Z890 is Intel's top desktop chipset for Core Ultra 200S (Arrow Lake) processors on the LGA1851 socket. It launched in late 2024 and is the only 800-series chipset that allows CPU overclocking. This guide sets out what the chipset itself provides, what is left to the board maker, and when a cheaper B860 board does the same job. Live prices are on the Z890 deals page.
Cheapest Z890 boards right now
All 80 Z890 motherboards, with price drops and price history
Amazon Warehouse offers on Z890 boards
What Z890 is and who it is for
Z890 took over from Z790 as Intel's enthusiast chipset when LGA1851 replaced LGA1700. The two platforms do not mix: a Z890 board takes Core Ultra 200S processors only, and a 12th, 13th or 14th generation chip will not fit it. If you are still deciding between the two Intel platforms, read LGA1851 vs LGA1700 first.
Z890 makes sense for three kinds of buyer: owners of an unlocked K-series processor who intend to tune it, builders who need a lot of M.2 slots and USB ports, and anyone who wants the features that board makers tend to reserve for their Z-series models, such as Thunderbolt, WiFi 7 and faster wired networking. If you will run the processor at stock settings with one graphics card and two or three SSDs, a B860 board will perform the same.
Key specifications
| Feature | Z890 |
|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1851 |
| Processors | Intel Core Ultra 200S (Arrow Lake) |
| Memory | DDR5 only, dual channel |
| CPU overclocking | Yes, with a K-series processor |
| Memory overclocking (XMP) | Yes |
| PCIe from the CPU | PCIe 5.0 x16 for graphics, plus PCIe 5.0 lanes for an M.2 SSD |
| PCIe from the chipset | PCIe 4.0, up to 24 lanes |
| Launched | Late 2024 |
Compatible CPUs and memory
Every Z890 board takes the Core Ultra 5, 7 and 9 processors of the 200S family. A new board will start a launch-era processor out of the box, but it is still worth installing the current BIOS: Intel and the board makers issued a series of updates in the months after launch that improved performance and stability. BIOS updates and CPU compatibility explains how to do that safely.
The platform is DDR5 only. There is no DDR4 version of any Z890 board, so memory from an older build cannot be carried over unless it is already DDR5. XMP profiles are supported, and how fast a given kit will run depends on the board and the processor rather than on the chipset, so check the board's memory support list before buying a very fast kit. See DDR4 vs DDR5 motherboards for the background.
PCIe: CPU lanes and chipset lanes
A Core Ultra 200S processor supplies PCIe 5.0 x16 for the graphics slot and, unlike the LGA1700 processors before it, its own PCIe 5.0 lanes for an M.2 SSD. On a typical Z890 board that means the first M.2 slot runs at PCIe 5.0 without taking anything from the graphics card. Boards with more than one PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot may share lanes with the graphics slot to feed the extra ones, so read the manual if you plan to fill them.
The chipset adds its own PCIe 4.0 lanes, which the board maker divides between further M.2 slots, expansion slots, network controllers and USB. How many slots and ports you actually get is a board decision, not a chipset fact. PCIe 5.0 motherboards: do you need it? covers what PCIe 5.0 is worth today.
How Z890 compares with its neighbours
| Z890 | B860 | Z790 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1851 | LGA1851 | LGA1700 |
| Processors | Core Ultra 200S | Core Ultra 200S | 12th to 14th gen Core |
| Memory | DDR5 | DDR5 | DDR4 or DDR5, by board |
| CPU overclocking | Yes | No | Yes |
| Memory overclocking | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Chipset PCIe | 4.0 | 4.0, fewer lanes | 4.0 and 3.0 |
| Launched | Late 2024 | Early 2025 | Late 2022 |
The B860 guide covers the mainstream alternative, and the Z790 guide covers the previous generation.
What to check on the listing
- Size. Most Z890 boards are ATX, with a few micro-ATX, mini-ITX and E-ATX models. Check your case before ordering.
- M.2 slots. Count them, and note which run at PCIe 5.0 and which at 4.0.
- Thunderbolt and USB4. Common on Z890 but not universal, and Thunderbolt 5 appears only on some high-end models.
- WiFi. Many boards have WiFi 7, some WiFi 6E and some none at all. Motherboard WiFi explained has the detail.
- Power delivery. It matters most if you plan to overclock a Core Ultra 9; see motherboard VRM explained.
- Condition. LGA sockets have fragile pins in the board. For an open-box board, read are Amazon Warehouse motherboards worth it? before you buy.
Buying advice
Intel has not committed to bringing future processor generations to LGA1851, so choose a Z890 board for the processor you are fitting now rather than for an upgrade you hope to make later. If long socket support matters to you, compare the platform with AM5 in AMD vs Intel motherboards.
Z890 boards carry a premium over B860, and a fair part of it pays for features rather than speed. Decide which of those features you will use, then watch the Z890 deal list, the price drops page and the Warehouse offers for the board you have picked.
Questions people ask
Can I use a 13th or 14th gen Core processor in a Z890 board?
No. Z890 uses the LGA1851 socket, which takes Core Ultra 200S processors only. 12th, 13th and 14th generation Core chips need an LGA1700 board.
Does Z890 support DDR4 memory?
No. LGA1851 is a DDR5-only platform, so every Z890 board uses DDR5.
Do I need Z890 to run a K-series Core Ultra processor?
No. A K-series chip works in a B860 or H810 board at its stock settings. You need Z890 only if you want to overclock the processor.
Will my LGA1700 cooler fit a Z890 board?
The mounting hole spacing is the same on LGA1851 as on LGA1700, so most LGA1700 coolers fit. Check with the cooler maker if you are unsure, as some offer a revised mounting kit for the newer socket.