Best Motherboards for i5-11600K

ASUS ROG STRIX Z590-E

Socket: LGA 1200 | Chipset: Intel Z590 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 14+2 | PCIe x16: 3 | USB Ports: 14

When it comes to high-end gaming machines, ASUS ROG always offers their STRIX series with unique features and an eye-catching look. ASUS ROG STRIX Z590-E is the latest model with a Z590 chipset, the top-tier chipset for an Intel 11th Generation processor. It has the PCIe 4.0 interface, which offers 64Gbps of transfer speeds essential for high-speed operation of the latest generation of GPUs and M.2 SSDs. This motherboard has two PCIe 4.0 x16 slots and two PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots using Intel Core i5-11600K lanes.

The onboard chipset, M.2 drive, and I/O zone Aura RGB lighting make this motherboard a good choice for gamers with a knick for aesthetics. The missing support for AMD CrossFireX will be something that most gamers require since AMD GPUs can run together with different generation GPUs. Being an overclocking i5-11600k motherboard with 14+2 power phases, we wanted to see the onboard power/reset button for ease of assembly and iterative performance upgrades.

You can improve the aesthetics of your gaming rig with the two ARGB and two static RGB headers. Its AI capability of noise cancelation, overclocking, cooling, and networking is top of its class. Users have reported that the overclocking of Intel Core i5-11600K faces no bottleneck with AI-based overclocking. The cooling features are also extravagant, with eight fans and cooling-related onboard headers. It features the latest Intel WiFi-6E with BT 5.1, which makes it the best motherboard for i5-11600k.

Gigabyte Z590 AORUS ELITE AX

Socket: LGA 1200 | Chipset: Intel Z590 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 12+1 | PCIe x16: 2 | USB Ports: 10

If you are looking for a mid-range motherboard with balanced features, we have Gigabyte Z590 AORUS ELITE AX as the best motherboard for i5-11600k. The heat transfer capability of this motherboard across VRM, M.2 SSDs, and chipset by using 1.5mm thick thermal pads are top class. XMP profile RAMs will reach 5400 MHz overclocked frequencies with this motherboard. It’s the highest in our list of the reviewed motherboards. The 2.5GbE LAN will make your online games like GTA V, PUBG, Call of Duty, and Fortnite run at the lowest possible ping, which is essential to quick response time.

Like the other best motherboard for i5 11600k, this one also has limited PCIe 4.0 capable interfaces. There is only one PCIe x16 slot and one M.2 drive capable of running at PCIe 4.0 speeds. The chipset itself does not have PCIe 4.0 lanes for components. It supports quad GPU configuration with AMD graphic cards. Still, it has only three PCIe slots which means an extension board will be required for quad GPU configuration, which is vital for some cryptocurrency miners.

This 6-layer PCB allows the audio and PCIe signals to remain uninterrupted. It also provides better heat transfer capabilities. Compared to the AX version of the similar motherboard, this one does not contain a WiFi module. It is not a problem for most gamers and content creators as they prefer wired connection due to faster speeds and no interruptions. It has a 20Gbps high-speed USB 3.2 Gen2x2 connection on the IO panel for faster data transfer. This AUROS product is the best Z590 motherboard for i5-11600k.

MSI MPG Z590 Gaming Carbon WiFi

Socket: LGA 1200 | Chipset: Intel Z590 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 16+1+1 | PCIe x16: 3 | USB Ports: 17

MSI MPG Z590 Gaming Carbon WiFi is a vicious-looking beast that carries its look throughout each motherboard component. It is an i5-11600k motherboard with vicious looks and has all the top features that any high-end motherboard contains. The 16+1+1 power phases will ensure that your processor will be fed with stable voltages and remain below stable temperature during an extreme overclocking session. The motherboard has two 8-pin power connections to supply 75A VRM phases to keep the processor at higher clock speeds without throttling issues.

The VRM heatsink, IO interface, chipset, and M.2 heat sinks are all designed similarly to merge with the intense theme. However, we feel that there should be four M.2 slots instead of three at this price point. Gaming Carbon WiFi motherboard has 2.5Gb LAN, and there is no dual LAN or the latest 10GbE LAN featured for this price. However, the WiFi-6E and BT 5.2 are excellent additions for gamers who want to reduce wires around the PC.

The 6-layered PCB and 2-oz thickened copper makes it the best motherboard for i5 11600k with stable features. It has the most comprehensive IO panel connectivity in our list of motherboards most suited for the Core i5-11600k processor. It features a flash bios button and USB-A port. The double bandwidth USB 3.2 GEN 2x2 20G connection, HDMI, and Display ports utilize the iGPU featured in this Intel processor. For aesthetics, the mystic light extension connects both RGB and rainbow RGB. It is the best flagship motherboard for i5-11600k.

GIGABYTE B560 AORUS PRO AX

Socket: LGA 1200 | Chipset: Intel B560 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 12+1 | PCIe x16: 2 | USB Ports: 7 | Warranty: 3 Years

If you are looking for a lower mid-range PC rig setup, then the Intel B560 chipset is reasonable. GIGABYTE B560 AORUS PRO AX offers three M.2 slots, out of which one is PCIe 4.0 interface for high-speed data transfer. It features Intel WiFi-6, BT 5.1, and 2.5GbE LAN for extensive latest connectivity options. The solid 12+1 power phases can take Intel Core i5-11600k to its highest possible clock speeds, and up to 5333MHz of RAM speed can be achieved with this motherboard.

The B560 chipset allows 16 PCIe lanes compared to higher lanes offered by Z490 and Z590. So this chipset is suitable for people looking to use a single GPU with three M.2 slots and limited SATA connections. The power phases are high enough to support high clock speed for the CPU, but most users overclocking or assembling a PC require diagnostic LEDs or postcode displays to make PC building easy. You will have to go for an aftermarket solution for the third M.2 drive if you are looking to avoid throttling issues.

Being the best motherboard for i5-11600k, it has two ARGB headers and two RGB headers to improve the aesthetics of your computer that are mainly required by built-in chassis lightning. It syncs with RGB fusion 2.0 to make sure that your PC build stands out. The motherboard comes with a durable PCIe slot so that all modern GPUs like the RTX 3080 that is both heavy and large will not damage the slot. The USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C and comprehensive USB-A connectivity will allow all the peripherals to operate at high speeds.

ASUS ROG Maximus XII Hero

Socket: LGA 1200 | Chipset: Intel Z490 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 14+2 | PCIe x16: 1 | USB Ports: 17

ASUS ROG Maximus XII Hero is the best motherboard for i5 11600k with a Z490 chipset. At a reasonable price tag, the motherboard offers enthusiast-oriented features, making them available for the masses.

Immerse yourself in the frenzy of battle with the ASUS ROG Maximus XII Hero. This is the perfect motherboard for gamers and enthusiasts who want to get the most out of their 10th Gen Intel Core processors.

This powerful gaming machine is built for speed and connectivity, with dual Ethernet support and blazing fast 5Gb and Gigabit Ethernet speeds. LANGaurd technology keeps your connection safe and secure, while dual M. 2 slots and USB 3. 2 Gen 2 offer speedy data transfer. And with Intel WiFi 6 AX201 (802. 11 ax) onboard, you’ll enjoy the fastest wireless gaming experience. But that’s not all - the Maximus XII Hero also delivers incredible audio quality, thanks to the SupremeFX S1220A codec and DTS Sound Unbound.

It features a robust power solution with 14+2 power stages and a ProCool II power connector, allowing you to push your CPU to the limit without worrying about stability.

Additionally, the optimized thermal design keeps your system cool and quiet even when under heavy load, thanks to the low-noise AI cooling and comprehensive heatsink, heatpipe, and fan headers. It is the perfect foundation for your high-performance gaming rig with all of these features.

So whether you’re playing the latest AAA game or streaming your favorite content, you’ll be able to do it with ease. Order your ASUS ROG Maximus XII Hero today! So crank up the volume or tunes and get ready for an unforgettable gaming experience.

ASRock B560 Steel Legend

Socket: LGA 1200 | Chipset: Intel B560 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 10 | PCIe x16: 2 | USB Ports: 10

We always recommend our readers to save money when buying motherboards and invest money in a better GPU or a CPU. As always, this is not the easiest of things to achieve; you need to check bottlenecking, incompatibility, and throttling issues. ASRock B560 Steel Legend is the best motherboard for i5-11600k. It is the best buy if you are looking to install a single GPU and a single M.2 drive along with SSD-based SATA drives. It has legacy interface PS/2 support to run the older OS for the maximum overclocking experience.

The motherboard has three M.2 slots, each having specific bandwidth, so check before installation. It has no pre-installed IO shield and would require some experience for installation. The M2_2 slot works at the maximum of 6.0Gbps which is much lower than the PCIe 4.0 compatible 64Gbps data transfer rate. The B560 chipset has its drawback of offering only 16 PCIe lanes for interface modules. However, the overall specifications are well balanced.

It has a PCIe 4.0 x16 slot with 15μ Gold Contact to keep the GPU working efficiently and consistently. This motherboard supports the Intel Turbo Boost Max 3.0 Technology offered, an accurate addition for the i5-11600K. It has 20Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 for the front panel and a 10Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 on the rear panel. A 2.5 GbE LAN controller is also featured for high-speed internet connectivity.

ASUS ROG STRIX Z490-E GAMING

Socket: LGA 1200 | Chipset: Intel Z590 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 14+2 | PCIe x16: 3 | USB Ports: 17

If you are looking to get high FPS in first-person shooters like Call of Duty and have a smooth movement in open-world games like Minecraft, you need a high-end gaming rig that can support the latest generation PCIe 4.0 based GPUs and M.2 drives. ASUS ROG Strix Z490-E Gaming is meant to improve the gaming performance as an i5-11600k motherboard. This motherboard features 14+2 power phases to keep the processor running at its Turbo 3.0 speed. Significant VRMs, Chipset, and M.2 drive cooling makes gaming performance top-tier.

11th generation processors provide 20 PCIe lanes which need to be utilized by the chipset. Strix Z490-E can use CPU lanes to provide PCIe 4.0 interface, so currently, Asus is expected to release their update of BIOS to make the x16 and M.2 PCIe slots PCIe 4.0. There are no onboard power/reset buttons that come in handy during overclocking sessions. A single USB Type-C port is featured on the back panel and front panel. Dual LAN is also missing for his price point.

Diagnostic LEDs and postcode display makes diagnostic and assembly easy. It has multi-GPU support for both Nvidia and AMD. This motherboard has two M.2 slots running at PCIe 3.0 interface currently, but the update PCIe 4.0 will be made available. The GPUs will run in backward compatibility mode due to the PCIe 3.0 version of the interface. However, it supports the operation of the 11th generation processor using the LGA1200 socket with excellent aesthetics. It is indeed the best gaming motherboard for i5-11600k.

MSI MPG Z490 GAMING CARBON WIFI

Socket: LGA 1200 | Chipset: Intel Z490 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 12+1+1 | PCIe x16: 3 | USB Ports: 14

MSI MPG Z490 GAMING CARBON WIFI is a mid-range motherboard with enthusiast features. As the name suggests, the motherboard has carbon fiber look over all the heatsinks and RGB lighting to ensure that your motherboard stands out. This motherboard is the choice of enthusiasts looking to enhance their fps with PCIe 4.0 data transfer speeds. The RAM OC can take a dual-channel XMP profile memory module to 5000+MHz. It is the best motherboard for i5 11600k.

We do believe that this motherboard is meant for gaming rather than hardcore overclocking. There are only two M.2 slots, out of which the only one supports PCIe 4.0. It is not a big problem for gamers, but content creators require more space, so at this point, at least three M.2 slots were expected. There is no 10GbE LAN which could have been an excellent addition. However, they have featured the latest WiFi-6, BT 5.1, and 2.5GbE ethernet for fast connectivity.

It has a 6-layer PCB that allows the signals from PCIe slots to remain uninterrupted. Also, the heat dissipation during overclocked sessions is done efficiently. It supports a legacy PS/2 connection for the hardware required for an old operating system. The integrated back IO panel allows ease in installation and assembly. The M.2 drives are heatsinked properly with SHIELD FROZR to ensure that no throttling occurs. It is indeed the best enthusiast motherboard for i5-11600k.