Intel Core-X Processors are high-end processors from Intel that are aimed at providing top-notch performance in high-end gaming and professional work. The Intel Core X-series Processors include Intel Core i9-7900X, Intel Core i7-7820X, Intel Core i7-7800X, Intel Core i7-7740X, and Intel Core i5-7640X. These are among the top-of-the-line desktop Intel CPUs and they require LGA 2066 Socket motherboard.
Socket 2066 motherboards are based on the Intel X299 Chipset and have support for the latest Intel Optane Memory. These are all high-end motherboards and they do not come with onboard or integrated graphics. This means you have to buy a good graphics card for them. All the Intel X299 chipset motherboards support overclocking of both processor and RAM. These Socket 2066 motherboards are suited for building a high-end gaming PC or a high-performance workstation for heavy-duty professional work. Here I am going to list down the best X299 motherboards for all budgets for the latest Intel Core-X series processors.
Must Read:
- Best Z370 Motherboards for Intel Coffee Lake Processors
- Best Z390 Motherboards for Intel Coffee Lake Processors
Note: All the below-mentioned Intel X299 chipset motherboards have ATX Form factor and for them, you do require a good mid-tower or full-tower case. Also, you may have to update the BIOS on some motherboards if somehow it is not supporting your Intel Core-X series processor or you are facing some compatibility issues.
Also Read: Best Intel X99 Motherboards for Gaming & Work
Budget X299 Motherboards for Gaming and Work
Here are the most affordable X299 motherboards that you can get for your Intel Core-X series processors (Skylake-X & Kaby Lake-X) for building a gaming PC or a workstation.
MSI X299 TOMAHAWK Motherboard
This is a great X299 motherboard for the money. MSI X299 TOMAHAWK is a strongly built motherboard and it comes with a huge number of features and is VR Ready too. This motherboard can be used for building a powerful gaming PC or a workstation. This is an ATX motherboard and it comes with advanced connectivity storage options that include M.2 and U.2 slots for connecting Solid State Drives.
MSI X299 TOMAHAWK comes with four PCI Express x16 slots (Gen. 3) and supports both Nvidia SLI and AMD CrossFire multi-GPU technologies (3-Way NVIDIA SLI & 3-Way AMD Crossfire). Other features include RBG LED Lighting, Intel Optane Memory support, DDR4 Boost, Click BIOS 5, Steel Armor PCI-E slots, VR Boost and more. Overall it is a nice value for money (VFM) LGA 2066 motherboard for gamers and enthusiasts.
| MSI X299 TOMAHAWK Motherboard Specifications | |
| Socket Type | LGA 2066 |
| Form Factor | ATX |
| Chipset | Intel X299 |
| Processor Support | Intel Core-X Series Processors [Socket 2066] |
| RAM Support | DDR4 4133+ (OC), up to 128 GB, Quad Channel |
| Overclocking | Yes |
| VR Ready | Yes |
| Slots | DIMM x 8, PCI-E x16 x 4, PCI-E x1 x 2, M.2, U.2 |
| Ports | SATA III x 8, USB 3.1 x 11 (9 Type-A + 2 Type C), USB 2.0 x 7 |
| Features | VR Ready, SLI and Crossfire support, Gaming LAN, Audio Boost 4, STEEL ARMOR PCI-E slots, Intel Optane Memory support, RGB LED, Windows 10 Ready, UEFI BIOS. Optical Audio |
Buy MSI X299 TOMAHAWK Motherboard
ASUS PRIME X299-A Motherboard
A stable, stylish, reliable, feature-rich, and affordable X299 motherboard from Asus. Unlike MSI X299 TOMAHAWK, ASUS PRIME X299-A ATX Motherboard only comes with three PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots but even then it does support NVIDIA 3-Way SLI and AMD 3-Way GPU CrossFireX Technology.
The motherboard comes with an M.2 slot (with heatsink) for SATA SSDs but lacks a U.2 port/connector. Major features of this Socket 2066 motherboard from Asus includes Intel Optane Memory Support, 8 channel audio, Intel Gigabit LAN, AURA SYNC RGB LED, and Asus SafeSlot. This motherboard has good overclocking capabilities and is also very reasonably priced. Overall it is a solid motherboard that is backed by the reliability of Asus.
| ASUS PRIME X299-A Motherboard Specifications | |
| Socket Type | LGA 2066 |
| Form Factor | ATX |
| Chipset | Intel X299 |
| Processor Support | Intel Core-X Series Processors [Socket 2066] |
| RAM Support | DDR4 4000 (O.C.), up to 128 GB, Quad Channel |
| Overclocking | Yes |
| VR Ready | Yes |
| Slots | DIMM x 8, PCI-E x16 x 3, PCI-E x1 x 1, PCIe 3.0 x4 x 2, M.2 @ 32Gb/s |
| Ports | SATA III x 8 @ 6Gbps, USB 3.1 x 11, USB 2.0 x 4 |
| Features | Aura Sync RGB LED lighting, SLI and CrossFire support, Asus SafeSlot, 8 channel onboard audio, Intel Gigabit LAN, UEFI BIOS, Intel Optane Memory support, DIGI+ Power Control & EPU, Windows 10 Ready |
Buy ASUS PRIME X299-A Motherboard
ASUS TUF X299 MARK 2 Motherboard
Another good Asus motherboard that is built on the Intel X299 chipset. This is a very sturdy motherboard and is very stable during overclocking or normal use. This is a TUF series Asus motherboard which means it is made from certified military-grade caps, chokes & MOSFETs for heavy-duty performance or operations.
The motherboard comes with three PCI Express 3.0 x16 slots and supports 3-way SLI/CFX multi-GPU technologies. It comes with dual M.2 sockets that support both SATA and PCIe NVMe Solid State Drives. Major features of this motherboard include Intel Optane Memory support, RGB LED Lighting, Asus SafeSlot (sturdy slot for graphics card), onboard Audio & LAN, and Windows 10 operating system support. So if you are looking for a feature-rich, high-performance and tough X299 motherboard then keep this one in your mind.
| ASUS TUF X299 MARK 2 Motherboard Specifications | |
| Socket Type | LGA 2066 |
| Form Factor | ATX |
| Chipset | Intel X299 |
| Processor Support | Intel Core-X Series Processors [Socket 2066] |
| RAM Support | DDR4 4133 (O.C.), up to 128 GB, Quad Channel |
| Overclocking | Yes |
| VR Ready | Yes |
| 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 & PCI-E 3.0 x 4 mode) x 2 |
| Ports | SATA III x 6, USB 3.1 x 10, USB 2.0 x 6 |
| Features | Intel Optane Memory Ready, DIGI+ Power Control & EPU, 3-way SLI/CFX Support, 8 CH audio, Intel Gigabit LAN, UEFI BIOS, Asus SafeSlot, ASUS Aura Sync RGB Lighting, Windows 10 Ready |
Buy ASUS X299 MARK 2 Motherboard
High-end X299 Gaming Motherboards for Ultimate Performance
Here are the best high-end X99 motherboards for LGA 2066 Intel Core-X series processors. These are top-of-the-range X299 motherboards and they offer amazing performance, lots of features, and expansion ports/slots.
GIGABYTE X299 AORUS Gaming 7 Motherboard
This is a stylish and high-end X299 Motherboard from the gaming brand of Gigabyte which is AORUS. GIGABYTE X299 AORUS Gaming 7 Motherboard is among the best Intel X299 gaming motherboards and it comes with tons of features and advanced expansion ports. This gaming x299 motherboard comes with five PCI Express x16 slots and supports Nvidia 3-Way SLI and AMD 3-Way CrossFire multi-GPU technologies.
GIGABYTE X299 AORUS Gaming 7 Motherboard packs a lot of power and features as it comes with three M.2 slots for SATA and NVMe PCIe SSDs, U.2 support, and Thunderbolt 3 support via AIC (Add-in Card). Other features of this Socket 2066 gaming motherboard include RGB Fusion LED Lighting, USB DAC-UP 2 with Adjustable Voltage, Intel Optane Memory support, Intel VROC support, and Server-Class Digital Power design, Sound BlasterX 720° audio engine for gaming, dual Armor PCIe slots, UEFI BIOS and more. There is also a higher variant available of this motherboard which is GIGABYTE X299 AORUS Gaming 9. It is a bit more expensive and the only additional thing it has is the better and more powerful Audio (with TI Burr Brown OPA1622 operational amplifier). You can check out both variants from the links given below.
| GIGABYTE X299 AORUS Gaming 7 Motherboard Specifications | |
| Socket Type | LGA 2066 |
| Form Factor | ATX |
| Chipset | Intel X299 |
| Processor Support | Intel Core-X Series Processors in LGA2066 package |
| RAM Support | DDR4 4400 (O.C.), up to 128GB, Quad Channel |
| Overclocking | Yes |
| VR Ready | Yes |
| Slots | DIMM x 8, PCI-E x16 x 5, M.2 x 3 (NVMe & SATA SSD), U.2 support by optional adapter |
| Ports | SATA III x 8, USB 3.1 x 16 (Type-C + Type A), USB 2.0 x 4 |
| Features | Intel Optane Memory Ready, RGB LED Lighting, Quad GPU SLI and CrossFire support, Realtek 7.1 channel onboard audio, Gigabit LAN, Killer Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1, Intel VROC Ready, Thunderbolt 3 support via AIC, RGB Fusion LED Lighting, USB DAC-UP 2 with Adjustable Voltage, UEFI BIOS, Smart Fan 5, ESS SABRE DAC, Server-Class Digital Power Design, ESS Sabre Audio |
Buy GIGABYTE X299 AORUS Gaming 7 Motherboard
Buy GIGABYTE X299 AORUS Gaming 9 Motherboard
MSI X299 GAMING M7 ACK Motherboard
This is a high-end gaming motherboard from MSI based on the Intel X299 chipset. MSI X299 GAMING M7 ACK is a great-looking motherboard and comes with lots of features and all the latest ports. It has got four PCIe 3.0 x16 slots and supports 3-Way NVIDIA SLI & 3-Way AMD Crossfire multi-GPU technology.
It also includes one U.2 port along with two M.2 ports for SATA and NVMe PCI-Express Solid State Drives. Without a doubt, it is one of the best X299 gaming motherboards and comes with features like Intel Optane Memory support, VR support, RGB LED Lighting, Killer Wi-Fi & LAN, Onboard 8 channel audio, 12-phase power design for maximum stability, and more. So if you want the best X299 gaming motherboard from MSI then you cannot get better than this.
| MSI X299 GAMING M7 ACK Motherboard Specifications | |
| Socket Type | LGA 2066 |
| Form Factor | ATX |
| Chipset | Intel X299 |
| Processor Support | Intel Core-X Series Processors [Socket 2066] |
| RAM Support | DDR4 4133+ (O.C.), up to 128GB, Quad Channel |
| Overclocking | Yes |
| VR Ready | Yes |
| Slots | DIMM x 8, PCI-E x16 x 4, PCI-E x1 x 1, M.2 x 2, U.2 |
| Ports | SATA III x 8, USB 3.1 x 11 (Type-A + Type-C), USB 2.0 x 7 |
| Features | Intel Optane Memory Ready, RGB LED Lighting, SLI & CrossFire support, Audio Boost 4 PRO, Mystic Light RGB Lighting, DDR4 Boost with Steel Armor, 3D Printing Support, M.2 SHIELD FROZR, PCI-E Steel Armor, Killer Gaming Wi-Fi, Killer Gaming LAN, Watercooling ready, 12 Phase Power Design, Gamer’s BIOS |
Buy MSI X299 GAMING M7 ACK Motherboard
ASUS PRIME X299-DELUXE Motherboard
ASUS PRIME X299-DELUXE is the bigger brother of the previously mentioned ASUS PRIME X299-A motherboard in this list. ASUS PRIME X299-DELUXE is a high-end X299 gaming motherboard from Asus and it comes with a solid list of features and delivers amazing performance both in gaming and heavy-duty professional tasks.
The motherboard comes with four PCIe x16 slots and supports Nvidia 3-Way SLI and AMD 3-Way CrossFire multi-GPU configurations. It also comes with dual M.2 slots and one U.2 port for NVMe PCI Express Solid State Drives. The build quality of this motherboard is rock solid and it has great cooling support for all its components. It comes with features like Asus Sync RGB LED Lighting, dual Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Asus SafeSlot, Intel Optane Memory support, onboard 8-channel audio, Dual Intel LAN, M.2 heatsink, and more. So if you are an Asus fan and want a top X299 Asus motherboard then this motherboard will not disappoint you.
| ASUS PRIME X299-DELUXE Motherboard Specifications | |
| Socket Type | LGA 2066 |
| Form Factor | ATX |
| Chipset | Intel X299 |
| Processor Support | Intel Core-X Series Processors [Socket 2066] |
| RAM Support | DDR4 4133 (O.C.), up to 128GB, Quad Channel |
| Overclocking | Yes |
| VR Ready | Yes |
| Slots | DIMM x 8, PCIe x16 x 4, PCIe x1 x 1, M.2 x 2, U.2 port |
| Ports | SATA III x 7, USB 3.1 x 13 (Type-C + Type A), USB 2.0 x 6 |
| Features | Intel Optane Memory Ready, Aura Sync RGB LED Lighting, 8 Channel Audio, dual Intel LAN, Dual-Band Wi-Fi & Bluetooth, Asus SafeSlot, UEFI BIOS, Thunderbolt 3 support, M.2 heatsink, Quad GPU SLI & CrossFire support, Digi+Power Control Windows 10 Ready |
Buy ASUS PRIME X299-DELUXE Motherboard
Final Words
In the end, I would only like to say that if you want to build an extreme gaming PC or workstation using Intel Core-X series processors then the above-mentioned Intel X299 chipset motherboards will not let you down. They have got the power, and features and are very reliable. If you have any queries or doubts then feel free to ask me by leaving a comment below.
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![Budget Coffee Lake Motherboards [Intel H370, B360 & H310 Chipset]](https://graphicscardhub.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Gigabyte-H370-AORUS-GAMING-3-WIFI-211x150.jpg "Budget Coffee Lake Motherboards [Intel H370, B360 & H310 Chipset]")
Hi Akshat,
What do you think of the ASRock x299 Fatality?
Mike
Fatality series from Asrock is always good. Here for X299 chipset in Fatality series, you will get two motherboards, Fatal1ty X299 Professional Gaming i9 and Fatal1ty X299 Gaming K6. I advise you to go for Fatal1ty X299 Gaming K6 as it is a bit cheaper and comes with all high-end features.
I want to build a trading computer using I7 7820x@3.6GB. I am not a gamer but only a stock trader. What would you recommend for speed. I don’t care about RGB LEDs. Looking to get the best but price does matter. Everything I read about is geared to gaming. Does trading stocks require the same standards? Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Hello,
A gaming computer can do almost anything as it packs enormous amount of power in all areas i.e. processing, graphics, memory. But for trading computer you won’t need those fancy RGB LEDs and a top end graphics card. My recommendation for your trading computer:
Motherboard -> choose any budget X299 motherboard mentioned in this list
RAM -> 8GB / 16GB Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 2400 MHz (https://graphicscardhub.com/low-profile-ram/)
Graphics Card -> Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Windforce OC 4G (https://graphicscardhub.com/best-gtx-1050-ti/) It has got 5 video ports (3 HDMI, DP, DVI) which lets you connect 5 monitors.
Hard Drive -> WD Blue 1TB (7200 RPM)
If you have any more queries then feel free to ask.
I want to build a very fast and stable workstation, that can easily handle Adobe’s Lightroom and Photoshop (as well as a couple plug-ins). I’m tired of comsumer, out of the box compiters that can’t handle it and are dragging slow, which tears my hands up. This will be the first time for me to attempt to build a workstation. I trying to design the best (to a point) and then scale back to what I can afford. I have been looking at the ASUS prime X299 Deluxe and and WS X299 Sage with Intel i7 7820x or i9 7900X and NVIDIA Quadro P4000. I also want to utilize the m.2 NVMe PCIe SSDs. I know I need to cool those as well. I would also like to install the fastest, largest RAM that is usable. I would love someone else’s thoughts on this. Am I even going in the right direction? Thank you for you time and any information you could share.
Yes you are in the right direction. For processor go for Intel Core i7-7820X as it packs great performance and is relatively affordable. Intel Core i9-7900X has overheating issues and not worth the price. For motherboard I would say ASUS Prime X299 Deluxe is enough, and Quadro P4000 is also great for graphics card.
What about ASUS X299 WS Pro or WS Sage / Sage 10G? What about MSI MEG X299 Creation? What about Aorus X299 Master? What about ASUS Prime Deluxe II?… What about doins a REAL review about X299 rather than always looking up things from a geamer’s standpoint (a gamer would be an idiot to buy a X299, if solely seeking the best profrmance for gaming – and sane people who buy X299 do it for highly iterative calculations, content creation etc.).
Hi Akshat,
Your article is very helpful and I am really happy to receive all the required information at one place. I need some help from your side. I am building a PC with E-ATX form factors and shortlisted MSI creation X299 and Gigabyte AOrus Master x299. No i would like to buy the the motherboard which will give me best value for Money. If there is any other MOBO in the price range of Rs 50,000 then please also recommend it. My primary concern is get a solid all around performance motherboard with no restrictions on future technology adaption, expandability, Overclocking, Superior cooling. Thanks a lot
Both are excellent motherboards and you cannot go wrong with any one of them. However, MSI Creation X299 has slightly more VRMs that results in better stability and overclocking. Also, it is a better overall package compared to gigabyte one. So, I think you should go with the MSI. Hope this helps!
Please also suggest if any of the Gigabyte MOBOs given below are better than AOrus Master X299
X299 AORUS Gaming 9 (rev. 1.0)
X299 AORUS Gaming 7 (rev. 1.0)
X299 AORUS Gaming 7 Pro (rev. 1.0)
Aorus Master X299 is above all of them.
Looking at upgrading my 5820k to a 9920X. I am using this system both for gaming (PUBG mostly) and work (Davinici Resolve and Avid Media Composer) looking for a MOBO with Thunderbolt 3 and at least 3 M.2 ports. I believe my Cooler Master V8 GTS will fit, so will likely recycle if possible. Ideally Full ATX. Any recommendations?
I would say GIGABYTE X299 AORUS Gaming 7.
Thanks for the recommendation, I looked into some boards a bit myself and think I may end up with the ASUS Prime X299-Deluxe II.
That’s also a good board.
Hi there,
You refer to and Picture the ASUS PRIME X299-DELUXE , that board is now obsolete.
It has been replaced with the ASUS PRIME X299-DELUXE II which has completely different specifications.
Please update your review based on that.
Thanks.
Sure and thanks for pointing out.