Z690 is the chipset that launched Intel's LGA1700 socket in late 2021, alongside 12th generation Core (Alder Lake). It was the first desktop platform with DDR5 memory and PCIe 5.0, and it overclocks the CPU just as its successor Z790 does. It also runs 13th and 14th generation processors, but only after a BIOS update, and that one condition decides whether a discounted Z690 board is a good buy for you. Boards still on sale are listed on the Z690 deals page.
Cheapest Z690 boards right now
What Z690 is and who it is for
Z690 was the top chipset of Intel's 600-series, above H670, B660 and H610. Z790 replaced it in late 2022, and the whole socket was succeeded by LGA1851 in late 2024.
It is worth considering if you own or are buying an unlocked 12th, 13th or 14th generation K-series chip and want an overclocking board for less than a Z790 equivalent, or if you want the fuller slot and port count of a Z-series board. If you do not plan to overclock, B760 and B660 boards do the job for less.
Key specifications
| Feature | Z690 |
|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1700 |
| Processors | 12th gen Core; 13th and 14th gen after a BIOS update |
| Memory | DDR4 or DDR5, depending on the board (never both) |
| CPU overclocking | Yes, with a K-series processor |
| Memory overclocking (XMP) | Yes |
| PCIe from the CPU | PCIe 5.0 x16 for graphics, PCIe 4.0 x4 for an M.2 SSD |
| PCIe from the chipset | PCIe 4.0 and 3.0; fewer 4.0 lanes than Z790 |
| Launched | Late 2021 |
Compatible CPUs and the BIOS update
Every Z690 board runs 12th generation Core out of the box. 13th and 14th generation chips use the same socket and are supported by the chipset, but the board must have a BIOS that knows about them, and a board made in 2021 or 2022 will have left the factory without one. Unless you have a 12th generation chip to hand, you need a board that can flash its BIOS with no CPU installed. Many Z690 boards have such a feature, under names such as BIOS Flashback, Q-Flash Plus or Flash BIOS Button, but not all do, so confirm it on the specification before ordering. BIOS updates and CPU compatibility walks through it.
Update the BIOS even if the board already starts your processor. In 2024 Intel and the board makers issued BIOS versions that apply Intel's recommended power and voltage settings by default to 13th and 14th generation K-series chips, after reports of instability on boards running them well beyond those limits.
DDR4 or DDR5
Z690 arrived when DDR5 was new and expensive, so board makers sold many models in both DDR4 and DDR5 versions. A board takes one or the other: the modules are keyed differently and cannot be swapped. DDR4 models usually have DDR4 or D4 in the name, but read the memory line of the listing to be certain.
As the first DDR5 boards, Z690 DDR5 models are generally rated for lower memory speeds than the Z790 boards that followed, particularly with four modules fitted. If you intend to buy a fast DDR5 kit, check the board's memory support list first. A DDR4 Z690 board remains a tidy way to reuse a good DDR4 kit with a much faster processor. See DDR4 vs DDR5 motherboards.
PCIe: CPU lanes and chipset lanes
The processor supplies PCIe 5.0 x16 for graphics and PCIe 4.0 x4 for the main M.2 slot. LGA1700 processors have no separate PCIe 5.0 lanes for storage, so a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot is rare on Z690, and where one exists it takes lanes from the graphics slot. It is not something to shop for on this platform; PCIe 5.0 motherboards: do you need it? explains why.
The chipset provides a mix of PCIe 4.0 and 3.0 lanes. Z790 moved more of them to PCIe 4.0, which is the main technical difference between the two. On a Z690 board it typically means that one or more of the secondary M.2 slots run at PCIe 3.0.
How Z690 compares with its neighbours
| Z690 | Z790 | B660 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU overclocking | Yes | Yes | No |
| Memory overclocking | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 12th gen out of the box | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 13th / 14th gen | After a BIOS update | 13th yes; 14th on later boards | After a BIOS update |
| Chipset PCIe 4.0 lanes | Fewer than Z790 | Most | Fewest of the three |
| Launched | Late 2021 | Late 2022 | Early 2022 |
The Z790 guide covers the successor in full.
What to check on the listing
- Memory type. DDR4 or DDR5.
- BIOS flashback. The deciding feature if you are fitting a 13th or 14th generation chip and have no older CPU.
- Power delivery. Matters for a Core i7 or i9 K-series chip; see motherboard VRM explained.
- Size. Mostly ATX, with micro-ATX, mini-ITX and E-ATX models.
- M.2 slot speeds and WiFi. Both vary by board.
Is Z690 still worth buying?
Be clear about what you are buying into. LGA1700 ended with 14th generation Core, and Z690 is the older of its two Z-series chipsets, so there is no future upgrade beyond processors already on sale. New stock is thinning out, which means many of the Z690 boards you will see are open-box units. That can work in your favour: a high-end Z690 board at an open-box price can be better built than a new budget board at the same money.
The risks are the BIOS version, which you will not know until it arrives, and the socket pins, which are easily bent by a previous owner. Read are Amazon Warehouse motherboards worth it?, keep the used motherboard checklist open when the board arrives, and compare the Z690 deal list with the Warehouse offers.
Questions people ask
Does Z690 support 13th and 14th gen Intel processors?
Yes, after a BIOS update. A board with an early BIOS will not start a 13th or 14th generation chip, so either update it using a 12th generation processor or choose a board that can flash its BIOS without a CPU.
Is Z690 DDR4 or DDR5?
Either, depending on the board. Many Z690 models were sold in both versions, and a board takes only the type it was built for. Check the listing.
What is the difference between Z690 and Z790?
Z790 has more PCIe 4.0 lanes from the chipset and supports 13th generation chips out of the box, and Z790 DDR5 boards are generally rated for faster memory. CPU overclocking and the processor's own PCIe lanes are the same on both.
Can I use a Core Ultra 200S processor in a Z690 board?
No. Core Ultra 200S uses the LGA1851 socket. Z690 supports 12th, 13th and 14th generation Core only.