Best Motherboard For i9-13900KF (A Thorough Guide)

One of the best Intel has launched with its 13 generations of Intel processors is the i9-13900KF. This Processor is almost the same as the i9-13900K; however, it lacks integrated graphics.

This powerhouse of a processor has 24 physical cores and 32 threads. The base clock of this Processor is 3.00GHz, which boosts to the Max turbo frequency of 5.80GHz.

These processors being such powerhouses makes them a no-brainer for many enthusiasts as a part of their next build.

However, an essential component of the PC, which is the motherboard, is something many of us have to think about as they are available at many price points and have so many different features.

So, to make this process easy for you, I have compiled a list of some of the best motherboards for i9-13900KF.

I will discuss everything about them, including their specifications, thermals, overclocking, benefits, and drawbacks. So, without further ado, let us get right into it.

Key Points:

• Here in this article, I will explore some of the best motherboards available for the i9-13900KF.
• I will also be discussing the thermal efficiency and overclocking potential of the various motherboards under consideration.
• I would also be telling you whether or not the motherboard under consideration is value for money or not.

Best Motherboard For i9-13900KF – Comparison Chart

Here is a quick look at the best motherboard for i9-13900kf:

1. ASUS ROG Strix Z690-F (NeoGamr’s Pick)
2. ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A (Premium Pick)
3. MSI PRO Z790-A (Universal Pick)
4. MSI MPG Z690 Edge (Best Value)
5. GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Master (Performance Pick)
6. ASUS Prime Z690-A (Best Budget)

Best Motherboard For i9-13900KF

The 13 generations of Intel core processors have finally hit the market, which makes them some of the best processors in the world right now. The i9-13900KF is one of the flagships of this generation of processors.

To run this Processor to its highest potential, various board partners like MSI, ASUS, and Gigabyte have released their offerings for the motherboards. Here are some of the best motherboards for the i9-13900KF.

#1- ASUS ROG Strix Z690-F

The first motherboard on my list today for the best motherboard for the i9-13900KF is the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-F. This motherboard being from the ROG brand, is specifically designed for gamers.

From an aesthetic point of view, this motherboard retains the black-and-white design language. The VRM on this motherboard has the ROG eye, which is illuminated by RGB, and looks fantastic while sitting in a case.

This motherboard being a Z690 motherboard will need a BIOS update before you can run the i9-13900KF on it. However, if you can overcome that hurdle, this motherboard will serve you very well.

Thermals and Overclocking

The ASUS ROG Strix Z690-F is a very efficient motherboard that can run the Intel Core i9-13900KF to its full potential. This is achieved by its potent 16+1 Phase VRM which supplies a lot of power to the Processor and its adjacent components.

If you are someone that wants to overclock this CPU, this motherboard also gives you some headroom to do so as well. Yes, experiential overclock might not be such a good idea here, but you can still get the most out of your i9-13900KF with this motherboard.

To cool off this VRM, the motherboard has a wide enough heat sink with adequate finning, which takes all the heat out of it and dissipates it into the atmosphere.

This will keep the motherboard cool for the most part and the temps of your PC down, maximizing the life of your components.

Features and Ports

The i9-13900KF is a 13th-generation processor, which means it is not compatible out of the box with the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-F. You will need a BIOS update to make it compatible with this Processor. However, once you do so, a ton of feature set becomes open to you.

The motherboard has 4 M.2 slots that can be used for NVMe storage. You also have 6 SATA connector ports that will allow you to connect SATA SSDs and HDDs.

Looking at the rear IO, you can find 10 USB slots that can be used to connect various devices to your PC. The motherboard also has seven internal USB headers to connect to the USB ports on the case.

This motherboard also supports 128 GB of DDR5 RAM running at 6400 MHz, which should be ample in 2023. There is also the standard 2.5 GbE ethernet port and WiFi 6E available on the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-F.

Even though the i9-13900KF does not have integrated graphics, the display connector might sound redundant. However, it is still worth mentioning, which is why I am also going to include the solitary HDMI port as a feature on this motherboard.

#2- ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A

The ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A is one of my favorite motherboards on this list due to its white, blue, and black design aesthetics. This motherboard is very beautifully built, and I have been appreciating it every time I look at it in the office.

One of the things that complement its aesthetics is the myriad RGB lighting on this motherboard. Powering it on for the first time, this motherboard stood out very well as it lit up my entire room.

However, that is not the entire story of this motherboard, and I will be looking at everything it offers in the following paragraphs.

Thermals and Overclocking

The i9-13900KF is a powerful processor that needs a lot of power to run at its full potential. The ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A does not disappoint in doing that by any means, as this motherboard has a 16+1 phase VRM which is powerful enough to not only run this Processor but also leave you with a lot of headroom to overclock it squeezing out every last bit of performance available to you.

With this amount of power going to this CPU, you will find the VRM is bound to get hot, which is why this motherboard has two heatsinks that dissipate the heat coming out from it.

Features and Ports

The aesthetics of the ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A is not the entire story, as this motherboard also has many features on offer. First off, you can see that there are 10 USB slots on the rear IO, with 11 more on the front, thanks to the USB headers.

The motherboard also supports 128 GB of DDR5 RAM with backward compatibility with DDR4. Using this motherboard, you can connect 4 NvMe storage devices and 6 SATA devices. For networking, this motherboard has a 2.5 Gigabit LAN and WiFi 6E, standard on the Z790 Chipset.

Finally, if you have some other processor with integrated graphics, you can also use the HDMI and Displayport on this motherboard to run two monitors simultaneously.

#3- MSI PRO Z790-A

The next motherboard on my list comes from MSI, the MSI PRO Z790-A. There is not a lot to write home about when it comes to the aesthetics of this motherboard.

You can find the generic MSI and Pro series logos on it, and it has the all-black design, making it look very generic in 2023.

There is no RGB to speak of here, which does not make it stand out. However, if aesthetics are not something you care about, this motherboard is a fine choice for the i9-13900KF. It has a robust VRM and every feature that will matter to you.

Thermals and Overclocking

The MSI PRO Z790-A has a potent 16+1+1 phase VRM. This VRM makes this motherboard ideal for the i9-13900KF. You can not only power this Processor with ease but also try to squeeze more performance out of it using overclocking.

The VRM pushing out this much power produces a lot of heat coming out of it, which is why MSI also has a decent heat sink on this VRM. This heat sink does an excellent job of dissipating the heat from it, keeping the thermals on this motherboard under control.

Features and Ports

The MSI PRO Z790-A might not have flagship features on it, yet it has every feature available that is expected from a Z790 motherboard.

The rear IO has 8 USB ports to connect different devices and peripherals. You can connect your case to the seven internal USB headers to increase the number of USB slots.

For RAM, you will find 4 DIMM slots that can house 128 GB of DDR5, which is more than enough if you want to future-proof yourself. For storage, you have 4 M.2 slots available to you. You can also connect 6 SATA SSDs or hard drives to this motherboard.

The networking is handled by the 2.5 GbE LAN and WiFi 6E, a standard for motherboards on the Z790 Chipset. Finally, you have an HDMI and a Displayport to simultaneously run two monitors using this motherboard.

#4- MSI MPG Z690 Edge

The next offering on my list for the best motherboard for the i9-13900KF is the MSI MPG Z690 Edge. This motherboard hails from the MPG lineup of motherboards which is MSIs offering for the midrange motherboards on the market.

There is a lot for me to say about this motherboard, but I will start with the design here. This motherboard has a great design aesthetic. The inclusion of RGB under the MSI dragon makes this motherboard look unique and stand out.

Thermals and Overclocking

The MSI MPG Z690 Edge has a 16+1+1 phase VRM which supplies clean power to all components connected to the motherboard. The VRM is potent enough to power the i9-13900KF with ease.

If you want to overclock this CPU and squeeze in some more performance, this motherboard can facilitate you in doing that very well.

On the thermal side, the motherboard tackles heat dissipation very well. The heat sinks on this motherboard are large enough to take out the heat from the VRM and keep the thermals down.

Features and Ports

The MSI MPG Z690 Edge will need a BIOS update to support the i9-13900KF. Once you do so, a myriad of features is going to open up for you. You can find 11 USB slots on the rear IO which can be supplemented by seven more using the internal USB headers.

The motherboard is an ATX and has 4 DIMM slots that support up to 128 GB of DDR5 and DDR4 RAM. You also have 4 M.2 slots available for fast NvMe storage. 6 SATA ports are also available for mechanical HDDs and SSDs.

To connect to the internet at fast speeds, the wired ethernet port is a 2.5 GbE LAN, and for wireless, you have WiFi 6E available.

If you have a processor with integrated graphics, you can use the HDMI and Displayport to run two monitors simultaneously.

#5- GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Master

The next motherboard on my list is the Gigabyte Z790 AORUS Master, which might be a little steep when it comes to the price point of this motherboard; however, that price does come with a lot of features on offer as well.

Before diving any deeper into the motherboard, the first thing I have to mention here is that the aesthetics here are on point. You get a ton of RGB, and this motherboard’s metallic finish makes it stand out very well.

Another thing I want to mention here is that if you like to overclock their RAM, this motherboard will be an excellent choice for you as it offers the fastest memory compatibility, rated up to 8000 Mhz.

Thermals and Overclocking

If you are into overclocking their Processor and trying to squeeze out every last bit of performance available, then the GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Master is the best choice.

You get an extremely powerful VRM which is a 20+1+2 phase. This will not only power your i9-13900KF but also be able to push it to its limits, making it truly an enthusiast motherboard.

The thermal performance on this motherboard is also on point. You get a very beefy heat sink that manages the thermals coming out of the VRM very well, keeping your PC’s temperature down.

Features and Ports

The features and ports on the GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Master prove that this motherboard is an enthusiast-class motherboard.

You get 10-gigabit ethernet which is usually reserved by other companies like ASUS on their more expensive “Crosshair” brand. You also get WiFi 6E for standard wireless networking.

Looking at the rear IO, I was delighted to see 14 USB slots which is a lot, even when compared to other similarly priced motherboards. Nine more USB slots can be added by connecting the case to the internal USB header.

On the storage front, the GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Master has 5 M.2 Slots and 4 SATA connectors. You also have 4 DIMM slots, the fastest slots running up to 128 GB DDR5 RAM at 8000 Mhz.

The final feature on my list might be irrelevant in the context of the i9-13900KF due to its lack of integrated graphics, but it is still worth mentioning that you also have a Displayport, which can be used to run a monitor without a graphics card with other 12th and 13th generation processors with integrated GPU.

#6- ASUS Prime Z690-A

The final motherboard on my list is the ASUS Prime Z690-A which is a motherboard that is going to need a BIOS update to run the i9-13900KF. The best feature of this motherboard is its white design aesthetics. This design looks like this motherboard stands out very well in a sea of black motherboards.

When it comes to the features, this motherboard, however, is lacking somewhat. There are few USB ports and WiFi 6E, a standard feature missing over here. However, this motherboard is still a capable motherboard which I will discuss in the subsequent paragraph.

Thermals and Overclocking

The ASUS Prime Z690-A has a 16+1 phase VRM. This makes it an excellent motherboard to run the I (i9-13900KF. If you are into overclocking, you will find this motherboard more than capable enough to cater to your needs.

On the thermal side of things, this motherboard also proves its capability. You can see that the heat sinks on this motherboard have good finning, which dissipates the heat very well, even if you overclock your Processor.

Features and Ports

The ASUS Prime Z690-A is a beautiful motherboard. But this beauty comes at a price as you will find some features that are standard missing. The biggest one of them is the WiFi 6E module.

This may not be a big deal for some as you can get an aftermarket WiFi dongle to run WiFi on it. However, ASUS has been kind enough to give a 2.5 GbE LAN port.

The rear IO has 8 USB slots which can be supplemented by connecting the case to the seven internal USB ports. 4 DIMM slots on this motherboard can run 128 GB of DDR5 RAM at up to 6000 Mhz.

The motherboard has 4 M.2 Slots and 4 SATA connectors for storage. Finally, if you get a processor with integrated graphics, you can use the Displayport and HDMI port to use two monitors simultaneously.

Which Chipset is the Best for the i9-13900KF?

There are a variety of chipsets that can be used to run the core i9-13900KF. These chipsets include Z790, H770, B760, Z690, H670, B660, H610, W680, and Q670.

However, to get the most out of your i9-13900KF, you should run it using the Z790 and Z690 Chipset. The reason behind it is that only the Z chipsets support overclocking and usually have higher phase VRMs which is not the case with other chipsets.

Memory Overclocking and DDR5

One of the things that you should consider during your purchase decision is memory overclocking capability. Not all motherboards are rated to be compatible with high-speed RAM.

So, if you want to get the most out of your RAM, you can get a motherboard like the Gigabyte Z790 AORUS Master, rated for up to 8000 Mhz in RAM clock speed.

DDR5 is also an important consideration. This latest adoration of RAM gives you faster speeds, resulting in faster PC operation.

Heatsink and Overclocking Potential

The overclocking potential and heat sink are essential factors for consideration in your motherboard purchase decision.

Look at the VRM phase of the motherboard you are considering, which means the amount of power it can give your CPU and other components. The higher the VRM phase, the higher you can expect to overclock your CPU.

The heat sink of the motherboard should also be wide and ample enough to dissipate the heat from the VRM. This will keep the thermal of your PC low and result in an overall efficient PC operation.

Z690 vs. Z790 – What’s the difference?

The Z690 and Z790 are both chipsets designed for the LGA 1700, which support the 12th and 13th generations of intel core processors, respectively.

You can use 13th-generation processors in the older Z690 motherboards; however, you will need a BIOS update to accomplish that.

Thus making, the only difference between them is that Z790 can use 13 generations out of the box while the Z690 needs a BIOS update.