Best Z790 Motherboard (Greatest Intel Boards)

13th Generation motherboards are very hot and trendy right now. Based on Raptor Lake Architecture, Intel 13th Generation Motherboards are insanely powerful, which makes them a perfect choice for gamers.

And like always, right after the Raptor Lake lineup was announced, Intel Introduced the chipsets for these Processors.

Succeeding Z690, this time, we are getting Z790 as Intel’s flagship motherboard, which comes with massive improvements from its Z690 chipset.

This is an ideal component for your PC, and right now would be the best time you can invest and build your Raptor Lake build.

And if you are worrying about what Z790 to buy, you should relax and give us a chance to recommend you some of the best Z790 variants out there.

They will not be cheap, but I can guess that budget isn’t going to be the issue here since you are investing in a 13th Generation Raptor Lake build. Let’s take a look at what you are going to read going down.

Key Points:

• By the end of this article, you will have a clear understanding of the types of motherboards and what it is that you want to buy according to your budget.
• What are the major differences and features that are being offered by different manufacturers?
• What motherboard will justify the cost of purchase, i.e., the performance you are going to get after you have spent the money?

Best Z790 Motherboard – Comparison Chart

Here is a quick look at the best z790 motherboard:

1. ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E (NeoGamr’s Pick)
2. GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Elite (Best Budget)
3. MSI MEG Z790 ACE (Best Value)
4. ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero (Premium Pick)
5. ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A (Universal Pick)
6. GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Master (Performance Pick)

Best Z790 Motherboard

Carefully choosing every component of your system is stressful and yet kind of exciting at the same time.

Most people spend money on graphic cards, processors, and RGB, but the motherboard is the most important hardware inside your PC, everything is installed on your motherboard first.

The base of all the operations. Even the size of the motherboard can influence the choice of your PC casing.

Now that you are spending quite some money on a Z790 Flagship motherboard let us take a look at what are the best offerings in the market

#1- ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E

This is a very premium choice for 13th Gen users, which surprisingly falls between the cheap and expensive range of motherboards.

The best thing about this motherboard is that it provides amazing capabilities and features of higher-end motherboards while not being expensive and reasonable at cost.

Everything about this motherboard looks perfect, design and aesthetic-wise. This is one of the best motherboards you can also use for 12th Gen processors.

VRMs & Overclocking

VRM or Voltage Regulator Module is responsible for providing your components with a stable flow of voltage which is a big factor when it comes to overclocking your processor.

Every motherboard has VRM, which works and supplies stable electricity to your CPU and prevents voltage from exceeding its limit.

The power delivery system for ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E is outstanding. ASUS has done everything to make sure that VRMs get stable delivery and efficient heat dissipation by connecting 2 heat pipes with the heatsink.

You can relax and never worry about VRM temps even if you overclock your processor, thanks to the 18+1 phases.

Ports And Features

ASUS is a reliable brand that always delivers, and this time the motherboard connectivity options are superb. You are met with a lot of options for USB ports, with a total of 12 USB ports in the back.

This includes an ultra-fast 2×2 USB 3.2 Gen port, and while there is no thunderbolt 4 or USB 4 option in the back, you can find it on the motherboard header.

This is a more gamer-focused model with its RGB lightning, high storage expansion capacity, and overclocking options. A clear winner in my eyes

#2- GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Elite

As always, Gigabyte is running ahead of this race. They always deliver reliable performance and premium features while staying affordable for most people.

It’s not a budget motherboard but a rather middle choice for most consumers. Going by its price, you can guess that this is not a flagship option. It’s not expensive and also features great features on par with high-end motherboards.

VRMs & Overclocking

Gigabyte is well-known for its great products, and this time, their variant of Z790 is nothing different. It is sturdy and feels high quality.

The power delivery is fantastic here. Gigabyte Z790 offers a twin 16+1+2 VRM design and 70A smart power stage that provides performance on par with high-end motherboards.

MOSFET heatsinks are connected with a 6mm heatpipe and an integrated IO shield that helps dissipate heat very efficiently.

Furthermore, the Six layers 2x Copper PCB design is great for CPU overclocking while keeping the heating to the minimum. This is a fantastic motherboard with the best performance overall.

Ports And Features

The rear end of the motherboard normally dictates the price of the motherboard because that is where you get good features and connectivity options.

There are a number of ports available for you to use even though they are USB 2.0, you still get 1x USB 3.2 Type-C Gen 2 port and 2x USB 3.2 Type-A Gen 2 ports.

The fastest connection this motherboard offers is a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C port with upto 20Gbps of bandwidth situated on the rear panel. Apart from that, you do get 5x Gen 1 USB 3.2 ports ( 3 on the rear, 2 on the front panel).

#3- MSI MEG Z790 ACE

MSI MEG ACE series is one of the bests MSI offers. This is a complete package for gamers, especially those who are not fond or familiar with overclocking and they are just looking for an amazing time with gaming.

Aesthetics, look, design, everything feels premium. This is not surprising because the ACE series always delivers, and this time, this is nothing different.

VRMs & Overclocking

This is one of those heavy-hitting boards that boasts premium features. This motherboard supports extreme overclocking, and since it does, you can guess that this motherboard delivers exceptional VRM performance.

Boasting a 24+1+2 duet power rail system and 105A smart power stages, this motherboard will endure extreme overclocking without breaking a sweat.

The power delivery system is phenomenal here, and you also get a thermal pad for conductivity and aluminum backplates which greatly help dissipate heat with maximum efficiency.

MOSFET heatsinks are connected with direct-touch cross-heat pipes. This board contains 10 out of 10 cooling modules which is great proof of this motherboard’s capabilities.

Ports And Features

Talking about connectivity options here, there is an abundance of ports that is to be expected from a motherboard of this caliber. ACE consists of 9 different connections that work as input and output.

This is premium hardware and one of the few that features 2 thunderbolts and 4 USB slots that are capable of upto 8K video output.

Along with 7 Type-A USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports and one Type-C USB 3.2 Gen 2 port. A fantastic choice for gamers that aren’t bound by their budget.

#4- ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero

ASUS is getting another appearance on this list, and it deserves it. ASUS is a pioneer in what it does, and when it comes to motherboards, you will always get exceptional results.

ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero is a high-end motherboard that offers great overclocking potential. Build quality looks sturdy and strong, and overall, this is an amazing offering from ASUS.

VRMs & Overclocking

ASUS has been going overboard with its VRM design for the past couple of years, and every year, it improves by a huge margin.

The power delivery of this motherboard gained this motherboard critical praise for users and reviewers, and in our list, this is our pick for the best overclocking motherboard.

All credit can be given to its superb VRM and 20+1 phase Dr.MOS power stage design. VRM temps are at their lowest because of the insane cooling system. Even an i9 13900k won’t make it flinch.

Ports And Features

This is a very feature-rich motherboard, and it is no news to me that there is a plethora of USB ports behind this big boy.

Connectivity options are not an issue for motherboards which is not unusual for a higher-end motherboard like this. A total of 12 USB ports offer flexible choices for users.

2x Thunderbolts 4 are an amazing addition to this motherboard. Thunderbolt 4 is capable of passing video output upto 8K resolution.

You also get 6x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports with one Type-C and 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports. There is also a BIOS switch button on the back, along with a CMOS reset button. Very handy.

#5- ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A

Just looking at the name ASUS screams quality and reliability. ASUS ROG STRIX series always offers flagship products, whether its graphics card or motherboard.

ASUS ROG STRIX Z790-A is one of the few motherboards available in the market that offers many features for gamers, and it will be a crime not to mention this variant of the Z790 motherboard in our guide.

VRMs & Overclocking

You might have figured it out by now, but if you didn’t, then you will be surprised to know that this motherboard is a beast when it comes to overclocking.

The VRM design is among the finest market has to offer. ASUS ROG STRIX Z790-A has 16+1 power stages that handle 70A voltage. It’s enough to handle high-end processors without any issues.

And if you are concerned about heating, you will be pleased to hear that the VRMs are cooled off by heatsinks. High temps will never be a major concern of yours if you own this motherboard.

Ports And Features

The rear I/O panel of this motherboard offers a lot of options for connectivity. However, there is only one USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C port, while there is another Type-C port, that comes with only Gen 2 support.

A lot of USB options, but they are pretty standard. The rest of the USB ports all are Type-A ports, with only 2 of them being Gen 2.

There is no thunderbolt 4 support, unfortunately. ASUS somehow gave us a BIOS flashback button on the back which is very convenient for many users.

And if you ever find yourself looking to reset your system settings, just press the CMOS reset button at the back.

#6- GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Master

This is another addition to this list that belongs to the Gigabyte Aorus family. Whenever a new generation processor arrives, gigabyte always delivers.

And this time, with the arrival of the 13th Gen Raptor Lake, Gigabyte introduced its latest additions to the Aorus series. This is a different variant in the same series, with the other being Aorus Elite.

VRMs & Overclocking

VRM design is the high point of this motherboard. Featuring a 23-phase VRM design, these phases are responsible for providing your CPU with stable, clean voltage. It will never exceed the sufficient amount when you overclock it.

And since we are talking about power generation, Heating can become a serious issue, but in this case, you never have to worry about heat.

Heatsinks are installed over those phases to ensure heat dissipation. Heatpipes connect those heatsinks to further help lowering down temps.

Ports And Features

The rear I/O panel is rich with USB ports, so even the most demanding users will never run out of options. Total of 14 ports in the back of this motherboard. The good thing is that there are two USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C ports and one Type-A port.

The bad thing is that there is no thunderbolt 4 or USB 4 port in the back. The rest of the ports consists of 4 Gen 2 and 3 Gen 1 ports. A lot of options but at the cost of a superior USB 4 or Thunderbolt 4 exclusions.

How To Choose The Best Z790 Motherboard?

Choosing the perfect component for your system is a difficult task. Things like CPU and GPU are always the center of attention. Motherboards, however, deserve more love and even more care when you are about to purchase one.

Choose The Features You Need

You don’t have to go overboard with features that you will never use during the lifespan of your motherboard.

Those features will look enticing at first, and they might justify the cost of the product, but in the end, you are paying extra for those features that you will never enjoy.

A 1080p user will never know the value of the thunderbolt 4 USB port, so it’s useless to buy a motherboard that offers that feature.

Instead, look for something that will always serve you no matter what. PCI-E 4.0 Slots, storage expansions, upgradability options for CPU, etc.

Choose Your Aesthetic

Every Gamer enjoys building a PC as much as they enjoy gaming. If you are building your PC from scratch, you must have a color theme in your mind. Maybe you want to keep it simple or hardcore, like cyberpunk neon aesthetics.

It could be anything, so try to find a motherboard that matches your color theme or blends well among other components. You would never have a pink motherboard inside a green case. That would be awful to look at.

Choose Your Price

Ah, yes, price. The number factor behind every decision you make. The only thing that influences your mind and lets you make a decision.

If you venture out looking for the motherboard, you will find yourself in front of dozens of options that will boggle your mind.

Always set a budget in your mind and try to maintain it. Decide what price you are going to pay for a particular motherboard. This helps narrow down many options.

Brand Reputation And Value for Money

Some brands have exceptional reputations, like ASUS, Gigabyte, and MSI. These brands are reliable, always deliver, and provide great value.

You can always close your budget and go for a cheaper brand that is offering the same features at a lesser price.

But remember, well-reputed brands always offer after-sale services and great warranties on their product. This might cost more, but you are getting a durable product that will last longer than you will ever imagine