Best Motherboards for Intel Core i5-13600K, i7-13700KF, i9-13900KS

The new 13th generation Intel Core processors have received a number of improvements. Higher memory frequency, more cores, and therefore cache, optimization of the process technology. And with them all showed the B760 and Z790 motherboards. Only the number of PCI Express lines has changed, as well as USB 3.2 Gen2x2…

This article contains the best motherboards for Intel Core i5-13600K, i7-13700KF, i9-13900KS. The new motherboards are compatible with the previous Intel Core i7-12700K and i9-12900KS. No matter how you look at it, the B660/Z690 chipsets are more than enough for many. Don’t rush to upgrade, the price-quality ratio.

Motherboards for Intel Core i7-13700K and i9-13900KS

ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z790 HERO

Compatibility: 13th generation Intel Core and 12th generation Core, Pentium Gold, and Celeron processors;
Construction: massive radiators and L-shaped heat pipe connected to the casing;
Power supply system: only high performance capacitors, 20+1 phase (90A each);
Connection: Intel 2.5G Ethernet and Intel Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) controllers with ASUS LANGuard;
Interfaces: HDMI 2.1, M.2 slot (PCIe 5.0) and Thunderbolt 4 with Quick Charge 4+ support.

The high-quality power supply system and support for high-frequency memory remain. The package includes a ROG Hyper M.2 card, a flash drive with drivers, and even a mount for a cooler. They left a button that lowers the video card latch. You can install a cooler with an LGA1200/115x mount.

GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS MASTER

Compatibility: all 13th and 12th generation processors; Intel LGA 1700 socket;
Construction: Fins-Array III radiators, 8mm heat pipe and aluminum base;
Power supply system: 20+1+2 phase digital solution, highest quality components;
Connection: контроллеры Marvell AQtion 10GbE LAN & Intel Wi-Fi 6E Ready 802.11ax с DCT;
Interfaces: HDMI 2.1, 5 M.2 connectors (1 – PCIe 5.0 x4), DP, USB-C 10 Gbps and 2 – 20 Gbps.

Need lots of fast USB and M.2 slots? You’ve come to the right place. Plus a powerful power supply system, PCI Express 5.0 interface, 10-gigabit Ethernet controller. BIOS Flashback and Clear CMOS diagnostic buttons are available. Thoughtful placement of PCIe slots and a switch between them.

MSI MPG Z790 CARBON WIFI

Compatibility: 13th/12th generation Core/Pentium/Celeron processors for LGA 1700 socket;
Construction: enlarged radiator, heat pipe and M.2 Shield Frozr radiators;
Power supply system: 19+1+1 phase circuit, 105A power modules, Core and Memory Boost technologies;
Connection: 2.5G Ethernet controller, Intel Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 with magnetic antenna;
Interfaces: HDMI 2.1, PCIe 5.0 slot, Lightning Gen 5 x4 M.2, USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (also 20 Gbps).

Despite the fact that this is the MPG line, the motherboard received not “double phases”, but real 19 phases… Only the first PCIe slot received steel reinforcement. MSI installed the proprietary M.2 EZ latch on the M.2 slots. They left the EZ Debug LED and USB flash drive.

EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N

Compatibility: Intel Core 13/12th generation processors including top-end ones, LGA 1700 socket;
Construction: Unique VRM heatsinks, chipset and cooling for each NMVe drive;
Power supply system: 14-layer PCB and 21-phase voltage regulation module;
Connection: Marvell network cards – 10 Gbps and Intel – 2.5 Gbps + Wi-Fi 6E / Bluetooth 5.2;
Interfaces: HDMI 2.1, PCIe Gen5 and PCIe Gen4 M.2 for NVMe, multiple USB options…

The peculiarity of this motherboard is the horizontal orientation of the power connectors, socket and memory. It has various buttons, switches, contacts for measuring voltage. It switches the CPU x16 PCIe Gen 5 lines between slots 1 and 2. Network adapters – 10 and 2.5 Gbps.

Biostar Z790 VALKYRIE

Compatibility: 12th/13th generation Intel Core i9/ i7/ i5/ i3, Pentium and Celeron processors;
Construction: classic VRM heatsinks, NMVe drive cooling and backplate;
Power supply system: 19+1+1 (105A) provides top performance at high frequencies;
Connection: Intel I226-V 100/1000/2500 Mbps, and the presence of a Wi-Fi 6 module should be checked;
Interfaces: DP1.4, HDMI 2.1 and USB 3.2 (Gen2) Type-C ports with DP, PCIe 5.0 +NVMe interface.

This is a premium motherboard. Three full-size PCIe slots, no less than five M.2 slots, and removable heatsinks. A 20-phase power system, shielded slots, plenty of fan headers and USB ports. Redundant BIOS with BIOSTAR Dual BIOS technology.

ASRock Z790 Taichi

Compatibility: supports all LGA 1700 processors – Intel Core 12th and 13th generation;
Construction: Composite VRM radiator: fan, radiator itself and heat pipes;
Power supply system: power supply configuration according to the 24+1+2 scheme, and SPS for VCore+GT;
Connection: Killer 2.5G LAN, Intel 1G LAN и Killer 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6E Ready+ Bluetooth 5.3;
Interfaces: HDMI 2.1, 1 Blazing M.2, 4 Hyper M.2, 8 SATA3 и много USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C.

It is worth noting the presence of Thunderbolt 4/USB4 technology with a data transfer rate of up to 40 Gbps. And super-fast charging speed up to 20W at 3A, 60W with PD 3.0 next generation! Good VRM temperatures, thanks to VRM fans. It has three full-size PCI Express slots.

NZXT N7 Z790

Compatibility: for the latest 13th generation Intel processors, as well as the entire 12th generation;
Construction: the board is completely hidden by a modular metal casing with radiators;
Power supply system: 19-phase VRM power subsystem, built according to the 16+1+2 scheme;
Connection: Realtek: RTL8125BG 2.5G LAN; support for Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 standards;
Interfaces: HDMI 2.1, three M.2 – PCIe 4.0, seven USB ports, one USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C.

Supports modern standards such as PCIe Gen 5 and DDR5-6000. There are two heatsinks without a tube on the top. The third one, covering the chipset, is hidden under a metal cover. There are power and reset buttons, CMOS CLR and a Q LED.

Intel Motherboard and Processor Compatibility Chart

Manufacturers ASRock, ASUS, MSI, GIGABYTE, Biostar and even EVGA with NZXT showed their products. And the user will not notice the external difference between the Z590, Z690, and now Z790 boards. This is rather a “minor” update of motherboards for Intel Core i7-12700K and i9-12900KS…

Of course, you can take the Intel Core i9-13900KS and put in the ASRock B760 Pro RS. Even according to the manufacturer, everything is fully compatible – this is the so-called “on paper”. The question is, how will the system work under load? Overheating, throttling and decreased performance.

➖

The system can start. Under load, there will be overheating and throttling.

✱

Works great without loads. Requires a good case or additional blowing.

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The processor is fully compatible with the motherboard. You can even overclock it.

Conclusion

Intel Core 13 processors are in the lead. But don’t rule out the 12th generation too early. In practice, gaming performance has only increased by 10%… It will be more useful if you transfer funds to a more powerful video card. Something like that…