Intel’s 14th gen Core desktop processors codenamed Raptor Lake Refresh made their way to the market last year without much fanfare, but they bring some noteworthy improvements over the existing Raptor Lake parts. The updated lineup includes the likes of Intel Core i9-14900K, which is Intel’s first mass-produced processor that’s rated to hit 6 GHz. The new Raptor Lake Refresh lineup has some really powerful processors, and you’re going to need an equally capable motherboard that allows them to fully stretch their wings. There’s no shortage of motherboards on the market, but we’ve rounded up some of the best Intel motherboards you can pair with your 14th-generation CPU to maximize the performance of your new build in the collection below.
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ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero
Editor’s choice
The ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero is our pick for the best overall Intel motherboard, and for good reason. This is one of the best-looking and feature-packed motherboards out there that delivers excellent performance with its 20+1-phase power delivery design, and offers a good set of features too. It’s a bit on the expensive side, but you also get a lot for your money, including support for PCIe 5, DDR5 memory kits, and plenty of Thunderbolt ports. It also comes with plenty of RGB lighting and stylish ROG branding to make your PC stand out.
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GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Elite AX
Best value pick
The Gigabyte Z790 AORUS Elite AX is a great midrange motherboard that’s built around Intel’s Z790 chipset. This ATX motherboard has plenty of things going for it including support for DDR5-7600 RAM kits, plenty of M.2 sockets and SATA ports for storage, a highly capable 19-phase power setup, and more. It also has a robust feature set with multiple aRGB headers, USB ports, Wi-Fi 6E, 2.5GbE LAN port, and more. This motherboard also looks great with its multi-layered matte black PCB, and brushed aluminum finish on the VRM heatsink.
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MSI MEG Z790 ACE MAX Gaming Motherboard
The MSI MEG Z790 ACE MAX is a premium E-ATX motherboard with a striking design, featuring prominent MSI iconography and gold accents. Its exceptional build quality is bolstered by the massive integrated M.2 heatsink, metal backplate, and reinforced PCIe slots. It excels in CPU overclocking, thanks to the 24+1+2 phase VRM design coupled with exceptional VRM cooling. High-end features like convenient diagnostics, along with outstanding connectivity options like five M.2 slots and Thunderbolt 4, make it a top choice for premium builds.
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ASRock Z790 Taichi Lite
Best for enthusiasts
ASRock’s Z790 Taichi Lite is a cheaper version of the Z790 Taichi but with practically all the same hardware features, minus some premium but ultimately superficial components. This particular motherboard is good enough to power even the most demanding Intel CPUs out there like the Core i9-14900K at full bore. It supports PCIe 5 and DDR5-7600 kits, and it also brings plenty of ports, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, 2.5G LAN, and more. It may not the best-looking motherboard on this list, but is definitely a top-performer.
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Gigabyte Z790 AORUS Pro X
Best white motherboard
The Gigabyte Z790 AORUS Pro X boasts a distinctive all-white design that exudes uniqueness. Its well-diffused RGB lighting complements the aesthetic perfectly. It even excels in overclocking, thanks to its strong 18+1+2 VRM design with 90A SPS power stages. Exceptional connectivity options include five M.2 slots, a 5GbE LAN port, W-iFi 7, and numerous high-speed USB ports. With a durable 8-layer PCB and a reinforced PCIe slot, it manages to merge style with reliability.
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ASUS TUF Gaming Z790-Plus WiFi D4
Best DDR4 motherboard
The Asus TUF Z790-PLUS D4 is a compelling DDR4 motherboard for those seeking value or compatibility with existing DDR4 memory kits. While its design is unremarkable, with minimal RGB lighting, it offers exceptional build quality with a 6-layer PCB, TUF chokes, and TUF 5K black metallic capacitors. The feature set is basic for the price, featuring 2.5GbE LAN, Wi-Fi 6, four M.2 slots, and a noteworthy USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C port, making it an affordable yet capable choice.
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ASUS ROG Strix B760-I Gaming WIFI
Best Mini-ITX motherboard
The ASUS ROG Strix Z790-I is the ideal Mini ITX motherboard for compact gaming PCs, offering an impressive 8-layer PCB, efficient M.2 heatsinks, and a reinforced PCIe 5.0 slot. This board is not built for overclocking, but its stock performance is admirable, thanks to the 8+1 phase VRM design with 80A power stages. The board also delivers a respectable feature set, highlighted by its two M.2 slots and rear USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C port.
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MSI PRO Z790-S WIFI
Best budget pick
The MSI PRO Z790-S motherboard doesn’t come with a lot of bells and whistles, but it delivers all the essentials and lets you build a solid PC with Intel’s 14th gen processors without any issues. One of the best things about this motherboard is that it gets full PCIe 5 and DDR5 support at this price, which is quite impressive. The power delivery system on this motherboard is also capable enough to run CPUs like Intel Core i7-14700K at stock settings, which is plenty for an ITX build.
Which Intel 14th-Gen motherboard should you buy?
With a plethora of great options available on the market, you might be wondering which motherboard you should choose for your new Intel build. Those who don’t want to go over all the picks can consider either the ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 or the Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Elite AX, both of which offer the flagship Z790 chipset while being quite reasonably priced. They also offer an excellent power delivery system and a host of modern connectivity features, fit for a reliable built with Intel’s 14th gen CPUs.
Those who are on a tight budget, however, should consider the MSI PRO Z790-S WiFi motherboard. It may not have all the bells and whistles, but it offers great value for your money by offering the flagship-grade Z790 chipset and features like DDR5 and PCIe 5 support in this price range. We’ve also highlighted some other options, including the ASUS ROG Strix B760-I and the Gigabyte Z790 AORUS Pro X for those who fancy a mini-ITX or a white-themed PC, respectively.