Best Motherboard For i5 4690K in 2024

The Intel Core i5-4690K was released several years ago as part of Intel’s fourth generation of desktop CPUs. While it’s an older chip at this point, it remains a popular choice for budget gamers thanks to its overclocking potential. As a K-series processor, the 4690K can be manually tuned to boost its performance beyond stock speeds. In fact, when pushed to its limits through overclocking, its single-core speeds can surpass even some newer 2nd generation AMD Ryzen processors. Out of the box, this CPU runs at a base clock of 3.5 GHz with a turbo boost up to 3.9 GHz.

Under normal operations with an 88W TDP, it provides solid speed without using too much power. However, once overclocked to around 4.7 GHz, it will demand much more electricity to maintain those heightened frequencies. One limitation is the lack of Intel’s Hyper-Threading technology, so it may struggle a bit with the most demanding modern games that can take advantage of 8 or more threads.

The Intel Core i5-4690K uses the LGA-1150 socket, which means it will only be compatible with motherboards featuring that connection type. Since this CPU can be overclocked, you’ll want a board with either a Z87 or Z97 chipset, as these are the only Intel chipsets from that era that support tweaking the processor’s clock speeds. The main difference between the Z87 and Z97 chipsets is their M.2 support: Z97 motherboards include a native M.2 slot, while Z87 boards require an add-in PCIe card to use the newer M.2 SSD format.

We’ve compiled a list of some of the best motherboards from each chipset pairing to use with the i5-4690K. These boards were chosen for their high-end features, like quality on-board audio, robust power delivery systems for overclocking, and attractive designs. Both the Z87 and Z97 options here are well-suited for squeezing the most performance out of this processor through manual tuning. Whether you go with a board from the Z87 or Z97 lineup will come down to preferences like built-in M.2 support vs. an add-in card. In either case, these motherboards represent top-tier platforms for housing the 4690K.

Best Motherboard For i5 4690K List

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ASUS B85M-G R2.0

Best ASUS Motherboard for i5 4690K

Brand: ASUS | Chipset: Intel B85 | Socket: LGA 1150 | Form Factor: Micro ATX | Memory: 32 GB DDR3 | Memory Speed: 1600 MHz

REASONS TO BUY

✓A lot cheaper than Z-series motherboards

✓Provides similar slots and ports to most Z-series motherboards

REASONS TO AVOID

✗It does not come with an M.2 slot

✗It does not support overclocking the processor or memory

The ASUS B85M-G R2.0 stands out from the other motherboards on this list by featuring a B-series chipset rather than a Z-series. B-series chipsets are considered mid-range and do not enable overclocking like their Z-series counterparts. As a result, the 4690K will have to run at stock clocks on this board rather than being manually tuned. Memory overclocking is also off the table, with RAM relegated to supported stock speeds. In terms of aesthetics, ASUS has gone with a similar yellow-dominant color scheme to the previous Gigabyte board. While not unusual for a B-series, red or silver may have looked cleaner. The board accommodates up to 32GB of memory across four DIMM slots.

Connectivity includes four PCIe slots: two PCIe 3.0 x16 and two x1. Storage is covered with six SATA III ports, standard for the era. Being an older B85 chipset, there is no M.2 support either. Without overclocking capabilities on this B-series board, there’s no need to evaluate the VRMs. They do seem reasonably robust, though, potentially keeping even a hot Intel Core i7-4790K cool in stock settings. Overall, it’s a no-frills option that gets the job done without manual tuning potential.

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Gigabyte GA-Z97X-UD3H

Best Value Motherboard for i5 4690K

Brand: Gigabyte | Chipset: Intel Z97 Express | Socket: LGA 1150 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory: 32 GB DDR3 | Memory Speed: 3100 MHz

REASONS TO BUY

✓Mighty storage solution

✓Provides a total of six PCI-E slots

✓It comes at an attractive price

REASONS TO AVOID

✗The color theme feels a bit odd

The Gigabyte GA-Z97X-UD3H offers a great value alternative to the ASUS Z97-A, with a slightly lower price but similar feature set. The aesthetics differ from ASUS’ board, using yellow heatsinks for the VRMs and chipset instead of black or silver. This color scheme was likely part of why Gigabyte wasn’t as popular back then. Key specs include four DIMM slots supporting up to 32GB of RAM and clocks as high as 3100MHz with overclocking enabled. Connectivity is robust with six PCIe slots—three at x16 speeds and the rest at x1, as well as a legacy PCI slot.

Standing out further is the rear I/O. In addition to standard video and networking ports, it includes an impressive 10 USB ports between USB 3.2 Gen 1 and USB 2.0, along with 5 audio jacks powered by a higher-quality Realtek ALC1150 codec compared to the Z97-A’s ALC892 solution. All in all, the GA-Z97X-UD3H looks to edge out ASUS’ offering in both features and value. While the yellow heatsinks aren’t as sleek as black, the specs and price of this Gigabyte board make it very appealing for an overclocking build.

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MSI Z97 PC Mate BEST PICK

Best Overall Motherboard for i5 4690K

Brand: MSI | Chipset: Intel Z97 Express | Socket: LGA 1150 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory: 32 GB DDR3 | Memory Speed: 3000 MHz

REASONS TO BUY

✓Available at a cheap rate

✓Provides legacy PCI slots

REASONS TO AVOID

✗No M.2 slot despite having a Z97 chipset

✗Boring looks

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ASUS Z97-A BUDGET PICK

Best Budget Motherboard for i5 4690K

Brand: ASUS | Chipset: Intel Z97 | Socket: LGA 1150 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory: 32 GB DDR3 | Memory Speed: 1600 MHz

REASONS TO BUY

✓Modern looks

✓Impressive storage options

✓Powerful VRM

REASONS TO AVOID

✗It tends to be a little more expensive than others

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MSI Z87-G45 GAMING

Best Gaming Motherboard for i5 4690K

Brand: MSI | Chipset: Intel Z87 Express | Socket: LGA 1150 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory: 32 GB DDR3 | Memory Speed: 3000 Mhz

REASONS TO BUY

✓Looks quite good for an old motherboard

✓Provides fantastic VRM

✓High performance at a mid-range price

REASONS TO AVOID

✗The Z87 chipset does not provide any M.2 slot

The MSI Z87-G45 GAMING stands out as the best gaming motherboard choice for the i5-4690K. Its futuristic black and red aesthetic remains sleek even over eight years later, rivaling many mid-range boards today. A large red dragon logo dominates the chipset heatsink, while red accents adorn the sizable VRM heatsinks in a dragon-esque shape. Perfect for overclocking, these robust heatsinks ensure thermal throttling won’t occur. While RGB isn’t native, an add-in lighting kit allows customization. Being a Z87 board, it pairs well with the 4690K’s DDR3 memory support. Impressively, overclocking can unlock speeds up to 3000 MHz from the DIMMs.

Speaking of overclocking, this motherboard handily pushed our i7-4790K sample to 4.8GHz during testing, so unleashing the 4690K will be no issue. Standard rear I/O of the time is present with 6 audio jacks and 4 USB 3 ports. Overall, it’s easy to see why the Z87-G45 GAMING remains the best gaming motherboard partner for this now-venerable i5, with performance-driven aesthetics that hold their own years later.

Conclusion

In summary, if your budget allows it, we highly recommend opting for a top-tier Z-series motherboard like the ASUS Z97-A or Gigabyte GA-Z97X-UD3H to get the most out of your i5-4690K through overclocking. If money is somewhat tighter, cheaper Z-series options such as the MSI Z97 PC Mate or MSI Z87 G45 are still great performers that maintain overclocking support. As a last resort, the ASUS B85M R2.0 gets the job done without tuning, but you’ll have to live without pushing the CPU past stock speeds.

Overall, pairing this venerable i5 with a Z-series motherboard is ideal for unleashing its full potential through manual tuning years later. But the B85 board also ensures basic compatibility if your means are limited. We hope this guide has helped you choose the best motherboard pairing based on your budget and goals.