Intel might have released its 14th Gen "Raptor Lake" desktop chips, but its 13th Gen hardware remains extremely popular for PC gamers and enthusiasts. Why is the older chip still the go-to option? Intel's latest desktop processors were hardly an upgrade — you can check out our Core i7-13700K vs. i7-14700K comparison for a deeper dive — and you can find the 13th Gen chips for a cheaper price to boot.
The Core i7-13700K is power-hungry but can handle intense workloads, pushing back against the AMD Ryzen 7000 series. The i7-13700K is ideal for a gaming PC, outperforming even the 12th Gen i9-12900K from the previous line with a caveat of pulling over 200W at times.
Building a new rig around a processor with some of the best value for money means finding appropriate parts to match. We've rounded up the best motherboards for Intel Core i7-13700K with alternatives to fit your needs and budget.
Best Z790
Experience the full potential of a 13th Gen Intel CPU with the Prime Z790-A and onboard Wi-Fi. Its 16+1 power stages with extra-large heatsinks support intense overclocking alongside the latest DDR5 RAM clocking up to 7200MHz, plus PCIe 5.0 for modern GPUs and ThunderBolt for rapid USB4. You can usually find it for about $260 at Newegg when it's on sale.
Z790 alternative
Stick with DDR4 RAM overclocked up to 5333MHz, and the MAG Z790 Tomahawk might save you a little cash. Still boasting 16+1+1 power delivery with extended heatsinks, MSI gives you PCIe 5.0 support and 4x M.2 sockets for high-speed SSD storage. It's usually available for about $318 at Newegg when not on sale.
Best Z690
The Z690 chipset doesn't hold the MPG Z690 Carbon back since it still offers an 18+1+1 power delivery and reinforced PCIe 5.0 slots supporting some of the chunkiest GPUs. Your DDR5 RAM can overclock up to an ominous 6,666MHz, and you even get the latest Wi-Fi 6E standard for speedy networking. It's getting harder to find these days, but Adorama still has it for about $380.
Z690 alternative
DDR4 offers some relief to your budget again with the Pro Z690-A offering from MSI. Its 8+4 power delivery supports modest overclocking without going overboard, pushing your previous-gen RAM up to 6400MHz if supported. Plus, you still enjoy PCIe 5.0 support for modern GPUs. The cheapest price these days is about $286 at Amazon.
Budget B660
The B660 chipset also supports the 13th Gen Raptor Lake processors, and these motherboards are often more affordable. You can spend less than $100 here and still land a board with 8-phase power, PCIe 4.0 compatibility, and DDR4 RAM support. It lacks Wi-Fi, but it has M.2 slots and generous USB I/O despite its compact size. Get it for about $90 at Amazon.
Premium pick
ASUS offers the ultimate Z790 base for overclockers with a 20+1 power delivery and one-click fan tuning, backed by AI-powered automatic controls in the EzMode UEFI interface. Clock DDR5 RAM up to 7800MHz and enjoy 2x PCIe 5.0 x16 slots alongside onboard RGB. Killer. Expect to pay about $543 at Amazon, which is still quite a bit cheaper than when it launched.
Choosing the best motherboard for Intel Core i7-13700K
Why you can trust Windows Central Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Our Core i7-13700K review proved it is the best CPU for PC gaming and primed for overclocking, whether all-out or sticking to a budget. It remains so despite Intel launching its 14th Gen chips.
You can push for a modern chipset with the ASUS Prime Z790-A variant with onboard Wi-Fi and the best DDR5 RAM for the i7-13700K, and you'll keep things cool with its extended heatsinks. These days, you're looking at shelling out about $260 thanks to frequent discounts at Newegg.
Alternatively, the MSI MPG Z690 Carbon Wi-Fi we reviewed favorably hits closer to winning an all-around option, but be prepared to spend more for the extra features. It's usually available for around $318 at Newegg, and it's also our overall favorite Z690 motherboard.
For the enthusiast builder, our ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero review barely scored any negative points outside its eyebrow-raising MSRP of $629. Still, it's one of the best motherboards if you can afford it, and the price has come down to about $543 at Amazon.
What GPU pairs well with the Core i7-13700K?
Former Windows Central Senior Editor Rich Edmonds called Intel's Core i7-13700K "the best CPU for PC gaming" in his review, and that statement holds today. If you're buying this chip, you might also be wondering what GPU to pair with it for the best setup possible.
The good news about the i7-13700K is that it's quite versatile; it can handle a lot of GPU power. It's my favorite Intel CPU to pair with the NVIDIA RTX 4080, but it's also a great CPU for the RTX 4070. It can even keep up with the mighty RTX 4090, though builds with the monster GPU might instead go with a Core i9 since money is clearly not much of an issue.
I'd suggest sticking with the Core i5-13600K or Core i5-14600K if you're into the RTX 3060 or 4060 arena, especially if you can't find the i7-13700K available at a discount.
