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IntelLGA1700MotherboardZ690 Chipset

Best (not too expensive) Z690 DDR4 Motherboards

Henrique 
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It is well known that most Z690 DDR4 motherboards come with overkill VRMs even for a 12900K/13700K, and because of that, spending a lot of money on a new motherboard is a complete waste, especially when you can have all the features you need for under $250, and save the rest of the money for a CPU or GPU upgrade.

If you already own a DDR4 kit, or plan to save money buying an affordable kit, it makes sense to go with a LGA1700 DDR4 motherboard, not having to spend $120-160 on a kit of DDR5 is a nice way to save money to upgrade something else later.

On the list bellow we will go through a few of the best Z690 DDR4 motherboards that will not break the bank, while having a good set of features, and that are capable of handling Intel high-end CPUs with ease.

ASRock Z690 Steel Legend (DDR4)
Pros:Cons:
1. Very affordable Z690 DDR4 Motherboard;
2. Capable VRM design;
3. Good specifications/features list;		1. Only one heatsink/heat spreader for M.2;
2. No Wi-Fi, but comes with M.2 E-Key slot for WIFI module
3. Not the best VRM for 12900K/13700K/13900K builds (might run hot);
4. Small number of USB ports on Rear I/O

Specifications:

  • 13 Power Stages (50A)
  • LAN 2.5Gbps
  • PCI Express 5.0 Support

Storage:

  • 2x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 slot
  • 1x M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 slot
  • 8x SATA 6Gb/s

USB Back I/O:

  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 (Type-C)
  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen2
  • 4x USB 3.2 Gen1

Internal USB Header:

  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen2x2 (Type-C)
  • 2x USB 3.2 Gen1 headers (Supports 4x USB 3.2 ports)
  • 2x USB 2.0 headers (Supports 4x USB 2.0 ports)

Gigabyte Z690 UD AX DDR4 & Z690 UD DDR4
Pros:Cons:
1. Affordable Z690 DDR4 WIFI Motherboard (AX)
2. Very capable VRM design;
3. Good specifications/features list;
4. Better features than similarly priced models;
5. More rear USB ports than other entry-level models (10).		1. Only one heatsink/heat spreader for M.2;
2. “Only” 3x M.2 Slots;
3. Multiple PCB Revisions with different Wi-Fi versions.
4. A few PCIe slots might get covered depending on GPU size;

Specifications:

  • 16+1+2 Power Stages (60A)
  • LAN 2.5Gbps Realtek
  • Intel Wi-Fi 6 (AX model) (some revisions with Wi-Fi 6E)
  • PCI Express 5.0 Support

Storage:

  • 3x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 slot
  • 6x SATA 6Gb/s

USB Back I/O:

  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen2x2 (Type-C)
  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen2
  • 4x USB 3.2 Gen1
  • 4x USB 2.0

Internal USB Header:

  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen1 (Type-C)
  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen1 headers (Supports 2x USB 3.2 Gen1 ports)
  • 2x USB 2.0 headers (Supports 4x USB 2.0 ports)
MSI PRO Z690-A DDR4 & MSI PRO Z690-A WIFI DDR4
Pros:Cons:
1. Affordable Z690 DDR4 Motherboard;
2. Very capable VRM design;
3. Good specifications/features list;
4. Better features than similarly priced models;
5. 4x M.2 slots (one being PCIe 3.0).		1. Only one heatsink/heat spreader for M.2;
2. No Wi-Fi 6E support (only Wi-Fi 6).
3. A few PCIe slots might get covered depending on GPU size;

Specifications:

  • 14+1+1 Power Stages (55A)
  • LAN 2.5Gbps Intel
  • Intel Wi-Fi 6 (WIFI model)
  • PCI Express 5.0 Support

Storage:

  • 3x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 slot
  • 1x M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 slot
  • 6x SATA 6Gb/s

USB Back I/O:

  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen2x2 (Type-C)
  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen2
  • 2x USB 3.2 Gen1
  • 4x USB 2.0

Internal USB Header:

  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 (Type-C)
  • 2x USB 3.2 Gen1 headers (Supports 4x USB 3.2 ports)
  • 2x USB 2.0 headers (Supports 4x USB 2.0 ports)

MSI MAG Z690 TOMAHAWK WIFI DDR4
Pros:Cons:
1. Very capable VRM design, great for overclocking;
2. All M.2 slots covered with heatsinks/heat spreaders;
3. Great specifications/features list.		1. The MSI MPG Z690 EDGE is a better motherboard for not a lot more;
2. One of the M.2 slots is PCIe 3.0 x4 like the cheaper MSI PRO Z690-A;
3. Priced close to great Z690/Z790 DDR5 options.
4. A few PCIe slots might get covered depending on GPU size;

Specifications:

  • 16+1+1 Power Stages (70A)
  • LAN 2.5Gbps Intel
  • Intel Wi-Fi 6
  • PCI Express 5.0 Support

Storage:

  • 3x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 slot
  • 1x M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 slot
  • 6x SATA 6Gb/s

USB Back I/O:

  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen2x2 (Type-C)
  • 3x USB 3.2 Gen2
  • 2x USB 3.2 Gen1
  • 2x USB 2.0

Internal USB Header:

  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 (Type-C)
  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen1 headers (Supports 2x USB 3.2 Gen1 ports)
  • 2x USB 2.0 headers (Supports 4x USB 2.0 ports)
Gigabyte Z690 GAMING X DDR4
Pros:Cons:
1. Very capable VRM design;
2. Great specifications/features list;
3. Better specs than similarly priced motherboards;
4. Slight price increase in the Gigabyte family for a better spec’d motherboard;
5. All 4x M.2 slots covered with heatsinks/heat spreaders.		1. Doesn’t come with WIFI.

Specifications:

  • 16+1+2 Power Stages (60A)
  • LAN 2.5Gbps Realtek
  • PCI Express 5.0 Support

Storage:

  • 4x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 slot
  • 6x SATA 6Gb/s

USB Back I/O:

  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen2x2 (Type-C)
  • 2x USB 3.2 Gen2
  • 3x USB 3.2 Gen1
  • 4x USB 2.0

Internal USB Header:

  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 (Type-C)
  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen1 headers (Supports 2x USB 3.2 Gen1 ports)
  • 2x USB 2.0 headers (Supports 4x USB 2.0 ports)
MSI PRO Z690-P DDR4
Pros:Cons:
1. Affordable Z690 DDR4 Motherboard;
2. M.2 slot for Wi-Fi card.		1. Basic features, recommended for gaming only builds
2. Not the best VRM for 12900K/13700K/13900K builds (might run hot);
3. VRM similar to B660 motherboards from MSI
4. Similar in price to much better Z690 Motherboards
5. Only 2x M.2 Slots

Specifications:

  • 12+1+1 Discrete Mosfets
  • LAN 2.5Gbps
  • PCI Express 5.0 Support
  • 1x M.2 E-key for WiFi

Storage:

  • 2x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 slot
  • 4x SATA 6Gb/s

USB Back I/O:

  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen2x2 (Type-C)
  • 4x USB 3.2 Gen1
  • 2x USB 2.0

Internal USB Header:

  • 2x USB 3.2 Gen1 headers (Supports 4x USB 3.2 ports)
  • 2x USB 2.0 headers (Supports 4x USB 2.0 ports)

ASUS PRIME Z690M-PLUS D4
Pros:Cons:
1. Affordable motherboard for budget LGA1700 builds;
2. One of the few affordable Z690/Z790 mATX motherboards;
3. All M.2 slots supports PCIe 4.0 x4;
4. M.2 slot for Wi-Fi card.		1. Not the best VRM for 12900K/13700K/13900K builds (might run hot);
2. More expensive than better spec’d B660/B760 mATX motherboards;
3. No M.2 heatsink/heat spreader;
4. Cut down VRM compared to the ATX version from ASUS;
5. A few PCIe slots might get covered depending on GPU size.

Specifications:

  • 10+1 Power Stages (50A)
  • LAN 1Gbps Intel
  • PCI Express 5.0 Support

Storage:

  • 3x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 slot
  • 4x SATA 6Gb/s

USB Back I/O:

  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen2x2 (Type-C)
  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen2
  • 4x USB 3.2 Gen1
  • 2x USB 2.0

Internal USB Header:

  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen1 (Type-C)
  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen1 headers (Supports 2x USB 3.2 Gen1 ports)
  • 2x USB 2.0 headers (Supports 4x USB 2.0 ports)
MSI MPG Z690 EDGE WIFI DDR4
Pros:Cons:
1. Recommended for those who want a motherboard for overclocking;
2. Better spec’s than Z690 Tomahawk for a small price increase;
3. Very capable VRM design;
4. All M.2 slots covered with heatsinks/heat spreaders;
5. Lots of fast USB ports (Rear I/O).		1. Expensive motherboard;
2. Priced close to great Z690/Z790 DDR5 options.
3. A few PCIe slots might get covered depending on GPU size;

Specifications:

  • 16+1+1 Power Stages (75A)
  • LAN 2.5Gbps Intel
  • Intel Wi-Fi 6
  • PCI Express 5.0 Support

Storage:

  • 4x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 slot
  • 6x SATA 6Gb/s

USB Back I/O:

  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen2x2 (Type-C)
  • 5x USB 3.2 Gen2
  • 2x USB 2.0

Internal USB Header:

  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 (Type-C)
  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen1 headers (Supports 2x USB 3.2 Gen1 ports)
  • 2x USB 2.0 headers (Supports 4x USB 2.0 ports)
Gigabyte Z690 AORUS ELITE AX DDR4
Pros:Cons:
1. Very capable VRM design;
2. Great specifications/features list;
3. All 4x M.2 slots covered with heatsinks/heat spreaders.		1. Very similar specs to the cheaper Z690 Gaming X DDR4;
2. Priced close to great Z690/Z790 DDR5 options.

Specifications:

  • 16+1+2 Power Stages (70A)
  • LAN 2.5Gbps Realtek
  • Intel Wi-Fi 6
  • PCI Express 5.0 Support

Storage:

  • 4x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 slot
  • 6x SATA 6Gb/s

USB Back I/O:

  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen2x2 (Type-C)
  • 2x USB 3.2 Gen2
  • 3x USB 3.2 Gen1
  • 4x USB 2.0

Internal USB Header:

  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 (Type-C)
  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen1 headers (Supports 2x USB 3.2 Gen1 ports)
  • 2x USB 2.0 headers (Supports 4x USB 2.0 ports)
Gigabyte Z690 AERO G DDR4
Pros:Cons:
1. Great motherboard for Creators and those who need dual USB Type-C;
2. Better features than other dual Type-C motherboards of similar price;
3. Very capable VRM design;
4. All 4x M.2 slots covered with heatsinks/heat spreaders.		1. Similar specs to the Z690 Gaming X DDR4 and Aorus Elite AX;
2. Priced close to great Z690/Z790 DDR5 options.

Specifications:

  • 16+1+2 Power Stages
  • LAN 2.5Gbps Intel
  • Intel Wi-Fi 6
  • PCI Express 5.0 Support

Storage:

  • 4x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 slot
  • 6x SATA 6Gb/s

USB Back I/O:

  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen2x2 (Type-C)
  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen1 (Type-C)
  • 2x USB 3.2 Gen2
  • 4x USB 3.2 Gen1
  • 2x USB 2.0

Internal USB Header:

  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen2x2 (Type-C)
  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen1 headers (Supports 2x USB 3.2 Gen1 ports)
  • 2x USB 2.0 headers (Supports 4x USB 2.0 ports)
ASUS TUF GAMING Z690-PLUS D4 & Z690-PLUS WIFI D4
Pros:Cons:
1. Recommended for those who want a motherboard for overclocking;
2. Dual USB Type-C (back I/O);
3. Very capable VRM design.		1. Expensive motherboard;
2. Only 4x SATA ports;
3. A few PCIe slots might get covered depending on GPU size;
4. Not all M.2 slots covered with heatsinks/heat spreaders;
5. Priced close to great Z690/Z790 DDR5 options.

Specifications:

  • 14+1 Power Stages (80A)
  • LAN 2.5Gbps Intel
  • Intel Wi-Fi 6 (WIFI model)
  • PCI Express 5.0 Support

Storage:

  • 4x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 slot
  • 4x SATA 6Gb/s

USB Back I/O:

  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen2x2 (Type-C)
  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen1 (Type-C)
  • 2x USB 3.2 Gen2
  • 4x USB 3.2 Gen1

Internal USB Header:

  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 (Type-C)
  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen1 headers (Supports 2x USB 3.2 Gen1 ports)
  • 2x USB 2.0 headers (Supports 4x USB 2.0 ports)

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