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The Intel Core i7-14700K is a high-end gaming chip primarily targeted at a wide range of users from gamers to content creators and multitasking maniacs. With some of the latest hardware on-board there are few workloads the chip can't handle, making it a superb choice for premium PCs. However, if you're opting for such a capable CPU, it's crucial to invest in the other parts of your system, namely the motherboard, power supply, and cooler.
Among these, choosing the ideal motherboard can be a herculean task given there are a plethora of options to choose from. Each has its own set of pros and cons, which is enough to confuse you. Keeping this in mind, we've prepared this list of ideal options for the Core i7-14700K for your consideration.
Note: This article is purely based on the writer's opinion. The entries are arranged in no particular order.
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A wide range of motherboards work well with the Core i7-14700K
5) Gigabyte B760 DS3H AC DDR4 ($139)
Gigabyte makes some fine budget motherboards, and their UD lineup has consistently been a recommendation at the entry level. Although these boards lack the bells and whistles expected at their price point, the formula is reliable for those who want all the basic functionalities without spending much. This isn't the best option for the 14700K, but it's the least you should go with.
In terms of specs, the B760 DS3H bundles 11 power stages, which should suffice for the Core i7-14700K. You get four memory slots and five PCIe 5.0 slots, which makes it perfect for AI enthusiasts and data miners. It also supports on-board WiFi and ARGB, making it quite feature-rich for the budget.
Pros:
- The Gigabyte B760 DS3H is a budget ATX board.
- It supports the cheaper DDR4 standard. Four memory sticks are supported.
- You get ARGB support, which is commendable for a budget board.
Cons:
- You don't get overclocking support.
- The VRM setup is a bit lacking for high-end chips like the Core i7-14700K.
4) MSI B760 Tomahawk WiFi ($169)
The MSI Tomahawk has consistently been one of the top choices among budget gamers because of its competitive price, decent on-board hardware, and stylish looks. With the latest B760 iteration, the board has been upgraded to meet 2024 standards, making it a solid choice for the Core i7-14700K. Frankly, it can even handle the i9-14900K, given its cooling and power solutions. However, its only major drawback is the lack of overclocking support.
You get a 14-stage VRM setup with this board. It is filled to the brim with cooling hardware, making it a decent option for gaming. You also get WiFi 6E with antennas in the box, PCIe Gen 5 GPU support, and both DDR4 and DDR5 memory options. All of these features at $169 seems like a steal.
Pros:
- You get a decent VRM setup with this motherboard.
- It pairs all the bells and whistles of a high-end offering while being a budget board.
- Available in both DDR4 and DDR5 options.
Cons:
- The audio might not suffice if you're rocking a high-end sound card. HDMI eARC is recommended in such cases.
3) MSI Z790 Gaming Plus WiFi ($209)
We highly recommend Z790 motherboards for the Core i7-14700K to allow the chip to perform at its full potential. Starting from some affordable Z790 offerings, the MSI Gaming Plus Wifi is a superb recommendation. The board is in line with the Tomahawk, albeit with even more cooling and hardware support.
You get a 16-stage power solution with this board, which should allow for ample overclocking. However, it is DDR5-only. You can install up to three NVMe SSDs and GPUs with it, which allows for way more expansion than the cheaper Tomahawk.
Currently, the Gaming Plus is selling for $209. Although the core functionalities of the board don't improve vastly over the Tomahawk, if you want to overclock your 14700K and want extra freedom in terms of storage support, the extra $40 is worth it.
Pros:
- The MSI Z790 Gaming Plus is stacked in terms of VRM setup, cooling, and hardware support.
- You get all of the latest features, including overclocking, multiplier ARGB ports, PCIe Gen 5, and more.
Cons:
- You don't get many extra features over the B760 Tomahawk despite spending more.
2) NZXT N7 Z790 ATX ($299)
When it comes to boards with attractive looks, the NZXT N7 is an absolute winner. This board isn't very fancy in terms of hardware support but it has everything you need. One of its major highlights is the white livery, which can be a complete game changer if you're building an all-white gaming rig. The slight black hints across it also mean you can easily pair some black-colored components and they would look good too.
The board fares well in terms of cooling solutions. The VRM solution is handled by 19 power stages. Since NZXT has used high-quality components with the N7, you can easily push the Core i7-14700K well beyond its stock performance. However, it's a bit costly at $299.
Pros:
- The NZXT N7 Z790 is one of the best in terms of looks.
- The board is part of a larger ecosystem, which allows for added functionality when paired with other NZXT hardware.
Cons:
- In terms of features and cooling capabilities, the board isn't much better than cheaper options.
1) Asus ROG Maximus Z790 Hero ($699)
For over a decade, the ROG Maximus Hero lineup has been the king of Intel motherboards. It is filled with hardware specifically for overclocking. Moreover, it comes with a full-blown display atop the VRM heatsinks, which can completely overhaul the looks of your gaming rig in ways few motherboards can. To be honest, this motherboard can feel a bit overkill for the Core i7-14700K. However, if you're looking to break world records in benchmarks with the chip, this is your best bet.
The ROG Maximus has a whopping 23 VRM stage power solution. In terms of graphics card support, you only get one steel-riveted PCIe 5.0 slot. This is alright given the motherboard is geared towards gamers, and they won't use more than one GPU. However, be prepared to spend a fortune on this board: it costs an eye-watering $699.
Pros:
- The Asus ROG Maximus Z790 Hero is one of the highest-end motherboards for the Core i7-14700K.
- It is built for overclocking, with added cooling capabilities and features that can seem like overkill.
Cons:
- At $699, the board can drill a solid hole in your pocket.
Overall, these motherboards are some of your best bets for the Core i7-14700K. There are several other high-quality options in the market, like the ASRock Taichi, which also feature superb performance at their price points. However, with the above list, we have considered a bunch of options including functional software, reliability, and performance to highlight some of the top offerings across price points.
