The 13th-generation “Raptor Lake” processors from Intel are now available, and that means a new range of motherboards to go with them. While they aren’t much of an upgrade from the Alder Lake series, these new processors feature more cores and a larger L2 cache than before, helping further solidify Intel’s lead over AMD.
The 13th Gen Intel CPUs use the same LGA1700 socket as the previous 12th Gen CPUs, which means the new 13th Gen processors will also work with last-gen Z690 motherboards. However, the new Z790 platform is the best way to get the most out of your 13th Gen Intel CPU.
Here are the best Z790 motherboards available today.
Our Favorite Z790 Motherboards in 2023
ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero
Best Overall
Feature-rich with a stunning design
$600 $630 Save
$30
The ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero is one of the most impressive Z790 motherboards on the market. With DDR5, PCIe 5.0, and Wi-Fi 6E.
- PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 support
- Solid VRMs and heatsinks
- Wi-Fi 6E connectivity
- 12 USB ports with two Thunderbolt 4
- 10GbE would be better than the 2.5Gbps LAN
The ROG Maximus Z790 Hero from ASUS needs no introduction. It might not be cheap, but it’s certainly the best Z790 motherboard to build your Raptor-Lake-based system around. This board has everything you need to forge the ultimate gaming PC, from capable 20-phase, 90A VRMs that can push the new Intel Core i9-13900K to its limits to a full PCIe 5.0 design and DDR5 memory support.
ASUS motherboards are known for easy overclocking, and the ROG Maximus Z790 Hero is no exception. It comes with a full-featured, easy-to-use BIOS, as well as a BIOS flashback button, an onboard power button, and a 7-segment display for troubleshooting. And if you’re obsessed with RGB lighting, this board has integrated LEDs and multiple addressable RGB headers.
The large heatsinks do an incredible job on their own, but you can achieve even lower temperatures with water cooling. The ROG Maximus Z790 Hero is one of the best Z790 motherboards for custom water cooling, so you can maintain top performance and a chilly CPU. At the rear, the board offers 12 USB ports, including two 40 Gbps Thunderbolt 4 ports, and Wi-Fi 6E wraps up the rich and future-proof feature set.
MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
Best RGBless Design
The perfect motherboard for an RGBless build
$260 $290 Save
$30
The MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi comes with all the bells and whistles you would expect from a top-end Z790 motherboard, while still managing to offer impressive value for money.
- DDR5 support
- Wi-Fi 6E connectivity
- Excellent value for money
- Lacks integrated RGB lighting
The MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi is a midrange Z790 motherboard that punches above its weight class. It’s loaded with high-end features, like support for the latest PCIe 5.0 graphics cards and DDR5 RAM, allowing you to build a powerful PC that can match the performance of flagship Z790 motherboards at a much more reasonable price.
With four M.2 sockets and seven SATA ports, the MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi caters to all your storage needs, whether you’re a gamer or content creator. It doesn’t support PCI 5.0 speeds, but you’ll have to decide if that’s a deal-breaker since current M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSDs are still plenty fast and capable of running the latest AAA games at lightning speeds. At the core of the motherboard, 16 power stages rated at 90A with solid heatsinks to match provide enough power to handle the best of the 13th-generation Intel CPUs.
The motherboard also does well when it comes to connectivity. It supports Wi-Fi 6E and comes with HDMI and DisplayPort for integrated graphics output and 10 USB ports, including a 20 Gbps USB-C port, covering all the basics well. In addition, a BIOS flashback button makes for easy updates without needing a compatible CPU.
Overall, the MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi is an interesting proposition. It prioritizes core features over flagship-tier features like RGB lighting, Thunderbolt 4, and 10GbE, which just drive up the price of motherboards without really adding much value to the average user. The result is a reasonably priced motherboard that checks all the boxes for most gamers.
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Elite AX
Best Value
Premium performance without the cost
$255 $260 Save
$5
The GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Elite AX is one of the more affordable Z790 motherboards on the market. But don’t let that fool you, it’s still capable of building a power-house, future-proof gaming PC.
- PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 support
- Integrated RGB lighting
- Wi-Fi 6E connectivity
Those on a tight budget who still want to build a future-proof Intel 13th Gen Raptor Lake-based PC should consider the GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Elite AX. It’s one of the most affordable Z790 boards with DDR5 support, and just because it’s a budget pick doesn’t mean it doesn’t pack some of the latest tech, including PCIe 5.0 and Wi-Fi 6E support.
The motherboard is clad in black, with beefy heatsinks covering most of the board. It features four high-speed M.2 Gen 4 slots that are also covered with heatsinks to prevent thermal throttling. GIGABYTE makes it super easy to build on this board thanks to the quick-release design that lets you easily remove the GPU or M.2 SSDs without needing any tools.
When it comes to actual performance, the GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Elite AX features decent VRMs that are more capable of handling the best 13th Gen Intel CPUs at stock or overclocked. Combined with the solid heatsinks, this motherboard helps you build a powerful PC that will last many years. To wrap it up, the motherboard offers plenty of ports, including a 20 Gbps USB-C port and 2.5G Ethernet.
ASRock Z790 Taichi Carrara
Unique Design
Powerful features wrapped in a stylish design
The ASRock Z790 Taichi Carrara is certainly one of the coolest-looking motherboards around today. Not only does it look aesthetically pleasing, but it also boasts some impressive specs too.
- Robust and reliable 105A MOSFETs
- Plenty of overclocking headroom
- Five M.2 slots and eight SATA ports
- Wi-Fi 6E connectivity
- Consumes a fair amount of power
Prices for high-end Z790 motherboards have been known to go through the roof, but the ASRock Z790 Taichi Carrara is proof you don’t have to pay flagship prices to get the best of what the Z790 platform has to offer. With PCIe 5.0 support for your GPU and M.2 SSD, DDR5 coverage, two 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 ports, Wi-Fi 6E, and an overkill power delivery, this motherboard offers everything an enthusiast could want to build a high-end Raptor Lake-based system at a far lower price than boards with similar specs.
The ASRock Z790 Taichi Carrara beats high-end boards like the ROG Maximus Z790 Hero when it comes to power delivery. Its 24-phase Vcore VRMs and high-quality 105A SPS MOSFETs provide excellent power delivery that can handle extreme overclocking of any compatible Raptor Lake CPU. Built-in power and reset buttons and a 7-segment display also make it easy to troubleshoot your PC.
In addition to its top-of-the-line features and strong VRMS, the Z790 Taichi Carrara has a unique white marble look and an RGB light strip, which makes it perfect for certain setups. The only reservation we have about this board is its high power consumption. You’ll need a beefy power supply as well as a robust cooling solution to keep the temperatures in check.
ASUS TUF Gaming Z790-Plus WiFi D4
Minimalistic Design
Ordinary looks, with extraordinary features
$250 $265 Save
$15
If you’re looking for a minimalist design, the ASUS TUF Gaming Z790-Plus WiFi D4 ticks all the right boxes. While the motherboard itself might look simple, it’s still packed with incredible features.
- Good value
- Excellent performance
- PCIe 5.0 and PCIe 4.0 support
Between the high cost of Z790 motherboards and expensive DDR5 memory sticks, a 13th Gen build with DDR5 RAM can set you back thousands of dollars. Luckily, unlike AMD’s AM5, Intel’s latest Z790 chipset works with both DDR5 and DDR4 memory. This means you can cut costs by using the older, more affordable DDR4 RAM.
The ASUS TUF Gaming Z790-Plus WiFi D4 is one of the best Z790 motherboards with DDR4 support. It covers all the basics well, with a capable power delivery setup, PCIe 5.0 for graphics cards, and four high-speed M.2 slots. It supports Wi-Fi 6 and 2.5Gb Ethernet, which are both fast enough for gaming and streaming. In addition, eight USB ports, including a 20Gbps USB-C port, provide enough connectivity options for your desk and gaming accessories.
Overall, the ASUS TUF Gaming Z790-Plus WiFi D4 presents a much better value in times when building a PC gets expensive with each new platform. It drops some of the latest tech, like DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots, to keep costs down, but that doesn’t mean you lose out on performance. A combination of a faster DDR4 kit, a speedy PCIe 4.0 SSD, and a powerful GPU can give you a smooth and powerful experience on most games today without burning a hole in your wallet.
MSI MPG Z790I Edge WiFi
Best ITX Board
The ideal motherboard for compact builds
$351 $360 Save
$9
If you’re looking to build a compact ITX computer, the MSI MPG Z790I Edge WiFi is a powerful and feature-rich ITX Z790 motherboard with tons of features fo such a small board.
- Solid power delivery for an ITX board
- Easy to overclock
- Superb build quality and stability
Flagship ITX motherboards are mostly on the higher end of the pricing scale, but the MSI MPG Z790I Edge WiFi manages to undercut competing boards from ASUS and ASRock by a little. It packs some of the best Z790 features with minimal, reasonable sacrifices, making it the best LGA 1700 Mini ITX motherboard to build your 13th Gen PC around.
Robust 105A MOSFETs give you a lot of headroom for overclocking, whether you’re running the mid-range 13600K or the flagship 13900K. It also supports PCIe 5.0 for graphics cards and DDR5 memory up to 8000MHz overclocked, ensuring you squeeze every bit of performance out of the latest GPUs and memory kits. A notable omission is PCIe 5.0 support for M.2 storage, but that may not be a deal-breaker for you since you can get excellent speeds from current PCIe 4.0 SSDs.
The motherboard features a stylish silver-white aesthetic that looks good in most cases, especially white exteriors. It’s covered with heatsinks, including an actively cooled VRM heatsink to help keep your PC parts frosty. The connectivity options are impressive for such a tiny board; it has three M.2 slots and four SATA ports for your storage needs, along with seven rear USB ports for your peripherals.
ASUS Prime Z790M-Plus
Best Micro ATX Board
An affordable Micro ATX board with superb features
For those looking to build a smaller desktop computer, Micro ATX is one of the best options. The ASUS Prime Z790M-Plus is a powerful Micro ATX motherboard that comes with DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 support.
- PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 support
- Eight USB ports with a 20Gbps USB-C port
- Great value for money
- Lacks Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
If you’re considering a compact build but want more connectivity options, this micro ATX motherboard from ASUS is an excellent option. It’s more affordable than most Z790 motherboards and still offers DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 support. It also features more USB ports, RAM slots, and PCIe expansion slots than ITX boards, which is great if you want to upgrade your PC down the road.
The ASUS Prime Z790M-Plus can handle a stock Core i5-13600K or Core i7-13700K without any issues, and you can even overclock the memory to up to 7200MHz to squeeze out extra performance. The built-in heatsinks do a great job of keeping temperatures at acceptable levels when paired with a good cooler, but it doesn’t have any heatsinks for the M.2 slots. However, that is something you can fix easily by buying M.2 SSDs with built-in heatsinks.
Overall, the ASUS Prime Z790M-Plus is a great choice for anyone who wants a Z790 motherboard at a reasonable price. The small size is great for people with a small desk or limited space, and even though this motherboard is cheap, it has good enough specs to build a good PC for work or gaming. Sure, it doesn’t support Wi-Fi, but you get a gigabit Ethernet port, which should be enough for everyday browsing and casual gaming. Plus, you can always add a faster Wi-Fi card or Ethernet adapter when you need more speed.
Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Master
Best EATX Board
A larger EATX motherboard for bigger builds
$460 $500 Save
$40
GIGABYTE is well known for building big, feature-rich motherboards, and the GIGABYTE Z790 Aorus Master is a prime example of this. It’s a large EATX motherboard with PCIe 5.0, DDR5, XMP 3.0, and many more impressive add-ons.
- 14 USB ports on IO
- Stunning design
- DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 support
- Quick release M.2 design
We’ve looked at ITX and Micro ATX motherboards, but what if you want to go bigger? Because bigger is better, right? The GIGABYTE Z790 Aorus Master is a massive EATX Z790 motherboard designed for those who want to make monstrous towering desktop computers.
Of course, with all this extra space, GIGABYTE has managed to pack some serious technology into this motherboard. From the latest PCIe 5.0 and M.2 connectivity to Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth, this board has been designed to ensure you have everything you need. It even has a whopping 14 USB ports on the rear IO.
Design and ease of use were also clearly important to GIGABYTE when creating the GIGABYTE Z790 Aorus Master. Not only is it one of the most stylish Z790 motherboards on the market today, but with features such as EZ-Latch, replacing your M.2 SSDs has never been easier thanks to the screwless quick-release design.
MSI MEG Z790 GODLIKE
Best Cable Management
Build your gaming PC like a pro
The MSI MEG Z790 GODLIKE certainly lives up to its name as a god among Z790 motherboards. But, with great power, comes eye-watering prices. However, if you can afford it, you certainly won’t be disappointed.
- Perfect for tidy cable management
- M-Vision Dashboard
- DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 support
If you’re looking to spend a bit more, the MSI MEG Z790 GODLIKE is one of the best Z790 motherboards on the market. While it might not offer as much value for your money as the ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero, what it lacks in price, it makes up for with innovative technology.
The MSI MEG Z790 GODLIKE is a large EATX motherboard, which means you have plenty of room for multiple GPUs, all-in-one cooling, or even adding your own custom loop. One of the most ingenious designs of this motherboard is the connector placements, which all sit either around the edge of the motherboard, or at the very end, making it a superb choice for those that are particular about their cable management.
Another unique feature is the inclusion of the M-Vision Dashboard, a touch-responsive 4.5-inch LCD display that lets you monitor your system in real-time. It can even be set to show the local weather, or just display a good ol’ fashioned GIF for fun.
MSI MPG Z790I Edge WiFi
Best Mini-ITX Board
Small and compact yet mighty motherboard
The MSI MPG Z790I Edge WiFi is a tiny Mini-ITX motherboard that manages to pack in impressive features and connectivity into such a small space.
- Ideal for compact builds
- DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 support
- Wi-Fi 6E
- No multi-GPU support
- Only two DDR5 RAM DIMMs
While many will argue that bigger is better, sometimes you just don’t have the space for a towering desktop computer cluttering up your room. This is where the MSI MPG Z790I Edge WiFi comes in. With its tiny Micro-ITX form factor, it’s the perfect motherboard for creating a compact, yet powerful desktop computer.
While most Micro-ITX motherboards have to skimp when it comes to connectivity, MSI has done a great job of packing everything you would need into a small space. You’ll find Wi-Fi 6E built-in, DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 support, and even Audio Boost 5 for an immersive gaming experience.
The only downside to such a small motherboard is that it can only handle one GPU, which these days isn’t really an issue anyway. It also only has two DDR5 RAM DIMMs, which is a complication for those who want to run their RAM in a dual-channel configuration.
Choosing the Best Z790 Motherboard for Your Computer
Investing in a Z790 motherboard ensures that 13th Gen Intel CPUs will work out of the box. With updated architecture, you can expect increased power delivery, additional overclocking support, and a more refined board compared to the Z690.
If you’re on a budget, a board like the GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Elite AX will be a great companion for your 13th Gen CPU. While it doesn’t cost nearly as much as some other Z790 boards, you still get DDR5 support, Wi-Fi 6E, and a stunning RGB design.
The MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi, on the other hand, ditches the RGB lighting, but instead makes a solid case for a mid-range motherboard with DDR5 support. It’s an outstanding value for the money, too, so if you’re not fussed about fancy lighting, it’s a great choice.
But, for the best Z790 motherboard, you’ll want to consider the ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero. Not only does it look the part, but it also offers PCIe 5.0 support, Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, and 12 USB ports. Your high-end gaming build will look stunning with this motherboard in prime position.
ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero
Best Overall
Feature-rich with a stunning design
$600 $630 Save
$30
The ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero is one of the most impressive Z790 motherboards on the market. With DDR5, PCIe 5.0, and Wi-Fi 6E.
- PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 support
- Solid VRMs and heatsinks
- Wi-Fi 6E connectivity
- 12 USB ports with two Thunderbolt 4
- 10GbE would be better than the 2.5Gbps LAN
FAQ
Q: Are Z790 Motherboards 13th Gen Ready?
Yes, since Z790 motherboards use the LGA1700 socket, they are compatible with the latest 13th-Generation Intel processors right out of the box.
Q: Do You Need a Z790 for 13th Gen CPUs?
No, you do not need a Z790 motherboard for 13th Gen Intel processors. The previous-generation Z690 motherboards also fully support 13th Gen CPUs with a BIOS update.
However, Z790 motherboards are the best choice since they support faster DDR5 RAM speeds, have more high-speed USB ports, and are compatible with Raptor Lake CPUs without any extra tinkering.
Q: What Motherboard Do You Need for 13th-Generation Intel Processors?
You need a motherboard with an LGA1700 socket, like the Z690 and Z790 boards, for the 13th generation of Intel processors. These motherboards are also compatible with the previous 12th Gen “Alder Lake” CPUs since they use the same LGA1700 socket.
Any motherboard based on Intel 600 Series or 700 Series Desktop Chipsets, like the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-E Gaming WiFi or MSI PRO Z690-A, is compatible with the 12th or 13th series of Intel CPUs. Just make sure to look for the LGA1700 socket before purchasing your motherboard.
