We take a look at the very best Z690 motherboards from all main producers, so you have bought a dependable base on your Intel Core i9-12900K, Core i7-12700K, & Core i5-12600K processor
Up to date: Apr 20, 2023 4:15 pm
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The very best, high-end Z690 motherboard
ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero WiFi
ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero WiFi
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The very best Z690 motherboard for the fanatics
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Grasp
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Grasp
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A stable mid-range Z690 motherboard
ASUS TUF Gaming Z690-Plus WiFi
ASUS TUF Gaming Z690-Plus WiFi
While this text incorporates {hardware} launched in 2022, we guarantee you that this {hardware} remains to be related. As quickly as something modifications we’ll replace the article.
Z690 motherboards had been launched on the 4th of November 2021 alongside Intel 12th-gen CPUs and DDR5 RAM. And you could find out which we predict is the very best z690 motherboard beneath. We’ve outlined a couple of of the very best Z690 motherboards to fit your new Twelfth-generation CPU.
The subsequent era is lastly right here, with Intels Alder Lake CPUs, the Z690 chipset, and DDR5 RAM all launching concurrently, giving the fanatic lots to consider. For the primary time in years, we’re getting Intel processors that may probably compete with AMD but it surely doesn’t cease there. The Z690 chipset brings about help for PCIe gen 5.0 on your GPU and storage wants, and extra importantly, on the high-end motherboards, we now have help for DDR5 memory.
That is really an thrilling time within the {hardware} world, so to have fun, we’re going to be discovering the very best Z690 motherboard, whether or not it’s for overclocking, or a brand new price range Twelfth-gen system, making certain you’re effectively ready for the shiny-new tech alongside the way in which too. We’re actually enthusiastic about what the Twelfth-generation CPUs carry to the desk, and naturally, we’d like a succesful motherboard to harness all the talents of those unbelievable CPUs.
The Z690 is the brand new flagship board for Twelfth gen processors, with wonderful options and unparalleled efficiency, let’s take a more in-depth look.
Greatest Z690 motherboard: motherboards at a look
ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero WiFi
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Grasp
ASUS TUF Gaming Z690-Plus WiFi
ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I Gaming WiFi
Greatest Z690 motherboard: In-depth overview
Right here we’ll take a more in-depth take a look at a number of the Greatest Z690 motherboards.
Editors Decide – Greatest Z690 motherboard 2023
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ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero WiFi
Execs
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Twin Thunderbolt 4 USB-C -
PCIe Slot Q-Launch -
20+1 energy levels (90A)
Cons
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No 10Gb Ethernet -
Much less energy levels than extra premium fashions
The ASUS ROG Maximus Hero is among the finest Z690 motherboards available on the market. Whereas it could lack the additional energy levels and 10Gb we see in ASUS prime SKUs, that is nonetheless an unimaginable choice.
The design of the brand new Z690 Hero is barely totally different from the earlier era, now that includes some beautiful personalization with the Polymer Lighting I/O cowl and accompanying RGB lighting. On to the vital stuff, this Z690 comes with 20+1 energy levels, Clever Management, which is ASUS’ AI overclocking, networking, and two-way noise cancellation instruments. Taking good care of cooling, we now have a big VRM heatsink and built-in aluminum I/O cowl, with a high-conductivity thermal pad. There are additionally three M.2 heatsinks, two M.2 backplates, plus a ROG water cooling zone.
A really useful Clear CMOS button means you received’t must fiddle round attempting to extract the CMOS battery when it’s time to clear the system. It’s all dealt with by one handy button.
Apart from the above, we clearly have quick DDR5 RAM and PCIe 5.0 help, together with Twin Thunderbolt 4 USB-C and a ROG Hyper M.2 card with Gen 5 M.2 help, providing you with some critical connectivity.
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Grasp
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GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Grasp
Execs
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20+1+2 Direct Digital VRM Design -
AQUANTIA 10 GbE BASE-T LAN -
Intel Thunderbolt 4
Gigabyte’s line of Aorus Grasp motherboards are to be marveled at, they’re wonderful. Positive most of us won’t ever even contemplate shopping for one in all these however the Z690 Aorus Grasp is a elegant choice for the fanatic.
The design of this new chipset appears even nicer than the earlier gen with an incredible-looking I/O cowl and matching M.2 sink. This board incorporates a commanding 20+1+2 Direct Digital VRM Design, tantalum polymer capacitors, and cutting-edge thermal design. The thermal reactive ‘armor’ makes use of NanoCarbon fins-array III and we additionally see a direct contact warmth pipe II and NanoCarbon baseplate too.
Not solely that, the Aorus Grasp comes with a BIOS flashback utility, so you possibly can simply and confidently rectify any BIOS-related points.
With the Z690 chipset comes DDR5 help and what’s most spectacular in regards to the Grasp board is the actual fact you possibly can drive your RAM equipment as much as 6600MHz. This clearly is dependent upon your reminiscence modules however that’s some going.
ASUS TUF Gaming Z690-Plus WiFi
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ASUS TUF Gaming Z690-Plus WiFi
Execs
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14+2 energy levels -
Thunderbolt 4 -
4xM.2/NVMe SSD
The ASUS TUF Gaming motherboard is a fan favourite, providing unimaginable worth to efficiency and stable worth for these on tighter budgets.
The TUF Gaming Z690 options an enhanced energy resolution, with 14+2 DrMOS energy levels and Digi+ VRM for max sturdiness and efficiency. As anticipated the cooling resolution is greater than ample, with a VRM heatsink, PCH fanless heatsink, M.2 heatsink, hybrid fan headers and Fan Xpert 4 utility. The TUF additionally options Realtek audio.
Sadly, it is a DDR4 reminiscence mannequin, so no benefits of the most recent blistering DDR5 reminiscence speeds right here, nevertheless, it may well go as much as 5333MHz, which isn’t too unhealthy.
ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I Gaming WiFi
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ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I Gaming WiFi
Execs
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14+2 energy levels -
Thunderbolt 4 -
4xM.2/NVMe SSD
The ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I is definitely probably the greatest Mini-ITX motherboards for this chipset, it’s feature-packed, designed to perfection, and extremely dependable.
This board clearly has DDR5 RAM and PCIe help but additionally comes with two Thunderbolt 4 USB Kind-C ports. We see 10+1 energy levels with a ProCool II energy connector and sturdy capacitors to help multi-core CPUs. The thermal design has been optimized, with an Built-in I/O cowl and VRM heatsinks that function high-conductivity thermal pads.
This board helps HDMI 2.1 and industry-leading gaming audio, giving your subsequent small kind issue system the whole lot it wants.
ASUS Prime Z690-P
Our price range decide is about as little as we might suggest for this chipset (DDR5 suitable) and sure, it’s one other ASUS board. The ASUS Prime Z690-p is an up to date model of a really inexpensive and dependable choice.
With PCIe 5.0, DDR5, and Thunderbolt 4 help, we now have the makings of a high quality board right here and it doesn’t cease there. This options 14+1 Energy Levels, Wi-Fi6, and a pair of.5Gb Ethernet, giving fanatics the whole lot they want on a price range.
Execs
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14+2 energy levels -
Thunderbolt 4 -
4xM.2/NVMe SSD
Greatest Z690 motherboard for Twelfth gen intel 12700K & 12600K
The Twelfth gen 12700K and 12600K are mid to mid-high-tier gaming CPUs and don’t require a complete lot in the way in which of energy supply to get the job accomplished. After all, you possibly can select to pump extra money into the motherboard to extend your CPU overclocking potential and develop the options out there to you. However past that, there’s not a lot want for one thing extraordinarily high-end.
For that, we suggest the Asus TUF Gaming Z690-plus Wifi
Asus TUF Gaming Z690-plus Wifi
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ASUS TUF Gaming Z690-Plus WiFi
Execs
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14+2 energy levels -
Thunderbolt 4 -
4xM.2/NVMe SSD
This motherboard has the whole lot you would want to help a mid-range or price range CPU. The ability supply system is greater than sufficient and the options are expansive. This motherboard is barely greater than the mid-range motherboards and doesn’t break the financial institution. See above for a full description.
Greatest Z690 motherboard for DDR5
Many of the Z690 chipset motherboards on the market within the wild have a DDR5 variant, Intel wished to include all people on this transition into DDR5 and made each DDR5 and DDR4 variations to accommodate. DDR5 is pricey, therefore why the DDR4 variations of the motherboards exist. The DDR5 model of the Z690 chipset is taken into account to be the usual, while the DDR4 model is taken into account the variant.
It relies upon completely in your price range, however a number of the Z690 motherboards have totally different reminiscence tolerances, for instance, the GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS MASTER has a supported DDR5 reminiscence velocity of 6400 MHz. Whereas the MSI MPG Z690 Gaming Motherboard, solely has a supported velocity of 5600 MHz.
That doesn’t imply that the motherboards cap out at that velocity, it simply signifies that that’s what the motherboard producer examined them extensively on, and what’s formally supported as 100% steady and ideally suited. The upper the rated motherboard tolerance, the extra seemingly you’ll have the ability to run ridiculous speeds on it.
translation, purpose for the very best reminiscence velocity you possibly can help that matches into your price range.
Greatest Z690 motherboard for gaming
The very best Z690 motherboard for gaming facilities largely across the CPU that you’ve got chosen, because the motherboard can’t actually do a lot by itself with out being paired with a CPU. For the “finest” motherboard, it should have t have PCIe Gen 5, a substantial amount of connectivity, and good M.2 storage. In addition to having a fantastic energy supply system to maintain the CPU equipped below stress.
All of those components level towards all the high-end motherboards available on the market, such because the ASUS Z690 Maximus Hero.
ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 hero
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ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero WiFi
Execs
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Twin Thunderbolt 4 USB-C -
PCIe Slot Q-Launch -
20+1 energy levels (90A)
Cons
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No 10Gb Ethernet -
Much less energy levels than extra premium fashions
This motherboard has all the connectivity you possibly can ever want, and helps the most recent PCIe era, that means storage and GPU information switch can be blisteringly quick. A very good gaming motherboard has to help the entire system, as it’s on the coronary heart of any PC, you actually ought to,t neglect your motherboard, because it’s solely accountable for carrying the information round your system.
Greatest Z690 motherboard: Issues to contemplate
Listed below are our issues to contemplate when searching for the very best Z690 motherboard
What price range do I would like for a Z690 motherboard?
The Z690 chipset is thought to be the premium line, a flagship choice, with the very best options cash, can purchase. Because of this, you actually solely need to be incorporating this into PC builds with an Intel Core i9-12900K/KF, Core i7-12700K/KF, and at a push the i5-12600K/KF.
All this implies the price of your PC upgrades goes to be vital, so in case you have any budgetary constraints, you might need to wait and see what the extra inexpensive H670 and B660 chipsets carry to the desk.
The hike in value from the Z690 primarily comes from its spectacular onboard options. They clearly help the brand new Alder Lake processors with the LGA 1700 socket however they create within the subsequent era of high-speed computing, because of PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 reminiscence help.
Intel’s flagship chipset has at all times include a premium value and these are finest reserved for those who need the perfect {hardware}.
Z690 Vs Z590
The older Z590 featured PCIe 4.0, whereas the brand new Z690 brings in Gen 5, doubling the bandwidth. Which means that whereas PCIe x16 4.0 can entry as much as 16 GT/s, 5.0 can hit 32 GT/s.
The Z690 chipset brings 12x PCIe 4.0 lanes and 16x 3.0 lanes, bettering compatibility and including quicker switch speeds for gadgets that use gen 4.0 lanes.
One of many main comparisons between the Z690 and Z590 is the subsequent era of RAM. DDR5 help is now right here and with that comes unimaginable speeds that Z590 and DDR4 might solely dream of.
This line of boards goals to extract each ounce of efficiency out of your new CPU, now supporting RAM with speeds as much as 6400MHz and providing you with a robust platform to construct upon.
Kind issue
No matter which chipset you purchase, it is advisable to contemplate its kind issue when constructing out a PC. Motherboards are available in all kinds of sizes, from giant E-ATX fashions, all the way in which all the way down to the smaller Mini-ITX. Which you go for largely coincides along with your selection of case, nevertheless, the overwhelming majority of builders have a tendency to search out themselves within the mid-tower, ATX vary.
We typically suggest ATX, as they aren’t restricted when it comes to options and you’ll actually push your new {hardware} with this way issue, with out overspending on an E-ATX. If you’re tight on price range, you most likely aren’t going to be searching for a Z690 interval, so it’s price trying out the opposite chipsets and on the lookout for an mATX kind issue board.
LGA 1700 socket
With a brand new era chipset, comes a brand new socket. The LGA 1700 socket replaces the LGA 1200, now that includes a further 500 contact factors. This has elevated the dimensions of the socket from a sq. 37.5mm x 37.5mm (LGA 1200) to 45mm x 37.5mm.
Which means that your present cooler is not going to match along with your new setup until you get your self an LGA 1700 mounting bracket from the producer. Fortunately, so long as you possibly can present proof of buy, most producers are making a gift of the supporting bracket at no cost on compatible coolers.
For many who might have misplaced their receipt or can’t be bothered ready don’t fear, the LGA 1700 mounting bracket kits at the moment are largely on sale. They’ll value anyplace between 1 cent and $5.
Most Z690 motherboards will come outfitted with extra general headers than Z590 motherboards. It’s because Z690 boards are designed with the usage of high-end elements in thoughts. Not solely that, however with the prolonged function set of the Z690 chipset, you’ll find extra USB headers and connectors on common – together with SATA ports
Is a Z690 motherboard price it?
In brief, sure. That is the brand new era we’re speaking about right here and if the efficiency lives as much as the expectation, we’re all in for a critical deal with. Whether or not it’s for gaming or multitasking, we’re probably taking a look at the very best of the very best (till AMD’s anticipated parry).
The principle purpose to go for a Z690 is clearly for the Alder Lake Twelfth Gen i9-12900K/KF and i7-12700K/KF processors, with Intels hybrid structure now coming to the x86 desktop world.
So in case you are after the very best fashionable {hardware} otherwise you’re an fanatic who likes to push their system to its theoretical limits, a Z690 is definitely the way in which to go for the time being. We’ve top-tier options and efficiency throughout a number of SKUs and producers, providing you with the whole lot it is advisable to take issues to the subsequent degree.
Does motherboard selection have an effect on PC efficiency?
A motherboard is the spine of a PC and it impacts the efficiency of the pc in a number of methods. The kind of processor socket and the reminiscence (RAM) compatibility are two vital components which might be decided by the motherboard. A motherboard with a socket kind that’s suitable along with your processor will be sure that your processor can carry out at its finest. Equally, selecting a motherboard with help for quicker reminiscence sorts, reminiscent of DDR4, can present a efficiency enhance in comparison with a motherboard with help for slower reminiscence sorts, reminiscent of DDR3.
Moreover, the quantity and sort of growth slots on the motherboard can have an effect on efficiency. For instance, if you wish to use a number of graphics playing cards in your system, you’ll want a motherboard with a number of PCI Specific slots. Alternatively, should you want a number of storage gadgets, you’ll need a motherboard with a number of SATA ports.
One other vital side that’s decided by the motherboard is the facility supply system. A high-end motherboard will sometimes have a extra sturdy energy supply system, which is vital for high-performance CPUs and GPUs. A very good energy supply system will be sure that the elements obtain the facility they should carry out at their finest, which might enhance general system efficiency.
Greatest Z690 motherboard FAQs
Right here we’ll hammer via a number of the most steadily requested questions relating to Z690 motherboards.
Is a Z690 motherboard?
The Z690 is the second most up-to-date motherboard chipset era, a part of the 600 households that had been launched alongside the Intel Twelfth-gen CPUs. Intel Z690 has help for PCIe Gen 5, and loads of connectivity to select from. And for the reason that Z690 runs on the LGA 1700 socket, the Z690 motherboards are additionally suitable with the most recent Thirteenth-generation Intel CPUs, should you’re attempting to avoid wasting cash, however need a good CPU.
What CPUs are suitable with the Z690 motherboards?
As we talked about earlier on, the Z690 motherboards belong to the LGA 1700 CPU socket, this is similar socket kind as each the Intel Twelfth and Thirteenth era CPUs. Which means that ANY of the Twelfth or Thirteenth producing CPUs will work appropriately with the Z690 motherboard.
Is Z690 solely DDR5?
No, though DDR5 is the principle model of Z690 motherboards as DDR5 had simply turn out to be the brand new reminiscence normal. There are DDR4 variants of most main Z690 variants. Intel wished to ease the transition to DDDr5 as a lot as doable, as DDR5 reminiscence was extremely costly upon launch.
Ultimate phrase
Intel’s Twelfth era of processors coinciding with a brand new chipset and DDR5 reminiscence is a really thrilling time for the PC group. It’s nonetheless early days but when Intel can present spectacular efficiency over their AMD counterparts, we might lastly begin to see a shift again within the blue course. Discovering the very best Z690 is pretty simple, they arrive with unimaginable options and help the most recent and biggest the {hardware} world has to supply.
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