With the release of the latest Intel’s 11th generation Rocket Lake, Intel’s Core i5-11600k processor has been the talk of the town. It is the most reasonable choice for budget-oriented people as well as power-hungry fellows. It has a decent upgrade in its performance when compared with the previous generations due to higher Instructions per cycle (IPC). It also performs well in terms of CPU-intensive games as it can deliver higher FPS and better overclocking speed.
TOP BEST:
BEST PICK |
Best Motherboards for i5-11600k in 2021 |
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ROG Strix Z590-E Gaming Wifi |
Support both 10th Gen and 11th Gen Intel Core processors Teamed power architecture 40MM fan together with the MOS fan 3.2 Gen 1 ports and three USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports |
BEST BUDGET |
Best Motherboards for i5-11600k in 2021 |
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ASRock B560 Steel Legend LGA1200 ATX Motherboard |
PCIe 4.0 Intelligent 2.5Gb/s LAN platform USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C DDR4 memory modules |
BEST IDEAL |
Best Motherboards for i5-11600k in 2021 |
 |
The Z590 ROG Maximus XIII Hero |
RGB LEDs Six SATA 3.0 ports Two Intel I225-V 2.5Gbps Ethernet controllers Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 |
However, in order to compete with Intel’s Core i5-11600k processor requirements, it needs a powerful motherboard that matches its performance. There are hundreds of motherboards available on the market but not every motherboard is for Intel’s Core i5-11600k processor. If a perfect motherboard is not selected, you are guaranteed failure in terms of performance along with frequent system crashes Therefore, you need to select the best motherboard to match its criteria.
If you are looking for the best motherboards for Intel’s Core i5-11600k, we’re going to dive deep and review the 10 best motherboards for Intel’s Core i5-11600k. If you want to know more about these motherboards, go through these reviews and empower your mind with some of the best features related to these motherboards. We have also written a detailed buying to help narrow down your research to the best motherboard that suits your Intel’s Core i5-11600k processor the most.
Our Recommendations of Best Motherboards for i5-11600k in 2021:
AWARD | MODEL | RETAILER |
Top brands in the PC Gaming sector | ROG Strix Z590-E Gaming Wifi | |
Perfect balance between price and features | The Z590 ROG Maximus XIII Hero | |
Made especially for hardcore gamers | MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Edge WIFI | |
Great for mid-range gamers | GIGABYTE's B560 stack | |
Targeted at upper mid-range gamers | ROG Maximus XII Extreme | |
Best Ideal / Balance | MSI Z590 Gaming Carbon Wi-Fi | |
Best budget motherboard | ASRock B560 Steel Legend LGA1200 ATX Motherboard | |
Premium set of features at mid-range settings | GIGABYTE B560 AORUS PRO AX | |
Best B560 mATX | ASUS TUF B560M-PLUS | |
Best mid-range motherboard | Gigabyte Z590 Aorus Pro AX |
Review
ROG STRIX is one of the top brands in the PC Gaming sector and there is no denying the fact that the products made by ROG STRIX are top-class. However, some might joke about ‘ROG TAX’ but make no mistake about its quality and performance. ROG STRIX boards are full of high specs and pleasing on the eyes, some game lovers might even use words such as flashy, sleek, and shiny while explaining its features.
The Z590 chipset can support both 10th Gen and 11th Gen Intel Core processors. However, it is advisable to use it with an 11th Gen processor for a better experience. When compared with Z490, the Z590 chipset has more connectivity options and power delivery. But, the real difference is in terms of PCI-E 4.0 support which works with the Z590 chipset.
As for the look, it looks similar to the recently launched ROG Zephyrus series. However, the ROG Strix Z590-E Gaming Wifi looks more premium due to its less aggressive cyberpunk dystopian shape. As for the design, the company decided to clearly separate the M.2 heatsink and the Z590 chipset heatsink so that you don’t have to go through the problem of removing the chipset heatsink in order to have to go at an M.2 SSD slot.
ASUS ROG Strix series uses teamed power architecture for ROG motherboards and this latest ASUS ROG Strix Z590-E is no different. However, this time ASUS decided to use fewer fins on the Z590 VRM heatsinks due to popular demand.
The ROG Strix-E boards used to have at least two more power stages than the other ROG Strix; however, times have changed for the Z590 series, and this norm is no longer needed. Now, the ROG Strix series has a 14+2 power stage design. The ROG Strix-E differs itself this time by having 70A variants compared to the 50A variants installed on the Strix Z590 boards having 50 A instead of 70 A variants which are installed on ROG Strix-E.
For better cooling, Z590-E uses a 40MM fan together with the MOS fan. Moreover, it supports DDR4 5,333MHz(OC) and uses a daisy chain trace design so that it can get a higher peak frequency by reducing signal which would increase its compatibility and the overclocking margin.
As for connectivity options, you’ll get 3.2 Gen 1 ports and three USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports. Plus, there are 4 3.2 USB Gen 1 ports, 3 3.2 Gen 2 ports one of which is a type-c port, two USB 2.0 ports, and a single USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C port. It also comes with traditional audio, HDMI, and Display ports, and a BIOS flashback button and a CMOS button an upgraded Wi-Fi module, and an additional Intel 2.5GbE ethernet port.
It uses a simple locking mechanism to secure the SSD, Q-Latch design.
PROS |
Comes packed with 4 M.2 Heatsinked slots Wide range of ports AI-based Overclocking Easy to navigate |
CONS |
No multi-GPU support |
The Z590 ROG Maximus XIII Hero
Review
We’ll review another of Asus well-built motherboards: The Z590 ROG Maximus XIII Hero. It may not outdo the Z490-E but it remains one of the best in the business. This “Rocket Lake” motherboard strikes a perfect balance between price and features.
The design looks sharp but somewhat subdued. It comes with all-black heatsinks and heat spreaders alongside some lighter gray sections that add to its aesthetics. It contains diagonal cuts for better cooling and to keep the board slicker. Plus, the way the RGB LEDs are set over the chipset and between the fins on the VRM heatsinks makes it look robust.
When you look at its storage scheme, it has plenty of storage connections. You’ll have access to six SATA 3.0 ports set at a right angle which is pretty much standard these days for most mainstream ATX boards. You will also have the access to four M.2 Key-M slots for high-speed solid-state drives. You will also get your hands on mainstream networking hardware—two Intel I225-V 2.5Gbps Ethernet controllers. However, it doesn’t come with a 5Gbps controller which is a bit of a letdown.
On the other hand, for better Wi-Fi support you will get integrated wireless controllers which are labeled as the Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 that will support the upcoming 802.11az standard. As for audio, the chipset uses Realtek’s ALC4082 codec which has support for 32-bit, 384KHz audio sampling
Its rear I/O panel contains a total of eight USB Type-A ports and two Type-C ports with the two RJ-45 internet jacks, two Wi-Fi antenna connections, an HDMI port, and the usual audio jacks an optical S/PDIF connection. There two buttons at the top of the rear I/O panel for resetting the BIOS or flashing to a newer version.
It comes loaded with one of the best BIOS as it contains simple but highly useful add-ons. When you land in the main tab of the Advanced mode BIOS menu, you won’t find anything interesting. However, you will get a lot of options in the Advanced and OC tabs that allow you to make small changes quickly without any trouble.
PROS |
Attractive and edgy Stable operation High specs BIOS Competitively priced |
CONS |
Has no 5Gbps Ethernet controller |
Review
Made especially for hardcore gamers, the MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Edge WIFI offers a lot of high-end specs for gamers to sink their teeth into. It comes packed with two PCIe 3.0 x4 slots, six SATA ports, an Intel Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface alongside other features.
As for the design, it looks similar to Z490 Gaming Carbon WIFI, however, it has no carbon. It is somewhat suppressed in looks. However, it has a simple and subtle theme throughout. It comes packed with black heatsinks, and a grey accented PCB. It also has integrated RGB LEDs for gamers who want to add some spice.
There are two full-length PCIe 3.0 slots that operate at x16+4, and it also has two PCIe 3.0 x1 slots. As for the storage purpose, you will be equipped with two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots. Plus, the six SATA ports support RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays. And, 4 memory slots are available for DDR4-4800 memory.
There is one USB 3.2 G2 20 Gbps Type-C, one USB 3.2 G2 10 Gbps Type-A, four USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and two USB 2.0 ports available on the rear side.
For audio, you will get five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output that are supported by the Realtek ALC1220 HD audio codec. It also features a 2.5G ethernet.
You will also get Wi-Fi 6 support which is powered by an Intel AX201 wireless interface. The rear panel also contains a single PS/2 combo port and an HDMI and DisplayPort for integrated graphics support.
PROS |
Affordable price 2PCIe 3.0 x4 slots six SATA ports Wi-Fi 6 support |
CONS |
Offers a few advanced features |
Review
GIGABYTE’s B560 stack is a quintessential Aorus board with a lot of high-end features. It is a great piece of hardware that is great for mid-range gamers. It has got everything simple and perfect but all in range capacity
It has a lovely design which is similar to the other GIGABYTE boards over the last couple of years. It comes with an all-black PCB. The power delivery heatsinks are also black, with a rear panel that is black too. The panel features an Aorus Falcon logo. The pair of M.2 heatsinks comes with a black and grey chipset heatsink.
GIGABYTE decided to include three full-length PCIe slots. The topmost slot operates at PCIe 4.0 x16, the middle slot at PCIe 3.0 x4, and the bottom slot at PCIe 3.0 x1. As for the storage, you will get three M.2 slots including one PCIe 4.0 x4, and two PCIe 3.0 x4/SATA slots. You will also get six SATA ports which are a lot.
For connections, the rear panel has one USB 3.2 G2x2 Type-C, one USB 3.2 G2 Type-A, four USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and two USB 2.0 ports a PS/2 combo port.
As for networking, there is an Intel I225-V 2.5 GbE controller. You will also get the support of Intel AX200 Wi-Fi 6 CNVi. The Intel AX200 Wi-Fi 6 CNVi can support BT 5.1 devices. For audio, there are six 3.5 mm audio jacks. These audio jacks are supported by Realtek’s latest ALC4080 HD audio codec.
PROS |
Perfect for mid-range gamers Three full-length PCIe slots Simple and lovely design Offers high-end features at an affordable price |
CONS |
Take it/ leave it kind of looks |
Review
The Asus ROG Maximus XII Extreme is targeted at upper mid-range gamers with a carnival of features. It is simple and easy to work with; you just have to understand the process and you are good to go.
It has a beautiful design as it is covered mostly in black with a white line that moves diagonally from the back to the heatsink. When you power the board a line of RGB LEDs activates and makes it look more flashy. It comes with some polished metal plating that produces a mirror-like shine. Overall, the design looks premium.
The motherboard comes with a set of 16 Infineon TDA21490 power stages and each has the capacity of up to 90 amps of current. It also contains three large black heatsinks and a metal pipe for their cooling. However, you won’t get any integrated fans for VRMs cooling. But the company has included a small fan that can be connected to VRM heatsinks.
There are two M.2 Type-2280 slots, that support PCI Express 3.0 x4 drives, and one of those slots can support SATA M.2 drives. It has got 4 DIMM slots are in the same region, that can support 128GB of memory. The board itself supports standard memory speeds of up to 3,600MHz.
For networking, it is equipped with top-notch networking hardware. It comes with an integrated Marvell AQtion AQC107 10Gbps Ethernet controller and ab Intel I225-V 2.5Gbps NIC. Thus, you have the access to the Net extraordinarily fast. The board also has an Intel Wi-Fi 6 controller. For audio, you’ll have separate audio controllers for the front and rear audio jacks. The rear audio jacks connect to a Realtek ALC S1220 audio codec and the front I/O panel connects to an ESS ES9023 codec.
For USB ports, you’ll get USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, and two legacy USB 2.0 ports. You also get two RJ-45 jacks, 2 wireless-antenna hookups a S/PDIF jack here, and five 3.5mm audio jacks. You won’t find any video-out ports on the rear I/O panel. It also comes with three electrical components, a flash drive, and a screwdriver. As for the BIOS, it is functional, nice-looking, and responsive.
PROS |
Comes with a Thunderbolt 3 add-on card Powerful cooling loadout High-speed memory support Well-spaced parts |
CONS |
Expensive |
Review
The MSI Z590 Gaming Carbon Wi-Fi is one of the best examples when it comes to showcasing cutting-edge performance without charging a lot of prices. It strikes a good balance of a strong feature list and a high-end VRM.
The design looks impressive as it has got classic style spectrum with appealing looks. However, it looks a bit tacky, so not really appealing for gamers. However. the looks don’t matter if you have excellent functionality. It has a lot of surface area to cool down the VRM with ease.
It comes with a 16-phase VRM having 75a power stages and an additional 1+1 for the system agent and IGP too. You will also have access to dual 8-pin power connectors to handle overclocking if needed. For storage, you will get a single PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots which are fairly standard these days. In total, you’ll get three M.2 in total with six SATA 6Gbps ports. It also has both DisplayPort and HDMI video outputs.
The rear I/O has a single Type-C USB 3.2 Gen2x2 port, three USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, and four USB 2.0 ports. For audio, the parts are powered through Realtek ALC 4080 codec. For networking, you will get Intel’s I225-V 2.5 GbE and AX210 Wi-Fi 6E controllers.
MSI’s BIOS is simple and doesn’t require any rocket science to understand. You will get a popup on the first boot that asks you to select your cooling type and the process will go on with Intel default power limits, tower cooler, and water cooling options at the middle and final parts.
As for the performance, the Gaming Carbon proved to be really fast but with a low SSD sequential read performance. However, its multithreading performance is exceptional.
PROS |
Powerful performance Offers lots of ports Strong VRM Good value |
CONS |
Low SSD sequential read performance |
ASRock B560 Steel Legend LGA1200 ATX Motherboard
Review
In search of a budget motherboard, this B560 ATX motherboard for 10/11th gen Intel processors is a budget motherboard with fantastic DDR4 performance. It also supports PCIe 4.0 and comes packing with three M.2 slots and other essential ports.
This chipset might not be highly expensive but still, it has the capacity to accommodate multiple M.2 storage devices. It also can power next-generation PCI Express 4.0 M.2 SSD. As for the performance, it is lighting fast as it can generate twice the speed as compared to its predecessors.
For high-end networking performance, you get the intelligent 2.5Gb/s LAN platform to fulfill your hefty needs of home networking, content creation, graphic designing, and others. It provides the boost networking performance of up to 2.5X the bandwidth for faster and uncompromised connectivity.
For the ports option, you will get the latest USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C which offers fast data transfer rate. You will also get a reversible USB Type-C design for better fitting. It also comes with the next-generation PCI Express 4.0 standard.
Plus, you will get extra anchor points and a stronger latch. You will also get access to the latest DDR4 memory modules with the most extreme memory performance. It offers a great and the most engaging listening experience, vibrant and rich with details. It comes packed with 7 layered PCB.
PROS |
Suitable for 10th and 11th Generation Intel Core processors Offers 4x DDR4 DIMM sockets Comes packed with DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 1.4/2.0 Outputs Array of ports |
CONS |
Mid-range multi-threading performance |
Review
If you are looking for premium set of features at mid-range settings then go for Asus TUF Gaming motherboards. They are perfect for the mid-range segment and The TUF Z590 motherboard is also a perfect example when it comes to offering high-class features in the mid-range segment.
As for the looks, it comes with an all-black look with some areas containing all-metal elements that gives the shining effect from the coating. The chipset has TUF branding on the VRM and chipset heatsinks.
With its high-end features, you don’t have to worry about a thing as it features the latest and powerful Digi+ VRM with a 14+2 DrMOS power stage configuration. This type of power configuration is only found in premium lineups such as Strix and Maximus.
For port selection, you’ll get an array of ports in the shape of USB 3.2 ports to Thunderbolt header. You will also be equipped with the Intel 2.5 Gigabit LAN and WiFi 6 networking.
It comes packed with a 16x PCIe slot on the motherboard that is protected by TUF security features. Plus, the 16x PCIe slot is more retentive and resistant to a GPU’s shearing force. However, you will only be able to run a single GPU on the board due to its limited Gen 3 PCIe 3.0 lanes.
As far as storage capacity is concerned, you will be equipped with 3 M.2 slots which are a new normal these days, and out of these 3 slots, only one can support PCIe 4.0 for fulfilling SSD needs.
PROS |
Comes with 14+2 VRM Phase Design 16xPCIe slots includes Thunderbolt Header comes packed with ASUS Aura Sync RGB |
CONS |
A bit pricy |
Review
In case you want to net some savings without compromising on the processor performance and features, then you should go for the ASUS TUF B560M. We recommend you this motherboard because it is one of the best B560 mATX motherboards on the market and will surely be a great choice for Intel i5-11600K.
It comes packed with the PCIe 4.0 x16 slot. Thus you will be able to upload any heavy card without much of a problem. As for port selection, there are five USB 3.2 ports at the rear panel and it also contains a Thunderbolt header on the motherboard. For networking, you have the option of Intel’s WiFi 6 and Realtek 2.5Gb Ethernet.
It features 8+1 DrMOS power stages and a Digi+ VRM, therefore, you won’t have to worry about its performance as it can withstand heavy workloads without any trouble on stock settings. It also contains 2 for faster SSDs.
On the other hand, overclocking should not be considered with this motherboard due to its average power stages. It doesn’t mean that overclocking will be an issue. You will get good performance with slight overclocking. The motherboard is equipped with Intel’s WiFi 6 and Realtek 2.5Gb Ethernet.
PROS |
Features Realtek 2.5GbE LAN Has Intel WiFi 6 connection 8+1 DrMOS power stages Array of ports |
CONS |
Not made for overclocking |
Review
The Gigabyte Z590 Aorus Pro AX positions itself as a mid-range motherboard that comes at a decent price. It has thirteen USB ports four M.2 sockets, including a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C port. It also comes packed with the latest audio codec. It is also capable of extreme overclocking power delivery.
It has two versions AORUS Elite and AORUS Elite AX, with the only AORUS Elite AX, has a WIFI 6 chip present in it.
It comes packed with 12+1 stage VRM and a full coverage heatsink, which means you don’t have to worry about overlocking performance. Plus, it will support the latest 11th gen Intel CPUs which have better clock speeds than the previous gen.
For audio, you’ll get a great experience because of the ALC1220 Realtek high-def codec that can provide higher resolution 7.1 audio. For better connectivity, you’ll get dual-band 2.5G ethernet and WIFI 6.
As for the design, it has slightly changed from the Z490 version. However, it still looks excellent. It has a single RGB LED strip that passes the logo on the rear i/o panel. It has a silver and black color scheme with reinforced slots. Plus, it has got brushed aluminum accents that provide a more premium appearance.
On the middle part of the board, you will get the four M.2 sockets and three PCIe slots. Gigabyte decided to reinforce the top PCIe slot for EMI protection. You will also get six horizontally affixed SATA ports as this board supports RAID0, 1, 5, and 10 modes. You will also have access to the Thunderbolt 4 AIC headers.
The motherboard is capable of supporting 128GB of DDR4 RAM, which has the capacity of overclocking up to 5000MHz. It features 2 full-length PCIe slots, but only one of them is v4.0.
As for the ports, it has four USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, four USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, four USB 2.0 ports, and the 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C port. It has a single DisplayPort Port in addition to the 2.5 GbE port and SPDIF audio stack.
PROS |
13 USB ports Robust 90A, 12-Phase VRM Latest features Array of ports |
CONS |
Not easy to navigate |
Buying Guide For Motherboards
Motherboards are the most essential part of the computer that unites all the hardware components. However, not all motherboards are suitable for your processor. You can’t just go into the market and buy any motherboard. You need to dig deep and research for it. There are factors that you need to consider before buying a consider. Here are things that need to consider before buying a motherboard.
RAM
Try to find a motherboard that can at least accommodate 16 GB of RAM. The hardcore gamers, professional graphic designers, and content creators require at least 16GB to work with. Also, try to go for a motherboard that has at least 4 memory slots which will help you for upgrading memory and storage.
PCI Slots
Before buying a motherboard try to find out how many PCI slots your motherboard has. You will at least need one full-speed PCI Express x16 slot on your motherboard. A PCI slot connects expansion cards to the motherboards. Hardcore gamers and professional coding experts require multiple full-speed PCI Express x16 slots to fulfill their needs.
Form Factor
This is the most important feature which you need to consider before buying a motherboard. You need to know the specifications of the motherboard that you are buying. Chances are that if you get the specifications wrong, the motherboard will not fit. Both ATX motherboards and micro ATX are common, but only one will fit well for your processor.
Processor Socket
This is also an important factor that you need to consider. There are many types of sockets but, nowadays only three are common: LGA, PGA, and BGA. The first two are used by Intel and AMD but the third one isn’t really popular as they are already connected to the motherboard and therefore, they can’t be upgraded. So, check out the specifications of your motherboard to know about the processor socket which will help you determine what processor you can buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many PCI Slots should a motherboard have?
Your mother should have at least one PCI slot to fulfill your needs. In case, you are a hardcore gamer, you would require multiple full-speed PCI slots.
What motherboards are compatible with intel’s Core i5-11600k?
All the motherboards which we have reviewed are compatible with Intel’s Core i5-11600k.
Which is the best motherboard for Intel’s Core i5-11600k?
All the motherboards which we have reviewed are excellent for Intel’s Core i5-11600k. However, we advise you to look at your budget and choose accordingly as all these pieces are excellent in terms of performance.
Summary for Best Motherboards for i5-11600k in 2021:
AWARD | MODEL | RETAILER |
Top brands in the PC Gaming sector | ROG Strix Z590-E Gaming Wifi | |
Perfect balance between price and features | The Z590 ROG Maximus XIII Hero | |
Made especially for hardcore gamers | MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Edge WIFI | |
Great for mid-range gamers | GIGABYTE's B560 stack | |
Targeted at upper mid-range gamers | ROG Maximus XII Extreme | |
Best Ideal / Balance | MSI Z590 Gaming Carbon Wi-Fi | |
Best budget motherboard | ASRock B560 Steel Legend LGA1200 ATX Motherboard | |
Premium set of features at mid-range settings | GIGABYTE B560 AORUS PRO AX | |
Best B560 mATX | ASUS TUF B560M-PLUS | |
Best mid-range motherboard | Gigabyte Z590 Aorus Pro AX |
Final Thoughts
All the pieces that we reviewed are some of the best in the business. You will hardly face any issues in terms of their functionality. Rest assured, if you choose to buy any motherboard from the above list, all your requirements will be fulfilled.
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