Buying Guide
The Best Motherboards for the Intel Core i5-13600K
Six LGA1700 boards for the unlocked Core i5-13600K compared on chipset, power stages, M.2 slots and memory type.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read6 products evaluated
The Core i5-13600K is unlocked, so a Z790 board lets you tune it. At stock settings a good B760 board runs it too.
We compared 6 boards for it. This is a research-based comparison built from maker specifications and retailer listings; we did not test these parts ourselves.
Quick Picks
Our 6 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Best Value Z790
ASRock Z790 Pro RS WiFi
Four M.2 slots and a 14+1+1 layout at a low Z790 price.
Best for: Most 13600K builds.
Our take Check price for ASRock Z790 Pro RS WiFi (opens in a new tab)
Worth Considering
GIGABYTE Z790 Eagle AX
The Z790 Eagle AX pairs a 12+1+1 layout with three M.2 slots, Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5Gbps LAN.
Best for: Buyers who want ez-latch for tool-free card removal.
Our take Check price for GIGABYTE Z790 Eagle AX (opens in a new tab)
Most Complete
MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk MAX WiFi
Five M.2 slots, Wi-Fi 7 and a 16+1+1 layout.
Best for: Builders who want every feature.
Our take Check price for MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk MAX WiFi (opens in a new tab)
Well-Rounded Choice
MSI PRO Z790-A WiFi II
The PRO Z790-A WiFi II offers four Gen4 M.2 slots and 80A power stages.
Best for: Buyers who want 4 m.2 slots for ssd expansion.
Our take Check price for MSI PRO Z790-A WiFi II (opens in a new tab)
Solid Alternative
GIGABYTE B760 AORUS Elite AX
The B760 AORUS Elite AX offers a 12+1+1 layout, three M.2 slots and Q-Flash Plus, which updates the BIOS without a CPU installed.
Best for: Buyers who want q-flash plus bios updating without a cpu.
Our take Check price for GIGABYTE B760 AORUS Elite AX (opens in a new tab)
Best for DDR4
MSI PRO B760-P WiFi DDR4
DDR4 support with Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5Gbps LAN.
Best for: Reusing DDR4 memory.
Our take Check price for MSI PRO B760-P WiFi DDR4 (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Four M.2 slots and a 14+1+1 layout at a low Z790 price. | Most 13600K builds. | Check price for ASRock Z790 Pro RS WiFi (opens in a new tab) |
| The Z790 Eagle AX pairs a 12+1+1 layout with three M.2 slots, Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5Gbps LAN. | Buyers who want ez-latch for tool-free card removal. | Check price for GIGABYTE Z790 Eagle AX (opens in a new tab) |
| Five M.2 slots, Wi-Fi 7 and a 16+1+1 layout. | Builders who want every feature. | Check price for MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk MAX WiFi (opens in a new tab) |
| The PRO Z790-A WiFi II offers four Gen4 M.2 slots and 80A power stages. | Buyers who want 4 m.2 slots for ssd expansion. | Check price for MSI PRO Z790-A WiFi II (opens in a new tab) |
| The B760 AORUS Elite AX offers a 12+1+1 layout, three M.2 slots and Q-Flash Plus, which updates the BIOS without a CPU installed. | Buyers who want q-flash plus bios updating without a cpu. | Check price for GIGABYTE B760 AORUS Elite AX (opens in a new tab) |
| DDR4 support with Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5Gbps LAN. | Reusing DDR4 memory. | Check price for MSI PRO B760-P WiFi DDR4 (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Best Value Z7901 of 6
ASRock Z790 Pro RS WiFi on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Z790 Pro RS WiFi is one of the cheapest Z790 boards here, yet offers four M.2 slots, a 14+1+1 layout, Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5Gbps LAN.
Best for
- Most 13600K builds.
Skip if
- Pass on it if wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It matches the PRO Z790-A II on M.2 slot count (4). No other pick in this guide offers 14+1+1 power stages; compare the Z790 Eagle AX, which has 12+1+1 power stages. It also offers memory support to DDR5-7200 (OC).
It uses Intel's LGA1700 socket for 12th, 13th and 14th Gen Core processors; check the CPU support list for the BIOS version your chip needs, since early boards shipped before 14th Gen launched. 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 PRO B760-P DDR4 and below the Z790 Eagle AX at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- M.2 slots: 4
- Wired LAN: 2.5Gbps
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E
- Power stages: 14+1+1
- Form factor: ATX
- Socket: LGA1700
- Memory type: DDR5
- Chipset: Z790
Pros
- 4 M.2 slots for SSD expansion
- 14+1+1 power stage layout
- Memory support to DDR5-7200 (OC)
- One of the lowest Z790 prices here
Cons
- Wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7
- Costs more than the B760 AORUS Elite AX at the time of writing
Worth Considering2 of 6
GIGABYTE Z790 Eagle AX on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Z790 Eagle AX pairs a 12+1+1 layout with three M.2 slots, Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5Gbps LAN.
Best for
- Buyers who want ez-latch for tool-free card removal.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7.
Why we like it
It is a plain Z790 board for Core i5 K builds. It matches the B760 AORUS Elite AX on M.2 slot count (3). Like the B760 AORUS Elite AX, it has 12+1+1 power stages, while the Z790 Pro RS uses 14+1+1 power stages.
You also get EZ-Latch for tool-free card removal and Q-Flash BIOS updating. It uses Intel's LGA1700 socket for 12th, 13th and 14th Gen Core processors; check the CPU support list for the BIOS version your chip needs, since early boards shipped before 14th Gen launched. 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 Pro RS and below the Z790 Tomahawk MAX at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- M.2 slots: 3
- Wired LAN: 2.5Gbps
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E
- Power stages: 12+1+1
- Form factor: ATX
- Socket: LGA1700
- Memory type: DDR5
- Chipset: Z790
Pros
- EZ-Latch for tool-free card removal
- Q-Flash BIOS updating
- Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5Gbps Ethernet
Cons
- Wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7
- Costs more than the B760 AORUS Elite AX at the time of writing
Most Complete3 of 6
MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk MAX WiFi on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Z790 Tomahawk MAX offers five M.2 slots, Wi-Fi 7 and a 16+1+1 layout.
Best for
- Builders who want every feature.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the B760 AORUS Elite AX, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It is the most complete Z790 board for its price here. On M.2 slot count it leads this guide at 5, ahead of the Z790 Pro RS (4). It is the only pick here with a wi-Fi 7; the B760 AORUS Elite AX has a wi-Fi 6E instead.
It is the only pick here with 16+1+1 power stages; the Z790 Pro RS has 14+1+1 power stages instead. You also get Bluetooth 5.4 alongside Wi-Fi 7 and a PCIe 5.0 graphics slot. It uses Intel's LGA1700 socket for 12th, 13th and 14th Gen Core processors; check the CPU support list for the BIOS version your chip needs, since early boards shipped before 14th Gen launched.
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 Z790 Eagle AX and cheaper picks cost less, and the PRO Z790-A II cost more.
Key dimensions & specs
- M.2 slots: 5
- Wired LAN: 2.5Gbps
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 7
- Power stages: 16+1+1
- Form factor: ATX
- Socket: LGA1700
- Memory type: DDR5
- Chipset: Z790
Pros
- 5 M.2 slots for SSD expansion
- Wi-Fi 7 built in
- 16+1+1 power stage layout
- Bluetooth 5.4 alongside Wi-Fi 7
Cons
- Costs more than the B760 AORUS Elite AX at the time of writing
Well-Rounded Choice4 of 6
MSI PRO Z790-A WiFi II on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The PRO Z790-A WiFi II offers four Gen4 M.2 slots and 80A power stages.
Best for
- Buyers who want 4 m.2 slots for ssd expansion.
Skip if
- Pass on it if wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
Wi-Fi 6E is its only step back. It has four Gen4 M.2 slots with Shield Frozr, Wi-Fi 6E with BT 5.3 and a 20Gbps rear USB-C port. You also get memory support to DDR5-7800 (OC).
It uses Intel's LGA1700 socket for 12th, 13th and 14th Gen Core processors; check the CPU support list for the BIOS version your chip needs, since early boards shipped before 14th Gen launched. Check the manual for which M.2 slots share lanes with SATA ports or the second PCIe slot before filling them all. Only the Z790 Tomahawk MAX came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 6 picks.
Key dimensions & specs
- M.2 slots: 4
- Wired LAN: 2.5Gbps
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E
- Form factor: ATX
- Socket: LGA1700
- Memory type: DDR5
- Chipset: Z790
Pros
- 4 M.2 slots for SSD expansion
- 80A SPS power stages
- Memory support to DDR5-7800 (OC)
Cons
- Wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7
- Costs more than the B760 AORUS Elite AX at the time of writing
Solid Alternative5 of 6
GIGABYTE B760 AORUS Elite AX on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The B760 AORUS Elite AX offers a 12+1+1 layout, three M.2 slots and Q-Flash Plus, which updates the BIOS without a CPU installed.
Best for
- Buyers who want q-flash plus bios updating without a cpu.
Skip if
- Pass on it if wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It is the strongest B760 board here. On M.2 slot count it ties with the Z790 Eagle AX at 3. It shares 12+1+1 power stages with the Z790 Eagle AX; the Z790 Tomahawk MAX goes with 16+1+1 power stages.
Like the PRO B760-P DDR4, it has a B760 chipset, while the Z790 Tomahawk MAX uses a Z790 chipset. It also comes with EZ-Latch for tool-free card removal and Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5Gbps Ethernet. It uses Intel's LGA1700 socket for 12th, 13th and 14th Gen Core processors; check the CPU support list for the BIOS version your chip needs, since early boards shipped before 14th Gen launched.
Check the manual for which M.2 slots share lanes with SATA ports or the second PCIe slot before filling them all. It undercut the PRO B760-P DDR4 and every other pick on price at the time of writing. The trade-off is M.2 slot count; for more, the Z790 Tomahawk MAX offers 5.
Key dimensions & specs
- M.2 slots: 3
- Wired LAN: 2.5Gbps
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E
- Power stages: 12+1+1
- Form factor: ATX
- Socket: LGA1700
- Memory type: DDR5
- Chipset: B760
Pros
- Q-Flash Plus BIOS updating without a CPU
- EZ-Latch for tool-free card removal
- Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5Gbps Ethernet
Cons
- Wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7
- M.2 slot count trails the Z790 Tomahawk MAX (5)
Best for DDR46 of 6
MSI PRO B760-P WiFi DDR4 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The PRO B760-P WiFi DDR4 is an ATX board for builders reusing DDR4, with Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5Gbps LAN.
Best for
- Reusing DDR4 memory.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7.
Why we like it
No other pick in this guide offers a DDR4 memory type; compare the PRO Z790-A II, which has a DDR5 memory type. It shares a B760 chipset with the B760 AORUS Elite AX; the Z790 Eagle AX goes with a Z790 chipset. It also offers Bluetooth 5.3 alongside Wi-Fi 6E and HDMI and DisplayPort outputs.
It uses Intel's LGA1700 socket for 12th, 13th and 14th Gen Core processors; check the CPU support list for the BIOS version your chip needs, since early boards shipped before 14th Gen launched. It takes DDR4 memory only, so reuse or buy a DDR4 kit; DDR5 sticks do not fit its slots. When we checked, only the B760 AORUS Elite AX cost less, and the Z790 Pro RS cost more. If you want a confirmed M.2 slot count, look to the Z790 Tomahawk MAX instead: it offers 5, while this one gives no figure.
Key dimensions & specs
- Wired LAN: 2.5Gbps
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E
- Form factor: ATX
- Socket: LGA1700
- Memory type: DDR4
- Chipset: B760
Pros
- Bluetooth 5.3 alongside Wi-Fi 6E
- HDMI and DisplayPort outputs
- 2.5Gbps Ethernet
- DDR4 memory type, the only one here
Cons
- Wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7
- Takes DDR4 only, not DDR5 kits
- No published M.2 slot count
How We Chose These Core i5-13600K Motherboards
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- Power delivery
- We noted power stage layouts where the maker lists them.
- Platform
- We checked socket, chipset and form factor from each listing.
- Storage
- We counted listed M.2 slots and PCIe 5.0 support.
- Connectivity
- We compared Wi-Fi, wired LAN speed and USB4.
What to Look for in a Core i5-13600K Motherboard
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Z-series for K chips, B-series for the rest
Z790 and Z890 boards let you overclock an unlocked K processor and usually carry stronger power delivery. B760 boards run the same chips at stock settings for less money.
A Core i5-13400F or 14400F loses nothing on a B760 board.
Check DDR4 or DDR5 before you buy
LGA1700 boards come in DDR4 and DDR5 versions that look alike; the model name usually carries D4 for DDR4. Buy the board that matches the memory you plan to use.
Confirm BIOS support for 14th Gen
Boards made before 14th Gen launched may need a BIOS update to run a 14th Gen chip, and Intel's microcode updates for 13th and 14th Gen stability arrive through BIOS releases. Update to the latest BIOS before daily use.
Check the rear and front I/O
Count USB ports you use every day and confirm a front USB-C header if your case has a USB-C port. Thunderbolt ports matter only for Thunderbolt docks and drives.
Count M.2 slots
Most games now install to NVMe drives. Count how many M.2 slots you need now and later, and check which ones share lanes with other ports.
Power delivery for Core i7 and i9
Core i7 and i9 chips draw far more power under all-core load than a Core i5. Boards with more and stronger power stages hold boost clocks with less heat; check the power stage layout before pairing one with a budget board.
How to Choose a Core i5-13600K Motherboard
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Most 13600K builds | Z790 Pro RS | Four M.2 slots and a 14+1+1 layout at a low Z790 price |
| Builders who want every feature | Z790 Tomahawk MAX | Five M.2 slots, Wi-Fi 7 and a 16+1+1 layout |
| Reusing DDR4 memory | PRO B760-P DDR4 | DDR4 support with Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5Gbps LAN |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
Figures as each maker states them.
| Board | M.2 slots | Wired LAN | Wi-Fi | Power stages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Z790 Pro RS | 4 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 6E | 14+1+1 |
| Z790 Eagle AX | 3 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 6E | 12+1+1 |
| Z790 Tomahawk MAX | 5 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 7 | 16+1+1 |
| PRO Z790-A II | 4 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 6E | Not listed |
| B760 AORUS Elite AX | 3 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 6E | 12+1+1 |
| PRO B760-P DDR4 | Not listed | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 6E | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
Prices change often; these tiers reflect Amazon prices when this guide was updated.
| Price tier | Boards |
|---|---|
| About $100 to $150 | B760 AORUS Elite AX, PRO B760-P DDR4, Z790 Pro RS |
| About $150 to $250 | Z790 Eagle AX, Z790 Tomahawk MAX, PRO Z790-A II |
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I fill all four memory slots?
Two sticks usually run faster and more reliably on DDR5. Buy a two-stick kit with the capacity you need.
Can I use DDR4 on an LGA1700 board?
Only on a DDR4 version of the board. DDR4 and DDR5 slots are keyed differently, so a board takes one type or the other.
What size motherboard should I buy?
ATX fits most mid-towers and has the most slots. Micro-ATX suits smaller cases with fewer expansion needs.
Do I need a Z790 board for a Core i7-14700K?
Only to overclock it or to get stronger power delivery. A good B760 board runs a 14700K at stock settings, though the cheapest boards may lower its sustained boost.
Will these boards take Core Ultra processors?
Z890 and B860 boards use LGA1851 for Core Ultra 200S. LGA1700 boards (Z790, B760) take 12th to 14th Gen chips only.
Is built-in Wi-Fi worth it?
Yes if you cannot run a cable. Otherwise wired Ethernet is more consistent.
Bottom Line
The Z790 Pro RS WiFi is the value Z790 pick, the Z790 Tomahawk MAX the more complete one. The PRO B760-P DDR4 suits builders reusing memory.