The Intel Core i7-14700K is one of the last CPUs before the company rebranded to Core Ultra, and it remains a powerful chip that caters to both gamers and content creators. While the 14700K compared to the 13700K may not bring a huge leap in performance, it still offers a bump up in core counts that may be more beneficial for the content creators out there.
Intel stuck with the LGA1700 socket for the 14th Gen range, and the Z790 options are the best alongside their cheaper B760 counterparts. MSI's Pro Z790-A Max WiFi is my top pick thanks to its modest $220 price tag and strong features, but there are plenty more great motherboards for the Core i7-14700K to consider.
Recent updates
January 20, 2025: I've updated this guide with new information to ensure you're still getting the best motherboards for your Core i7-14700K. — Cale Hunt
Best overall
The Pro Series from MSI is a highly rated offering for those on more of a budget, and it offers all of the core features you would need for a solid gaming system. A 16+1+1 power stage rated at 80A has a thick heat sink, and MOSFET thermal pads are in place for the choke. It supports DDR5 RAM up to 7800MHz, it has three PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots for ample storage, and Wi-Fi 7 support is included. It's usually available for about $220.
Also great
MSI’s Tomahawk MAX WiFi board has a 16+1+1 power design, DDR5 support up to 7800MHz and beyond, one PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot with a heat sink, and two other PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots for storage. The updated model also features some cute yellow accents, and it'll easily provide all that the Core i7-14700K demands. Find it for about $250.
Alternative Z790
This motherboard is ideal for white-themed PC builds, featuring a 16+1+2 power solution at 70A, chunky heatsinks, high conductivity thermal pads, an L-shaped heat pipe, Wi-Fi 7, a Thunderbolt (USB4.0) header, a 20Gbps Type-C front panel connector with 30W PD charging, and five M.2 slots. Expect to pay about $260 for this awesome board.
Great for enthusiasts
The Aorus Master X features a 20+1+2 phase power solution, cutting-edge thermal design, five M.2 slots, Wi-Fi 7, and 10GbE LAN. It’s an excellent choice for those considering a 14700K, especially if you dig the extended heatsink design and built-in RGB lighting. You can usually find it for about $380, making it a great option for enthusiasts.
Best premium Z790
The MEG motherboard features a 24+1+2 power delivery system, stacked fin array design, aluminum backplate, direct touch cross heat-pipe, enlarged PCH heatsink, dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, dual 2.5G LAN, Wi-Fi 7, and an ESS audio DAC. It’s an E-ATX board ideal for top-tier builds, so you'll need a big case to fit. You can pick it up for about $1,293.
Premium alternative Z790
ASUS’s Z790 platform is designed for overclockers, with the Hero featuring a 20+1 power delivery, one-click fan tuning, AI controls in the EzMode UEFI interface, DDR5 RAM overclocking up to 7800MHz, two PCIe 5.0 x16 slots, and onboard RGB. Considering it costs about $550, it should be a top consideration for enthusiasts.
Choosing the best motherboard for the Intel Core i7-14700K
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The Intel Core i7-14700K is very much like the predecessor Core i9-13900K in terms of performance and power draw, so it does require a motherboard capable of dealing with it. With that in mind, I've found the best motherboards possible for a variety of price ranges and uses.
My top pick at about $220 remains the MSI Pro Z790-A MAX WiFi. It has a respectable 16+1+1 power stage at 80A, it supports Wi-Fi 7, and it has plenty of expansion via PCIe. If you have a bit more money to spend and want to avoid a white finish, MSI's MAG Z790 Tomahawk MAX WiFi is also a great pick at about $250.
If your PC building budget is flush, something like MSI's MEG Z790 ACE MAX or the ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero at about $550 should be top options.
There's no need to spend a ton of cash on the higher-end boards unless the specific features appeal to you, or you're looking at doing intensive tasks or overclocking. Keep in mind that Intel's Core Ultra desktop CPUs that succeed the Core i7-14700K use a different socket, so you won't be able to use the same board when it comes time to upgrade the CPU.
