First things get-go, you need to choose sides. Whether you lot're going AMD or Intel, there are loads of motherboards to cull from. If you've followed our previous motherboard buying guides covering Z370, B450 and X470 motherboards, y'all're probably in for a surprise once you see how this 1 turned out.

More specifically, in that location are plenty of Z390 motherboards on offer but every bit we institute out, there are few good options in each category. The selection is narrowed down by what is the worst motherboard range always from Asus, and overpriced boards with budget VRMs seem to be the proper name of the game, something we hope doesn't become a trend. Asrock and MSI have a few skillful hits mixed in with some non and so great options, while Gigabyte is pretty solid from top to bottom.

  • Best Entry-Level Motherboard
  • All-time Value All-Circular Motherboard
  • All-time 'No Compromises' Lath
  • Best Micro ATX Motherboard
  • Best Mini-ITX Motherboard

All-time Entry-Level

Gigabyte Z390 UD

The Gigabyte Z390 UD is the simply sub-$150 Z390 motherboard that can run with 9900K fully unleashed without suffering VRM throttling. For best results you actually need to spend at least $170 on my next pick. Still, if y'all only have $120 to spend but y'all really want a Z390 motherboard then Gigabyte'due south UD model is the mode to get.

It has the best VRM at this price range, cooling is acceptable, and it matches all other entry-level boards in terms of features. Board layout is fantabulous and you lot get all the essentials, so about the best you could hope for at this toll bespeak.

If y'all're shopping around, we would avoid budget models from Asrock and Asus. The adjacent best affair here is the MSI Z390-A Pro; that's a decent alternative if you cannot get your easily on Gigabyte's UD model. Though by then you open to only slightly more than expensive alternatives that are better, like the Gaming Z390 Gaming 10 and our side by side value pick.

Best Value All-Rounder

Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro

If you've got upwardly to $200 to spend on a motherboard the all-time options without a dubiety are the Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Aristocracy or the Z390 Aorus Pro. The Pro variant costs about $10 more coming in at $180. They are pretty much the same board, with the Pro adding a few actress features such as ii thermal guards on both M.2 slots, PCIe armor on both slots, and USB type-C on the I/O panel.

If you tin do without that stuff and I suspect about of you lot can, then the Aristocracy is a slightly better value. We've tested out both boards in-house and the VRM thermal performance is exceptional, chirapsia $300+ models from Asus.

Alternatively, Asrock'south Z390 Extreme4 is a solid lath, as is MSI's Z390 Tomahawk, just if you programme on going all out with the Core i9-9900K or you conceptualize upgrading to information technology in a twelvemonth or two down the track, we'd strongly recommend getting either the Aorus Aristocracy or Pro.

Best of the Best, No Compromises

MSI Z390 One thousand thousand Godlike

This category is simple: yous've got money to burn down and y'all're happy to burn it. In that case we can probably involvement you in either the Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Xtreme or MSI 1000000 Z390 Godlike, both are exceptional products and are the very definition of overkill. They both as well cost more than the Core i9-9900K.

The Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Xtreme comes in at $550 and out doing that is the MSI MEG Z390 Godlike at $600. They are both incredible products, incredibly ridiculous, but impressive even so. It'southward hard to cull between the two, they are both jam packed with features, the VRMs are fit for a 32-core Threadripper CPU and there's more PCIe expansion and M.2 slots than the sixteen lane 9900K will know what to do with.

We idea we'd hands down go with the Godlike on this one, but we actually tin't pick. The Aorus Xtreme packs 10 Gigabit networking, the I/O panel is improve stocked with USB ports, the backplate is a dainty feature that really helps to better cooling and the RGB lite prove on this thing is next level. Even so information technology's as well close for us to call, so you'll have to choice based on which board y'all retrieve looks all-time.

Best Micro ATX

MSI MPG Z390M Gaming Edge AC

There are just four options here and half of them aren't great. The Asus TUF Z390-M Pro Gaming is a pathetic offering at $180 with its low budget 4-phase VRM. The Asrock Z390M Pro4 is really no meliorate, simply at least its $135 price tag more accurately reflects what you lot're getting. Then nosotros take the MSI MPG Z390M Gaming Edge AC and Gigabyte Z390 Grand Gaming.

In terms of value, we'd grab the Gigabyte board, but if yous're after the best MicroATX motherboard then the MSI MPG Z390M Gaming Border AC would be it. It costs $25 more but you go nicer features onboard such equally Realtek ALC1220 audio, Intel Wireless-AC 9560 with Bluetooth five.0 and some massive extended VRM heatsinks.

The Edge is also a great looking motherboard that will fit right in with any MicroATX build, the Gigabyte model on the other hand is a trivial less neutral with a few red highlights.

Best Mini-ITX

ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming-ITX/ac

We found half a dozen pokey little 17 ten 17 cm Z390 Mini-ITX motherboards on offering, including a model from Supermicro and ii from Asrock, and this time we're going with the latter'south Z390 Phantom Gaming ITX/air conditioning.

This footling board packs a 5-phase VRM which in itself isn't that impressive. However, it employs ISL9927 power stages and it'south the just Z390 motherboard that we know of to use these 60A beasts. For $190 this is a seriously high quality Mini-ITX motherboard packing an 8 layer PCB, a good amount of cooling for a lath of its size, Sound Blaster Picture palace v, 1x Thunderbolt 3, dual M.two slots, four USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports, Intel 2T2R Dual Band 802.11ac WiFi with Bluetooth 5.0 and much more.

It'southward hands downward the best Mini-ITX motherboard, nil else comes close in my stance.

Ii worthwhile mentions go to the Gigabyte Z390I Aorus Pro WiFi and MSI MPG Z390I Gaming Edge Ac which aren't bad cheaper alternatives, they simply aren't at the level of the ultimate Z390 Mini-ITX motherboard.