Best LGA 2066 Motherboards for i9-9960X i9-9920X & i9-9820X

Intel has recently launched high-end desktop parts. There are seven new LGA 2066 socket CPUs. The platform is also referred to as X299 platform. The range of CPUs offers from 8 to 18 cores. The i9 platform has six options while the i7 platform has one CPU with the X299 platform or the LGA2066 socket size. Let us check out a few motherboards that support these latest CPUs from team blue. Here is our select list of best LGA2066 motherboards for i9-9960X i9-9920X & i9-9820X.

Also Read: Best Skylake-X 2017 LGA-2066 Motherboards

Best LGA 2066 Motherboards for i9-9960X i9-9920X & i9-9820X

The new processors launched as part of its Skylake X Refresh include i9-9960X i9-9920X & i9-9820X. The six new CPUs launched in the new series have a TDP of 165 W and a jump of around 600 MHz compared to the previous generation of processors. These CPUs also come with a turbo frequency of 4.5 MHz and offer 44 dedicated PCIe lanes. Of these, the i9-9980XE is the flagship option and provides you access to a base frequency of 3.0 GHz.

In the case of Skylake-X processors, each CPU contains 1.375 MB of L3 cache. So a 10 core CPU will have access to 13.75 MB. Since the L3 cache is a non-inclusive, victim cache only in case of L2 cache buffer overflows will go into the L3 cache. So, on paper, there isn’t going to be a significant performance boost, unless the CPU processes a lot of repeat data.

However, for us, the major highlight is the 44 lanes of dedicated PCIe lanes. It helps the PC components to directly access the CPU rather than being routed through the chipset controller, thereby improving the performance.

The following is the list of new 9th Gen Intel X series CPUs from the recent announcement.

*Dual-Channel Only with 16 lane CPU

Socket compatibility is a good thing, and in this case, all the earlier LGA 2066 motherboards are supported with a BIOS flash. However, motherboard manufacturers appear to be entirely supporting their existing lineups, and there are not many new launches visible. There are no new models launched or being launched any time soon. As we said, the current X299 based motherboards should support the new CPUs. Until the time new motherboards are available, we may need to keep up with the current set of options alone.

Here is a quick look at the Intel X299 (Basin Falls) processor family from last year.

X299 vs Z390 – Which one among them is best?

If you are planning to build the best ecosystem for your PC, getting a motherboard with an X299 and Z390 should be your primary choice to go with on the Intel platform. However, you may be confused between the two options. We thought of sharing a little information on the concepts and functionality.

The Naming

One of the significant confusion you may come across while choosing the best among the two is the nomenclature used. What do the X and Z stand for?

X299 is ideally an option designed for high-end platforms (HEDT). This can be one of the most sought after options for content creation and enthusiasts. It is defined as the HEDT or High-end desktop application. The Z390, on the other hand, is designed for use with the home desktop market – either offered by Intel or its partner manufacturers.

The hierarchy of the motherboards can be summarised as indicated here –

H310 < B360 < H370 < Z370/Z390 < X299 < Server grade Xeons on LGA 3647.

The Comparison Chart: X299 vs Z390

We thought it would be a great idea to present the two competing motherboards in a side by side chart for an improved understanding and analysis.  The head to head comparison can be helpful enough for making the right choice for your exact requirements.

The Major Differences between the Two

Compatibility

One of the major differences between the two lies in their usage preferences as we have already made clear in the above discussion. If you are planning to use the Intel 8^th and 9^th generation processors, it should be noted that they work only with the Intel 300 series motherboards. In such an eventuality, it may be necessary to opt for the Z390 as X299 does not support the processors.

Power and socket

Another essential differentiation can be the use of the socket on either of the motherboards. The Z390 is equipped with the LGA 1151 socket as compared to the LGA 2066 socket on the X299. The LGA 2066 socket comes with twice the number of sockets on it as compared to the ones on the Z390. This has primarily been in the with the power requirements you may have. LGA 1151 provides power at around 100 to 140 W. The LGA 2066 offers that approximately 200 W.

USB Configuration

The Z390 has been designed as a refresh to the Z370 in more ways than one. In fact, it is not a new upgrade as most of us may have been thinking of. It shares most of its features with the Z370.

However, it does sport a significant difference between the X299 and Z390 in terms of the USB configuration. The X299 comes with support for USB 3.0 and USB 2.0. The Z390, however, packs in the compatibility with USB 3.1 Gen 2. Of course, there are a few third-party options to make it compatible with the USB 3.1, but the native support always tends to be a better alternative. From that perspective, the Z390 should indeed be a considerable advantage.

Wireless Configuration

This is another area that differs to a considerable extent between the Z390 and X299. The X299 (and Z370) do not have the native support for the 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard. This can be a significant backward step. However, there are several third-party options available for the issues.

The Z390, however, comes with the native support for the 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard. This should be an added advantage.

The RAM Compatibility

The X299 comes with the support for DDR4 RAM at speeds over 3000 MHz. The X299 offers you access to up to 128 GB RAM, while the Z390 initially had support for only up to 64 GB. However, a recent BIOS update has brought in the compatibility with the 128 GB RAM capacity.

Now that we know socket LGA2066 motherboards are suitable for the i9-9960X i9-9920X & i9-9820X CPUs to let us not waste time to find the best options available in the genre.

1. ASUS ROG STRIX X299-E GAMING

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Go with the next generation gaming with ASUS ROG STRIX X299-E GAMING. The five-way optimization and high-end customization options are a couple of best with the motherboard. The ASUS Aura Sync ensures that you stand to experience the next level RGB lighting experience. The M.2 heatsink integrated into the PCH heatsink provides you a perfect cooling functionality.

The Intel Ethernet Controller I219-V provides you faster and smoother gaming experience. The motherboard also boasts of industry-leading 8-channel HD audio. Other features include 3D printing mounts. Dual M.2, onboard 802.11AC Wifi and front panel USB 3.1. Though it is planned for Intel i7 processors, it should work with the flagship Core i9-9980XE and other X-series processors as well.

Price – [amazon_link asins=’B072MCN1FD’ template=’PriceLink’ store=’foi04-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’ee1b3227-e121-11e8-b562-27b116f6ecc4′]

2. Gigabyte X299 Designare Ex

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With support for Intel Core X series processor family, the Gigabyte X299 Designare Ex comes with aggressively redesigned armor and thermal heatsinks. It offers you both digital PWM Controllers and Smart Power Stage controllers. These factors would ensure server-class performance. Triple M.2s onboard provide exceptional performance for configuring fault-tolerant RAID arrays.

Packed with Intel’s latest Optane technology, you are set to experience the best storage performance ever with the Gigabyte X299 Designare Ex. Get the world-class performance with fastest cores with Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0.

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3. ASRock X299 Gaming K6 Fatal1ty

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Another capable motherboard supporting the platform is the ASRock X299 Gaming K6 Fatal1ty. It comes with a few unique features making it one of the excellent choices by every standard. The advanced PCI-E Steel Slots ensures that the motherboard experiences no interference from the graphics cards. The Triple Ultra M.2 provide an outstanding transfer speed performance.

The 11 power phase design will provide you with smoother power delivery. With the best in class overclocking functionality, get assured of the lowest temperatures for the advanced gaming as well. The motherboard also provides you an out of the audio experience with Sound Blaster™ Cinema 3.

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4. GIGABYTE X299 AORUS GAMING 7 PRO

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The Intel ® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 provides you excellent performance with the faster cores ever. Upgraded with Digital LED support, the “GIGABYTE X299 AORUS GAMING 7 PRO” comes with nine new patterns and various speed settings.

Get an enhanced audio performance with high-end audiophile sound system. The Smart Fan 5 technology offers you optimum performance with cooler environs. The motherboard provides you an all digital CPU power design. This would make use of both digital PWM Controllers and Smart Power Stage controllers. Make use of Triple M.2 Thermal Guard for an efficient functionality concerning functionality to the full capacity without throttling and bottlenecks.

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Check out its high-level specifications here:

5. MSI Performance Gaming Intel X299 LGA 2066

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Designed for the best virtual reality experience, the MSI Performance Gaming Intel X299 LGA 2066 also tends to reduce your motion thickness. It comes with Mystic Light utility; it lets you customize your color system for all your personally built systems.

The motherboard is equipped with an array of unique MSI GAMING tools so that you keep yourself ahead of the competition. Experience the world-class gaming with excellent audio functionality, thanks to MSI Audio Boost technology. Equipped with overclocking and high-end stability, you are sure to experience a class above the rest.

Price: [amazon_link asins=’B071G3JXC5′ template=’PriceLink’ store=’foi04-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’6b9d52cb-e122-11e8-8c4d-6d05a61570d9′]

Before We Take Your leave….

Those are few motherboards with LGA 2066 socket and support for i9-9960X i9-9920X & i9-9820X. Not that this is NOT an exhaustive list. There are several other options you can check out. However, the CPUs have just been made available, and we would expect more motherboards designed explicitly for the processors would be made available soon.

However, the Intel partners already have a few motherboards with the LGA 2066 socket support, and though a couple of them have been manufactured for the Intel Core i7 & i9 7th Gen processors, it now supports the new i9 processors as well. We will be updating this post as and when new motherboards are introduced.

Do share your experiences if you have used any of the motherboards that have been featured in this compilation. In case you are aware of any newer motherboards that support the new i9-9960X i9-9920X & i9-9820X CPUs, do share them and their details with us.

Feedbacks and suggestions are welcome in the comment section below.