Best Motherboards for Intel i9-12900KF

The i9-12900KF is one of the high-end processors produced by Intel in the i9 series. Currently available at a price of $399 on Amazon (at the time of writing), you can easily bet on this processor to carry out all the tasks you throw at it.

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On paper, the Intel i9-12900KF comes with 16 Cores (8 Performance and 8 Efficient Cores) and 24 Threads. It has a base frequency of 2.4GHz which can be boosted up to 5.2GHz and supports up to 128GB of memory. Being a ‘KF’ variant, it is an unlocked processor whose capabilities can be pushed beyond its limits. But it does not come with an integrated graphics card and hence you will need a dedicated graphics card for display.

While all of this looks good enough to run heavy software and play games, you will also need a suitable motherboard to get the best out of it. That said, I have made a list of the 5 best motherboards for Intel i9-12900KF.

Best Motherboards for Intel i9-12900KF

Before we get started with a more detailed discussion on each of the motherboards, the below table will give you a quick overview of the listed board below along with their buying link.

1. MSI MEG Z690 ACE

If you are looking for the best motherboard for Intel i9-12900KF, then look no further than the MSI MEG Z690 ACE. A top-tier motherboard with high-speed DDR5 memory support, maximum capacity to hold memory, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt 4 port, and plenty of USB ports to deliver exceptional performance.

The MSI MEG Z690 ACE is an E-ATX motherboard that supports Intel 12th generation, 13th generation, Pentium Gold, and Celeron processors based on LGA 1700 sockets. It comes with four DDR5 DIMM slots that can hold up to 192GB of memory. The max memory speed it can support is 6666+MHz. For connectivity options, it has one Type-C DisplayPort that supports a max resolution of 4k@60Hz and two Intel Thunderbolt 4 ports supporting up to 8K resolution.

Apart from that, it comes with three PCIe x16 slots (supports PCIe 5.0), five M.2 slots, six SATA III ports, one 2.5GbE LAN, built-in Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth v5.3, ten USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, four USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, and four USB 2.0 ports.

What We Like

The MSI MEG Z690 ACE provides you with lots of options to fine-tune your performance as per your liking. It supports up to 192GB of memory which is the highest on this list. You also get plenty of M.2 slots for storage expansion, which supports PCIe 5.0, and lots of USB ports for connectivity.

What We Don’t Like

The only thing that bothers most users is the pricing. And just like that, the price of this motherboard is not for everyone. At present, the MSI MEG Z690 ACE is available for a price of $530 (at the time of writing). Secondly, it doesn’t have a 10GbE LAN so if you were expecting that, you will be disappointed.

Summary

No doubt, the MSI MEG Z690 ACE is the best motherboard on this list with some rich features. It is an excellent and robust motherboard and performs as expected, flawlessly. Though it is a bit expensive, if this is something which you can afford, you should definitely go for it.

Pros

• 192GB of memory support
• High-speed memory support
• Excellent performance delivery
• Plenty of USB ports
• Two Intel Thunderbolt 4 ports
• Five M.2 slots

Cons

• Quite expensive
• No 10GbE LAN
• No RGB lights

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2. ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero

The ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero is another high-end motherboard for the i9-12900KF. With a sturdy build quality, DDR5 support, plenty of M.2 slots, PCIe 5.0 support, and impressive overclocking capabilities, you can definitely consider buying this motherboard, provided you are comfortable with its pricing.

The ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero is an ATX motherboard that supports Intel 12th generation, 13th generation, Pentium Gold, and Celeron processors based on LGA 1700 sockets. It comes with four DDR5 DIMM slots that can hold up to 128GB of memory. The max memory speed it can support is 6400+MHz. For connectivity options, it has one HDMI 2.1 port that supports a max resolution of 4k@60Hz and two Intel Thunderbolt 4 ports (supporting DisplayPort 1.4).

Other important features of this board include two PCIe 5.0 x16 slots, one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, five M.2 slots, six SATA III ports, one 2.5GbE LAN, built-in Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth v5.2, eight USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 headers (supports additional four USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports), two USB 2.0 ports, and two USB 2.0 headers (supports additional four USB 2.0 ports).

What We Like

The ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero has a sturdy build quality and looks attractive with all the RGB lights on it. It has plenty of M.2 slots, supports DDR5 memory and PCIe 5.0, lots of USB ports for wide connectivity, latest Thunderbolt ports for display. The board pairs well with the i9-12900KF and delivers great performance.

What We Don’t Like

The price tag of $499 (at the time of writing) might be a bit too much for some users who were looking for a budget option. Apart from its pricing, it comes with just a 2.5GbE LAN which is quite low for a motherboard of this price.

Summary

If you are comfortable with its pricing, the ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero can be a solid option for the i9-12900KF. Though only a 2.5GbE LAN, it is still a worthy option with plenty of USB ports, ample M.2 slots, DDR5 support, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, and great overclocking performance.

Pros

• Sturdy build quality
• High-speed memory support
• Plenty of M.2 slots
• Supports DDR5 memory and PCIe 5.0
• Lots of USB ports
• Latest Thunderbolt ports for display

Cons

• No 10GbE LAN
• Pricey

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3. ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I

While the rest of the motherboards on this list are either E-ATX or ATX in size, the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I is a mini-ITX motherboard, considered especially for those looking for a small-size motherboard. It really comes in handy when you want to house bigger RTX graphics cards inside a small case.

The ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I is a mini-ITX motherboard that supports Intel 12th generation, 13th generation, Pentium Gold, and Celeron processors based on LGA 1700 sockets. It comes with two DDR5 DIMM slots that can hold up to 64GB of memory. The max memory speed it can support is 6400MHz. For connectivity options, it has one HDMI 2.1 port and two Intel Thunderbolt 4 ports.

The board also includes one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, two M.2 slots, four SATA III ports, one 2.5GbE LAN, built-in Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth v5.2, three USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, three USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, one USB 3.2 Gen 1 headers (supports additional two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports), two USB 2.0 ports, and one USB 2.0 headers (supports additional two USB 2.0 ports).

What We Like

Being smaller in size, it doesn’t consume lots of space and if your PC case is smaller than average, this board can be your best option. However, the small size doesn’t compromise anywhere in performance and features. It still gives you lots of USB ports, PCIe 5.0 support, and two M.2 slots for storage expansion. It delivers great performance and fits perfectly with the i9-12900KF.

What We Don’t Like

Though there’s nothing much to complain about, one thing users might not like is its overall appearance. Being a small-size motherboard, it still offers plenty of features, and that is what makes it look crowded with large heatsinks everywhere.

Summary

Overall, the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I is a solid option with top-notch performance and all the necessary features every user can expect. The pricing also sounds reasonable with no unnecessary spending on something which you don’t need.

Pros

• Compact in size
• High-speed memory support
• Supports DDR5 memory and PCIe 5.0
• Lots of USB ports
• Two Thunderbolt ports for display

Cons

• No 10GbE LAN
• Feels crowded due to the large heatsinks everywhere

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4. ASRock Z690 Taichi

If you need Intel Thunderbolt 4 ports on your motherboard that don’t cost more than $400, the ASRock Z690 Taichi can be your best bet. Currently priced at $386 on Amazon (at the time of writing), it is a solid option to build your system around, provided you don’t mind having only three M.2 slots for storage expansion.

The ASRock Z690 Taichi is an ATX motherboard that supports Intel 12th generation, 13th generation, Pentium Gold, and Celeron processors based on LGA 1700 sockets. It comes with four DDR5 DIMM slots that can hold up to 192GB of memory. The max memory speed it can support is 6400+MHz. For connectivity options, it has one HDMI 2.1 port that supports a max resolution of 4k@60Hz and two Intel Thunderbolt 4 ports (supporting DisplayPort 1.4) with max resolution support of 8K@60Hz.

The board also features two PCIe 5.0 x16 slots, one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, one PCIe 3.0 x1 slot, three M.2 slots, six SATA III ports, one 2.5GbE LAN, built-in Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth v5.2, four USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, nine USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, and three USB 2.0 ports.

What We Like

The ASRock Z690 Taichi comes with 192GB of memory support and high-speed memory support, which means it can handle heavy workloads with ease. Additionally, it delivers great performance and comes with two Thunderbolt 4 ports, which offer fast data transfer speeds and support for dual 4K displays.

What We Don’t Like

One downside of the ASRock Z690 Taichi is that it lacks a 10GbE LAN. However, this may not be a dealbreaker for users who prioritize other features such as DDR5 memory support and PCIe 5.0 compatibility.

Summary

Overall, the ASRock Z690 Taichi is a solid option for users looking for a high-end motherboard with plenty of features and connectivity options. While it may not be the most affordable option on the market, it offers great value for its price.

Pros

• 192GB of memory support
• High-speed memory support
• Great performance
• Two Thunderbolt 4 ports

Cons

• No 10GbE LAN
• Only three M.2 slots
• Fewer USB ports

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5. MSI MPG Z690 Carbon

For budget users, the MSI MPG Z690 Carbon is one of the best options that work perfectly with i9-12900KF at a cheaper price. At present, it is available for a price of $282 on Amazon (at the time of writing), which sounds reasonable to spend on a gaming motherboard.

The MSI MPG Z690 Carbon is an ATX motherboard that supports Intel 12th generation, 13th generation, Pentium Gold, and Celeron processors based on LGA 1700 sockets. It comes with four DDR5 DIMM slots that can hold up to 192GB of memory. The max memory speed it can support is 6666+MHz. For connectivity options, it has one HDMI 2.1 port and one DisplayPort 1.4, both supporting a max resolution of 4K@60Hz.

Other than that, it comes with three PCIe x16 slots (supports PCIe 5.0 version), five M.2 slots, six SATA III ports, one 2.5GbE LAN, built-in Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth v5.3, seven USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, and eight USB 2.0 ports.

What We Like

Even though it looks like a standard motherboard, the MSI MPG Z690 Carbon offers plenty of premium features and delivers great performance under the budget. It comes with dual display options, 192GB memory support, five M.2 slots, good overclocking features, and is reasonably priced.

What We Don’t Like

While you can’t be too picky at this price range, some features which it lacks are the availability of 10GbE LAN and offers basic onboard audio.

Summary

As a cheaper option, the MSI MPG Z690 Carbon is a great option for budget users. With some rich options and high-speed memory support, this motherboard offers plenty of overclocking features which makes it stand out from the other standard motherboards.

Pros

• 192GB of memory support
• High-speed memory support
• Good performance delivery
• Plenty of USB ports
• Five M.2 slots
• Reasonably priced

Cons

• No 10GbE LAN
• Basic onboard audio

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Conclusion

Best Motherboard for Intel i9-12900KF: MSI MEG Z690 ACE

After carefully analyzing, my recommendation would be the MSI MEG Z690 ACE as the best motherboard for Intel i9-12900KF. It offers high-speed DDR5 memory support, maximum capacity to hold memory, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt 4 port, and plenty of USB ports to deliver exceptional performance. Although it is an expensive option, it is a top-tier motherboard that provides the best performance for the i9-12900KF.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is Intel Core i9-12900KF any good?

Yes, the Intel Core i9-12900KF is a high-end processor that offers exceptional performance for heavy tasks such as gaming, video editing, and programming.

2. What is the difference between 12900KF and 12900K?

The only difference between the Intel Core i9-12900KF and the Intel Core i9-12900K is that the KF variant does not come with an integrated graphics card, while the K variant does.

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