Welcome to this exciting blog, where we delve into the heart of PC gaming and explore the crucial component that serves as the backbone of your gaming rig – the motherboard. Today, we’re diving deep into the world of the best motherboards for the powerful Intel Core i9-13900K processor.
Intel designed the high-performance CPU, the Intel Core i9-13900K, to handle the most demanding gaming and content creation tasks effortlessly. To harness its full potential, you need a motherboard that supports its features and enhances its capabilities. Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or a content creator looking for a seamless and responsive computing experience, the motherboard choice plays a pivotal role.
From the latest chipset support to cutting-edge connectivity options, we’ll explore the key features that make these motherboards stand out. Whether you’re looking for overclocking potential, RGB lighting to make your rig shine, or a compact form factor for a sleek build, we’ve got you covered.
Join us as we unbox and dissect these motherboards and provide valuable insights to help you decide when to choose the perfect motherboard for your Intel Core i9-13900K-powered gaming rig. Let’s get started!
What will you see here?
ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero
ASUS presents the ROG MAXIMUS Z790 HERO, a powerhouse motherboard designed for gaming enthusiasts. It comes with an LGA 1700 socket and it stands ready to support 13th and 12th Gen Intel Core processors and ensures compatibility with the latest technology. It offers amazing PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 capabilities and takes gaming performance to new heights.
The motherboard comes with exclusive features such as AI Overclocking, AI Cooling II, and AI Networking (GameFirst VI) and provides an intelligent control system for seamless configuration. This powerful motherboard comes with a strong setup featuring 20+1 teamed power stages rated at 90 A, ProCool II power connectors, MicroFine alloy chokes, and top-notch metallic capacitors. With such features, it ensures your gaming experience stays smooth and stable even during those action-packed and intense gaming sessions. The optimized thermal design includes VRM heatsinks, an integrated aluminum I/O cover, a high-conductivity thermal pad, triple M.2 heatsinks with embedded backplates, and a dedicated ROG Water-Cooling Zone. With high-performance networking options like onboard WiFi 6E, Bluetooth V5.2, Intel 2.5Gb Ethernet, and ASUS LANGuard, the ROG MAXIMUS Z790 HERO stands as the go-to choice for gamers seeking the pinnacle of performance in their gaming rigs.
- Powerful performance.
- Comprehensive feature set.
- Well-built and stylish design.
- Good overclocking performance.
- Expensive.
- Some features may be overkill for most users
ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I
The ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I Gaming WiFi is a high-end mini-ITX motherboard for Intel 12th and 13th Gen CPUs and is the best motherboard for the 13900k. It also offers several features that make it a good choice for gamers and enthusiasts, including:
Powerful power delivery: The Asus Rog Strix Z690-I features a 14+2+1 power stage design with 105A DrMOS MOSFETs, which can provide ample power for even the most demanding CPUs.
Cooling: The Strix Z690-I has a triple-decker cooling system comprising a large VRM heatsink, M.2 heatsinks, and a chipset heatsink. It helps to keep the motherboard cool even under heavy load.
Connectivity: The Strix Z690-I offers a variety of connectivity options, including a PCIe 5.0 x 16 slot, two PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots, WiFi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.2.
Audio: The Strix Z690-I features the SupremeFX ALC4080 audio codec with a Savitech SV3H712 amplifier, which can provide high-quality audio for gaming and other applications.
Overclocking support: The Strix Z690-I is well-suited for overclocking, with features such as a high-quality VRM design, LLC settings, and fan controls.
RGB lighting: The Strix Z690-I has RGB lighting on the heatsinks and chipset heatsink. It can be managed using the ASUS Aura Sync software.
DIY-friendly features: The Strix Z690-I has several features that make it easy to build, such as Q-Code troubleshooting LEDs, Q-LEDs for each power stage, and a pre-mounted I/O shield.
Overall, the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I Gaming WiFi is a high-end mini-ITX motherboard with several features that make it a good choice for gamers and enthusiasts. It offers powerful power delivery, cooling, connectivity, overclocking support, and RGB lighting.
- Powerful power delivery system.
- Comprehensive cooling solution.
- Easy overclocking.
- Support for DDR5 memory and PCIe 5.0.
- Wide range of I/O ports.
- Built-in Wi-Fi 6E adapter.
- Expensive.
- The mini-ITX form factor can be limiting for some users.
- Limited expansion slots.
MSI MAG Z790
The MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4 Gaming is a mid-range ATX motherboard designed for gamers and enthusiasts who want to build a high-performance system with the i9-13900k processor. Also, it has several features that make it a good choice for gamers, including:
Enhanced power design: The motherboard has a 16+1+1 Mirrored Power Arrangement with 90A SPS, which provides plenty of power for even the most demanding CPUs.
Premium thermal solution: The motherboard has an extended heatsink design and M.2 Shield Frozr to keep components cool under load.
Fast connectivity: The motherboard features a PCIe 5.0 slot, a Lightning Gen 4 x 4 M.2 slot, a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, 2.5Gbps LAN, and Wi-Fi 6E.
Audio Boost 5: The motherboard has a high-quality audio codec and capacitors for clear and immersive sound.
Hence, the MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4 Gaming is a good choice for gamers and enthusiasts who want to build a high-performance system with an Intel i9 13900k processor. It offers several features that make it a good choice for gaming, including a powerful power delivery system, a premium thermal solution, fast connectivity, and high-quality audio.
- Good value for money
- Solid performance
- Supports DDR4 memory
- Wi-Fi 6E
- Plenty of fan headers and M.2 slots
- Easy to overclock
- Good build quality
- Lacks PCIe 5.0 SSD support
- No onboard RGB lighting
- BIOS can be confusing for beginners
- Pricey compared to some other DDR4 Z790 motherboards
MSI MEG Z690i Unify
The MSI MEG Z690i Unify is a high-end mini-ITX motherboard for overclocking and extreme gaming. It features a 10+1+1 phase power delivery system, dual DDR5 memory slots, and a PCIe 5.0 slot for the latest graphics cards. It also has two Thunderbolt 4 ports, Wi-Fi 6E, and other features that make it ideal for enthusiasts.
Here are some of the main features of the MSI MEG Z690i Unify:
10+1+1 phase power delivery system: This powerful power delivery system can handle even the most demanding CPUs.
Dual DDR5 memory slots: The Unify supports DDR5 memory up to 6800+ MHz, giving you the fastest possible memory speeds.
PCIe 5.0 slot: This slot is compatible with the latest graphics cards and SSDs, giving you the fastest possible performance.
Two Thunderbolt 4 ports: These ports offer blazing-fast data transfer speeds and can also be used to connect external displays.
Wi-Fi 6E: This latest Wi-Fi standard offers faster speeds and better performance in crowded areas.
Other features: The Unify also has several other features that make it ideal for enthusiasts, such as an active cooling solution, a black PCB, and a minimalist design.
The MSI MEG Z690i Unify is a great motherboard for enthusiasts looking for the best possible performance in a mini-ITX form factor. It is expensive, but it offers several features unavailable on other motherboards, such as its powerful power delivery system, dual DDR5 memory slots, and PCIe 5.0 slot.
- Powerful power delivery system
- Dual DDR5 memory slots
- PCIe 5.0 slot
- Two Thunderbolt 4 port
- Expensive
- Has two memory slots
- No M.2 heatsinks
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS MASTER
The Gigabyte Z790 AORUS Master is a high-end motherboard designed for gamers and enthusiasts who desire the best performance from their next-generation Intel Core processors. It contains a powerful power delivery system, support for DDR5 memory up to 8000 MHz, and a wide range of connectivity options, including PCIe 5.0, Wi-Fi 6E, and USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C.
Here are some of the key features:
Power delivery: It utilizes a 19-phase digital power design with DrMOS MOSFETs to deliver reliable power to the CPU. This allows the motherboard to operate even the most demanding tasks without throttling.
Memory: The Z790 AORUS Master sustains DDR5 memory up to 8000 MHz. This permits significant performance gains over DDR4 memory.
Connectivity: The Z790 AORUS Master has many connectivity options, including PCIe 5.0, Wi-Fi 6E, and USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C. This makes it a fantastic choice for gamers and content creators who require the fastest possible connectivity.
Other features: The Z790 AORUS Master contains several other components designed to enhance performance and usability, such as a built-in fan controller, a Q-Flash Plus BIOS update feature, and a Smart Fan 6 thermal solution.
Hence, the Gigabyte Z790 AORUS Master is a high-end motherboard with excellent performance and features for gamers and enthusiasts. It is a wonderful choice for anyone who wants to build a high-performance PC with the latest Intel Core processors.
- Powerful power delivery system
- Support for DDR5 memory up to 8000 MHz
- Wide range of connectivity options
- Can be expensive.
- Some users have reported problems with the BIOS.
MSI B760 Gaming Plus WiFi
The MSI B760 Gaming Plus WiFi is a mid-range motherboard for gamers and enthusiasts. It supports the latest 12th and 13th generation Intel Core processors and the i9 13900K Intel processors. It also supports DDR5 memory and offers several features to enhance performance and the gaming experience.
Enhanced power design: The B760 Gaming Plus WiFi features a 12+1 Duet Rail Power System with P-PAK, 8-pin and 4-pin CPU power connectors, Core Boost, and Memory Boost. This ensures that the motherboard has the power to support high-end processors and memory kits.
Premium thermal solution: The B760 Gaming Plus WiFi has a large heatsink and MOSFET thermal pads rated for 7 W/mK. This helps keep the motherboard cool even under heavy load.
Lightning-fast game experience: The MSI B760 Gaming Plus WiFi offers several features to improve gaming performance, including a PCIe 4.0 slot, Lightning Gen 4 x4 M.2 with M.2 Shield Frozr, and Turbo USB 3.2 Gen 2 10G.
2.5G LAN with Wi-Fi 6E: The MSI B760 Gaming Plus WiFi has a 2.5G LAN port and Wi-Fi 6E support. This provides fast and reliable network connectivity for gaming and other demanding applications.
High-quality PCB: The MSI B760 Gaming Plus WiFi uses a 6-layer PCB with two thick copper layers. This provides better signal integrity and heat dissipation.
Audio Boost: The MSI B760 Gaming Plus WiFi features Audio Boost, providing high-quality gaming and multimedia audio performance.
Mystic Light RGB: The B760 Gaming Plus WiFi supports Mystic Light RGB, which allows users to customize the RGB lighting on the motherboard and other compatible components.
EZ Debug LED: The B760 Gaming Plus WiFi has EZ Debug LED indicators that can help users troubleshoot problems with their system.
M.2 Shield Frozr: The M.2 Shield Frozr helps to keep the M.2 SSD cool, even under heavy load.
Turbo USB 3.2 Gen 2 10G: The Turbo USB 3.2 Gen 2 10G provides fast and reliable USB connectivity for gaming and other demanding applications.
Overall, the MSI B760 Gaming Plus WiFi is a good mid-range motherboard with several features to enhance performance and the gaming experience. It is a good choice for gamers and enthusiasts looking for a motherboard to support their high-end hardware.
- Good VRM performance
- Has a built-in Wi-Fi 6E adapter
- Includes a pre-installed IO shield
- No Thunderbolt 4 support
- The VRM fan can be noisy under load.
- The price is a bit high.
Is the ASUS Prime Z790-A motherboard worth buying?
The ASUS Prime Z790-A WiFi is the best Intel Core i9-13900K processor worth buying. It is a mid-range board with a good balance of features and performance. Moreover, it supports the latest Intel 13th Gen processors, DDR5 memory, and PCIe 5.0 storage. It also has several other features that are useful for gamers and power users, such as a strong power delivery system, good cooling options, and a variety of connectivity ports.
Conclusion
We hope you highlighted yourself with the best motherboard for a 13900k Intel processor. All the motherboards are best in one or the other way. Out of the given, the ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero is the best one if you need the best motherboard. It is listed among Amazon’s best choices. Hence, if you are searching for the best, you can surely opt for the ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero. Moreover, it now depends upon your choices and preferences regarding what type of motherboard you want to choose.
