^th and 9^th generation processors. If you want to overclock them, that’s also a possibility, thanks to the excellent VRM section the motherboard has.

There are two M.2 slots that support both PCIe Gen 3 and SATA drives, as well as dual PCIe slots for SLI and CrossFireX. You do also get USB 3.1 Gen 2 in both Type-A and Type-C fashion, which is very welcome. Those who care about aesthetics may shrug at the fact that you don’t’ get RGB, but this is an excellent board that’s meant to perform great on a budget, so we would still recommend it to anyone who doesn’t need it.

Mini ITX Z390motherboards

1. GIGABYTE Z390 I AORUS PRO Wi-Fi

A part of their AORUS lineup theZ390 I AORUS PRO Wi-Fi is GIGABYTE’s entry in the micro ATX world of 8^thand 9^th generation Intel motherboards, and it’s overall a great choice for many. It is pricey, but it does have a great feature set to make up for that.

To begin with, you have a 6 phase digital VRM solution which means you can overclock your CPU without worrying about stability. The advanced thermal design will make sure the thermals are under control as well, which is great as well. You do get support for IntelOptane memory, as well as Intel’s excellent CNVi 802.11 AC 2×2 wave 2 Wi-Fi module so you don’t have to worry about connectivity if you can’t go with a cable.

Last but not least, the audio section is also admirable, which is not something you get from a lot of motherboards today. Add to this the RGB lights with support for RGB Fusion 2.0, and you’ve got yourself an excellent enthusiast board in a small form factor.

2. MSI MPG Z390I Gaming Edge AC

The industry of mini ITX motherboards is pretty small, which makes it tricky to find a good board. But if you’re in the market, MSI’s MPG Z390I Gaming Edge AC is a great pick. It’s full of great features, and it’s priced very reasonably for everything you get.

First things first, you do only get two DIMM slots, but you can populate them with dual-channel memory at up to 4600Mhz, which is impressive, to say the least. There are also two M.2 slots, as well as support for Intel Optane memory.

The audio section is also great, and you get higher quality audio than most of the competition. There is no RGB, but you do get Wi-Fi with two antennas at the back so you don’t have to worry about cables. If you’re looking for a great motherboard in a compact form factor, look no further, the Z390I Gaming Edge AC by MSI should be your top pick.

Read Another Related Article: Why and How to Update (Flash) Your Ryzen Motherboard BIOS Step by Step

What is important when choosing a motherboard?

The motherboard is most certainly the most important part of your PC. The CPU, GPU, memory, even storage are all dependant on the motherboard to provide them with power and connection to the rest of the computer.

At first glance choosing a motherboard can seem daunting when faced with that many choices.

There are so many options available that it seems difficult to narrow your choices down. Each vendor will have its own set of extras which can be beneficial, but in the end, most will not affect performance.

Here is a list of what components should be considered:

Memory compatibility

Memory compatibility is very important. If you purchase the wrong type of memory, it could damage the gaming motherboard and other operating system components when installed. Check with your memory manufacturer to see if they have tested your motherboard before purchasing.

Number of SATA ports

The number of hard drives and optical drive SATA ports will determine how much storage space can be achieved for this system build.

Any new motherboard has at least two SATA-III slots, but some also come equipped with three or four SATA-III slots for installing additional drives so keep that in mind when choosing a motherboard in general

Form factor

This all depends on the case you choose dedicated for this build and whether or not it will support the motherboard you choose.

There are three different form factors for motherboards: ATX, Mini-ATX, and Micro-ATX. ATX is the most common go-to especially since it has all the features that are desired in a motherboard chipset version: Chipsets are either Intel or AMD based.

The chipset isn’t always determined by what generation of processor is being used because not all processors have an integrated GPU so if you plan on using built-in graphics this should be considered carefully.

What chipset you use will determine how many PCI slots your motherboard will have available to add expansion cards for things like WiFi capabilities, sound cards, graphic cards, TV tuners, etc.. USB ports

Thermal performance

This is very important when overclocking your system. You need a motherboard that has good thermal performance because an overheated motherboard can cause permanent damage to system components. If you plan on overclocking, you must make sure your CPU cooling solution is up for the challenge.

Expansion slots

Another important factor is how many expansion slots are included with the motherboard so you can ensure it fits your needs, otherwise, you might have to buy more hardware later on.

If there are multiple expansion slots available for different types of cards, then you know you can plan ahead for future upgrades or modifications.

Chipset

Once these factors have been taken into consideration, it is important to look at what chipset has been used by the manufacturer of the motherboard.

The chipset will give information on what type of hard drive speeds are possible with that board so you know if there are any limitations. A higher performance chipset means better speed capabilities which might allow you to use a Solid State Drive (SSD) instead of a Hard Disk Drive (HDD).

PCI slots

The number of PCI slots will determine how many expansion cards can be installed in this system build. More PCI slots are always better because you are able to add more features to your motherboard.

Wifi capabilities

This may be an optional feature but WiFi capabilities are good to have when traveling with the system or when in a household with many users who need internet access.

Frequently asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about the best motherboards.

What is the best Z390 motherboard?

MSI MEG Z390 GODLIKE is the best gaming motherboard produced by a leading digital publisher. It has a good performance, overclockable power delivery, Audio Boost 4 with Nahimic audio enhancer, and a water cooling ecosystem.

It also has a has water cooling ecosystem, two premium audio codecs, extreme overclocking capable power delivery.

The board contains 3xM.2 slots so there’s no need for an M.2 expander here, there are also 6 x SATA ports available along with 2xU.2 USB ports so you can easily combine NVME drives if you want something uber-fast for your OS & games setup since normal SATA SSDs will be limited by the SATA protocol.

Is Z390 motherboard good for gaming?

If you are looking for a gaming pc, you might wonder if Z390 is the best gaming motherboard. The answer is Yes! (But only if you buy the right one).

The overall standard of the Z390 chipset is better than the previous generation Z370 chipset. It has lots of improvements like faster memory speed support, USB 3.1 support, and much more features like amazing ram slots. It will improve your system performance in all aspects (processor, graphics card, etc).

It also comes with built-in wifi but not as fast as a separate wifi adapter because wireless chipsets are usually slow compared to wired adapters.