Best Motherboards for Intel i7-13700KF

If you are looking for the best motherboard for Intel i7-13700KF, look no further. Being a high-end processor, it has exceptional capabilities to perform multiple tasks as well as play games and edit videos.

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The Intel i7-13700KF comes with 16 Cores (8 Performance and 8 Efficient Cores) and 20 Threads with a base frequency of 2.5GHz. You can easily boost this frequency up to 5.4GHz. The processor can support a max memory speed of 5600MHz for DDR5 memory and 3200MHz for DDR4 memory. Do note here that since it is a ‘KF’ version, it doesn’t have any integrated graphics card and hence, a dedicated graphics card would be required for display.

Having said that, If you are thinking of buying this processor, then you would also need a perfect motherboard that can extract its full potential. In this post, I have listed the 5 best motherboards for Intel i7-13700KF so you can decide which one to buy.

Best Motherboards for Intel i7-13700KF

Before we start to discuss the 5 best motherboards one by one, the below table will give you a quick overview of all the motherboards (along with the buying link) we are going to talk about later in this post.

1. MSI MEG Z790 ACE

The ‘MEG’ series by MSI consists of some high-end motherboards with some additional features as compared to the ‘MAG series. The MSI MEG Z790 ACE is one such high-end motherboard with premium features offering the best it has to offer. So for the i7-13700KF processor, nothing can be much better than having this motherboard at your disposal.

The MSI MEG Z790 ACE is an E-ATX motherboard that readily supports 12th and 13th-generation Intel Core processors based on LGA 1700 sockets. It comes with four DDR5 DIMM slots that can hold up to 192GB of memory and a max memory speed of up to 7800+MHz. For display purposes, it sports one Type-C DisplayPort which supports a max resolution of 4K@60Hz, and two Thunderbolt 4 ports which supports a max resolution of 8K.

The board is also equipped with built-in Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth v5.3. Apart from that, it has five M.2 slots, three PCIe x16 slots (also supports PCIe 5.0 version), six SATA III ports, ten USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, four USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, and four USB 2.0 ports.

What We Like

The MSI MEG Z790 ACE can support up to 192GB of memory with 7800+MHz speed which gives its additional power to run the i7-13700KF. Also, it comes with two Thunderbolt 4 ports which support 8K resolution. And, if you want to have some of the fastest M.2 SSDs, this motherboard has five slots to hold them.

What We Don’t Like

The motherboard is a bit expensive and is currently available at a price of $699 on Amazon (at the time of writing). This might be some of the buyers who were looking for an inexpensive option. Since it is an E-ATX motherboard, the size might be a cause of concern for certain users. Lastly, for this price, it is expected to have a 10GbE LAN which is lacking.

Summary

Overall, the MSI MEG Z790 is a superb motherboard with premium features and offers plenty of options to overclock your processor. However, it might be suitable for those with deep pockets as for casual gamers and enthusiasts, it will be too much. But if your budget is not an issue for you, no doubt, you can easily bet on this board without any problem.

Pros

• Can hold up to 192GB of memory
• High-speed memory support
• Two Thunderbolt 4 ports
• 8K support
• PCle 5.0 support
• Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

Cons

• Expensive
• No HDMI port
• Lacks 10Gbe LAN

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2. GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Master

While a $700 motherboard can put a hole in your pocket, the GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Master might come in handy. This $500 motherboard is a solid-looking option with PCIe 5.0 support, five M.2 slots, 8000MHz memory support, 10GbE LAN, and plenty of USB ports. Though it lacks some latest features, it still competes well against its peers.

The GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Master is an E-ATX motherboard that supports 12th and 13th-generation Intel Core processors based on LGA 1700 sockets. It comes with four DDR5 DIMM slots that can hold up to 128GB of memory and a max memory speed of up to 8000MHz. For display connectivity, it comes with only one DisplayPort 1.2 which supports a max resolution of 4K@60Hz.

Apart from that, the board has a built-in Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth v5.3, five M.2 slots, one PCIe 5.0 x16 slots, two PCIe 3.0 x16 slots, four SATA III ports, ten USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, nine USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, and four USB 2.0 ports.

What We Like

While even the high-end motherboards are lacking 10GbE LAN, the GIAGBYTE Z790 AORUS Master didn’t disappoint in this segment. It also supports max memory speed up to 8000MHz and offers five M.2 slots for storage expansion along with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. All of this is available at a reasonable price of $500 which makes it a solid deal to be considered.

What We Don’t Like

Unfortunately, this motherboard has only one DisplayPort for display purposes and lacks both HDMI and Thunderbolt ports. Also, it doesn’t have the latest generation audio codec which could be a cause of concern for computer enthusiasts.

Summary

The GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Master is a good option for those who don’t want to spend $700 on a motherboard. It has a lot to offer to its buyers and offers plenty of options to overclock the i7-13700KF. So unless you are too picky about flagship features, you are good to go with this motherboard.

Pros

• High-speed memory support
• Excellent cooling
• 10GbE LAN
• PCle 5.0 support
• Plenty of USB ports
• Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

Cons

• No HDMI and Thunderbolt 4 port
• Only four SATA III ports
• Last-gen audio codec

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3. MSI MPG Z790I Edge

If you are looking for the best mini-ITX motherboard for i7-13700KF, then the MSI MPG Z790I Edge can be your best bet. With 96GB memory support, PCIe 5.0 version, built-in Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, it is one of the ideal options in a compact size.

The MSI MPG Z790I Edge is a mini-ITX motherboard that supports 12th and 13th-generation Intel Core processors based on LGA 1700 sockets. It comes with two DDR5 DIMM slots that can hold up to 96GB of memory and a max memory speed of up to 8000+MHz. For display connectivity options, it has one HDMI 2.1 port and one DisplayPort 1.4 which supports a max resolution of up to 4K@60Hz.

Other notable features include built-in Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth v5.3, three M.2 slots, one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, four SATA III ports, four USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, six USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, two USB 2.0 ports.

What We Like

While mini-ITX motherboards usually support up to 64GB or less memory, the MSI MPG Z790I Edge comes with a 96GB memory speed. It ultimately improves the performance of the processor. The motherboard also supports a max memory speed of more than 8000MHz which is even higher than some expensive motherboards.

What We Don’t Like

There is not much to complain about this motherboard except that it doesn’t come with a Thunderbolt port, but again, that has been taken care of with HDMI and DisplayPort.

Summary

The MSI MPG Z790I is a solid option for mini-PC builders and also for those who want to save some space inside their PC case and house a bigger graphics card instead. Also, bigger memory capacity and great overclocking capabilities are a plus in a compact size.

Pros

• High-speed memory support
• Can hold up to 96GB of memory
• PCle 5.0 support
• Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

Cons

• No Thunderbolt 4 port
• Lack of RGB on PCB
• No 10GbE LAN

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4. GIGABYTE Z790 AERO G

Nothing can beat a product that makes your every penny count without any drop of regret. However, it is not easy to find one which is offering everything it should offer at a reasonable price that is neither too high nor too low. Luckily, that is not the case here. I found the GIGABYTE Z790 AERO G to be the best value-for-money motherboard for i7-13700KF.

The GIGABYTE Z790 AERO G is an ATX motherboard that supports 12th and 13th-generation Intel Core processors based on LGA 1700 sockets. It comes with four DDR5 DIMM slots that can hold up to 128GB of memory and a max memory speed of up to 7600MHz. For display connectivity, it has one HDMI port supporting a max resolution of 4K@60Hz and one USB Type-C port supporting both USB 3.2 Gen 2 and DisplayPort 1.4 at a max resolution of 4K@60Hz.

Apart from that, it has a built-in Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth v5.3, five M.2 slots, one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, two PCIe 4.0/3.0 x16 slots, four SATA III ports, five USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, six USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, and six USB 2.0 ports.

What We Like

The first thing that hold my attention was the availability of a USB Type-C port that acts as both a USB 3.2 Gen 2 port and DisplayPort 1.4. And then, the availability of five M.2 slots for expansion, plenty of USB ports, and Wi-Fi/Bluetooth are some of the other things I liked. Above all of that, it is available at a fair price of $300 (at the time of writing), which sounded reasonable to me.

What We Don’t Like

Just like most other motherboards, it too doesn’t have a 10 Gbe LAN and instead comes with a 2.5GbE LAN. Secondly, it has only four SATA III ports which are a bit disappointing to me.

Summary

If you are looking for a valuable motherboard that neither hurts your pocket but still doesn’t lag behind in performance, the GIGABYTE Z790 AERO G might be your best choice. And if you are okay with a 2.5GbE LAN (which most people are) and fewer SATA III ports, you would be good to go.

Pros

• High-speed memory support
• USB Type-C port for display
• PCle 5.0 support
• Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
• Value for money

Cons

• No Thunderbolt 4 port
• Only four SATA III ports
• No 10GbE LAN

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5. ASUS Prime Z790-P

For those whose budget doesn’t exceed $250, the ASUS Prime Z790-E could be their best bet. Currently available at an inexpensive price of $249 on Amazon (at the time of writing), the power and performance offered by this motherboard are good. Though it won’t blow away your mind, it is something you can’t complain about at this price.

The ASUS Prime Z790-P is an ATX motherboard that supports 12th and 13th-generation Intel Core processors based on LGA 1700 sockets. It comes with four DDR5 DIMM slots that can hold up to 128GB of memory and a max memory speed of up to 7200+MHz. For display connectivity, it has one HDMI 2.1 port and one DisplayPort 1.4 supporting a max resolution of 4K@60Hz.

Also, it has three M.2 slots, one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, three PCIe 4.0 x16 slots, one PCIe 3.0 x1 slots, four SATA III ports, three USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, four USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, and six USB 2.0 ports.

What We Like

First of all, the pricing of this motherboard grabbed my attention. Being an inexpensive motherboard, the ASUS Prime Z790-P delivers good performance and offers PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 support. While it might not be the best option, it is still a better option to get your hands on a Z790 chipset motherboard.

What We Don’t Like

To start with, the first thing that this motherboard lacks is built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support. Secondly, it has only four SATA III ports which can be a disappointment for certain users.

Summary

Considering the price point, the ASUS Prime Z790-P is a solid option that offers multiple display connectivity, PCIe 5.0, and DDR5 support. Plus, you can’t be too picky here. Overall, this is an ideal choice for those who are under a tight budget and doesn’t want to spend more than $300 or $500 on a motherboard.

Pros

• High-speed memory support
• Delivers good performance
• PCle 5.0 support
• Cheap price

Cons

• No Thunderbolt 4 port
• No 10GbE LAN
• Lacks Wi-Fi/Bluetooth support

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Conclusion

Best Motherboards for Intel i7-13700KF: MSI MEG Z790 ACE

Summing up, if you need the best motherboard for Intel i7-13700KF, I would recommend the MSI MEG Z790 ACE for you. Though it is a bit expensive, it has all the flagship features you can expect in a motherboard capable of overclocking the processor beyond its capabilities. It can hold up to 192GB of memory, supports high-speed RAM, PCle 5.0, five M.2 slots for storage expansion, built-in Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, 8K support, and Thunderbolt 4 ports making it one of the best options for i7-13700K.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is Intel i7-13700KF good for gaming?

Absolutely, the Intel i7-13700KF is a good option for gaming. Considering it has 16 Cores and 24 Threads, the processor delivers exceptional performance while gaming.

2. What does KF mean on Intel processors?

The ‘KF’ on Intel processors means that this processor is unlocked but doesn’t have any integrated graphics for display.

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