Buying Guide
The Best Z790 Motherboards
Seven Z790 boards for 12th to 14th Gen Core compared on power stages, M.2 slots, Wi-Fi and wired LAN.
By The PC Journal editorial team
13 min read7 products evaluated
Z790 is the enthusiast chipset for LGA1700, supporting 12th, 13th and 14th Gen Core. All boards here use DDR5.
We compared seven Z790 boards. This is a research-based comparison built from maker specifications and retailer listings; we did not test these parts ourselves.
Quick Picks
Our 7 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Best All-Round Z790
MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk MAX WiFi
Five M.2 slots, Wi-Fi 7 and a 16+1+1 layout.
Best for: Most Z790 builds.
Our take Check price for MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk MAX WiFi (opens in a new tab)
Best High-End
ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi
An 18+1 layout with Thunderbolt 4 support.
Best for: Core i9 builds.
Our take Check price for ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming 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)
Best Value
ASRock Z790 Pro RS WiFi
Four M.2 slots and a 14+1+1 layout at a low Z790 price.
Best for: Budget K-series builds.
Our take Check price for ASRock Z790 Pro RS WiFi (opens in a new tab)
Easiest to Service
GIGABYTE Z790 Eagle AX
EZ-Latch card removal and Q-Flash BIOS updating.
Best for: Builders who swap parts often.
Our take Check price for GIGABYTE Z790 Eagle AX (opens in a new tab)
Solid Alternative
ASUS Z790 MAX Gaming WIFI7
The Z790 MAX Gaming WIFI7 offers a 14+1 layout, Wi-Fi 7 and a USB 20Gbps port, with 1Gbps Ethernet.
Best for: Buyers who want wi-fi 7 built in.
Our take Check price for ASUS Z790 MAX Gaming WIFI7 (opens in a new tab)
Worth Considering
ASRock Z790 PG Sonic
The Z790 PG Sonic offers a 14+1+1 layout and Killer 2.5Gbps Ethernet under a Sonic-themed design.
Best for: Buyers who want 14+1+1 power stage layout.
Our take Check price for ASRock Z790 PG Sonic (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Best All-Round Z7901 of 7
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 Z790 builds.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the Z790 Pro RS, 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 ties with the Strix Z790-E at 5. On wired network speed it ties with the Strix Z790-E, the PRO Z790-A II, the Z790 Pro RS, the Z790 Eagle AX and the Z790 PG Sonic at 2.5Gbps.
It shares a wi-Fi 7 with the Z790 MAX Gaming; the PRO Z790-A II goes with a wi-Fi 6E. You get 16+1+1 power stages here, which sets it apart from the Z790 MAX Gaming and its 14+1 power stages. You also get Bluetooth 5.4 alongside Wi-Fi 7 and a PCIe 5.0 graphics slot. On price it sat fourth of 7, between the cheaper Z790 Eagle AX and the pricier 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 High-End2 of 7
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
- Core i9 builds.
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. It matches the Z790 Tomahawk MAX on M.2 slot count (5). It matches the Z790 Tomahawk MAX, the PRO Z790-A II, the Z790 Pro RS, the Z790 Eagle AX and the Z790 PG Sonic on wired network speed (2.5Gbps).
It is the only pick here with 18+1 power stages; the Z790 Pro RS has 14+1+1 power stages instead. 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. At our last price check it topped the group, with the Z790 MAX Gaming the nearest cheaper option.
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
Well-Rounded Choice3 of 7
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. On wired network speed it ties with the Z790 Tomahawk MAX, the Strix Z790-E, the Z790 Pro RS, the Z790 Eagle AX and the Z790 PG Sonic at 2.5Gbps.
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. Its price falls between the Z790 Tomahawk MAX and the Z790 MAX Gaming, based on our last check.
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
Best Value4 of 7
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
- Budget K-series builds.
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. On wired network speed it ties with the Z790 Tomahawk MAX, the Strix Z790-E, the PRO Z790-A II, the Z790 Eagle AX and the Z790 PG Sonic at 2.5Gbps. It shares 14+1+1 power stages with the Z790 PG Sonic; the Strix Z790-E goes with 18+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. It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the Z790 PG Sonic was the next step up. The main gap: M.2 slot count of 4, behind the Z790 Tomahawk MAX (5). If that matters, the Z790 Tomahawk MAX 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 Z790 Tomahawk MAX (5)
Easiest to Service5 of 7
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
- Builders who swap parts often.
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 MAX Gaming at 3. On wired network speed it ties with the Z790 Tomahawk MAX, the Strix Z790-E, the PRO Z790-A II, the Z790 Pro RS and the Z790 PG Sonic at 2.5Gbps.
12+1+1 power stages is unique to it among these picks, while the Z790 Pro RS uses 14+1+1 power stages. It also comes with 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. Its price falls between the Z790 PG Sonic and the Z790 Tomahawk MAX, based on our last check.
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
- 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 Alternative6 of 7
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
- Buyers who want wi-fi 7 built in.
Skip if
- Skip it if M.2 slot count matters most to you; the Z790 Tomahawk MAX offers 5.
Why we like it
It suits wireless desks. It matches the Z790 Eagle AX on M.2 slot count (3). Its 1Gbps wired network speed is the slowest in this group; the Z790 Tomahawk MAX leads at 2.5Gbps.
Like the Z790 Tomahawk MAX, it has a wi-Fi 7, while the Strix Z790-E uses a wi-Fi 6E. It is the only pick here with 14+1 power stages; the Z790 PG Sonic has 14+1+1 power stages instead. It also offers 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. When we checked, only the PRO Z790-A II and cheaper picks cost less, and the Strix Z790-E cost more. M.2 slot count is its weakest area, and the Z790 Tomahawk MAX covers it better at 5.
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
- M.2 slot count trails the Z790 Tomahawk MAX (5)
- Wired network speed trails the Z790 Tomahawk MAX (2.5Gbps)
- Costs more than the Z790 Pro RS at the time of writing
Worth Considering7 of 7
ASRock Z790 PG Sonic on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Z790 PG Sonic offers a 14+1+1 layout and Killer 2.5Gbps Ethernet under a Sonic-themed design.
Best for
- Buyers who want 14+1+1 power stage layout.
Skip if
- Its M.2 slot count is not published, which rules it out if you need that number.
Why we like it
The maker doesn't state Wi-Fi. On wired network speed it ties with the Z790 Tomahawk MAX, the Strix Z790-E, the PRO Z790-A II, the Z790 Pro RS and the Z790 Eagle AX at 2.5Gbps. It shares 14+1+1 power stages with the Z790 Pro RS; the Z790 MAX Gaming goes with 14+1 power stages.
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. On price it sat second of 7, between the cheaper Z790 Pro RS and the pricier Z790 Eagle AX, at the time of writing. The maker doesn't give its M.2 slot count; if that figure matters, the Z790 Tomahawk MAX offers 5.
Key dimensions & specs
- Wired LAN: 2.5Gbps
- Power stages: 14+1+1
- Socket: LGA1700
- Memory type: DDR5
- Chipset: Z790
Pros
- 14+1+1 power stage layout
- Killer 2.5G Ethernet
- Sonic-themed design
- Wired network speed of 2.5Gbps, ahead of the Z790 MAX Gaming
Cons
- No published M.2 slot count
- Costs more than the Z790 Pro RS at the time of writing
How We Chose These Z790 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.
- Storage
- We counted listed M.2 slots and PCIe 5.0 support.
- Power delivery
- We noted power stage layouts where the maker lists them.
What to Look for in a Z790 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.
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.
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.
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.
How to Choose a Z790 Motherboard
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Most Z790 builds | Z790 Tomahawk MAX | Five M.2 slots, Wi-Fi 7 and a 16+1+1 layout |
| Core i9 builds | Strix Z790-E | An 18+1 layout with Thunderbolt 4 support |
| Budget K-series builds | Z790 Pro RS | Four M.2 slots and a 14+1+1 layout at a low Z790 price |
| Builders who swap parts often | Z790 Eagle AX | EZ-Latch card removal and Q-Flash BIOS updating |
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 |
| Strix Z790-E | 5 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 6E | 18+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 Eagle AX | 3 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 6E | 12+1+1 |
| Z790 MAX Gaming | 3 | 1Gbps | Wi-Fi 7 | 14+1 |
| Z790 PG Sonic | Not listed | 2.5Gbps | Not listed | 14+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 | Z790 Pro RS |
| About $150 to $250 | Z790 PG Sonic, Z790 Eagle AX, Z790 Tomahawk MAX, PRO Z790-A II, Z790 MAX Gaming |
| About $250 to $500 | Strix Z790-E |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is built-in Wi-Fi worth it?
Yes if you cannot run a cable. Otherwise wired Ethernet is more consistent.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Bottom Line
The Z790 Tomahawk MAX is the most complete board for the price. The Strix Z790-E suits a Core i9, and the Z790 Pro RS saves money.