Aleksandar Petkovski
One of the powerful processors manufactured by Intel, the i7-12700K clearly outperforms its predecessors and competes well against the AMD CPUs. The processor performs exceptionally well while gaming and handles all tasks well. But unlike other ‘K’ CPUs, it doesn’t include a CPU cooler inside the box.
Disclosure: ItemLevel’s posts may contain affiliate links from which ItemLevel may earn a commission.
The Intel Core i7-12700K is an LGA 1700-based chipset with 12 Cores (8 Performance and 4 Efficient Cores) and 20 Threads. It has a base clock speed of 2.7GHz which can be boosted up to 5GHz and supports a max memory size of 128GB with a max clock speed of 4800MHz. It does come with an integrated Intel UHD Graphics 770 and is a ‘K’ variant, it is overclockable and can be pushed beyond its capabilities.
Though it can be overclocked, you will also need a suitable motherboard that has the capability to do so. That said, I have rated and reviewed the 5 best motherboards for Intel i7-12700K which you can consider building your system around.
Best Motherboards for Intel i7-12700K
The Intel i7-12700K, an unlocked processor, will need a motherboard to get the best out of it and push its performance beyond its limits. In that case, a Z-series or X-series motherboard can easily do the job. However, we also have to take care of the budget and an X-series motherboard’s price can touch the sky. Hence, it is better to invest in a Z-series motherboard.
But before we dive deep into the brief discussion of each motherboard, the below table will give you a quick overview of the 5 best motherboards mentioned on this list.
| Best Motherboards for Intel i7-12700K | Form Factor | Chipset | Wi-Fi/Bluetooth | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASUS ROG Strix Z690-E Gaming | ATX | Z690 | Yes | |
| MSI MPG Z690 Force | ATX | Z690 | Yes | |
| GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra | Mini-ITX | Z690 | Yes | |
| ASUS ROG Strix Z690-F Gaming | ATX | Z690 | Yes | |
| MSI PRO Z690-A | ATX | Z690 | Yes |
| Best Motherboards for Intel i7-12700K | Form Factor | Chipset | Wi-Fi/Bluetooth | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASUS ROG Strix Z690-E Gaming | ATX | Z690 | Yes | |
| MSI MPG Z690 Force | ATX | Z690 | Yes | |
| GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra | Mini-ITX | Z690 | Yes | |
| ASUS ROG Strix Z690-F Gaming | ATX | Z690 | Yes | |
| MSI PRO Z690-A | ATX | Z690 | Yes |
1. ASUS ROG Strix Z690-E Gaming
A solid motherboard and a top pick to pair with the Intel i7-12700K processor out of the box, the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-E Gaming is the first option to be considered when you are looking for the best performance. At present, the motherboard costs $349 on Amazon (at the time of writing) and is worth the investment.
The ASUS ROG Strix Z690-E Gaming is an ATX motherboard that supports Intel 12th generation and 13th generation Intel Core, Pentium Gold, and Celeron processors based on LGA 1700 sockets. It comes with four DDR5 DIMM slots that support up to 128GB of memory with a max memory speed of 6400MHz. For display connectivity, it has one HDMI 2.1 port supporting a max resolution of 4K@60Hz and one DisplayPort 1.4 supporting a max resolution of 8K@60Hz.
The expansion slots on the board include one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, one PCIe 3.0 x16 slot, and one PCIe 3.0 x1 slot. Apart from that, it also comes with five M.2 slots, six SATA III ports, one 2.5GbE LAN, built-in Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth v5.2, five USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, four USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, one USB 3.2 Gen 1 header (supports additional two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports), four USB 2.0 ports, and two USB 2.0 headers (supports additional four USB 2.0 ports).
What We Like
The motherboard has a lot to boast about as it offers a plethora of connectivity choices, five M.2 slots, 8K resolution support, excellent overclocking capabilities, and a fair price. It has a strong power supply and plenty of VRMs for CPU overclocking.
What We Don’t Like
Though the price could be reasonable for gaming enthusiasts, it might not fit into the budget of other users. Hence, a price cut would have been appreciated. Also, the board lacks a 10GbE LAN.
Summary
Summing up, the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-E is a great option for performance seekers who are comfortable with the price. As a result, if you are searching for a motherboard that is worth your investment, you should absolutely consider this one.
Pros
- 128GB memory capacity
- High-speed memory support
- Five M.2 slots
- 8K resolution support
- Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- Ample USB ports
Cons
- No 10GbE LAN
- The price might not be suitable for everyone
2. MSI MPG Z690 Force
A beautifully designed motherboard with a white color painted over, the MSI MPG Z690 Force is one of the few motherboards, which have an attractive appearance. If your PC case is also white in color, I can bet that the combination of these two will blow your mind.
The MSI MPG Z690 Force is an ATX motherboard that supports Intel 12th generation and 13th generation Intel Core, Pentium Gold, and Celeron processors based on LGA 1700 sockets. It comes with four DDR5 DIMM slots that support up to 192GB of memory with a max memory speed of 6666+MHz. For display connectivity, it has one HDMI 2.1 port and one DisplayPort 1.4, both supporting a max resolution of 4K@60Hz.
The expansion slots on the board include two PCIe x16 slots (supports PCIe 5.0 version) and one PCIe 3.0 x4 slot. Other than that, it has five M.2 slots, six SATA III ports, one 2.5GbE LAN, built-in Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth v5.3, seven USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, and eight USB 2.0 ports.
What We Like
The MSI MPG Z690 Force is packed with all the latest generation features like DDR5 memory, PCIe 5.0, Wi-Fi 6E, five M.2 slots, and USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports. It has an attractive design painted in white and performs well in most cases. For gaming enthusiasts, this board can serve the purpose well.
What We Don’t Like
While performing with high-gen CPUs, the average temperature on the VRM is higher than the standard. It might be disappointing for some gaming enthusiasts but again, that is not a major issue, if taken proper care of.
Summary
If you are a fan of white aesthetics, you will definitely love to have a motherboard inside your PC case. The board not only performs well in the looks department but also offers lots of latest-generation features required to deliver solid performances every time you ask for them.
Pros
- 192GB memory capacity
- High-speed memory support
- Five M.2 slots
- Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- A good number of USB ports
Cons
- No 10GbE LAN
- Temperature higher than average on the VRM
3. GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra
There is always a better option for users who don’t want to settle for anything less. Especially, if you have a space crunch or you want to house bigger RTX graphics cards, you can bet on mini-ITX motherboards that are smaller in size and consumes less space without losing much in terms of performance.
The GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra is a mini-ITX motherboard that supports Intel 12th generation and 13th generation Intel Core, Pentium Gold, and Celeron processors based on LGA 1700 sockets. It comes with two DDR5 DIMM slots that support up to 96GB of memory with a max memory speed of 6200MHz. For display connectivity, it has one HDMI 2.1 port supporting a max resolution of 4K@60Hz and one DisplayPort 1.4 supporting a max resolution of 5K@60Hz.
The expansion slots on the board include one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot. The board is also equipped with two M.2 slots, four SATA III ports, one 2.5GbE LAN, built-in Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth v5.2, five USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, four USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, and six USB 2.0 ports.
What We Like
The first thing that attracts me is its compact size and sturdy build. GIGABYTE has done a commendable job to keep its design as minimalist as possible. Despite being small, it has also important features you could ask to run the Intel i7-12700K better.
What We Don’t Like
Since a smaller size often comes with some limitations, there’s bound to miss out on some features. As a result, the board has only two M.2 slots to offer, which I think would have been better if the number was three.
Summary
The GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra offers a solid mix of connectivity and performance while cutting down on size and cost. It has all the latest features to offer like DDR5 memory, PCIe 5.0, integrated Wi-Fi 6, USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, and 5K resolution support. That said, if you are building your system around a mini-ITX motherboard, then the GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra can be your best bet.
Pros
- Compact Size
- 96GB memory capacity
- High-speed memory support
- 5K resolution support
- Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
Cons
- Only two M.2 slots
- No 10GbE LAN
4. ASUS ROG Strix Z690-F Gaming
Just like the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-E Gaming, which is our first preference, the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-F Gaming is a solid option for $300 (at the time of writing). Though both of them might look similar, there is a minor difference in the numbers, which you can notice below.
The ASUS ROG Strix Z690-F Gaming is an ATX motherboard that supports Intel 12th generation and 13th generation Intel Core, Pentium Gold, and Celeron processors based on LGA 1700 sockets. It comes with four DDR5 DIMM slots that support up to 128GB of memory with a max memory speed of 6400MHz. For display connectivity, it has one HDMI 2.1 port supporting a max resolution of 4K@60Hz and one DisplayPort 1.4 supporting a max resolution of 8K@60Hz.
The expansion slots on the board include one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, one PCIe 3.0 x16 slot, and one PCIe 3.0 x1 slot. Other essential features are four M.2 slots, six SATA III ports, one 2.5GbE LAN, built-in Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth v5.2, five USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, four USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, one USB 3.2 Gen 1 header (supports additional two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports), two USB 2.0 ports, and two USB 2.0 headers (supports additional four USB 2.0 ports).
What We Like
The ASUS ROG Strix Z690-F Gaming is equipped with new innovations like DDR5 memory, PCIe 5.0, Wi-Fi 6E, and five M.2 slots for storage expansion. It has solid aesthetics, a sturdy build quality, and eye-catching ROG branding. The performance and power cooling under maximum stress on this motherboard are great. And for $300, it gives the best return on investment.
What We Don’t Like
While there’s much to complain about this motherboard, the only drawback is the lack of a 10GbE LAN.
Summary
Overall, the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-F Gaming is a great choice and works almost similarly to the ‘E’ version. If you like the top one, you will definitely like this one too. With almost similar features, the board costs $70 less with few compromises in numbers. Except that, it is exactly the same.
Pros
- 128GB memory capacity
- High-speed memory support
- Four M.2 slots
- 8K resolution support
- Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- Value for money
Cons
- No 10GbE LAN
5. MSI PRO Z690-A
For those users who are under a tight budget can opt for this cheaper $200 (at the time of writing) MSI PRO Z690-A motherboard. With all the premium features and the latest DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 technology, you can expect a decent performance when paired with the i7-12700K processor.
The MSI PRO Z690-A is an ATX motherboard that supports Intel 12th generation and 13th generation Intel Core, Pentium Gold, and Celeron processors based on LGA 1700 sockets. It comes with four DDR5 DIMM slots that support up to 192GB of memory with a max memory speed of 6400+MHz. For display connectivity, it has one HDMI 2.1 port and one DisplayPort 1.4, both supporting a max resolution of 4K@60Hz.
The expansion slots on the board include three PCIe x16 slots (supports PCIe 5.0 version) and one PCIe 3.0 x1 slot. Apart from that, it has four M.2 slots, six SATA III ports, one 2.5GbE LAN, built-in Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth v5.2, three USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, six USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, and eight USB 2.0 ports.
What We Like
While most of the features on this motherboard are of the latest generation, the first thing which caught my attention was its price. For $200, it is a great deal to be considered. Secondly, it has PCIe 5.0 support and the latest Wi-Fi 6E/Bluetooth. At last, the decent performance coming straight out of this board was the cherry on the cake.
What We Don’t Like
The board comes with just three USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports which is a bit disappointing for me.
Summary
That said, the MSI PRO Z690-A is a solid option for budget gamers who can’t afford more than $200 on a motherboard. Even at this price, you get a lot of premium features and can expect good performance out of the box.
Pros
- 192GB memory capacity
- High-speed memory support
- Four M.2 slots
- Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- Budget price
Cons
- No 10GbE LAN
- Only three USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports
Conclusion
Best Motherboards for Intel i7-12700K: ASUS ROG Strix Z690-E Gaming
If I have to recommend the best motherboard for Intel i7-12700K, I would go with the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-E Gaming. It is one of the best motherboards to pair your i7-12700K with and provided you are comfortable with the price, there’s absolutely no option better than this one. It has all the flagship features to offer, like high-speed memory, DDR5 support, PCIe 5.0, plenty of M.2 slots, 8K resolution support, and a plethora of USB ports. If this sounds useful to you, you should definitely consider buying this one.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is i7-12700K a good processor?
Yes, the i7-12700K is a good processor with great performance delivery. You can expect most things to work fluently with it, thanks to its faster clock speed.
2. Which Core i7 is best for gaming?
As per current trends, the i7-13700K is the best processor for gaming. Packed with 16 Cores (8 Performance and 8 Efficient Cores) and 24 Threads, it can handle every task pretty well.
3. Does i7-12700K run hot?
Being an unlocked processor, the i7-12700K runs quite hot. So make sure you have bought a CPU cooler as this one doesn’t come with its own out-of-the-box.
4. Is i7-12700K worth it for gaming?
Yes, the i7-12700K is worth gaming. Depending on what graphics card you are using, you can expect some serious performance while gaming.
ALSO READ: Best Motherboards For Intel i9-12900F
Comments