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

The ROG Maximus Z790 Hero from ASUS 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 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 ports, and Wi-Fi 6E wraps up the rich and future-proof feature set.

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 20Gbps USB-C port, covering all the basics well. In addition, a BIOS flashback button makes for easy updates without needing a compatible CPU.

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 20Gbps USB-C port and 2.5G Ethernet.

MSI has serious gems in its Z790 motherboard lineup, and the MPG Z790 EDGE Wi-Fi is the perfect choice if you want to build a powerful white desktop PC. This motherboard packs cutting-edge features like DDR5 memory support up to 7200+MHz, PCIe 5.0 for GPUs, and an 18-phase, 90A VRM under the stylish silver-white exterior, providing a solid foundation for a high-end Intel PC build.

It doesn't come cheap, but it offers more features than competing boards at the same price point. It has five PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots and seven SATA ports to cater to your massive storage needs, as well as a PCIe 5.0 expansion slot that lets you squeeze every bit of performance from the best graphics cards. It's also impressive on the connectivity front, with ten USB ports, 2.5G Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3.

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 Wi-Fi 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 Wi-Fi 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.

Flagship ITX motherboards are mostly on the higher end of the pricing scale, but the MSI MPG Z790I Edge Wi-Fi 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.

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.

We've looked at ITX and Micro ATX motherboards, but what if you want to go bigger? 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 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 screw-less quick-release design.

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 affordability, 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 who 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 old-fashioned GIF for fun.

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 Wi-Fi, 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.

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.