6 BEST Motherboards For i9-13900KS [Recommended By Experts]

With the Core i9-13900KS, I believe Intel has surprised the community by bringing a solid product that changed the game for AMD. The LGA1700-compatible Core i9-13900KS is considerably better than the Core i9-13900K in my testing, because of the superior silicon wafer, which allows the Core i9-13900KS to achieve better speeds of up to 6 GHz without even overclocking. So, for such a beast of a processor, my tests show that you will need the best motherboard for Core i9-13900KS, and I have rounded up all the motherboards worthy of being considered for this title.

Here are our top i9-13900KS Motherboard picks summarized and compared to each other in a table:

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Best Motherboards For i9-13900KS

These are my picks for the best motherboard for Core i9-13900KS, based on hands-on testing:

1. Best Overall Motherboard For i9-13900KS: Gigabyte Z790 AORUS Elite AX
2. Best High-End Motherboard For i9-13900KS: MSI MPG Z790 CARBON WIFI
3. Best White Motherboard For i9-13900KS: ASRock Z790 Steel Legend WiFi
4. Best Value Motherboard For i9-13900KS: ASRock Z790 PG Riptide
5. Best Mini-ITX Motherboard For i9-13900KS: ASUS ROG Strix Z790-I Gaming WiFi
6. Best Overclocking Motherboard For i9-13900KS: ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 HERO

GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS ELITE AX

Best Overall Motherboard For i9-13900KS

Chipset: Intel Z790 | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR5-7600+(OC) | Video Outputs: HDMI, DisplayPort | USB Ports: 9x USB 3.2, 8x USB 2.0 | Network: 1x Realtek 2.5GbE LAN, Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211 | Storage: 4x M.2, 6x SATA

Design and Build Quality: The Z790 AORUS ELITE AX is covered in a splash of black with the AORUS branding on the I/O shield. Although its aesthetics are not unique, it looks splendid in my opinion. The Z790 AORUS Elite features a 2X Copper PCB, which has a high thermal conductivity, effectively lowering the components’ temperature.

Performance: My tests show that the Gigabyte Z790 AORUS Elite AX features a top-tier VRM design and ensures the maximum overclocking performance of the Core i9-13900KS; it has a 16+1+2 Hybrid Digital VRM design with 70A Smart Power Stages. Also, the 7.5 W/mK thermal conductivity pads enhance thermal efficiency.

Features and Connectivity: The Gigabyte Z790 AORUS Elite AX delivers an up-to-date networking solution with WiFi 6E for wireless networking and 2.5G LAN. Additionally, AORUS Elite AX provides midrange USB connectivity; it includes 10x USB ports on the back panel and 7x USB ports through internal headers, which is a satisfactory layout for me.

Our motherboard specialist, Nauman Siddique, was also thoroughly impressed with the Z790 AORUS Elite AX:

“It is a feature-rich board with a nifty yet subtle outlook and powerful power phases”.

Related: Best Z790 Motherboards

What Makes It The Best Overall Motherboard For i9-13900KS?

Given its outstanding features and competent power delivery system, the GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS ELITE AX is undoubtedly the Best Overall Motherboard For Core i9-13900KS. It is an excellent choice for any performance enthusiast who needs a great motherboard for the i9-13900KS processor at a reasonable price tag.

• Read Our GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS ELITE AX Motherboard Review

VRM Performance: 8/10	Value: 9/10
Features: 9/10	Design: 8/10

MSI MPG Z790 CARBON WiFi

Best High-End Motherboard For i9-13900KS

Chipset: Intel Z790 | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR5-7600+(OC) | Video Outputs: HDMI | USB Ports: 13x USB 3.2, 4x USB 2.0 | Network: 1x Intel 2.5Gbps LAN, 1x Intel Wi-Fi 6E | Storage: 5x M.2, 6x SATA

Design and Build Quality: The motherboard is covered in matte black with some minimalistic patterns here and there, giving it a decent vibe. Thanks to MSI’s Mystic Light, you can control all your RGB lighting from a single spot. Build quality is exceptional due to the 8-layer PCB and 2 oz Thickened Copper.

Performance: According to my tests, the MSI MPG Z790 CARBON WiFi delivers a solid punch with a completely digital direct 19+1+1 phases power design with 19 phases of VCPU power phases having smart power stages of 105A. The premium 7W/mK MOSFET thermal pads and extra choke thermal pads help maintain the thermals.

Features and Connectivity: When it comes to high-speed storage options, the Z790 CARBON WiFi is equipped with a total of 5x M.2 slots, out of which the second M.2 slot supports PCIe 5.0 x4 while the rest of the 3x slots support up to PCIe 4.0 M.2 drives. It also sports WiFi 6E and 2.5Gpbs LAN for quick networking.

What Makes It The Best High-End Motherboard For i9-13900KS?

The MSI MPG Z790 CARBON WiFi features a great 19+1+1 phase VRM design, making it a dream come true for passionate overclockers. Combine that with an array of cool features and the latest technology you can get in a motherboard, and you have the Best High-End Motherboard For Core i9-13900KS.

• Read Our MSI MPG Z790 Carbon WiFi II Motherboard Review

VRM Performance: 10/10	Value: 7/10
Features: 9/10	Design: 9/10

ASRock Z790 STEEL LEGEND WIFI

Best White Motherboard For i9-13900KS

Chipset: Intel Z790 | Memory: 4x DIMM 128GB, DDR5-7200+(OC) | Video Outputs: HDMI, DisplayPort | USB Ports:15x USB 3.2, 3x USB 2.0 | Network: Realtek 2.5 GLAN, WiFi 6E | Storage: 5x M.2, 8x SATA 3

Design and Build Quality: The Z790 STEEL LEGEND comprises a base black PCB and white or steel-colored covers for heatsinks. At some points, I can also see white and grey camo designs on the motherboard. The Z790 STEEL LEGEND has 6 2oz Copper PCB layers for its PCB design, which showcases solid build quality.

The design was also appreciated by our resident motherboard expert, Nauman Siddique:

“ASRock Z790 Steel Legend WiFi is a beautiful board providing a combination of silver and white color accents with vivid and evenly done RGB lighting”.

Performance: The ASRock Z790 STEEL LEGEND has a 16+1+1 phase VRM design rated at 60A and comes with 2x 8-pin 12V power connectors. It also possesses DrMOS design which features the SPS technology that helps monitor each phase’s current and temperature and provides excellent overclocking results in my testing.

Features and Connectivity: The storage options consist of 8x SATA 3 ports and 5x M.2 slots, including 1x Blazing M.2 PCIe Gen5x4 and 4x Hyper M.2 PCIe Gen4x4 slots. Moving to the USB section, we get a total of 18x USB ports, and the network features include WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and Realtek 2.5GbE LAN support.

What  Makes It The Best White Motherboard For i9-13900KS?

Z790 STEEL LEGEND is a great-performing motherboard and has one of the best looks when it comes to motherboards. The overall specs 3x expansion slots, and PCIe 5.0 support are great additions, but the users will have to compensate for the fewer PCB layers. Not only the aesthetics but the motherboard is also well-performing, making it the Best White Motherboard For Core i9-13900KS. 

• Read our ASRock Z790 Steel Legend WiFi Motherboard Review

VRM Performance: 9/10	Value: 8/10
Features: 9/10	Design: 10/10

ASRock Z790 PG RIPTIDE

Best Value Motherboard For i9-13900KS

Chipset: Intel Z790 | Memory: 4x DIMM 128 GB, DDR5-7200+(OC) MHz | Video Outputs: HDMI, DisplayPort | USB Ports: 10x USB 3.2, 6x USB 2.0 | Network: Intel 2.5 GbE LAN | Storage: 5x M.2, 8x SATA

Design and Build Quality: ASRock Z790 PG RIPTIDE is minimal in looks; blue accents with grey and black colors, along with ASRock branding on the heatsinks, give it a pleasant look in my opinion. For the PCB design, the motherboard has a 6-layer PCB with 2oz copper thickness, capable of maintaining lower temperatures in my tests.

Performance: If we take a look at the power delivery features, there is a 14+1+1 Power Phase Design along with the DrMOS technology, which is a power stage solution to provides higher current for each phase, hence resulting in better performance compared to the traditional MOSFETs. My overclocking tests confirm solid performance in this regard.

Features and Connectivity: The ASRock Z790 PG RIPTIDE supports 16x USB ports, including 1x Type-C USB 3.2 Gen2x2, 2x Type-A USB 3.2 Gen2, 1x Type-C USB 3.2 Gen1, and 6x USB 2.0 ports. The connectivity features include Intel 2.5 GbE LAN support; the motherboard doesn’t come with WiFi and Bluetooth support.

What Makes It The Best Value Motherboard For i9-13900KS?

The ASRock Z790 PG RIPTIDE is a great motherboard and is the Best Value Motherboard For Core i9-13900KS since the overall specs of the Z790 PG RIPTIDE are quite good and are surely worth a check considering its low price. Users considering buying a mid-range motherboard for their Core i9-13900KS with all the necessary features should look forward to purchasing this product.

• Read Our ASRock Z790 PG Riptide Motherboard Review

VRM Performance: 8/10	Value: 10/10
Features: 8/10	Design: 8/10

ASUS ROG STRIX Z790-I GAMING WiFi

Best Mini-ITX Motherboard For i9-13900KS

Chipset: Intel Z790 | Memory: 2x DIMM 64 GB, DDR5-7600+(OC) | Video Outputs: HDMI, DisplayPort | USB Ports: 8x USB 3.2, 5x USB 2.0 | Network: 1x 2.5 GbE LAN, WiFi 6E | Storage: 2x M.2, 4x SATA

Design and Build Quality: I think the overall looks of the motherboard are good, with a black base and a bit of gold plating on some points along with the golden STRIX logo, but there aren’t any built-in RGB features in the motherboard. There are 10 PCB layers which is an impressive addition as there won’t be any meltdown issues with the Core i9-13900KS.

Performance: The ASUS ROG STRIX Z790-I GAMING WiFi has a 10+1+1 VRM design, with each power stage rated at 105A; it could have worked better with a low-power demanding processor than the Core i9-13900KS. Nonetheless, I still got a decent performance from the Z790-I, which can be worth your money.

Features and Connectivity: For storage, the motherboard provides 2x M.2 slots, including 1x M.2 PCIe 5.0 x4 slot​ 1x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 slot, and 2x SATA ports. There are also 2x Type-C ThunderBolt 4 ports featured on the Z790-I, which can deliver up to 40 Gbps of bidirectional bandwidth and display up to two external 4k outputs.

What Makes It The Best Mini-ITX Motherboard For i9-13900KS?

I would say that the ASUS ROG STRIX Z790-I GAMING WiFi is a fine choice for a Mini-ITX motherboard as it has all the necessary features that make it the Best Mini-ITX Motherboard For Core i9-13900KS. Its most highlighting features are the PCIe 5.0 and Thunderbolt 4 support.

VRM Performance: 7/10	Value: 7/10
Features: 9/10	Design: 9/10

ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z790 HERO

Best Overclocking Motherboard For i9-13900KS

Chipset: Intel Z790 | Memory: 4x DIMM 128GB, DDR5-7800+ (OC) | Video Outputs: HDMI port, Intel Thunderbolt port, VGA port | USB Ports: 15x USB 3.2 ports, 4x USB 2.0 ports | Network: WiFi 6E, Intel 2.5 GbE LAN | Storage: 5x M.2, 6x SATA

Design and Build Quality: I liked that the motherboard comes with RGB lights known as Polymo Lighting that uses the Intel Double Connect technology; you can change the lighting of the logo in different styles. The black aesthetics of the motherboard also give this motherboard a satisfying vibe in my opinion.

Performance: The VRM design on this motherboard is a solid 20+1 teamed power stage design that can handle a current of 90A per power stage; this VRM can provide stable power to a monstrous CPU like i9-13900KS in my testing. ASUS provides overclocking features like AI Overclocking technology for quick results.

Features and Connectivity: The motherboard comes with 2x Thunderbolt 4 Type-C USB ports that can deliver up to 40Gbps transfer speed. It also has 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports on the rear and 4x USB 2.0 ports on the back. As for the storage slots, it has 3x PCIe 4.0 onboard M.2 slots which is satisfying in my opinion.

What Makes It The Best Overclocking Motherboard For i9-13900KS?

The ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z790 HERO is an exceptionally well-built motherboard that contains all the features required by a gamer for uninterrupted gaming. The motherboard’s overclocking features are second to none, thus titling this motherboard the Best Overclocking Motherboard For Core i9-13900KS.

VRM Performance: 10/10	Value: 7/10
Features: 10/10	Design: 9/10

How We Tested & Picked The Best Motherboards For i9-13900KS

• VRM: The Voltage Regulator Module (VRM) is a component in a computer’s motherboard responsible for regulating the voltage provided to the CPU by the power supply. It is a deciding factor, especially for gamers, because a strong VRM won’t overheat crazily, and when overclocking, it will provide power with maximum throughput alongside steadiness.
• Overclocking Potential: As Intel’s been the preference of gamers, this processor is specifically designed for gamers who push the limits of the processor, getting an extreme amount of performance out of it. I specifically selected motherboards that delivered excellent overclocking performance with the Core i9-13900KS.
• Heatsink – Cooling: Intel’s 13900KS is capable of overclocking and high processing, which also means that it might generate a lot of heat. Here, the heatsink comes into play, which helps dissipate the heat quickly, maintaining the temperature to output optimal performance.
• Features: Features are an important factor on which the motherboard’s price relies; one should choose a motherboard with various features, which can help if you consider upgrading your system in the future. Some of the mandatory features in the motherboard are extra expansion slots and M.2 NVMe SSD support, which can provide better data transfer speeds than SATA ports.

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