Top choice board and RAM for I9 9900K.
Top choice board and RAM for I9 9900K.
Gigabyte Aorus Pro isn't ideal if you prefer Gigabyte BIOS; consider MSI Carbon (Z390) instead. For memory, a 3600MHz CL16 kit offers the best value.
Top motherboard options compared:
1) Maximus XI Apex offers 8 non-doubled large phases, two dimming controls, no iGPU access, excellent Vcore regulation, plenty of BIOS choices, and AC/DC Loadlines available.
2) eVGA Dark provides doubled phases, two dimmers, superior Vcore response over most boards except Apex, fewer BIOS options than Apex, and lacks AC/DC Loadline support. It also doesn’t include CPU current monitoring or software voltage readings like "Die-sense."
3) Gigabyte Aorus Xtreme / Xtreme Waterforce / 5G supports air cooling, has 8 phases with true doublers for 16 doubled phases, and the Apex is now available in the US. It has many BIOS options but often suffers from BIOS bugs.
Both models can handle high overclocks at a given voltage, though the Apex remains the best overall. The air-cooled version of the Aorus is less appealing due to limited BIOS support and missing features like AC/DC Loadline access.