The Best Motherboards For Intel 13th and 14th Gen CPUs

If you’re looking to push your new 13th-gen or 14th-gen Intel CPUs, you will need a solid motherboard as your foundation. I’ve built my fair share of beastly rigs over the years, so trust me when I say the motherboard matters, and things go badly if this essential part does not hold up to your needs. A cheap board might get the job done, but you’ll be leaving performance on the table. And don’t even get me started on potential stability issues and lack of much-needed ports.

So, what makes an ideal Intel 13th/14th generation motherboard? For starters, it needs to have enough power to feed these hungry new CPUs, especially if you want to consider overclocking. We’re talking beefy VRM stages and heatsinks so your chip can flex its muscles without overheating under load. If you want to get the most out of a high-end CPU, you want to make sure the board supports the latest RAM; otherwise, you could run into performance bottlenecks that keep your system from running at its best.

If you really want to get the most out of your system, especially if you are a gamer or content creator, you’ll also want plenty of next-gen connectivity, like PCIe 5.0 and USB 4 support for your NVMe SSDs and peripherals. And let’s not forget about aesthetics. RGB lighting and clean styling in the way of heat sinks and displays definitely don’t hurt. 

With that out of the way, let’s break down the best motherboard picks for 13th-gen and 14th-gen Intel builds. We’ll look at high-end options for overclocking enthusiasts, value-packed boards for budget builds, and everything in between. Stick around to see which models deliver the perfect blend of performance, features, and style without breaking the bank.

Whether you’re upgrading an existing system or planning a new PC build with the latest chip, such as the Intel i9-14900K, I’ve got you covered. Let’s dive in and find the right foundation for your next Intel build!

Colorful CVN B760M FROZEN WIFI D5

Starting things off, we have the only B760-based motherboard on the list, the Colorful CVN B760M FROZEN. When it comes to motherboards, the Colorful CVN B760M FROZEN stands out for its unique frosty white aesthetic and robust feature set. This ITX board packs a surprising punch, making it a great option for budget-conscious builders who still want excellent performance. 

Aesthetically, the FROZEN looks fantastic with its snowy white PCB and matching DDR5 RAM slots, PCIe slots, and M.2 heatsinks. The frosted armour covering the VRMs and chipset is a nice touch, too. It’s clear Colorful put effort into making this board look stunning.

Under the hood, Intel’s B760 chipset provides PCIe 4.0 support and enough USB ports for most users. The three PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots ensure super fast SSD speeds, while the 2.5GbE LAN port is great for fast networking. You also get built-in WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2, which is handy. 

Thanks to the 12+1 power phases and large heatsinks over the VRMs, overclocking is decent. Just don’t expect extreme overclocks on this more affordable board. Still, it can easily handle mid-range Intel 12th, 13th, and even 14th-gen CPUs with some moderate OC potential. 

For the price, the CVN B760M FROZEN is a great offering, delivering value, features, and performance. If you want a uniquely styled motherboard that delivers a strong overall experience, put this snowy beauty at the top of your list.

ASUS ROG STRIX Z790-E

The ASUS ROG STRIX Z790-E is an excellent motherboard choice for gamers and enthusiasts building a new system around Intel’s latest 13th-gen and 14th-gen Raptor Lake processors. With an MSRP of $499, the Z790-E hits a sweet spot between features and affordability. 

Aesthetically, this motherboard looks fantastic with its primarily black design accented by gunmetal grey armour covering the PCIe slots and M.2 drives. ASUS didn’t hold back on the RGB lighting either, with customizable LEDs integrated into the chipset heatsink and along the right edge. The translucent section on the left side allows you to show off the inner layout.

Under the hood, the Z790-E delivers with an 18+1 power stage design, PCIe 5.0 support, and robust power delivery capable of handling even the flagship Core i9-13900K. It has four DDR5 memory slots with speeds up to 7000+ MHz when overclocked. Storage is handled by five M.2 slots, one of which supports blisteringly fast PCIe Gen5 speeds up to 16GB/s. 

Connectivity is excellent for a mid-range board, including Wi-Fi 6E, 2.5Gb Ethernet, USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, and an onboard Thunderbolt header. The SupremeFX ALC4080 audio solution provides pristine sound quality. 

Gamers will appreciate the easy-to-use BIOS with automatic overclocking profiles and the Q-Release and Q-Latch mechanisms for effortless swapping of M.2 drives and graphics cards. The ROG STRIX Z790-E hits a sweet spot, delivering premium features and performance-focused squarely on gaming and enthusiast use cases. It’s an appealing option for those seeking to maximize a new 13th Gen Intel build without breaking the bank.

MSI MPG Z790 EDGE TI MAX WIFI

The MSI MPG Z790 EDGE TI MAX WIFI is a top-tier motherboard aimed at enthusiasts seeking the best performance. Sporting a sleek black and silver design, it packs premium features like WiFi 7 and PCIe 5.0 and supports current and future Intel processors. 

A beefy 16+1+1 phase VRM design delivers stable power for overclocking 13th gen Intel CPUs. In testing, it had no issues supplying over 150W to a Core i5-13600KF, with VRM temperatures staying under 60C even under heavy loads. Five M.2 slots and eight SATA ports provide ample storage options. 

Connectivity is excellent with a 10Gbps USB-C port, five USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, 2.5Gb LAN, and the latest WiFi 7 Wireless. A Realtek ALC4080 codec and high-quality components handle onboard audio. The BIOS is intuitive, with easy-to-navigate menus and ample overclocking options.

At around $389.99 ($500 CAD), the MSI Z790 EDGE TI MAX WIFI sits at the higher end of Z790 boards but justifies it with a robust power delivery, abundant storage, and plenty of I/O for a modern build. If you want a no-compromise foundation for a high-end 13th or 14th gen Intel setup, it’s an excellent choice that won’t leave you craving more. Grab it at Canada Computers, Amazon.ca, Memory Express, or Amazon.com below.

ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Dark Hero

The most expensive option on the list, the ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Dark Hero is also one of the most premium Z790 motherboards you can get for Intel’s latest 13th and 14th generation Raptor Lake processors. At $699, it’s certainly not cheap, but you get what you pay for in terms of top-notch quality and performance.

Aesthetically, the Dark Hero sports an understated yet classy matte black design with integrated RGB lighting that can be customized through ASUS’ Armoury Crate software. The rear I/O shield has a pre-installed backplate for a clean, integrated look. 

When it comes to performance, the Dark Hero delivers thanks to its robust 20+1 power phase design, 16 teamed power stages, microfine alloy chokes, and high-quality Japanese capacitors. This translates to excellent overclocking potential for driving even the most power-hungry 13th Gen Intel CPUs. The board also has plenty of fan headers and advanced cooling features like a dedicated VRM water block for keeping temperatures in check. 

With five M.2 slots, integrated Wi-Fi 7, Thunderbolt 4, a premium Realtek audio codec, and a pre-mounted I/O shield, the Dark Hero leaves little to be desired in terms of features and connectivity. Gamers will appreciate the PCIe 5.0 slot for future-proofing.

While on the higher end of the list, the ROG Maximus Z790 Dark Hero is one of the most capable, high-quality Z790 boards money can buy. If budget is no concern and you want a top-tier foundation for a Raptor Lake build, the Dark Hero is a fantastic choice for any new build.

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