The increase in demand for more powerful chipsets has forced brands like Intel to come up with some new and innovative every year. This time, the 10th-generation processors by Intel really surprised us. That’s because you now get the all-new and even more powerful i7-10700k processors.
Now, there is a lot to like about this processor. But wait? Do you own a motherboard that will support this processor?
Well, don’t worry, as we will review some of the best motherboards for i7-10700k that you can buy now. In addition, this article will also help you know what to look for in one such motherboard before buying. So, let us get started!
ASUS ROG Strix Z490-G Gaming W-Fi | Friday-Rack
So, here are our top picks. Note that we had to test each motherboard to its pace. Therefore, you will enjoy some great gaming performance here. Now, let us take an in-depth look at these i7-10700K motherboards.
- ASUS ROG Maximus XII Apex
- GIGABYTE Z490 AORUS Xtreme
- Gigabyte Z490 AORUS ELITE AC
- ASUS Z490-E ROG STRIX GAMING
- MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Edge Wi-Fi
- ASUS ROG Strix Z490-G Gaming Wi-Fi
1: ASUS ROG Maximus XII Apex
If you want a motherboard with many cool features to offer, the ASUS ROG Maximus XII Apex is for you. This motherboard also lets its users overclock it. So, you can enjoy some high-end gaming using this motherboard. Further, it has a ton of water heads, temperature sensor headers, and fan headers.
Note that the ROG Maximus XII ain’t a cheap motherboard. But for that cost, you definitely get a ton of add-ons. For example, you can overclock it using AI. This will help you run all your game titles with ease. Moreover, you also get a Wi-Fi 6 port here. This makes it easier for you to play games online.
For storage expandability, you get three M2 sockets here. On the downside, this motherboard only supports one graphic card at a time. But again, you can overclock your CPU (as this board supports it) to get the most out of this motherboard.
With stronger VRM and support for up to 64 GB of ram, the ASUS ROG Maximus XII Apex is an excellent premium motherboard for i7-10700K.
Pros
- Wi-Fi 6 Support
- Also has an integrated GPU
- 8 SATA Ports
Cons
- No PCLe 4.0 Port
2: GIGABYTE Z490 AORUS Xtreme
The GIGABYTE Z490 AORUS Xtreme is one ideal motherboard for i7-10700K lovers. That’s because this motherboard promises some solid gaming performance down the road. We all know how great this Gigabyte brand has proved itself in a short span of time. Therefore, you can trust on this offering.
Anyhow, let us highlight some more technical aspects of this particular motherboard. It is made with high-quality components so that your 10-core processors can fit in nicely. In addition, the overall design language of this motherboard is something we really liked. It’s so sleek and modern.
Furthermore, the overall performance of this motherboard is rock solid. This has been specifically designed for hard-core gamers. According to many users, this motherboard exceeded their expectations. Moreover, there are many advantages to getting these motherboards for your next build.
For instance, it future-proofs your PC. That’s because you can even add some other interesting CPU options. So, you can easily use this motherboard for the next couple of years.
Pros
- Solid Build
- It HAS PCle 4.0 SLOTS
- Also Comes WITH SSD Dermal Guards
Cons
- Not many USB 3.0 Ports
3: Gigabyte Z490 AORUS ELITE AC
The Gigabyte Z490 AORUS ELITE AC may not impress some if we talk about the features. However, its day-to-day performance and overclocking capability surely forced us to include it in our list. The main highlighting feature here is the 12+1 phase VRAM.
This means you can overclock it to all the way up to 5.0 GHz. Now, that’s some serious raw power. For gaming, the overclocked i7-10600K processor would be an ideal combination. Further, the motherboard has all the essential ports.
For example, you get USB 3.0 Ports, HDMI ports, SD Card readers, Bluetooth connectivity, etc. Therefore, with this motherboard, you won’t be short of any connectivity options.
We have already highlighted how powerful a gaming combination you can build with the Gigabyte Z490 AORUS ELITE AC. So, you can easily build a gaming PC using this motherboard.
In short, there isn’t anything really to complain about, as you get pretty much every feature a modern motherboard should have.
Pros
- Great Cooling Mechanism
- Excellent Overclocking Capability
- Cool RGB Settings
Cons
- Expensive
4: ASUS Z490-E ROG STRIX GAMING
Like some of the other famous tech brands, ASUS also offers a range of high-quality computing products. So, their motherboard’s range is also quite impressive. For example, the ASUS Z490-E ROG STRIX GAMING is an excellent motherboard for i7-10600K.
According to various users, they found this ASUS motherboard to be excellent. Most of these users like the AI overclocking capability of this motherboard. Further, the cooling mechanism was also up to the mark.
The motherboard ensures faster data transfers. The brand has used quality components here so that users can enjoy faster processing and a smoother game experience. Let’s not forget the excellent audio performance of this motherboard.
Here, the audio output is excellent. Compared to other similar options, this i7-10700k motherboard delivers crisp audio. This helps a lot when you don’t want to miss out on even the tiny sounds during gameplay.
In addition, the presence of dedicated RGB lights is also something most gamers will be happy with. That’s because these lights are also customizable. You can set your desired lighting patterns.
In short, the ASUS Z490-E ROG STRIX GAMING is no short of any features. It has almost everything a gamer could expect from a high-performance motherboard.
Pros
- Performs Great (Even When Overclocked)
- Excellent Design
- Highly Customizable
- Has Support for Wi-Fi 6
Cons
- Thunderbolt Port is Missing
5: MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Edge Wi-Fi
Next up, we have another great offering by the MSI brand. This is the brand name almost every enthusiast is familiar with. That’s because their range of computer hardware is made of top-notch materials. Here, the MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Edge Wi-Fi is no exception.
This ATX motherboard supports up to 64 GB of DDR4 ram and also has support for 10th-generation Intel processors. The ATX form factor here should not bother you, as it is still pretty compact. All the ports are nicely placed, and the board itself weighs only a few pounds.
The motherboard is easy to install and also supports Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity right out of the box. This is good because you won’t have to buy extra Wi-Fi modules. However, according to buyers, the location of its radiator was a bit different than some other models.
Apart from this, buyers didn’t highlight any major downsides. So now, let us highlight what we like about this motherboard. First, it’s the excellent heatsink capacity that grabbed our attention. This means that you can easily configure it with any 10th-generation Intel processor.
MSI has basically designed the circuit board in such a way that it lets maximum heat sink through it. Therefore, the common heating issues won’t arrive here (At least according to the specs).
Furthermore, the built RGB lighting is not a normal addition here. That’s because you can fully configure these lights, and they look beautiful. So, we can say that the MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Edge Wi-Fi ticks almost all the boxes.
First, it has a dedicated Wi-Fi module. Second, the in-built heat sinkers are great. Lastly, the RGB lights are awesome. Therefore, this motherboard offers solid performance and also doesn’t disappoint with its design.
On top of these LED lights, you can also adjust the fan speeds according to your use age. This lets you play your favorite games for hours without worrying about the heating issue.
All in all, we really liked the MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Edge Wi-Fi. It has all the bells and whistles to be claimed as the best motherboard for core i7-10700K.
Pros
- Excellent Heat Sinking Capabilities
- Has Support for Automatic Overclocking
- Great RGB Lights
- The design language is Also Decent Here
Cons
- Some Complaints Were Reported Regarding the Audio Output
6: ASUS ROG Strix Z490-G Gaming Wi-Fi
The ASUS ROG Strix Z490-G Gaming Wi-Fi is also an excellent motherboard for Intel 10th-generation processors. With LGA 1200 socket and 128 GB DDR4 Ram support, this ASUS motherboard is nothing short of yet another exciting offering by the brand name.
The buyer’s appreciated the build quality. The whole circuit is made from quality parts. Similarly, it has pretty much all the input and output (I/O) ports that a gamer could expect. For example, the HDMI ports and USB ports are perfectly placed.
This particular motherboard also carries a unique and stylish design which is a bonus. Moreover, it has Wi-Fi 6 support. So, you can enjoy super-fast internet speeds. This will also help you play various online games without any interruption.
The cooling options here are also great. That’s because you get a Fan XPERT 4 cooling system here. Overall, there is hardly anything to dislike about this motherboard. So far, it is an equally good option as some of our top picks are.
In short, the ASUS ROG Strix Z490-G Gaming Wi-Fi is an excellent gaming motherboard. It has support for all 10th-generation Intel processors (including the i7 – 10700K).
Pros
- Has All the Essential Connectivity Options
- Support Overclocking
- Ideal for all 10-Gen Intel Processors
Cons
- M2 Slots are Placed Very Closed to Each Other
What to look for in the Best Motherboard for i7-10700k?
Once you know which motherboard will work with your Core i7 – 10700K processor, it gets easier for you to choose the right one. On the other hand, there are many aspects to look for in a motherboard. For your ease, we have listed some points.
1: Form Factor of the Motherboard
First and foremost, it’s the form factor of the motherboard that matters a lot. Now the actual form factor depends on your personal preferences. Also, your use age will help you find the most appropriate form factor for the motherboard. There are mainly two types of form factors that are widely available.
i): ATX
ATX is the standard motherboard form factor. However, these motherboards may look a bit large since they offer a ton of expansion slots. For example, you can add up to 8 Ram sticks and even 4 GPUs. So, if you are a pro gamer, you may have to opt for an ATX motherboard.
ii): Micro ATX
As the name says, the Micro ATX motherboards are smaller than the ATX ones. However, they still offer decent room for expansions. Even here, you can add two graphic cards. On the other hand, micro ATX motherboards have four ram slots.
2: Processor Socket
Now, your motherboard can also support one type of processor socket. A processor socket is basically a connection that helps you connect your processor to the motherboard. Therefore, looking for the right processor socket in your chosen motherboard is also essential.
3: Connectivity Options
Do you know not all motherboards have built-in Wi-Fi support? Yes, that’s quite common in many motherboards. The basic purpose of these boards is to offer an all-in-one circuit board where users can connect every type of computer hardware.
However, there are motherboards available that also come with all the connectivity options anyone could dream of. For example, an ideal motherboard should have a Wi-Fi module, Ethernet connection, a couple of HDMI’s, USB ports, and also Pcle 4.0 slots.
4: RGB Option
The term RGB refers to red, green, and blue. Now, basically, these are colors that are pleasing to the eyes. However, these days, there are many motherboards that come with their own RGB-colored LED strips. These LED strips make your motherboard look different.
So, if you want to build a fully customizable gaming PC, these LED strips would really help you match and achieve your desired look and feel.
5: Cooling Performance
The cooling performance of any motherboard is also an essential aspect to look for. That’s because you don’t want to buy a motherboard that heats a lot. Unfortunately, these days, most of gaming processors produce a lot of heat.
So, there must be a proper heat dispersion mechanism. We recommend that you should also consider this aspect before buying any motherboard. Check how many cooling fans a particular motherboard can support.
Similarly, you should look at whether you can program these fans. This allows you to control the speed of these cooling fans.
Moreover, some motherboards come with special heat sinkers. That’s why ensuring that your chosen motherboard ensures good cooling performance is essential.
6: SATA Slots
SATA slots or ports are also essential for any motherboard. These ports let you connect a hard drive and other portable storage devices. Further, the SATA ports also let you connect multiple HDDs, which is a bonus. So, if you want to add more storage devices, you need more SATA slots.
That’s why buying a motherboard with at least two or more SATA slots is a good idea. Most of these motherboards have a few SATA slots. You can buy external hard drives if your motherboard doesn’t have many of them. But we will still recommend that you should buy a motherboard that has at least two or more SATA slots
7: RAM Expansions
The RAM expansions are also necessary to look for in the motherboard. Now, as the name says, these RAM expansion slots let you connect as many RAM slots as you want. Note that the number of RAM slots also varies on the size and form factor of the motherboard.
8: Choose the Right Platform
While shopping for your first motherboard, you should consider this factor. That’s because each motherboard is designed for different types of processors. Mainly there are two processor brands that you can choose between.
The first is AMD and the second one is Intel. So, before you buy another motherboard, ensure that you are buying the one that supports your chosen processor.
Final Thoughts!
So, now you know pretty much all the best motherboards for i7-10700K. We tested a ton of motherboards and found the ASUS ROG Strix Z490-G Gaming WI-Fi –to be the best of the lot. This motherboard has all the features a gamer usually looks for.
