Best Z790 Motherboards to Buy in 2024 – Top Picks

Introduction

The Z790 chipsets are the best choice for Intel motherboards, especially for those not tied down to a tight budget. To get the most out of top-end CPUs such as the Cor i9-14900K and Core i7-14700K, a Z790 motherboard is the ideal option, as this chipset is tailor-made to work alongside this generation of processors.

But how do you know which board is best, and how do you break apart the good Z790 options from the bad? Let’s answer that question by testing and listing our favourite Z790 motherboards.

Our Top Pick: MSI MPG Z790 Carbon WiFi

MSI’s Z790 MPG Carbon WiFi takes the top spot as our favourite motherboard with a Z790 chipset. With strong connectivity features, solid overclocking support, and a sophisticated appearance, this design from MSI ticks all of the boxes. On top of this, the Z90 Carbon WiFi offers these premium features for a price that won’t completely shatter the bank.

$399.32 at Amazon

Last updated: 2024-04-25 10:39:22 ET

$399.99 at Newegg

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Best Z790 Motherboards

1. MSI MPG Z790 Carbon WiFi

MSI’s MPG Z790 Carbon WiFi is a DDR5 motherboard we’ve reviewed in full, and it impressed us with its versatility and affordability. It offers a wide range of features that are perfect for a mid-range or high-end gaming PC. This motherboard also looks the part, with plenty of heatsinks throughout the design to keep components cool.

With tool-less M.2 heatsinks, you can also install SSDs without needing to touch a screwdriver—a great quality-of-life innovation! On the overclocking front, you’ve got a 22-phase power design with plenty of cooling on the VRMs to push your CPU to the next level. This board also sports two Gen5 slots ready for the next generation of graphics cards and storage.

Reinforcement to the very top PCI-E x16 lane helps to prevent GPU sag and subsequent damage to the motherboard, while MSI’s light-up dragon logo adorns the top of the IO and VRM cooling. This can be easily customised within the MSI Mystic Light software suite.

Finally, on the rear IO, you’ve also got access to various USB ports. From high-speed USB 3.2 ports to WiFi 6E and 2.5 Gigabit LAN, this motherboard is equipped with a range of tools that will result in an optimal user experience.

One of the biggest setbacks to this design is the limited number of PCI-E slots. With only two x16 slots and one x4 slot, room for expansions and upgrades to storage is fairly limited. Adding to this is the unorthodox layout caused by the pair of M.2 connections above the PCI-E lane. As a result, the space to install a GPU is moved down by one slot, which can look out of proportion, especially in smaller cases.

Suggested Article: Z790 vs B760 Motherboards – Key Differences & Expectations

2. ASUS Prime Z790-A WiFi

The Prime Z790-A WiFi from ASUS is one of the best affordable Z790 motherboards available, offering strong connectivity at a reasonable price point. Sporting a PCI-E 5.0 slot for the next generation of GPUs and multiple PCI-E 4.0 M.2 slots, this motherboard is ready for the latest and greatest PC hardware. What makes this board even better is the black and silver colour scheme of the Prime Z790, which makes it ideal for anyone looking to build a white-themed gaming PC.

Despite being a more affordable Z790 motherboard, the Prime Z790-A WiFi still looks to offer the best connectivity possible. Supporting DDR5 memory with up to 7200MT/s transfer speeds, this board gives access to incredibly fast and responsive memory, leading to optimal performance in games and other demanding tasks.

Additionally, the rear IO features a bountiful amount of high-speed USBs, including a 20GB/s Type-C port, along with WiFi 6E for those looking for a high-speed wireless connection.

ASUS is reserving its masses of next-gen USB ports and an array of PCI-E Gen 5 slots for higher-end boards, which constrains this design a little in terms of getting connected. That’s not to say connectivity is awful, but the spread of ports and slots will be better on more premium designs.

It’s a similar story for the overclocking capabilities, with 14+1 VRM power phases not being enough to overclock a more powerful CPU like the Core i9-13900K. While you can squeeze more speed out of a Core i5-14600K, don’t expect to hit 6000MT/s on an Intel Core i9 chip.

3. Gigabyte Z790 AORUS Elite AX

Gigabyte’s Z790 AORUS Elite AX is one of the cheapest DDR5 motherboards available with a Z790 chipset. This board is loaded with features, from numerous PCI-E 4.0 SSD slots to a high-quality audio codec that provides crystal-clear quality for audiophiles. If you’re looking to build a relatively low-cost DDR5 gaming PC, we definitely recommend looking at this board from Gigabyte. It has an awesome design that suits many different build styles while sporting plenty of features for you to sink your teeth into.

With 16+1+2 VRM power phases, this motherboard is well equipped for some CPU overclocking, allowing the performance of 12th, 13th, or 14th-Gen Intel processors to be pushed a little bit further. Also, WiFi 6E for next-gen wireless networking speeds, along with a 2.5 Gigabit LAN port, gives plenty of flexibility when connecting to the internet.

However, there are a few flaws to be careful of. For example, the large M.2 area in the middle of the board makes the bottom two x16 PCI-E lanes less practical, with room for only a pair of single-slot cards. Additionally, we feel the M.2 heatsink design could be more visually appealing, as the grey colour does not blend in particularly well with the rest of the relatively stealthy design.

4. ASUS TUF Gaming Z790-Plus WiFi D4

The TUF Gaming Z790-Plus WiFi D4 from ASUS is one of the best-looking boards on the Z790 chipset. The industrial theme contrasts really well with the shades of yellow, creating an appearance that is perfect for a gaming PC! This board also has an insane number of USB ports. If you’re looking for a motherboard that can handle excessive accessories and peripherals, this TUF board should be at the top of your shopping list.

This TUF Gaming design includes a good array of M.2 slots and support for the inevitable PCI-E 5.0 graphics cards when they arrive. This allows users to fill their gaming PC with the best M.2 SSDs available while being well-prepared for more advanced components further down the line.

This board complements ASUS’ already strong Z790 motherboard lineup, providing a great mid-range option with more features than their PRIME motherboards while coming in at a lower cost than the likes of their HERO range.

Unfortunately, the motherboard does look a little bare in some places. ASUS could have fixed this by reducing the amount of PCB exposure on this design, which would aid in both looks and cooling. Regarding performance, the 16+1 VRM power phases will allow for modest overclocking, particularly on the i5 13600K. However, there are boards that provide better power delivery at a lower price.

5. MSI MEG Z790 GODLIKE

MSI’s MEG Z790 GODLIKE is an excellent top-end motherboard. It might be rather expensive, but you definitely get what you pay for. As a board with such a bold name, you’d expect nothing but the best from the Z790 GODLIKE, and MSI have done as much as they can to deliver such an experience. The design language of this board exudes ‘high-end’, with a splattering of RGB lighting across the motherboard and heatsinks.

In terms of features, the Z790 GODLIKE includes plenty of luxurious connections, making it easy to assemble an extremely powerful PC that can easily run any gaming or productivity-related task. For example, the Z790 GODLIKE can support up to 192GB of DDR5 memory, which can be overclocked to 7800MT/s. This means the Z790 GODLIKE can take advantage of the best DDR5 RAM kits on the market, which will undoubtedly result in very reactive and fluid gameplay, even when cranking up the settings.

But even flagship motherboards are not all glitz and glamour, and the Z790 GODLIKE is no different. For one, this design comes with a rather extortionate price tag.

To make matters worse, the Z790 GODLIKE lacks compatibility with more affordable PC parts such as DDR4 RAM or more compact PC cases, mainly due to its massive E-ATX form factor. Because of this, the Z790 GODLIKE is a motherboard that is reserved for wealthy PC building enthusiasts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Z790 Chipset better than the Z690?

The Z790 chipset is an updated version of the Z690 that introduces a few new features, including support for 13th and 14th Gen processors out of the box.

Do you need a Z790 Motherboard for 14th Gen Processors?

While Z790 supports Intel 13th Gen, B760 motherboards and older Z690 designs also support 14th Gen chips with a BIOS update.

How much do Z790 motherboards cost?

Z790 motherboards typically cost anywhere between $250 and $400.