Buying Guide
The Best Motherboards for the Intel Core i5-14600K
Six LGA1700 boards for the Core i5-14600K compared on chipset, power stages, M.2 slots and BIOS readiness.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read6 products evaluated
The Core i5-14600K uses LGA1700 and needs a BIOS that supports 14th Gen. Z790 boards let you tune it; B760 boards run it at stock.
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 All-Round
MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk MAX WiFi
Five M.2 slots, Wi-Fi 7 and a 16+1+1 layout.
Best for: Most 14600K builds.
Our take Check price for MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk MAX WiFi (opens in a new tab)
Best Value
ASRock Z790 Pro RS WiFi
Four M.2 slots and a 14+1+1 layout at a low Z790 price.
Best for: Keeping costs down.
Our take Check price for ASRock Z790 Pro RS WiFi (opens in a new tab)
Worth Considering
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)
Best White
ASUS Z790-AYW WiFi W II
A white finish with three M.2 slots.
Best for: White builds.
Our take Check price for ASUS Z790-AYW WiFi W II (opens in a new tab)
Well-Rounded Choice
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)
Solid Alternative
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)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five M.2 slots, Wi-Fi 7 and a 16+1+1 layout. | Most 14600K builds. | Check price for MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk MAX WiFi (opens in a new tab) |
| Four M.2 slots and a 14+1+1 layout at a low Z790 price. | Keeping costs down. | Check price for ASRock Z790 Pro RS 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) |
| A white finish with three M.2 slots. | White builds. | Check price for ASUS Z790-AYW WiFi W 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) |
| 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) |
Our Picks
Best All-Round1 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
- Most 14600K builds.
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). You get a wi-Fi 7 here, which sets it apart from the Z790 Pro RS and its a wi-Fi 6E.
16+1+1 power stages is unique to it among these picks, while the Z790-AYW W II uses 12+1 power stages. It also comes with 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. Its price falls between the Z790 Eagle AX and the PRO Z790-A II, based on our last check.
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
Best Value2 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
- Keeping costs down.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi is a problem.
Why we like it
On M.2 slot count it ties with the PRO Z790-A II at 4. You get 14+1+1 power stages here, which sets it apart from the Z790 Eagle AX and its 12+1+1 power stages. It also comes with 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. On price it sat second of 6, between the cheaper B760 AORUS Elite AX and the pricier 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 Considering3 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
- Look at the others if this bothers you: wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7.
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. It also offers 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. On price it sat fifth of 6, between the cheaper Z790 Tomahawk MAX and the pricier Z790-AYW W II, at the time of writing.
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
Best White4 of 6
ASUS Z790-AYW WiFi W II on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Z790-AYW WiFi W II is a white Z790 board with three M.2 slots and two USB 10Gbps Type-C ports.
Best for
- White builds.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the B760 AORUS Elite AX, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
Its Wi-Fi 6 is a generation behind most boards here. On M.2 slot count it ties with the B760 AORUS Elite AX and the Z790 Eagle AX at 3. You get a wi-Fi 6 here, which sets it apart from the PRO Z790-A II and its a wi-Fi 6E.
12+1 power stages is unique to it among these picks, while the Z790 Pro RS uses 14+1+1 power stages. You also get 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 was the most expensive pick when we checked, so weigh what it adds over the PRO Z790-A II.
Key dimensions & specs
- M.2 slots: 3
- Wired LAN: 2.5Gbps
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6
- Power stages: 12+1
- Form factor: ATX
- Socket: LGA1700
- Memory type: DDR5
- Chipset: Z790
Pros
- White finish
- Two rear USB 10Gbps Type-C ports
- 2.5Gbps Ethernet
- Wi-Fi 6, the only one here
Cons
- Costs more than the B760 AORUS Elite AX at the time of writing
Well-Rounded Choice5 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
- Look at the others if this bothers you: wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7.
Why we like it
It is the strongest B760 board here. It matches the Z790-AYW W II and the Z790 Eagle AX on M.2 slot count (3). Like the Z790 Eagle AX, it has 12+1+1 power stages, while the Z790 Pro RS uses 14+1+1 power stages.
You get a B760 chipset here, which sets it apart from the Z790-AYW W II and its a Z790 chipset. It also offers 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.
It cost the least of the 6 picks at the time of writing, with the Z790 Pro RS the next step up. What it gives up: M.2 slot count of 3, behind the Z790 Tomahawk MAX (5); by contrast, 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
- B760 chipset, the only one here
Cons
- Wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7
- M.2 slot count of 3, behind the Z790 Tomahawk MAX (5)
Solid Alternative6 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
- Look at the others if this bothers you: wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7.
Why we like it
It is a plain Z790 board for Core i5 K builds. On M.2 slot count it ties with the Z790-AYW W II and the B760 AORUS Elite AX at 3. It shares 12+1+1 power stages with the B760 AORUS Elite AX; the Z790 Tomahawk MAX goes with 16+1+1 power stages.
It also offers 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.
On price it sat third of 6, between the cheaper Z790 Pro RS and the pricier Z790 Tomahawk MAX, 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: 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
- M.2 slot count trails the Z790 Tomahawk MAX (5)
- Costs more than the B760 AORUS Elite AX at the time of writing
How We Chose These Core i5-14600K Motherboards
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- Platform
- We checked socket, chipset and form factor from each listing.
- Connectivity
- We compared Wi-Fi, wired LAN speed and USB4.
- Power delivery
- We noted power stage layouts where the maker lists them.
- Storage
- We counted listed M.2 slots and PCIe 5.0 support.
What to Look for in a Core i5-14600K Motherboard
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
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.
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.
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.
Networking matters for daily use
Wi-Fi 7 and 5Gbps Ethernet help only if your router supports them, but built-in Wi-Fi saves a PCIe card.
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 i5-14600K Motherboard
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Most 14600K builds | Z790 Tomahawk MAX | Five M.2 slots, Wi-Fi 7 and a 16+1+1 layout |
| Keeping costs down | Z790 Pro RS | Four M.2 slots and a 14+1+1 layout at a low Z790 price |
| White builds | Z790-AYW W II | A white finish with three M.2 slots |
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 Tomahawk MAX | 5 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 7 | 16+1+1 |
| Z790 Pro RS | 4 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 6E | 14+1+1 |
| PRO Z790-A II | 4 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 6E | Not listed |
| Z790-AYW W II | 3 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 6 | 12+1 |
| B760 AORUS Elite AX | 3 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 6E | 12+1+1 |
| Z790 Eagle AX | 3 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 6E | 12+1+1 |
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, Z790 Pro RS |
| About $150 to $250 | Z790 Eagle AX, Z790 Tomahawk MAX, PRO Z790-A II, Z790-AYW W II |
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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.
Will a 13th Gen board run a 14th Gen CPU?
Yes on the same LGA1700 socket, after a BIOS update if the board shipped before 14th Gen launched. Check the board's CPU support list.
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.
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.
Is built-in Wi-Fi worth it?
Yes if you cannot run a cable. Otherwise wired Ethernet is more consistent.
Bottom Line
The Z790 Tomahawk MAX is the most complete board here. The Z790 Pro RS saves money, and the Z790-AYW WiFi W II suits white builds.