With a sea of options available in the market, selecting the right motherboard for Intel 13th-gen processors can be a big challenge. You need to make sure the motherboard you’re getting boasts the LGA 1700 socket. On top of that, it should also have a robust VRM system, one that can prevent performance and stability issues.
Here at PC Guide, we’ve reviewed several motherboards and have tested the performance of each one. Based on the results, we’ve selected a few options that we think are the right fit for 13th-gen CPUs. So, without wasting another second, let’s dive in!
- Best motherboard for Intel 13th-gen overall
ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 DARK HERO
- Socket: LGA 1700
- Chipset: Z790
- Form Factor : ATX
- PCIe Version : PCIe Gen 5 storage, Gen 5 GPU
- Memory speed : 8000+(OC)
- Memory capacity : 192GB, DDR5
- Best mid-range motherboard for Intel 13th-gen
ASUS PRIME Z790-A WIFI
- Socket: LGA 1700
- Chipset: Z790
- Form Factor : ATX
- PCIe Version : PCIe Gen 4 Storage – PCIe Gen 5 GPU
- Memory speed : DDR5 7200+(OC)
- Memory capacity : 192GB
- Best budget motherboard for Intel 13th-gen
MSI B760 Gaming Plus WiFi
- Socket: LGA 1700
- Chipset: B760
- Form Factor : mATX
- PCIe Version : PCIe Gen 4 storage, Gen 4 GPU
- Memory speed : 6800+(OC)
- Memory capacity : 256GB, DDR5
How we picked
For our guide, we went through several options from different brands. Then, we selected the ones that offered the best value for money. During the selection process, we kept several factors in mind, such as performance, features, compatibility, and price. Also, instead of solely relying on online ratings and reviews, we tested the motherboards ourselves to get an idea of their real-life performance. After all, we don’t want you to end up wasting your money on the wrong product. You can learn more about how we test components to get a better idea of our methods.
Our top picks
- Socket: LGA 1700
- Chipset: Z790
- Form Factor : ATX
- PCIe Version : PCIe Gen 5 storage, Gen 5 GPU
- Memory speed : 8000+(OC)
- Memory capacity : 192GB, DDR5
- High performance
- Great power delivery
- Superior build quality
- Expensive
- Heavy to pick up if you struggle with wrists
- ASUS Armoury crate is still bad
If budget is not an issue and you want the absolute best motherboard for an Intel 13th-generation processor, then we’d recommend the ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Dark Hero. Just by looking at this motherboard, you’ll be able to tell that it’s meant for high-performance builds. And in our Maximus Z790 Dark Hero review, it managed to deliver great performance in multiple tests.
To begin with, the Z790 Dark Hero is an ATX motherboard and offers an all-black theme. If you’re a fan of RGB, you’ll find it on the I/O cover. However, those who like to keep their build simple and minimalistic can keep it turned off.
Other than that, the Z790 Dark Hero boasts the LGA 1700 socket and is compatible with all Intel processors that use this socket. As it’s a high-performance motherboard, it can support up to four DDR5 RAMs with a speed of up to 8000 MHz. You’ll also find two PCIe 5.0 x16 slots, one PCIe 4.0 x4 slot, and four M.2 slots on the board.
To make sure you don’t run into any performance or stability issues, the Z790 Dark Hero comes with a VRM system in the form of a 20+1 teamed power solution. We put this to the test during our review, where the max power from the wall was 308.81W in Blender Classroom, the max package power was 181.26W, and the max temperature we noted was also in this tool – 37°C.
Overall, the ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Dark Hero is a solid motherboard for high-end builds, and it comes with all the latest features, including WiFi 7.
What users say
On Amazon, ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Dark Hero has an overall positive rating with more than 570 reviews. One of the reviewers mentioned: “With its advanced ROG Water-Cooling options, the board ensures optimal thermal management, maintaining excellent performance even during intense gaming sessions. It supports the latest DDR5 memory, enhancing overall speed and responsiveness.”
- Socket: LGA 1700
- Chipset: Z790
- Form Factor : ATX
- PCIe Version : PCIe Gen 4 Storage – PCIe Gen 5 GPU
- Memory speed : DDR5 7200+(OC)
- Memory capacity : 192GB
- Good value for money
- Looks good, really like the white
- Thermal armour keeps VRMs cool
- Slight performance loss vs X670E
- Difficult to install if your case doesn’t accommodate for the rear connections
- Micro-ATX, so only 1 PCIe slot
If you don’t want to spend around $600 on a motherboard and want something that offers a great blend of performance and price, then you’d want to check out the ASUS Prime Z790. This costs half of the Z790 Dark Hero, but it still packs a punch in the performance department. In our ASUS Prime Z790 review, we found it to be a great motherboard for Intel processors, including the 13th-gen lineup.
For starters, the ASUS Prime Z790 is an ATX motherboard, so it won’t be compatible with cases that support anything less than the ATX form factor. Other than that, it offers a white and black theme, and you’ll also find some RGB around the I/O shield. This can be either turned on or off, depending on your preference.
When it comes to specifications, the Prime Z790 comes with the LGA 1700 socket, supports up to four DDR5 7200 MHz (OC) RAMs with a max capacity of 192GB, and has a robust DIGI+ VRM system. On top of that, there are three PCIe 4.0 x16 slots, one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, and three M.2 slots. As far as connectivity is concerned, you’ll find plenty of USB ports, one DisplayPort, one HDMI port, audio jacks, and a 2.5G Ethernet Port on the board.
For our review, we tested it with the Core i5-14600K processor in several tools like Blender Monster, Blender Junkyard, Blender Classroom, CB R23 multi, and Geekbench 6 multi. The highest power from the wall we recorded was 281.7W in Blender Classroom, while the max package power, 159.34W, was in CB R23. On the other hand, the maximum temperature of the board was 31°C in Geekbench 7.
Overall, the ASUS Prime Z790 is a great mid-range option for Intel 13th-gen processors.
What users say
Users on Amazon are more than happy with their ASUS Prime Z790. This is the reason why the board has more than 890 reviews with an overall rating of 4.3, which is pretty solid. One of the reviewers mentioned: “The ASUS Prime Z790-P WiFi D4 LGA 1700 motherboard is a stellar choice for anyone looking to build a high-performance system with Intel’s 14th, 12th, or 13th Gen processors. This ATX motherboard combines robust features, reliable performance, and a future-ready design that sets it apart from the competition.”
- Socket: LGA 1700
- Chipset: B760
- Form Factor : mATX
- PCIe Version : PCIe Gen 4 storage, Gen 4 GPU
- Memory speed : 6800+(OC)
- Memory capacity : 256GB, DDR5
- Inexpensive
- Very good performance
- lightweight, small
- Aesthetically pleasing
- Not as many features as other motherboards in price range
- No protective backplate
- Gets hotter than some motherboards
- Only 2 M.2 slots
If you don’t want to spend more than $160 on a motherboard, then you’d want to opt for the MSI B760M Gaming Plus WiFi. Even though it falls in the budget category, it still delivers great performance. In our MSI B760M Gaming Plus WiFi review, we found it to be a solid motherboard for multiple builds.
First, let’s talk about the design. The B760M Gaming Plus WiFi is a Micro ATX motherboard, meaning it’s small in size and should be compatible with a wide range of cases. As for the color, it offers a mixture of white and black, but you’ll find some blue accents on the heatsinks. The only downside is that the I/O backplate does not come pre-installed, so you’ll need to attach it yourself.
On the I/O, you’ll find several ports for connectivity, including a 2.5G Ethernet Port for fast internet speed plans. Other than that, the MSI B760M Gaming Plus WiFi comes with four RAM slots that support DDR5 6800 MHz memory with a maximum capacity of 256 GB. You’ll also find one PCIe x1 and two PCIe x16 slots on the board, and there are also two M.2 slots for SSDs. If you want to connect the standard HDDs, you can use the four SATA 6GB ports.
We used the Core i5-14600K to test the performance of this board. Out of all the tools we used, the max power from the wall was in Blender Classroom – 337.9W. The motherboard also reached a temperature of 41°C, the highest we saw during our testing. In the rest of the tests, the temperature didn’t exceed 39.5°C.
Overall, if you’re tight on a budget or don’t want to overspend on the motherboard, then the MSI B760M Gaming Plus WiFi is a great option.
What users say
The MSI B760M Gaming Plus WiFi has more than 340 reviews on Amazon, with an overall rating of 4.4. According to the reviews, the board comes with solid features and it delivers good performance for the price it comes at. One of them mentioned: “Build went perfectly! The motherboard had no bent pins. It has all 4 memory slots (though I only used two for now), it was easy to install and load up.”
How to pick the right motherboard for these CPUs
As the market is filled with hundreds of options, you can get confused during the selection process. It isn’t just about picking up the most expensive option in the market. Instead, there are several factors that you should consider, and you can find a few of them below.
Budget
Your budget will play a key role in the selection process. If budget is not an issue and you want to get something that comes with the latest features, offers a premium build quality, and looks stunning, then you can explore some high-end options that will cost around $600.
However, if you’re tight on a budget or don’t want to overspend on the board, then you can also find some motherboards in the market that boast the LGA 1700 socket and come with a much lower price tag. However, these motherboards lack the latest features and offer fewer connectivity options.
Compatibility
Motherboards come in different shapes and sizes. On top of that, some of them only work with Intel CPUs, while others are compatible with AMD processors. So, you need to first check if the motherboard’s size is compatible with your case or not. Then, you need to make sure that it offers the socket that can support your CPU. In the case of 13th-gen processors, you need a motherboard with an LGA 1700 socket.
