I'm planning to build a high-end desktop gaming rig with the Intel Core i9-13900K as my CPU. Looking for recommendations on the best motherboard to pair with it. My main focus is gaming performance and future-proofing.
Budget is flexible, but I'd prefer staying under $500. What motherboards would you recommend?
Save some money and grab the ASUS TUF Gaming Z790-Plus WiFi at around $220. It has everything you actually need for gaming - solid power delivery, good VRM cooling, PCIe 5.0, DDR5 support, and decent connectivity. Put the saved $200 toward a better GPU or faster RAM. The 13900K doesn't need an extreme motherboard to perform well in gaming scenarios. The TUF series has great build quality and reliability while skipping the premium features you probably won't use.
MSI MEG Z790 ACE MAX.
Any Z790 motherboard will be compatible, but for the best options, check reviews from Gamers Nexus and Build Zoid. If you’re building a high-performance PC, also consider the i7-13700K, as it offers excellent value depending on your use case, whether for gaming, productivity, or multitasking. Researching these components ensures you get the right balance of performance and features for your needs.