Best Z790 Motherboards in 2024

Z790 motherboards are mainly designed to work with Intel’s 12th and 13th generation Core processors, also known as Comet Lake-S.

In addition, the Z790 chipset supports LGA 1700 sockets and the latest DDR5 memory. Hence, it’s no doubt that the Z790 motherboards are best for heavy gaming and high-end tasks. In this guide, you will find out the best Z790 motherboard for the latest Intel 12th & 13th gen processors.

Keep in mind that the specific features available on a Z790 motherboard will vary depending on the model and manufacturer. It’s important to carefully consider your needs and budget when choosing a Z790 motherboard.

Some of the features that you may find on a Z790 motherboard include the following:

• Support for high-speed memory, both DDR4 and DDR5: Z790 motherboards often support memory speeds up to 7800 MHz or higher.

• PCI-Express 5.0 slots: Some Z790 motherboards have PCI-Express 5.0 slots, which offer 2x faster performance than the PCIe 4.0 slots.

• Thunderbolt 4 support: Some Z790 motherboards come with Thunderbolt 3 ports, which allow you to connect high-speed peripherals and displays.

• Wi-Fi 6E support: Some Z790 motherboards come with Wi-Fi 6E support, allowing faster wireless networking speeds.

• Overclocking support: Many Z790 motherboards have features that allow you to overclock your CPU, which can boost performance.

Buying the right motherboard for a PC build is not easy. But I can make it easier for you. Learn how to pick the right gaming motherboard in 2024. Also, you may check out the best motherboard for 13900K and the best motherboard for 12700K guide.

Top 10 Best Z790 Motherboards

Here’s the list of the 10 best Z790 motherboards I’ve selected for you. Each of them is practically tested for this review. I hope this article will help you find the right motherboard for your PC build.

The ASUS ROG STRIX Z790-E Gaming is an ATX motherboard designed for use with Intel 13th and 12th generation Core processors. It features an 18+1-phase direct power delivery system, support for DDR5 memory up to 7000 MHz, and a range of connectivity options, including WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and Thunderbolt 4.

The motherboard has several features to enhance the system’s overall performance, including support for active cooling for the VRM heatsinks and a passive heatsink for the M.2 SSD.

Moreover, it includes various features designed to improve the system’s aesthetics, including RGB lighting and support for the water cooling system. With all the gaming and performance tests, I’d consider this one as the overall best z790 motherboard.

The ASUS TUF Gaming Z790-Plus is a motherboard designed with Intel LGA 1700 socket, ready for 13th and 12th-generation Core processors. In addition, to smooth gaming and performance, it has some extra features like Digi+ VRM, military-grade TUF components, ProCool sockets, and 16+1 DrMOS.

But unfortunately, it supports only DDR4 memory at up to 4400 MHz. And a range of connectivity options includes 4x M.2/NVMe, USB 3.2, Type-C, and Thunderbolt 4. Hence, you don’t need to worry about connectivity.

The motherboard also has an excellent cooling system for overall performance, including support for the heatsinks on VRM, M.2 slots and PCH. Besides, it contains hybrid fan headers and Fan Xpert 4 utility for proper airflow inside the case. 

It also includes additional features for Internet connectivity– Ultra Fast Gaming Networking, including WiFi 6, 2.5Gb LAN, TurboLAN technology and TUF LANGuard. 

The ASUS TUF Gaming Z790-Plus is undoubtedly a high-performance motherboard suitable for budget gaming and other demanding applications.

If money is not a concern and you’re looking for the best premium Z790 motherboard, the ASUS ROG Maximus Hero is highly-rated. This motherboard comes with a robust 20+1-phase power delivery system and support for fast memory speeds. 

It has several connectivity options, including Thunderbolt 4, Bluetooth V5.2, Wi-Fi 6E, 2.5 Gb Ethernet, and ASUS LANGaurd. Apart from that, the ASUS Aura Sync software allows users to customize the RGB zones on the motherboard. 

For high-end gaming, this motherboard offers an AI Overclocking feature. It helps to optimize the overclocking settings using machine learning and a preinstalled EK water block. Moreover, you’ll get a liquid cooling setup for seamless performance without any heading issues.

I’d recommend this motherboard for heavy gaming (COD, Witcher, GTA-V) and high-end tasks (Blender, Da-Vinci). In addition, you can do professional video editing, 3D designing, and other similar works with ROG Maximus.

The Prime Z790-A motherboard supports the 13th and 12th generation Intel Core processors and features an LGA 1700 socket. In addition, it has four DDR5 memory slots, supporting up to 128GB of RAM, and features 16+1 DrMOS for stable power delivery to support high-end processors. 

The motherboard also has three PCI-Express 4.0 x16 slots, two M.2 slots for high-speed storage devices, and support for Thunderbolt 4.

Other features of the Prime Z790-A motherboard include integrated Wi-Fi 6, Gigabit Ethernet, and support for USB 3.2 Gen 2 and 3.0 ports. It also has a user-friendly BIOS interface and support for ASUS’s proprietary software tools, such as AI Overclocking, AI Cooling, and AI Networking.

Overall, the ASUS Prime Z790-A motherboard is a high-performance motherboard designed for building a powerful PC. In addition, it offers a range of features, making it a good choice for users who want to build a powerful PC at a budget price.

The ROG Strix Z790-I motherboard supports the 13th and 12th  generation Intel Core processors and features an LGA 1700 socket. 

However, due to the mini-ITX form factor, it has two DDR4 memory slots, supporting up to 64GB. In addition, it features a 12+2 phase power delivery system to support high-end processors. The motherboard also has one PCI-Express 4.0 x16 slot, two M.2 slots, and Thunderbolt 4.

Other features of the ROG Strix Z790-I include integrated Wi-Fi 6, Gigabit Ethernet, and support for USB 3.2 Gen 2 and 3.0 ports. It also has a user-friendly BIOS interface and support for ASUS’s proprietary software tools, such as AI Overclocking, AI Cooling, and AI Networking.

Overall, the ASUS ROG Strix Z790-I motherboard is an excellent choice for building a compact PC with sufficient performance. 

The MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk is a motherboard that supports the 12th/13th generation Intel Core processors. It is designed for gaming PCs and features durable quality with a black and silver color scheme. As per the PCIe slots, this motherboard is compatible with one PCIe 5.0 for GPU and 4x PCIe 4.0 for M.2 SSD.

Some key features of the MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk include– DDR4 Memory with overclocking and 16+1+1 power delivery. In addition, it has a solid capacitor design for improved reliability and a large heatsink for better heat dissipation.

Regarding connectivity, the MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk has 2.5 GbE LAN, WiFi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.1. Moreover, you’ll get many USB ports, including USB 3.2 and USB Type-C. It also has several audio features, including a Realtek and ESS Sabre for improved audio quality.

In summary, the MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk is a solid motherboard option for building a 13th-generation PC at a reasonable price. It has a durable design and various features that make it suitable for use in a high-performance system.

The MSI MPG Z790 Edge is a motherboard designed for use with Intel 13th and 12th generation Core processors. It features a 16+1+1 Duet Rail Power System, support for DDR4 memory (5333+ MHz OC), and a range of connectivity options, including WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and 2.5 GbE LAN. 

The motherboard also has several features designed to enhance the system’s overall performance. In addition, it has a massive heatsink and powerful thermal pads for inner cooling. Moreover, the heatsinks on M.2 shield ensure ample performance for a heavy gaming experience. 

It also has various features designed to improve the system’s aesthetics, including a PCIe 5.0 slot, Lightning Gen 4 x4 M.2, and USB 3.2 Gen 2×2. In addition, the motherboard has a compact form factor, making it suitable for use in small form factor systems.

If you’re a MSI fan, you can consider this motherboard. It provides good features for smooth gaming and heavy tasks. And for the price point, it comes under a decent amount.

The MSI MEG Z790 ACE is a gaming motherboard designed for use with 12th/13th Gen Intel processors. It is part of MSI’s MEG (MSI Enthusiast Gaming) line of motherboards, which are high-performance boards designed for gaming and overclocking. 

Many features make the MSI MEG Z790 ACE stand out, including the 24+1+2 phases power design with the 105A Smart Power Stage, and dual CPU power connectors. Additionally, it has a full-size E-ATX form factor and Thunderbolt USB-C for 8K display support. 

Apart from that, you’ll get Daisy-Chaining and Multi-Port Accessory Architecture for reliable connectivity and a better user experience. 

A solid capacitor design provides up to 9 months of reliability and a larger heatsink for quicker heat dissipation with this product. A solid capacitor design provides up to 9 months of reliability and a larger heatsink for quicker heat dissipation with this product.

The MEG Z790 ACE features Dual Channel DDR5 7800+MHz (OC) and includes Thunderbolt 4, Wi-Fi 6E, and 2.5 GbE LAN for fast connectivity. It also has an extended heatsink design to help keep your system cool and support high-speed memory and fast storage options.

The Gigabyte Z790 AORUS Master is designed for Intel 13th and 12th-generation Core processors. It features a 20+1+2 power delivery with 105A Power Stage. And for memory, it supports DDR5 up to 5600 MHz. 

The Aorus Master comes with various connectivity options, including Thunderbolt 3, WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5, and 2.5 GbE LAN. Which is really amazing for online streaming. Talking about the PCIe and SSD slots, this motherboard has one PCIe 5.0 slot for high-end GPU and, four Lightening Gen 4 M.2 slots for superfast storage.

Apart from that, It also has nice aesthetics, including RGB FUSION 2.0, and Supports Addressable LED & RGB LED Strips. Additionally, with the Q-Flash Plus, you can update the BIOS without installing CPU, Memory, and GPU. 

In summary, the Gigabyte Z790 AORUS Master is a high-performance motherboard suitable for gaming and other demanding applications.

The GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Elite AX is a motherboard designed for 12th & 13th Gen Intel Core CPUs with LGA 1700 Socket. It features a 16+1+2 Digital VRM Design with 70A Power Stage with the Tantalum Polymer Capacitor system. 

While talking about connectivity options, the motherboard features WiFi 6E, 2.5GbE LAN, and Bluetooth 5.0 with the AORUS antenna. Ans surprisingly, the motherboard is compatible with PCIe 5.0 for high-end GPU support

It also has several RGB lighting headers like RGB FUSION 2.0, Supports Addressable LED & RGB LED Strips, and Smart Fan 6. And like the other Gigabyte motherboard, it also comes with Q-Flash for BIOs updates and customization of the motherboard’s lighting. 

Additionally, the motherboard supports DDR5 memory for a faster and more seamless gaming experience. Overall, the GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Elite AX is a well-rounded motherboard that meets the needs of most users.

Conclusion

The Intel Z790 chipset is a high-performance motherboard platform suitable for gaming and other demanding applications. It supports 13 and 12-gen Intel Core processors and offers a range of features to enhance the system’s overall performance. 

In my experience, the Asus Rog Strix Z790-E Gaming performs overall the best among all the Z790 motherboards. It is excellent for gaming (GTA-5, Witcher-3, COD) and also for high-end software (Premiere Pro, Blender, etc.) 

However, if you want to build a premium gaming powerhouse, you should consider Asus Rog Maximus Z790 Hero or MSI MEG Z790 ACE Gaming.

And if you want to build a Z790 PC at a lower price, you can choose between the Asus TUF Gaming Z790-Plus and GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Elite AX. Both are equally good for gaming, content creation, and high-end tasks. 

If you are looking for a motherboard for the Ryzen processor, then you must check the best AM5 motherboard roundup guide.

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