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X299 Motherboard
10 Best X299 Motherboard For Improved Gaming In 2022
It could be a lot more enjoyable to play games with them! You’ll need a strong motherboard if you want to install the Intel X series chipset. The X299 Motherboard is the solution! The Intel X299 Motherboard is one of the company’s flagship models, supporting a powerful processor. It’s a Platform Controller Hub designed to help with the development of high-end CPUs. Simply put, it delivers optimal performance whether playing games or when supporting a high-end GPU and CPU. The X299 chipset is a HEDT chipset that primarily supports Intel HEDT CPUs of the seventh generation, however, support for the ninth generation was introduced as a BIOS (Software) update on many motherboards because the socket remained unchanged.
The X299 chipset has a number of advantages over standard chipsets such as the Z370 used in the i7 8700k and the B360. Support for Quad-Channel RAM is one of the most notable benefits among them. This is a point of contention when people compare the X299 to the Z370, which is OK, but it deserves its own page. Regardless, here is the finest X299 Motherboard guide, which will help you buy the motherboard you want at a reasonable price. Intel has a number of X299 Motherboards on the market, and choosing the best one will take some time. We’ve compiled a list of the best X299 Motherboards for you to consider.
10 Best X299 Motherboard List
10 Best X299 Motherboard Review
#1. Best Overall X299 Motherboard – 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
The ASUS ROG Rampage series motherboards are the premium HEDT motherboards, offering high performance and features. The Rampage VI Hardcore Omega is the best motherboard among the Rampage variations, but it is expensive, thus only extreme aficionados want it. The motherboard has simple heatsinks all over but the RGB lighting is stunning. The motherboard also incorporates an OLED display, 10-Gbps LAN, DIMM.2 slot, and Fan Extension Card II. The rear has ten USB 3.1 Gen1 ports, three USB 3.1 Gen2 ports (2 Type-A, 1 Type-C) and a 10 Gbps LAN port through Aquantia AQC-107 controller.
The rear additionally has a Clear CMOS button and LED-illuminated audio connectors. The board has six SATA3 ports, one U.2 port, and two M.2 slots, one 2280 and the other 22110. The DIMM.2 add-in card can also be used to install extra M.2 drives. The motherboard has two AuraSync RGB and three chassis fan headers. The Fan Extension Card II has six additional fan headers, three thermal sensor headers, and three RGB headers. The motherboard’s 8-phase VRM with twin power stages is actively cooled by a huge heatsink and two fans, allowing you to thermally throttle even the 18-core processor. The motherboard has two 8-pin ATX power connectors for overclocking the processor, one of which is optional and should be used for extreme overclocking. The motherboard supports up to 4266 MHz memory and up to 128 GB memory.
#2. Best Feature Rich X299 Motherboard – 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
The MSI MEG X299 Creation is a premium motherboard for the X299 platform, packed with features for storage enthusiasts. MEG stands for MSI Enthusiast Gaming, indicating that this is one of MSI’s top motherboards. The motherboard has a unique design with large heatsinks and many attachments, one of which is the Xpander Aero M.2 add-in card. One Type-A port and one Type-C port are on the back. There is also a Clear CMOS and BIOS Flashback button, which allows the user to simply alter the BIOS. The add-in card provides two Thunderbolt and two DP 1.2 ports. Concerning storage, the motherboard supports eight SATA3 ports, one U.2 connector, and three M.2 slots, with the Xpander Aero add-in card supporting four more M.2 devices.
For most setups, the motherboard’s eight 4-pin fan headers will be sufficient. The motherboard’s VRM has 13+1 phases, which is overkill for most situations yet enables for extreme overclocking. The motherboard has three 8-pin ATX power connectors and supports memory rates up to 4200 MHz. The MSI MEG X299 Creation is a superb deal among premium-quality X299 motherboards, and its accessories easily justify its price. Thus, this motherboard is ideal for those who require a “All-In-One” solution.
#3. Best X299 Motherboard For Overclocking – 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 is a motherboard designed for overclocking enthusiasts. The motherboard has a modest design with a heatsink with aluminium fins for the VRM and two small fans to actively cool it. The motherboard only has four DIMM slots, which allows for extreme overclocking by matching the number of channels to the number of memory sticks. The motherboard has six USB 3.0 and two USB 3.1 connections at the back (1 x Type-A and 1 x Type-C). Along with the USB ports is a CMOS reset button for resetting the BIOS. A duplicate of the motherboard PCB is included in the accessories, which offers information about the motherboard’s features.
Check Guide to Buying Best i9 9900k Motherboards The motherboard has eight SATA3 ports, two U.2 ports, and three M.2 slots, one of which is an E-key and two of which are M.2 22110 slots. The SouthBridge heatsink. the fan also directs air onto the M.2 slots, providing greater thermals than passive cooling. The motherboard has seven fan headers, two of which support solely PWM and five of which support both PWM and DC. EVGA has filled a 16-phase VRM on this motherboard, which is why this motherboard can readily tolerate LN2-based overclocking and utilising two 8-pin ATX power connections. The EVGA X299 DARK is an overclocker’s dream.
#4. Best Uniquely Designed X299 Motherboard – GIGABYTE X299 DESIGNARE EX
Socket: LGA-2066 | Chipset: X299 | FormFactor: E-ATX | Audio: Realtek ALC1220 codec | Wireless: AC 8265 Wireless Module | No. of PCIe Slots: 5 | No. of M.2 Slots: 3
The GIGABYTE X299 DESIGNARE EX comes with a new VRM, enhanced cooling for the VRM, and a new theme. The heatsinks have a default grey motif with blue LED illumination, but the user can alter the lighting to RGB. The motherboard has reinforced RAM and PCIe slots for added endurance, and the heatsinks are already grey. With an integrated I/O shield and only four USB 3.1 ports at the back, this is one of the few motherboards that natively supports Thunderbolt3. Two DP-In ports are located at the back for diverse uses.
The motherboard has eight SATA3 ports and three M.2 slots, two of which support 2280 and one 22110. The heatsinks are included in all three M.2 slots to prevent thermal throttling. One of the eight fan connectors is used by the fan covering the VRM heatsink. Identical Motherboards: Motherboards B350 The motherboard contains two 8-pin ATX power headers and doubled 6-phases for an effective 12-phase VRM. This motherboard has the outstanding appearance, strong performance, and the latest industry-leading I/O ports.
#5. Best Value X299 Motherboard – ASRock X299 TAICHI XE
Socket: LGA-2066 | Chipset: X299 | FormFactor: E-ATX | Audio: Realtek ALC1220 Codec | Wireless: Intel 802.11ac WiFi Module | No. of PCIe Slots: 5 | No. of M.2 Slots: 3
The ASRock X299 TAICHI XE is the successor to the ASRock X299 TAICHI and features improvements in power delivery and VRM cooling. The SouthBridge heat-sink on the motherboard is shaped like a mechanical gear. This is a Taichi trademark and looks great inside the case. The back has four USB 3.1 ports, one USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-A and one Type-C. The motherboard also has buttons for BIOS Flashback and CMOS cleaning, as well as two connections for WIFI antennas.
This motherboard has ten SATA3 ports and three M.2 slots (two M-key 2280 and one M-key 22110), but there is no heatsink above the M.2 slots, therefore high-end SSDs may get thermal throttled. Except for the CPU fan header, which only supports PWM, this motherboard has five fan headers. Also Look: Motherboards X399/TR4 The Taichi XE has a 12+1 phase design, which is an improvement over the predecessor. In addition, the VRM cooling has been upgraded to a thick heat pipe that covers the I/O ports. This motherboard has two 8-pin ATX power headers for easy overclocking of high-end HEDT processors. This motherboard strikes a good compromise between functionality and affordability, making it appealing to those on a tight budget who want to build their dream HEDT system. Nota: This is a review, for a global motherboard guide, click here.
#6. Best High-End X299 Motherboard – MSI X299 Gaming PRO Carbon AC
The Gaming Pro Carbon AC is powered by MSI’s XPower Gaming series, which offers significant overclocking possibilities. We’re talking dual PCIe 3.0 x4 M. 2 slots, USB 3.1, Type-C driver, and all other standards.
This beauty not only looks good but also performs well. We have no complaints about prowess, given its stability even when overclocked. What more can you ask for from a high-end gaming motherboard? Basically, most of these boards benefit from the X299 chipset and its features. The MSI X299 Gaming PRO Carbon AC is a hardcore gaming ready overclockable beast. The X299 motherboard also contains a Game Boost knob that enables you to choose between several overclocking modes. It has the typical 8x DDR4 DIMM slots but with a stainless steel top. The gold-plated audio jacks and the stylish M.2 slots got the same treatment.
The Intel 8265 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth module has a high-end optimized performance. Because it is an ATX motherboard, it has a lot of expansion potential. You receive a mix of slots, but not everything will fit. For example, despite nine ports (10Gbps 5Gbps USB), 3 M.2 slots, 1 U.2 slot, and plenty of PCIe slots, you must control sizes. For example, the SATA ports at the bottom of the Game Boost knob may pose size restrictions when using 3-way SLI. You can use the U.2 slot to overcome this. Three x16 slots, first, third, and fourth, support 3-way SLI. Finally, MSI has emphasized the board’s appearance in the product’s name. You receive a carbon fiber finish with linings. The dark tint was too dark for some of us. Isn’t that great?
#7. Best Overall X299 Motherboard – GIGABYTE X299 AORUS Gaming 7
Aesthetics is one of the many elements that a high-end product must fulfil. Gigabyte has amazing digital RGB support. But there’s more. Because of this, the AORUS Gaming 7 has the finest VRM to date, making it the most effective against heat.
There are many ports, connectivity, and general features, a powerful fan, and support for up to eight different fan sizes and designs. GIGABYTE X299 AORUS Gaming 7 is the way to go for ten core or less. The Gaming 7 Pro edition accomplishes a couple things better than this one. But for our overall best category, we need a solution that covers additional categories, including affordability. Nonetheless, Gaming 7 is cheaper than the X299 AORUS Gaming 9. The VRM, while not as good as the Gaming 7 PRO’s, is still superior to other similarly priced motherboards.
There are high-quality inductors, a heat pipe, and two heatsinks, one at the back. It also has specific overclocking capabilities such enabled XMP and the same BIOS and VRM as the Gaming 9. It supports 8x DIMM and DDR4 memory and is XMP Ready. With 2x PCIe x16 slots, 1x PCIe x16 slot, and 2x PCIe x16 slots, there are plenty of options. There are also M.2 and USB 3.1 choices. It also offers 3-way SLI like the MSI X299 above. No 4-way SLI yet.
However, if you have a 16 lane CPU, you won’t be able to construct a 2-way SLI setup. Because of this, SLI-based multi-GPU activity will be limited. But 8x and 4x AMD CrossFire are supported. There was only one redundancy element in the MSI motherboard. If you install your M.2 SATA in the heatsink slot, at least four of the eight SATA ports may fail. To avoid this and use all ports, you must first install your drive in the top port.
#8. Best Budget X299 Motherboard – ASUS PRIME X299-A
Don’t think you have the budget for real HEDT? How about this incredible ASUS computer gear that costs nothing?! Demands will have to be reduced, but the end product is worth the money and the spectacle.
It’s an ATX motherboard, thus it’s bigger. But the limitation is ASUS’s feature reduction. Even so, you’ll save 50% on 3-way SLI and CrossFire, RGB lighting, UEFI BIOS, Optane Memory, and ASUS SafeSlot. The Prime X299-A, ROG Strix X299-E Gaming, and Prime X299-Deluxe are all part of the same range. The X299-A is not only the cheapest, but it also matches the quality of the more expensive models. For a significant improvement over this motherboard, a significant increase in spending is required. If you aren’t doing that, spending a bit more won’t make much of a difference. You should compromise with the X200-A’s feature set and the X299-E Gaming’s small storage performance reductions.
The low power consumption makes it ideal for cost-effective solutions. Remember, this is an overclockable motherboard. And when you use additional DDR and VCORE, it consumes the same as the other two ASUS models. In terms of ports, the story is the same: less variety keeps the price down. 8 DDR4 DIMM (6+ core), 4 DDR4 DIMM (4 core), and 3 PCIe 3.0 x16 extension slots for each of the 44, 28, and 16 lane CPUs. There are additionally x4 and x1 PCIe 3.0 slots. In summary, all common features are fully supported, whether it’s extension or connectivity.
The hitch is that the motherboard will also support Extreme Memory Profile (XMP), despite having a lesser 3600MHz OC maximum capacity than others. Isn’t it too Maybe you haven’t looked closely? The new trendy appearance of the motherboard strives to stand out from the traditional dark-toned components of your gaming PC. White and silver hues make the interiors of PC cases considerably more themed than the normal (read: dark) motherboard colors.
#9. MSI Pro X299 Raider
The MSI Pro X299 Raider is a great match for Intel Skylake-X processors. The X299 Raider trims the glitter to make the X299 platform more accessible while keeping all the basics. The board is mostly black and grey with a few RGB effects. The RGB lighting is only observed on the chipset and CPU VRM heatsinks. Sure, there are enough RGB headers to make it your own. The X299 Raider makes optimal use of Skylake-44 X’s PCI Express lanes, making it one of the best X299 motherboards for workstations.
The front panel USB 3.1 header and U.2 port are a nice touch. MSI lacks debug LEDs, onboard Power and resets buttons, dual BIOS switch, clear CMOS, and BIOS flashback buttons, making it impossible for overclockers and tweakers to restore default settings in the BIOS. For those looking to push their CPUs to their boundaries, MSI offers a single block of aluminum for VRM cooling with no Heatpipe.
The Raider excels in both gaming and workstation applications. The onboard audio has low total harmonic distortion and a wide dynamic range. Overclockers will be thrilled, as 4.6 GHz at 1.2 V should be achievable. Further pushing necessitates more cooling. Power consumption is expected and should not be a concern. Just make sure the VRM is properly cooled to avoid throttling. The X299 Raider performs well in synthetic CPU testing, both single and multi-core. Memory performance is also competitive. Overall, the MSI Pro X299 Raider is a worthy addition to any X299 build.
#10. Gigabyte X299 Aorus Ultra Gaming Pro
The Gigabyte X299 Aorus Ultra Gaming Pro is a great deal for Skylake-X systems. The board’s design is similar to other Aorus-branded boards we’ve seen. The Aorus Ultra sports an 8-phase VRM with high-quality inductors for clean processor power. You also receive RGB and fan headers. The RGB Fusion programme can control the effects on the DIMM slots, PCI Express slots, chipset, and I/O panel.
Two USB 3.1 headers are onboard, one of which is Type-C. The Intel Skylake-X CPUs have enough PCI Express lanes to accommodate all three M.2 slots at full PCI Express x4 speeds. The Aorus Ultra Gaming Pro has five PCI Express slots, two x16 and two x8 for the CPU, and two x4 for the chipset.
The board provides good audio quality and the Realtek ALC1220 codec is insulated from EMI with a soldered cover. The BIOS is feature-rich and provides good overclocking controls. This is one of the top X299 gaming motherboards due to the PCI Express slots. If you want to use twin GPUs, you should use AMD CrossFire rather than NVIDIA SLI.
#11. EVGA X299 FTW K
We haven’t seen many EVGA boards, but the X299 FTW jumps out. For those who like less invasive RGB, this board is for you. The EVGA X299 FTW has two U.2 slots, which even more expensive boards don’t have. U.2 is more flexible than M.2 and is employed in the enterprise. You also have four PCI Express x8 slots for 3-way SLI and CrossFire. The ‘K’ in the model name refers to Killer, a dedicated gaming wireless AC network card. EVGA calls this a gamer’s board, however the only RGB components are the heatsink, I/O back panel, and audio shrouds. EVGA has enough fan headers for DIY enthusiasts.
The X299 FTW K has a lot to offer overclockers. The BIOS is neatly set out, although compared to others in the category, it seems rudimentary. However, all critical elements are easily accessible. The board’s performance is comparable to the rest. Power consumption is predicted, and consumers will not be affected by poor VRM power delivery. Boot times are also great. The EVGA X29 FTW K is a fantastic mid-range board that complements the Intel Core i9-7900X processor.
#12. ASRock X299 Taichi
The ASRock X299 Taichi brings the finest of the Taichi brand to the Intel HEDT market. The board is well-organized and comes with nice extras. The X299 Taichi is a fan favourite. There are several fan and RGB headers, as well as gold-plated audio jacks. The board has four PCI Express slots, and the configuration depends on the CPU. In the case of 44-lane CPUs like Skylake-X, the slots are set to 16/8/16/8 or 8/8/16/8. x16/x0/x0/x0 or x8/x0/x4/x0 for 16-lane CPUs. If you utilise a 16-lane CPU on this board, you can use dual AMD GPUs in CrossFireX but not SLI. The M.2 slots’ speeds are also dependent on the CPU.
No matter what PCI Express speed you use, M2 1 is directly connected to the CPU. So we propose only using HEDT Skylake-X CPUs with this motherboard to achieve optimal component performance. Overall, ASRock did well with the X299 Taichi. The build quality, performance, and BIOS choices are all excellent. It even has Thunderbolt 3. The VRM is superb, and the included heatsink keeps temperatures in check. A lot of feedback mechanisms enable proper power management. Overall, the ASRock X299 Taichi is one of the best X299 motherboards around $300.
#13. Asus WS X299 Sage
The Asus WS X299 Sage is both a workstation and gaming motherboard. A lot of enterprise-ready capabilities and a CEB form factor that fits most workstations and servers. The Intel X299 Sage is one of the most feature-rich boards for Skylake-X. It supports up to 4133 MHz quad-channel DDR4 RAM. 8 SATA ports, 1 M.2 2280 slot, and 2 U.2 ports handle storage. The X299 Sage has seven PCI Express slots, which makes it stand out. That’s a big deal for any motherboard and helps you maximize the Core i9-PCI 7980XE’s Express lanes. The Sage also has a TDP of 460 W while the Core i9-7980XE has a TDP of 165 W.
This is due to the top of the line cooling and power delivery technologies. Because the CEB form factor allows for a more fair distribution of PCB components, you won’t run out of space even if you fill all 8 DIMMs or most PCI Express slots. The Sage has enough RGB and fan headers for a board aimed at workstations. In gaming benchmarks, the Sage is competitive with more gaming-oriented consumer boards, despite being marketed as a motherboard for serious pros.
The BIOS is highly featured, and the options provided can be somewhat confusing. One of the most helpful software utilities on Asus boards is Ramcache, which exploits unused system RAM as storage space for blistering read and write performance. Sage’s extensive feature set means it is not for everyone. If you don’t fill at least four of the seven PCI Express slots, you should seriously consider whether you need this beast.
Frequently Asked Questions – Best X299 Motherboard For Improved Gaming
Q #1) What is X299 Motherboard? Answer:
Alternatively known as the Basin Falls, Intel X299 is basically a Platform Controller Hub. It is specifically manufactured for high-end desktop programming laptops. In simple terms, the X299 is a specific set of motherboard used to support the Intel Core X-series processors. They are superfast in nature and can also bear a high clock speed from the processor.
Q #2) What socket is X299? Answer:
The X299 comes with a powerful socket that allows you to configure a gaming processor and multiple other hardware components. Specifically, most of the X299 motherboards do come with the use of the Socket 2066 ATX socket. There are multiple models as well that use the LGA 2066 socket. However, both these sockets have a similar output for your use.
Q #3) What is the best X299 motherboard? Answer:
There are many X299 motherboards available that can perform well for gaming needs. Obviously, the one that you choose must support a good processor and compatible OS as well. You can alternatively pick some of the best after going through X299 motherboard reviews.
- ASUS ROG Strix X299-E Gaming
- Gigabyte X299 UD4 Pro
- ASUS Prime X299-Deluxe II X299 Motherboard
- EVGA X299 Dark
- Gigabyte X299X AORUS Master
Q #4) Does X299 support Xeon? Answer:
Xenon chipsets require a different platform for operation. Most of them will not be compatible with the X299 motherboards. This is mainly because the Xeon processors are compatible with the C400 chipset series. They are manufactured to be workstation processors. Thus, the X299 motherboard may not be an ideal thing to look for.
Q #5) Is X299 good for gaming? Answer:
The X299 supports a ring cache that is quite rigid for playing games. On the other hand, the X299 comes with a mesh cache that can boost gaming performance. There are multiple Intel processors that your motherboard might complement while using a good GPU and a high RAM space. Overall, the X299 is a good gaming product that serves your needs.
Summary – Best X299 Motherboard For Improved Gaming
Before selecting any motherboard, some factors need to be considered, including your workflow, overclocking potential, current and future expandability, and customization options. Except for the ASRock X299E-ITX/ac, all other X299 boards come in the ATX form factor to allow for better airflow and a larger scope for expansion.