Intel’s mid-range processor lineup has always been extremely strong, with the i5s being fan favorites.
No matter if you are building a gaming PC or a computer for your home office, the i5 range is the way to go.
The i5 10600K is the processor many consider the best mainstream processor for gamers.
While AMD has competitors in the range, this i5 is one of the best Intel has made in a very long time.
Best Motherboard For i5 10600K Buying Guide
The 6 cores and 12 thread is more than enough for both everyday computing tasks as well as flying through the latest AAA games.
But the processor is only part of the equation. The motherboard you buy to put the processor in is just as important, so you don’t want to cheap out and leave yourself disappointed.
Finding a great motherboard can be difficult with so many options, so we have gone through the trouble and done the legwork for you.
We have scoured the internet for the four best motherboards for the new i5 10600K processor and came back with what we believe are the best of the best for your consideration.
Let’s dive right in and see what each has to offer, and find the perfect motherboard for your next build!
April 2021 Update: Intel has released new 11th-Gen processors. If you’re interested, you can check out the motherboard guide for 11600K too.
1. MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Edge WiFi
- Supports 10th Generation Intel Core / Pentium Gold / Celeron Processors for LGA 1200 socket.Audio ports (Rear): 5 plus Optical S/PDIF (Realtek ALC1200 Codec)
- Supports dual channel DDR4 memory up to 128GB (4800MHz)
- Lightning USB 20G is powered by the ASmedia 3241 USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 controller, offering never before seen USB speeds up to 20Gb/s from the Rear USB Type-C port
MSI makes some of the best gaming motherboards on the market. That is just facts. The MGP Z490 Gaming Edge Wifi is a fantastic motherboard for your i5 10600K.
It has everything you expect from a high tier gaming motherboard and will leave you plenty of room to upgrade your rig with a better processor in the future.
Performance
Given that this is a full-size ATX motherboard, you get all the bells and whistles here.
Four memory slots that support up to a whopping 128GB of RAM. Two PCIe x16 slots to run a single or dual graphics card solution. The list goes on and on.
This motherboard is made on the Z490 chipset. This will give you all the high-end features you expect from a gaming motherboard on the Intel side.
It also provides a nice base for moving up to an i7 or above in the future.
Design
Gorgeous. That is the word that comes to mind when you see this motherboard.
The elegant design is accentuated perfectly by the subtle RGB lighting. This will allow the motherboard to be integrated into any build without issue.
The motherboard is mostly black with silver accents, which give you a ton of options to make your system look good.
Add on a nice RGB CPU cooler, and some case lighting and take the looks to the next level.
Or add nothing, and let the sleek, understated look wow your friends. The choice is yours.
Pros:
- Great design
- Plenty of storage connections
- Full-size ATX with plenty of ports
Cons:
- Not the most flashy RGB
- Realtek network adapter is mediocre
Specs:
| Size | ATX |
| Chipset | Intel Z490 |
| Memory | 4x DDR4 |
| Slots | 2x PCIe 3.0 x16 , 2x PCIe x1 |
| Storage | 2x M.2 , 6x SATA |
| Network Adapter | Realtek RTL8125B 2.5G LAN |
2. GIGABYTE Z490I AORUS Ultra
Best mini-ITX Motherboard For i5 10600K
- Supports 10th Gen Intel Core processors
- Direct 8 Phases Digital VRM with 90A Smart Power Stage with Tantalum Polymer Capacitors Array
- Extended MOSFET Heatsink and Multi-layed PCH M.2 Heatsink with Heatpipes
What if you want to build a tiny computer that still has the horsepower to play the latest games at high quality?
You will need a Mini-ITX motherboard such as this one from GIGABYTE.
It is small enough to fit in any case and gives you the versatility and connectivity to make sure you can use all of your components.
Performance
Packing tons of features into a Mini-ITX motherboard is not easy, and GIGABYTE did the best they could with the small form factor here.
You get the standard 2 memory slots as well as the single high-speed PCIe slot. This gives you all the connectivity you need for creating a console killer gaming rig.
The Z490 chipset is great here just as in the other motherboards in this range and provides all the power you need for years to come.
The Intel network adapter is superb as well, trumping many other network solutions on even more expensive motherboards.
Design
This motherboard is super flashy, especially for a Mini-ITX offering. Generally, these boards are very plain, but the Z490I AORUS Ultra goes a bit beyond.
If you are using a case with a window to see the internals, this is a great option for you.
The basic black creates the canvas for the RGB lighting and gorgeous brushed metallic look on top.
It is quite a stunning look, and they spared no expense on the ambiance, with the backlight bouncing around the inside of the case and shining off the metal.
Pros:
- Small size for any case
- Beautiful design and RGB lighting
- Reinforced PCIe slot to reduce GPU sag
Cons:
- Mini-ITX has limited ports
Specs:
| Size | Mini-ITX |
| Chipset | Intel Z490 |
| Memory | 2x DDR4 |
| Slots | 1x PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| Storage | 2x M.2 Socket 3 , 4x SATA |
| Network Adapter | Intel 2.5GbE LAN |
3. ASUS ROG Strix Z490-E
Best High-End Motherboard For i5 10600K
- Intel LGA 1200 socket: Designed to unleash the maximum performance of 10th Gen Intel Core processors
- Robust Power Solution: 14+2 power stages with ProCool II power connector, high-quality alloy chokes and durable capacitors to provide reliable power even when push the CPU performance to the limit
- Optimized Thermal Design: Except comprehensive heatsink, heatpipe and fan headers, features low-noise AI cooling to balance thermals and acoustics by reducing fan speeds and maintaining a 5 Celsius delta
When you think of high-end motherboards, ASUS is more than likely the first brand that comes to mind.
They have dominated the enthusiast-grade computer market for some time, and their ROG Strix Z490-E is a shining example of that.
If you want the best gaming motherboard around, there is no way you should pass this one by.
Performance
If you are a gaming enthusiast, picking up an extended ATX motherboard is a must.
This will provide you with extra PCIe slots, allowing you to have multiple cards plugged in at the same time.
Want a GPU, sound card, and capture card in your computer? No sweat with this board.
You also get all the features you could ever want with the Z490 chipset that features a fast Intel network adapter.
They spared no expense when it comes to performance with this motherboard, giving you every bell and whistle possible.
Design
If you are a gamer, odds are you are going to love this board. It has RGB lighting all over it.
It is flashy and shiny, and it will look amazing in a gaming case where you can show it off.
While the design is a super positive thing for a gaming build, it could be just as big of an issue if you are going for a more subtle look.
The ROG gaming logo and ASUS branding are flashing and shining bright, and they just lend themselves perfectly to the gamer. Not so much the business person.
Pros:
- Every feature you will ever need
- Awesome gaming aesthetic
- Fast network adapter
Cons:
- The flashy look could be a put-off
Specs:
| Size | E-ATX |
| Chipset | Z490 |
| Memory | 4x DDR4 |
| Slots | 2x PCIe 3.0 x16 , 1x PCIe 3.0 x4 , 3x PCIe 3.0 x1 |
| Storage | 2x M.2 Socket 3 , 6x SATA |
| Network Adapter | Intel I225-V |
4. ASRock Z490M PRO4
Best mATX Motherboard For i5 10600K
- Supports 10 th Gen Intel Core processors (Socket 1200)
- 10 Power Phase Design
- Supports DDR4 4500MHz+ (OC)
Finding the right balance between size and performance is one of the most difficult things about buying a motherboard.
ASRock has created a great compromise with its Z490M PRO4 motherboard.
The Micro-ATX board features plenty of expansion opportunities, while also being small enough to fit in a variety of cases.
Performance
Have we mentioned the Z490 chipset from Intel is very good?
That is the same on this board as all the others, and ASRock has even thrown in some pretty good software on top of it to take it to another level.
We have another Intel network adapter here, which is fantastic as always.
You get 4 full memory slots and 2 full-sized PCIe slots as well.
This gives you all the space you ended for your GPU and memory to crush any game or office application you can imagine.
You will have near limitless power with this board, even at its small size.
Design
There is not a ton to say about the design here. It is not as pleasing to look at as the others.
The harsh contrast between the black and white color scheme is the biggest con of this board, and a definite drawback if you have a themed build.
The weaker RGB lighting on the back of the board pales in comparison to the other motherboards on this list, giving this board the worst design of them all.
It doesn’t have very much going for it.
Pros:
- Micro ATX is the perfect size to performance
- Can fit in almost any case
- A good amount of PCIe slots for expansion
Cons:
- Black and white design is mediocre at best
- The small RGB lighting is barely worth it
Specs:
| Size | Micro-ATX |
| Chipset | Intel Z490 |
| Memory | 4x DDR4 |
| Slots | 2x PCIe 3.0 x16 , 2x PCIe 3.0 x1 |
| Storage | 2x M.2 Socket 3 , 4x SATA |
| Network Adapter | Intel I219-V |
Conclusion
No matter which of the four motherboards above you choose for your build, know that you are getting a high-quality product.
We made sure to include all different sizes of motherboards to ensure you have an option no matter what case or accessories you are using.
We also tried to include a variety of brands for you to choose from, so if you have strong brand loyalty you would have a solid option.
If brand loyalty and size are of no matter to your build, pick the one you think looks the best and performs the best for your rig.
