As you know it is noteworthy to do in-depth research before buying components of a PC. Moreover, it is perhaps the most crucial and particular step when searching for a motherboard. The motherboard is the heart of your PC, which combines all the PC components and gives life to your functioning machine. The processors of the Intel X series are overclockable and fast CPUs that will fit LGA 2066 socket.
At a Glance:
BEST PICK
Gigabyte X299X Designare 10G
- Dual 10GbE, plus 2.4Gbps Wi-Fi 6
- Thunderbolt 3 with dual Type-C outputs and dual DisplayPort inputs
- The price premium is lower than the value of its premium components
STAFF PICK
ASRock X299E-ITX/AC
- Good overall performance
- Great overall efficiency
- Surprisingly high overclocks
- The skyline-X requirement provides two M.2’s via CPU PCIe
BUDGET PICK
Asus Prime X299A-II ATX Motherboard
- Feature-rich and Affordable
- Excellent System Board
- Nice Large VRM
- Great Type C internal header
- Many color options
- RGB LED lighting with case lighting control
- Very easy setup
If you are looking to utilize the complete performance of the processors, you’ll need a motherboard to match their capabilities. Motherboards that consist of X299 chipsets are thought to be top-tier and high-end boards that are built to utilize the Intel X series CPUs. The chipset can be used effectively in combination with Intel i9 series processors.
In this buying guide, we will provide you with the list of the best Intel X299 motherboards you can get your hands on!
Table of Contents
- Gigabyte X299X Designare 10G
- OUR VERDICT
- ASRock X299E-ITX/AC
- OUR VERDICT
- Asus Prime X299A-II ATX Motherboard
- Our Verdict
- ASUS PRIME X299-A Motherboard
- Verdict:
- ASUS TUF X299 MARK 2 Motherboard
- Our verdict:
- MSI X299 GAMING M7 ACK Motherboard
- ASUS ROG RAMPAGE VI EXTREME OMEGA
- Verdict
- MSI MEG X299 CREATION
- Our verdict:
- EVGA X299 DARK
- Our verdict:
- Asus Prime X299-Deluxe
- Our Verdict
- Summary Best X299 Motherboard
- Conclusion Best X299 Motherboard
- Gigabyte X299X Designare 10G
- OUR VERDICT
- ASRock X299E-ITX/AC
- OUR VERDICT
- Asus Prime X299A-II ATX Motherboard
- Our Verdict
- ASUS PRIME X299-A Motherboard
- Verdict:
- ASUS TUF X299 MARK 2 Motherboard
- Our verdict:
- MSI X299 GAMING M7 ACK Motherboard
- ASUS ROG RAMPAGE VI EXTREME OMEGA
- Verdict
- MSI MEG X299 CREATION
- Our verdict:
- EVGA X299 DARK
- Our verdict:
- Asus Prime X299-Deluxe
- Our Verdict
- Summary Best X299 Motherboard
- Conclusion Best X299 Motherboard
Gigabyte X299X Designare 10G
BEST PICK
| Socket: LGA 2066 |
| Chipset:Intel X299 PCH |
| Form Factor:EATX |
| Voltage Regulator:12 phases |
The Gigabyte X299X Designare 10G is a fully loaded X299 based motherboard. It is fully capable of utilizing the complete functionality of 48 lanes of 10th generation Intel Core Extreme processors. The board includes Intel X550 dual 10Gb/s Ethernet and a pair of Thunderbolt 3 headers. It also features a dual DisplayPort passthrough on Intel’s 40Gb/s controller. To further add value to the board Gigabyte has included an M.2 expander card of four-drive along with 2.4Gb/s Wi-Fi 6. Due to all the packed features the board far outweighs the competition within a similar price range.
OUR VERDICT
The enthusiast builders who want Thunderbolt 3 controllers and Intel’s X550 do not need to fill their slots with a handful of adapters. But rather they can purchase the X2999X Designare 10G and save a little cash in the process.
Pros
- Dual 10GbE, plus 2.4Gbps Wi-Fi 6
- Thunderbolt 3 with dual Type-C outputs and dual DisplayPort inputs
- The price premium is lower than the value of its premium components
Cons
- Expensive
- Excessive PCIe, M.2 & SATA sharing
- 10.8-inch depth requires extra case considerations
ASRock X299E-ITX/AC
STAFF PICK
| Socket:LGA 2066 |
| Chipset:Intel X299 |
| Form Factor:Mini-ITX |
| Voltage Regulator:7 phases |
| PCIe x16:(1) v3.0 |
| USB Ports:10Gbps |
The ASRock X299E-ITX/ac is the only LGA 2066 motherboard to be used by Mini-ITX builders. Hence, it becomes the best choice for those who want to have Mini-ITX based builds. The board has a lack of competition, even then the board retails for a reasonable price. Moreover, the board has such a performance level that it is perfect for the Core i9-7900X, even considering the board’s default lower than average power ceiling. It’s not a perfect board, but if you are in the market looking for something that can complement your Intel x299 based PC build, this board is for you!
OUR VERDICT
The ASRock X299E-ITX/ac is the only consumer Mini-ITX board for LGA 2066, so it automatically becomes our only choice for such builds. We’d like to mention that, such builders who have sufficient flow of air over the voltage regulator will be very much satisfied with its performance. Those who are less certain about it should consider adding a monitoring device.
Pros
- Good overall performance
- Great overall efficiency
- Surprisingly high overclocks
- The skyline-X requirement provides two M.2’s via CPU PCIe
Cons
- No 110mm M.2 card support
- Connecting third M.2 slot to PCH excludes RAID 5 via VROC
- Only six total I/O-panel USB ports, and four of those share bandwidth
- No voltage regulator temperature reporting
- No Kaby Lake-X support
Asus Prime X299A-II ATX Motherboard
BUDGET PICK
| Socket: LGA 2066 |
| Chipset:Intel X299 PCH |
| Form Factor:EATX |
| Voltage Regulator:12 phases |
The Asus Prime X299A-II ATX is an affordable and feature-rich motherboard. This board is the only one that includes a rich collection of features with an affordable price range. It surely fills the gap between the utility and game-centric motherboards.
The board features an effective power solution with 12 power stages, hence having a best-in-class power design. The PSU power lines provide secure flush contact by having Protocol II Power Connectors. For better heat dissipation the board also has metal armor. The board has a Pre-mount I/O shield and is DIY friendly.
The Asus prime has the functionality of USB BIOS Flashback, which provides performance of firmware updates (low level) with only a USB Stich (required file) and a power supply. The board features a special comprehensive cooling solution with an effective heatsink. This configuration reduces the M.2 SSD temperature, which allows faster transfer speeds with increased reliability.
Our Verdict
Asus prime X299A-II ATX is a feature-rich and affordable board with being slightly on the expensive side. If you are looking for an excellent VRM design with many color options and an easy setup, then this is the board for you. Keep in mind, the board doesn’t support dual NICs and a 6pin PLCe power header.
Pros
- Feature-rich and Affordable
- Excellent System Board
- Nice Large VRM
- Great Type C internal header
- Many color options
- RGB LED lighting with case lighting control
- Very easy setup
Cons
- A bit on the expensive side
- No 6pin PCIe power header
- No dual NICs
- Postcode display is in a very dumb spot
- Terrible VRM fan mount
ASUS PRIME X299-A Motherboard
| Form Factor: ATX |
| Socket Type: LGA 2066 |
| Memory/Storage Slots: DIMM x 8, PCI-E x16 x 3, PCI-E x1 x 1, PCIe 3.0 x4 x 2, M.2 @ 32Gb/s |
| RAM Support: DDR4 4000 (O.C.), up to 128 GB, Quad Channel |
| VR Ready:Yes |
| Overclocking:Yes |
Asus Prime X299-A is another great game/utility-centric motherboard from Asus. The board also has a great selection of features with an affordable price bracket.
The board supports both Nvidia 3-way SLI and AMD 3-way Crossfire, along with having three slots of PCI Express 3.0 x16. If you require faster storage drives, the board features heatsinks for SSDs along with an M.2 slot.
The board has a good potential for overclocking Moreover, the board is also equipped with Intel Gigabit LAN, Intel Optane Memory support, Aura RGB LEDs, and 8 channel audio. The only considerable drawback is that the board doesn’t have enough USB 2.0 interfaces.
Verdict:
Asus prime X299-A should be in the consideration of those builders who are Skylane-X users. Moreover, such users who don’t run a slot-mounted PCIe x4 SSD and three graphic cards simultaneously should also consider this board.
Pros
- Feature-rich and affordable
- Good overclocking capability
Cons
- Not enough USB 2.0 on-board interfaces
ASUS TUF X299 MARK 2 Motherboard
| Form Factor:ATX |
| Socket Type: LGA 2066 |
| Memory/Storage Slots:DIMM x 8, PCIe 3.0 x16 x 3, PCIe 3.0 x4 x 2, PCIe 3.0 x1 x 1, M.2 x4 Socket 3 (SATA & PCIE 3.0 x 4 mode) x 2 |
| RAM Support: DDR4 4133 (O.C.), up to 128 GB, Quad Channel |
| VR Ready: Yes |
| Overclocking:Yes |
Asus TUF X299 Mark 2 is another board available in the market which features support for SLI and Crossfire technologies for up to three GPUs. The board consists of three PCI Express 3.0 x16 slots, which is enough for most of us.
The area where the motherboard shines is its durability and strength. To provide rugged performance, the Asus TUF series si made from military-grade chokes, caps, and MOSFETs. The board features support for both SATA and PCIe solid-state drives and has two M.2 sockets. Due to this, the board has high-speed storage options. Other noteworthy features include Intel Optane memory support, secure graphics card insertion via Asus SafeSlot, and RGB LED lighting.
Our verdict:
The ASUS X299 TUF MARK 2 is a board for such users who don’t give importance to flashy gaming-focused branding, rather have a preference towards aesthetics (without sacrificing on features and performance).
Pros
- Good performer
- Great Linux capability
Cons
- Not enough overclocking options
MSI X299 GAMING M7 ACK Motherboard
| Form Factor:ATX |
| Socket Type:LGA 2066 |
| Memory/Storage Slots:DIMM x 8, PCI-E x16 x 4, PCI-E x1 x 1, M.2 x 2, U.2 |
| RAM Support:DDR4 4133+ (OC), up to 128 GB, Quad Channel |
| VR Ready: Yes |
| Overclocking: Yes |
The MSI X299 Gaming M7 ACK motherboard has a lot to offer to gamers and it compliments the builds by its sleek futuristic look. Similar to the boards listed in our buying guide, the MSI X299 Gaming M7 ACK has 3-way SLI and Crossfire technology. The board features four slots of PCL 3.0 * 16 to allow the user to utilize the 3-way technologies, and cater to other used needs!
The board has two M.2 ports and a U.2 port for SSDs. The board has very stable and admirable performance and BIOS.
Other features offered by the board include Intel Optane Memory support, VR support, RGB LED lighting, 8-channel audio, and much more. The gamers and enthusiast builders looking for a board, which is dependable and has a strong list of features should consider this board. The board also has a lot of extras to push the performance of the build to the limits.
Pros
- Stable performer
- Excellent BIOS
- Extra apps for customizing performance
- Fantastic aesthetics
Cons
- Below-par overclocking capabilities
- A touch pricey
- M.2 compatibility needs improving
ASUS ROG RAMPAGE VI EXTREME OMEGA
| Socket:LGA-2066 |
| Chipset:X299 |
| FormFactor:E-ATX |
| Audio:ROG SupremeFX 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC S1220 |
| Wireless:Intel Wireless-AC 9260 |
| No. of PCIe Slots:4 |
| No. of M.2 Slots:2 |
ASUS ROG Rampage series motherboards offer top-tier performance and features. They fall on the premium side of motherboards for HEDT systems. Rampage VI Extreme Omega is the best X299 board and is especially for extreme enthusiast gamers as it’s a little pricey. The motherboard has heat-sinks covering all the board which provide a simplistic look. But due to its RGB-Lighting, it also has a stellar look to it. The USPs of this board include support for 10-Gbps LAN, OLED display, DIMM.2 slot, and Fan Extention Card II.
The motherboard includes three USB 3.1 Gen2 (2 x Type-A + 1 x Type-C) ports and whopping ten USB 3.1 Gen1 ports along with a 10 Gbps LAN port through the Aquantia AQC-107 controller. The board features a Clear CMOS button at the backside for user ease and the audio jacks are illuminated by LEDs.
Verdict
If you can afford the price, we believe that this is the motherboard that provides a ton of unique features and which fully utilize the capability of a HEDT system.
Pros
- Extremely powerful VRM components
- DIMM.2 module offers space for additional M.2 devices
- Provides one of the best overclocking experiences
Cons
- The BIOS of the motherboard is quite complex
- Extremely pricey
MSI MEG X299 CREATION
| Socket:LGA-2066 |
| Chipset:X299 |
| FormFactor:E-ATX |
| Audio: Realtek ALC1220 Codec |
| Wireless:Intel WIFI AC 9260 |
| No. of PCIe Slots:5 |
| No. of M.2 Slots:3 |
MSI MEG X299 Creation is on the premium side of the competition and packs a lot of features, especially for those who are storage enthusiasts. The MEG in the name of the board stands for “MSI Enthusiast Gaming” which means X299 creation is the best motherboard offered by MSI. The board comes with huge heat-sinks and thanks to that offers a unique look. The MEG X299 Creation has a lot of interesting features among which Xpander Aero and add-in M.2 card are the most impressive.
At the rear, the board features two USB 3.1 Gen2 ports (1 x Type-A + 1 x Type-C) and six USB 3.1 Gen1 ports. The board has two highly useful buttons, which include the Clear CMOS button and the BIOS flashback button. They offer a very user-friendly design and allow the user to easily alter the BIOS. Two DP 1.2 ports and two Thunderbolt ports are also be acquired by installing an add-in card.
Our verdict:
MSI MEG X299 Creation is a board on the premium side of X299 based motherboards. The price is justified by the handful of accessories, that comes along with the board. Hence, the motherboard is recommended to all users who want an “All-in-One” package to cater to their various needs.
Pros
- Offers a lot of accessories and add-in cards
- Terrific-looking motherboard heat-sinks
- VRM temperatures are well within the thermal limits
Cons
- Could have used more USB 3.1 ports
- No quad M.2 slot thermal monitoring
EVGA X299 DARK
| Socket: LGA-2066 |
| Chipset:X299 |
| FormFactor:E-ATX |
| Audio:Creative Sound Core3D Quad-Core Audio Processor |
| Wireless:N/A |
| No. of PCIe Slots:6 |
| No. of M.2 Slots:3 |
EVGA X299 DARK shines in the department of overclocking, hence having every possible feature that an enthusiast-level overclocking builder can dream of! The aesthetics of the board are sleek and decent. The board uses heat sinks combined with aluminum fins for that VRM along with two small fans for active cooling. The motherboard features only four slots of DIMM, which assists in achieving supreme overclock. The reason is to acquire the configuration of equalizing the number of memory sticks with the number of channels (as this configuration offers greater clock rates).
From the rear, the motherboard offers six USB 3.0 ports and two USB 3.1 ports (1 x Type-A and 1 x Type-C). The most significant feature of the motherboard is its VRM design. EVGA has included a 16-phase VRM design on this X299 DARK, due to this the board can push the limits of overclocking. Also, the board can easily bear LN2-based overclocking by using two 8-pin power headers (ATX based).
Our verdict:
If your goal is to acquire a motherboard that will allow you to overclock the hell out of it! Then you are at the perfect place and EVGA X299 DARK (overclocker’s dream) is the board for you.
Pros
- Provides two U.2 ports for fast storage access
- Exceeds the Rampage VI Extreme in overclocking support
- Actively cools the VRM and SouthBridge
Cons
- Only supports four RAM sticks
- Looks shabby
Asus Prime X299-Deluxe
| Form Factor:ATX |
| Socket Type:LGA 2066 |
| Memory/Storage Slots: DIMM x 8, PCIe x16 x 4, PCIe x1 x 1, M.2 x 2, U.2 port |
| RAM Support:DDR4 4133+ (OC), up to 128 GB, Quad Channel |
| VR Ready:Yes |
| Overclocking:Yes |
The Asus Prime X299-Deluxe is an upgraded form factor of Asus X299-A. It includes one more PCLe 3.0 * 16 slot than Asus X299-A, which makes a total of four slots. The board supports up to 3-way configuration of Crossfire and SLI technologies.
Also, the board includes two M.2 ports along with complimentary heat sinks. All these features allow you to speed boost your build by adding an SSD. The board has a great build quality and is built with high-quality components. Also, the board has a great cooling feature. In addition to all the mentioned features, the board has Asus Sync RGB LED lighting, Asus SafeSlot, dual Wi-FI, Intel Optane Memory support, and more.
Our Verdict
Asus has managed to combine a plethora of features with quality construction. Due to this, the board is a great choice for such users and enthusiast builders who want a solid gaming motherboard.
Pros
- Feature-packed
- Good overclocking capabilities.
- Excellent UEFI BIOS design
- Well-thought-out features and utilities
- RGB LED lighting with case lighting control
Cons
- Only one USB 2.0 slot
- A bit on the expensive side
Summary Best X299 Motherboard
Conclusion Best X299 Motherboard
As you know, it is noteworthy to do in-depth research before buying components of a PC. Moreover, it is perhaps the most crucial and particular step when searching for a motherboard. The motherboard is the heart of your PC, which combines all the PC components and gives life to your functioning machine. If you are looking to utilize the complete performance of Intel X series processors, then you’ll need a motherboard with an X299 chipset that will match their capabilities. Motherboards that consist of both LGA 2066 sockets and have been designed from scratch by engineers who understand what enthusiasts want from their PCs are thought to be top-tier boards capable of providing excellent overclocking support while also being able to provide power efficiency so as not to sacrifice.