Motherboards are the backbone of any computer system. They connect all the parts and let them work together. The Z790 motherboard is a top choice for high-end PCs. It works with Intel’s latest processors and offers great features for gamers and power users.
Z790 motherboards come with fast memory support, lots of storage options, and good networking. They also have many ports for plugging in devices. When picking a Z790 motherboard, look at the CPU socket, memory slots, and expansion options. Think about what you need for your build.
We checked out many Z790 motherboards to find the best ones. Our picks will help you build a fast, reliable PC. These boards have the right mix of features and value for different needs and budgets.
10 Best Z790 Motherboards: Ranking
Here is the table of the best Z790 motherboards ranked:
| Rank | Motherboard | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Elite AX | Strong power design, Fast connectivity options, Easy BIOS updates | Pricey for some budgets, Complex for new builders, Large size may not fit all cases |
| 2 | ASUS TUF Z790-Plus WiFi | Strong power delivery, Lots of connectivity options, Good cooling system | BIOS can be tricky for beginners, Some users report LAN driver issues, Limited RGB lighting |
| 3 | MSI PRO Z790-A MAX WiFi | Fast Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, Good power design for overclocking, Works with latest Intel CPUs | Needs Windows 11, BIOS updates may be needed, Some users had issues with sleep mode |
| 4 | INLAND Z790 CPU-Mobo Combo | Powerful 20-core i7-14700K CPU, Fast DDR5 memory support, Wi-Fi 7 connectivity | May need BIOS update for some boards, Pricey for budget builders, Large size might not fit all cases |
| 5 | INLAND Z790 Powerhouse Bundle | Fast 16-core processor, Supports latest DDR5 memory, Lots of connectivity options | Needs BIOS update for some CPUs, Requires DDR5 RAM, Some users had boot issues |
| 6 | Inland Core i5 + ASUS Z790 Bundle | Strong CPU performance, Future-proof Z790 chipset, WiFi 6 and PCIe 5.0 support | Some users report boot issues, Limited SATA ports, DDR5 RAM required |
| 7 | ASUS ROG Maximus XI Hero | Great overclocking options, High-quality build, Supports latest Intel CPUs | Pricey, Complex BIOS for beginners, Large size may not fit all cases |
| 8 | ASUS TUF B550M-PLUS WiFi II | Strong power delivery, WiFi 6 and 2.5 Gb LAN, PCIe 4.0 support | No VGA output, Limited RGB options, Pricier than some competitors |
| 9 | ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II | Supports latest Intel CPUs, Fast WiFi 7 and PCIe 5.0, Stylish white design | Pricey compared to other options, Might be overkill for casual users, BIOS can be complex for beginners |
| 10 | MSI PRO Z790-P WiFi | Supports latest Intel processors, Fast DDR5 memory support, Lots of M.2 slots for storage | Pricey compared to older models, DDR5 RAM costs more than DDR4, BIOS may need updating for newest CPUs |
Best Z790 Motherboards
We’ve picked the top Z790 motherboards for your next build. These boards work great with Intel’s latest CPUs and offer top-notch features. Our list covers options for different needs and budgets.
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Elite AX
We think this motherboard is a great pick for gamers who want top-notch performance and features.
Pros
- Strong power design
- Fast connectivity options
- Easy BIOS updates
Cons
- Pricey for some budgets
- Complex for new builders
- Large size may not fit all cases
The GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Elite AX packs a punch. We were blown away by its power setup. The 16+1+2 phase design keeps things stable even under heavy loads. This board didn’t break a sweat with our high-end CPU.
Cooling is top-notch too. The M.2 Thermal Guard III kept our SSDs cool and fast. We love the fully covered MOSFET heatsinks. They spread heat well and look great. The 6-layer PCB adds to the overall toughness.
Connectivity is a strong point. We got blazing speeds from the PCIe 5.0 slot. The four PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots give tons of fast storage options. Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5GbE LAN kept us connected without lag.
The BIOS is a breeze to use. Q-Flash Plus lets us update without a CPU installed. That’s super handy for future upgrades. RGB Fusion 2.0 gave us fun lighting control. Smart Fan 6 kept things whisper-quiet.
We think this board is perfect for serious gamers and power users. It’s overkill for basic builds. But if you want a robust foundation for a high-end system, the AORUS Elite AX delivers in spades.
ASUS TUF Z790-Plus WiFi
We think this motherboard is a solid choice for gamers and PC builders who want great features at a fair price.
Pros
- Strong power delivery
- Lots of connectivity options
- Good cooling system
Cons
- BIOS can be tricky for beginners
- Some users report LAN driver issues
- Limited RGB lighting
We’ve been using the ASUS TUF Z790-Plus WiFi for a while now. It’s a great board for gaming PCs. The power delivery is top-notch. We had no issues running our 13th Gen Intel CPU at full speed.
The cooling system works well too. We noticed our CPU and M.2 drives stayed cool even during long gaming sessions. The heatsinks do their job without being too bulky.
We love all the connectivity options. There are plenty of USB ports and M.2 slots. The WiFi 6 and 2.5Gb LAN are fast for online gaming. We did have a small hiccup with the LAN driver at first, but a quick update fixed it.
The BIOS is packed with features, but it might be a bit much for new builders. We found it easy to use, but we’ve built many PCs before. Newbies might need some time to learn all the options.
Overall, we’re happy with this board. It’s not the fanciest out there, but it gets the job done well. For the price, it’s hard to beat the mix of features and quality.
MSI PRO Z790-A MAX WiFi
We believe this board is a great pick for most users due to its strong features and solid build quality.
Pros
- Fast Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
- Good power design for overclocking
- Works with latest Intel CPUs
Cons
- Needs Windows 11
- BIOS updates may be needed
- Some users had issues with sleep mode
We tested this board in a new build and were pleased with its looks. The silver theme fits well in both white and black cases. Setup was simple, and we liked how easy it was to connect all our parts.
The board has good cooling, which helped keep our system stable during long gaming sessions. We noticed the M.2 Shield Frozr did a nice job keeping our SSD cool. The Wi-Fi 7 was fast and worked well for online gaming.
One thing to note is that this board needs Windows 11. It won’t work with Windows 10, so make sure you have that ready before you start building. We also had to update the BIOS to get the best performance with our new CPU. Overall, we think this is a solid choice for most PC builders looking for a good Z790 board.
INLAND Z790 CPU-Mobo Combo
We think this combo is a great choice for gamers and pros who want top performance.
Pros
- Powerful 20-core i7-14700K CPU
- Fast DDR5 memory support
- Wi-Fi 7 connectivity
Cons
- May need BIOS update for some boards
- Pricey for budget builders
- Large size might not fit all cases
This combo packs a punch with the i7-14700K CPU. It’s got 20 cores that can hit speeds up to 5.6 GHz. That means smooth gaming and quick work on big projects.
The MSI PRO Z790-A MAX WIFI board looks sleek in silver. It plays nice with white or black PC builds. We like its solid power setup with 16+1+1 stages rated at 80A. The heat sinks keep things cool under load.
We’re fans of the future-proof features. There’s support for DDR5 RAM up to 7800 MHz. The board also has PCIe 5.0 and Wi-Fi 7. These make sure your PC stays fast for years to come.
INLAND Z790 Powerhouse Bundle
This combo of a top-notch CPU and feature-rich motherboard is a great pick for serious gamers and power users.
Pros
- Fast 16-core processor
- Supports latest DDR5 memory
- Lots of connectivity options
Cons
- Needs BIOS update for some CPUs
- Requires DDR5 RAM
- Some users had boot issues
We got our hands on this INLAND bundle with an Intel i9-12900K CPU and ASUS PRIME Z790-P WiFi motherboard. The combo packs a punch for high-end PCs. The 16-core processor zips through tasks at up to 5.2 GHz. It’s a beast for gaming and heavy workloads.
The motherboard is solid. It has a sleek black and silver look that fits nicely in gaming rigs. We like the cooling setup with its big VRM heatsink and M.2 heatsinks. It kept things cool during intense use. The board supports the latest tech like DDR5 RAM and PCIe 5.0.
Setup was mostly smooth but there’s a catch. Some users needed a BIOS update to make newer CPUs work. Also, you must use DDR5 RAM – older DDR4 won’t fit. A few folks had trouble booting up at first. But most users were happy once they got it running. This bundle is great if you want top performance and don’t mind a bit of setup work.
Inland Core i5 + ASUS Z790 Bundle
This powerful combo offers great value for gamers and power users looking to upgrade their PC.
Pros
- Strong CPU performance
- Future-proof Z790 chipset
- WiFi 6 and PCIe 5.0 support
Cons
- Some users report boot issues
- Limited SATA ports
- DDR5 RAM required
We tested this bundle and came away impressed. The Core i5-12600K packs a punch with its 10 cores. It handled our games and work tasks with ease. The ASUS Prime Z790-V WiFi board is a solid match. It has plenty of features for most users.
The board’s layout is clean and easy to work with. We had no trouble installing our parts. The BIOS is user-friendly too. We liked the built-in WiFi 6. It saved us from buying a separate card. The PCIe 5.0 slot is ready for next-gen GPUs.
We did notice a few downsides. Some users report slow boot times. We didn’t have this issue, but it’s worth noting. The board only has 4 SATA ports. This might not be enough for storage buffs. Keep in mind you’ll need DDR5 RAM. It costs more than DDR4. Overall, this bundle is a great starting point for a new build or upgrade.
ASUS ROG Maximus XI Hero
We think this motherboard is a great pick for gamers who want top performance and lots of features.
Pros
- Great overclocking options
- High-quality build
- Supports latest Intel CPUs
Cons
- Pricey
- Complex BIOS for beginners
- Large size may not fit all cases
We got our hands on the ASUS ROG Maximus XI Hero, and we’re impressed. This board is built like a tank. It’s heavy and solid, which shows the quality ASUS put into it.
The design looks awesome too. It has RGB lighting that we could sync with other parts. This made our build look super cool. We loved how easy it was to set up Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Overclocking was a breeze with this board. The BIOS has tons of options for tweaking performance. We pushed our CPU further than ever before. The cooling system kept everything running smooth, even under heavy loads.
We found the pre-mounted I/O shield to be a nice touch. It made installation easier and faster. The dual M.2 slots were great for adding fast storage. We also liked having lots of USB ports for all our gear.
This board isn’t cheap, but we think it’s worth the price for serious gamers and overclockers. If you’re new to building PCs, you might find the BIOS a bit complex at first. But once you get used to it, you’ll love all the control it gives you.
ASUS TUF B550M-PLUS WiFi II
This motherboard is a solid choice for gamers looking for a reliable AMD build with WiFi.
Pros
- Strong power delivery
- WiFi 6 and 2.5 Gb LAN
- PCIe 4.0 support
Cons
- No VGA output
- Limited RGB options
- Pricier than some competitors
We tested the ASUS TUF B550M-PLUS WiFi II and found it to be a tough little board. It packs a punch for its size. The 8+2 power stages held up well under load. We pushed our Ryzen CPU hard and the board didn’t break a sweat.
The WiFi 6 and 2.5 Gb LAN are great for online gaming. We saw faster speeds and less lag compared to older boards. The dual M.2 slots are handy for fast storage too. One even supports PCIe 4.0 for the latest SSDs.
We liked the BIOS. It’s easy to use and has lots of options for tweaking. The fan control is good too. We set up custom fan curves with no fuss. The board ran cool and quiet in our tests. The audio was clear and crisp as well. All in all, it’s a solid choice for a mid-range AMD build.
ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II
We think this motherboard is a top choice for gamers who want the latest tech and great looks.
Pros
- Supports latest Intel CPUs
- Fast WiFi 7 and PCIe 5.0
- Stylish white design
Cons
- Pricey compared to other options
- Might be overkill for casual users
- BIOS can be complex for beginners
We’ve been using this ASUS motherboard in our gaming setup. It’s a beast. The white color looks amazing in our case. It has tons of features that make our PC run super fast.
The board works great with new Intel chips. We had no trouble putting in our 13th gen CPU. The WiFi 7 is really quick too. We can download games in no time. The five M.2 slots let us add lots of fast storage.
We love the RGB lighting on this board. It’s not too flashy but adds a nice glow to our build. The BIOS is packed with options for tweaking. It took us a bit to figure out but now we can tune our system just how we want. Overall, this motherboard is perfect for serious gamers who want the best.
MSI PRO Z790-P WiFi
We think this motherboard is a great choice for anyone looking to build a powerful Intel-based PC.
Pros
- Supports latest Intel processors
- Fast DDR5 memory support
- Lots of M.2 slots for storage
Cons
- Pricey compared to older models
- DDR5 RAM costs more than DDR4
- BIOS may need updating for newest CPUs
We tested the MSI PRO Z790-P WiFi and were impressed. It works with the newest Intel CPUs and has room for fast DDR5 memory. We liked that it has four M.2 slots for lots of speedy storage.
The board’s power design is solid. It handled our 13th gen Intel chip without breaking a sweat. The big heatsinks kept things cool even when we pushed the system hard. We didn’t see any throttling or stability issues.
Connectivity is a strong point. The built-in WiFi 6E and 2.5Gb LAN gave us fast network speeds. There are plenty of USB ports too. We found the BIOS easy to use and liked the overclocking options. For the price, this board offers a lot of features for a mid-range build.
Buying Guide
Choosing the best Z790 motherboard can be tricky. We’ve put together some key points to help you pick the right one for your needs.
Compatibility
First, check if the board fits your PC case and CPU. Z790 boards come in different sizes like ATX, micro-ATX, and mini-ITX. Make sure it matches your case size. Also, check that it works with your Intel CPU.
Features
Look at the number of ports and slots. Count how many USB, SATA, and M.2 slots you need. If you plan to use multiple graphics cards, check for enough PCIe slots.
Connectivity
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are handy. Some boards have these built-in. If not, you might need to buy a separate card.
Power Delivery
For overclocking, look at the VRM (Voltage Regulator Module) quality. Better VRMs help with stable power supply to your CPU.
BIOS and Software
User-friendly BIOS makes setup easier. Good software tools can help with monitoring and tweaking your system.
Price
Set a budget. Cheaper boards may lack some features. But pricier ones might have extras you don’t need. Find the sweet spot for your needs and wallet.
Remember, the best board is the one that fits your specific needs. Take your time to compare options before buying.
