The Best Intel Motherboards for Gaming

It is the most expandable board here. On M.2 slot count it leads this guide at 7, ahead of the Z790 Tomahawk MAX (5). It is the only pick here with 18+2+1+2 power stages; the Z790 Tomahawk MAX has 16+1+1 power stages instead.

Like the Z890 Tomahawk and Z890 Tomahawk II, it has an LGA1851 socket, while the Z790 Tomahawk MAX uses an LGA1700 socket. It shares a Z890 chipset with the Z890 Tomahawk II; the Z790 Pro RS goes with a Z790 chipset. It also comes with AI overclocking, cooling and networking tools.

It uses Intel's LGA1851 socket for Core Ultra 200S processors, not older 12th to 14th Gen chips. At our last price check it topped the group, with the Z890 Tomahawk II the nearest cheaper option. If you want a confirmed wired network speed, look to the Z890 Tomahawk instead: it offers 5Gbps, while this one gives no figure.

It is the most complete Z790 board for its price here. On M.2 slot count it sits mid-pack at 5: the Strix Z890-E offers 7, and the Z890 Tomahawk II comes in at 4. On wired network speed it ties with the Z790 Pro RS at 2.5Gbps.

You get 16+1+1 power stages here, which sets it apart from the Z790 Pro RS and its 14+1+1 power stages. It shares an LGA1700 socket with the Z790 Pro RS; the Z890 Tomahawk goes with an LGA1851 socket. Like the Z790 Pro RS, it has a Z790 chipset, while the Strix Z890-E uses a Z890 chipset.

It also offers Bluetooth 5.4 alongside Wi-Fi 7 and a PCIe 5.0 graphics slot. On price it sat second of 5, between the cheaper Z790 Pro RS and the pricier Z890 Tomahawk, at the time of writing.

On M.2 slot count it ties with the Z890 Tomahawk and the Z890 Tomahawk II at 4. On wired network speed it ties with the Z790 Tomahawk MAX at 2.5Gbps. You get a wi-Fi 6E here, which sets it apart from the Z890 Tomahawk II and its a wi-Fi 7.

14+1+1 power stages is unique to it among these picks, while the Z790 Tomahawk MAX uses 16+1+1 power stages. It shares an LGA1700 socket with the Z790 Tomahawk MAX; the Strix Z890-E goes with an LGA1851 socket. You also get memory support to DDR5-7200 (OC).

It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the Z790 Tomahawk MAX was the next step up. If wired network speed is your priority, the Z890 Tomahawk (5Gbps) is the stronger choice.

It runs only LGA1851 processors, not older 12th to 14th Gen chips. It matches the Z790 Pro RS and the Z890 Tomahawk II on M.2 slot count (4). It matches the Z890 Tomahawk II on wired network speed (5Gbps).

Like the Strix Z890-E and Z890 Tomahawk II, it has an LGA1851 socket, while the Z790 Tomahawk MAX uses an LGA1700 socket. You also get a PCIe 5.0 graphics slot and M.2 heatsinks on every slot. Check the manual for which M.2 slots share lanes with SATA ports or the second PCIe slot before filling them all. It was priced above the Z790 Tomahawk MAX and below the Z890 Tomahawk II at the time of writing.

On the spec sheet, it offers a 4 M.2 slot count and offers a 5Gbps wired network speed. Its four M.2 slots include one Gen5 x4, and 7W/mK thermal pads cool the MOSFETs. It matches the Z790 Pro RS and the Z890 Tomahawk on M.2 slot count (4).

Like the Strix Z890-E and Z890 Tomahawk, it has an LGA1851 socket, while the Z790 Tomahawk MAX uses an LGA1700 socket. It shares a Z890 chipset with the Strix Z890-E; the Z790 Pro RS goes with a Z790 chipset. It uses Intel's LGA1851 socket for Core Ultra 200S processors, not older 12th to 14th Gen chips.

Check the manual for which M.2 slots share lanes with SATA ports or the second PCIe slot before filling them all. When we checked, only the Z890 Tomahawk and cheaper picks cost less, and the Strix Z890-E cost more. M.2 slot count is its weakest area, and the Strix Z890-E covers it better at 7.