Buying Guide
The Best Motherboards for the Intel Core i9-14900K
Six Z790 boards for the Core i9-14900K compared on power stages, M.2 slots, BIOS support and networking.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read6 products evaluated
The Core i9-14900K has 24 cores and the highest boost clocks on LGA1700. Apply the latest BIOS with Intel's default power limits, and favour stronger power stages.
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.
Most Headroom
ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi
An 18+1 layout and five M.2 slots.
Best for: Sustained all-core work.
Our take Check price for ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi (opens in a new tab)
Best All-Round
MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk MAX WiFi
A 16+1+1 layout, five M.2 slots and Wi-Fi 7.
Best for: Most 14900K builds.
Our take Check price for MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk MAX WiFi (opens in a new tab)
Best Wireless
ASUS Z790 MAX Gaming WIFI7
Wi-Fi 7 and a USB 20Gbps port.
Best for: Wireless desks.
Our take Check price for ASUS Z790 MAX Gaming WIFI7 (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
ASRock Z790 Pro RS WiFi
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: Buyers who want 4 m.2 slots for ssd expansion.
Our take Check price for ASRock Z790 Pro RS WiFi (opens in a new tab)
Worth Considering
ASUS Z790-AYW WiFi W II
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: Buyers who want white finish.
Our take Check price for ASUS Z790-AYW WiFi W II (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Most Headroom1 of 6
ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Strix Z790-E offers an 18+1 layout, five M.2 slots and Thunderbolt 4 support.
Best for
- Sustained all-core work.
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 premium LGA1700 board here. On M.2 slot count it ties with the Z790 Tomahawk MAX at 5. On wired network speed it ties with the Z790 Tomahawk MAX, the PRO Z790-A II, the Z790 Pro RS and the Z790-AYW W II at 2.5Gbps.
18+1 power stages is unique to it among these picks, while the Z790 MAX Gaming uses 14+1 power stages. You also get a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot and a front-panel USB 3.2 port. 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 Z790-AYW W II.
Key dimensions & specs
- M.2 slots: 5
- Wired LAN: 2.5Gbps
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E
- Power stages: 18+1
- Form factor: ATX
- Socket: LGA1700
- Memory type: DDR5
- Chipset: Z790
Pros
- 5 M.2 slots for SSD expansion
- 18+1 power stage layout
- PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot
- Thunderbolt 4 support
Cons
- Wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7
- Costs more than the Z790 Pro RS at the time of writing
Best All-Round2 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 14900K builds.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the Z790 Pro RS was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
It is the most complete Z790 board for its price here. It matches the Strix Z790-E on M.2 slot count (5). It matches the Strix Z790-E, the PRO Z790-A II, the Z790 Pro RS and the Z790-AYW W II on wired network speed (2.5Gbps).
Like the Z790 MAX Gaming, it has a wi-Fi 7, while the Z790 Pro RS uses a wi-Fi 6E. No other pick in this guide offers 16+1+1 power stages; compare the Z790 Pro RS, which has 14+1+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. It was priced above the Z790 Pro RS and below the PRO Z790-A II at the time of writing.
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 Z790 Pro RS at the time of writing
Best Wireless3 of 6
ASUS Z790 MAX Gaming WIFI7 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Z790 MAX Gaming WIFI7 offers a 14+1 layout, Wi-Fi 7 and a USB 20Gbps port, with 1Gbps Ethernet.
Best for
- Wireless desks.
Skip if
- Skip it if wired network speed matters most to you; the Strix Z790-E offers 2.5Gbps.
Why we like it
It suits wireless desks. On M.2 slot count it ties with the Z790-AYW W II at 3. On wired network speed it trails the group at 1Gbps, while the Strix Z790-E offers 2.5Gbps.
It shares a wi-Fi 7 with the Z790 Tomahawk MAX; the Z790-AYW W II goes with a wi-Fi 6. 14+1 power stages is unique to it among these picks, while the Z790 Tomahawk MAX uses 16+1+1 power stages. It also comes with 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 PRO Z790-A II and the Z790-AYW W II, based on our last check.
Key dimensions & specs
- M.2 slots: 3
- Wired LAN: 1Gbps
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 7
- Power stages: 14+1
- Form factor: ATX
- Socket: LGA1700
- Memory type: DDR5
- Chipset: Z790
Pros
- Wi-Fi 7 built in
- 14+1 power stage layout
- Rear USB 20Gbps Type-C port
- PCIe 5.0 graphics slot
Cons
- Wired network speed trails the Strix Z790-E (2.5Gbps)
- Costs more than the Z790 Pro RS 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
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: 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 matches the Strix Z790-E, the Z790 Tomahawk MAX, the Z790 Pro RS and the Z790-AYW W II on wired network speed (2.5Gbps).
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. When we checked, only the Z790 Tomahawk MAX and cheaper picks cost less, and the Z790 MAX Gaming cost more.
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)
- Wired network speed of 2.5Gbps, ahead of the Z790 MAX Gaming
Cons
- Wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7
- Costs more than the Z790 Pro RS at the time of writing
Solid Alternative5 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
- 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
It matches the PRO Z790-A II on M.2 slot count (4). It matches the Strix Z790-E, the Z790 Tomahawk MAX, the PRO Z790-A II and the Z790-AYW W II on wired network speed (2.5Gbps). It is the only pick here with 14+1+1 power stages; the Strix Z790-E has 18+1 power stages instead.
You also get 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.
No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the Z790 Tomahawk MAX was closest. What it gives up: M.2 slot count of 4, behind the Strix Z790-E (5); by contrast, the Strix Z790-E offers 5.
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
- M.2 slot count of 4, behind the Strix Z790-E (5)
Worth Considering6 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
- Buyers who want white finish.
Skip if
- Skip it if M.2 slot count matters most to you; the Strix Z790-E offers 5.
Why we like it
Its Wi-Fi 6 is a generation behind most boards here. It matches the Z790 MAX Gaming on M.2 slot count (3). It matches the Strix Z790-E, the Z790 Tomahawk MAX, the PRO Z790-A II and the Z790 Pro RS on wired network speed (2.5Gbps).
No other pick in this guide offers a wi-Fi 6; compare the PRO Z790-A II, which has a wi-Fi 6E. No other pick in this guide offers 12+1 power stages; compare the Z790 MAX Gaming, which has 14+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 gives ground on M.2 slot count, where the Strix Z790-E offers 5.
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
- Wired network speed of 2.5Gbps, ahead of the Z790 MAX Gaming
Cons
- M.2 slot count trails the Strix Z790-E (5)
- Costs more than the Z790 Pro RS at the time of writing
How We Chose These Core i9-14900K 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.
- Storage
- We counted listed M.2 slots and PCIe 5.0 support.
- Connectivity
- We compared Wi-Fi, wired LAN speed and USB4.
- Platform
- We checked socket, chipset and form factor from each listing.
What to Look for in a Core i9-14900K 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
How to Choose a Core i9-14900K Motherboard
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Sustained all-core work | Strix Z790-E | An 18+1 layout and five M.2 slots |
| Most 14900K builds | Z790 Tomahawk MAX | A 16+1+1 layout, five M.2 slots and Wi-Fi 7 |
| Wireless desks | Z790 MAX Gaming | Wi-Fi 7 and a USB 20Gbps port |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strix Z790-E | 5 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 6E | 18+1 |
| Z790 Tomahawk MAX | 5 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 7 | 16+1+1 |
| Z790 MAX Gaming | 3 | 1Gbps | Wi-Fi 7 | 14+1 |
| PRO Z790-A II | 4 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 6E | Not listed |
| Z790 Pro RS | 4 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 6E | 14+1+1 |
| Z790-AYW W II | 3 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 6 | 12+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 | Z790 Pro RS |
| About $150 to $250 | Z790 Tomahawk MAX, PRO Z790-A II, Z790 MAX Gaming, Z790-AYW W II |
| About $250 to $500 | Strix Z790-E |
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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.
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.
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.
Bottom Line
The Strix Z790-E has the most headroom. The Z790 Tomahawk MAX suits most builds, and the Z790 MAX Gaming WIFI7 fits wireless desks.