Choosing the best motherboard
Intel s Core i9-11900K is a great processor for gaming and productivity. The CPU allows you to get plenty done without experiencing degraded performance. If we were to recommend a single motherboard to be chosen as the foundation for a capable PC build, it would be the ASUS ROG Strix Z590-E Gaming. It s one of the best Intel Z590 motherboards, but it s also priced competitively, packing plenty of features at a reasonable price.
The mid-tower isn t the only form factor for building capable systems. If you wanted to build a PC that s a little more unique, the MSI MEG Z590I UNIFY will fit inside the more compact PC cases that can also handle the best graphics card. This board rocks the same chipset as our top Intel recommendations but loses a few features because of size restrictions. Then you have the all-out best of the best, which is why the ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Hero costs considerably more.
When building a PC around the Intel Core i7-11700K, it's important to choose a capable motherboard that can handle such performance. We've rounded up some excellent recommendations to get you started.
Looking for the best motherboard for your Intel Core i5-11600K processor? We've rounded up a collection of recommendations that cover enthusiast, budget, and compact segments.
Choosing the best motherboard
Going for the best of the best, we recommend the ASUS ROG Strix Z590-E Gaming. It s one of the best Intel Z590 motherboards, which makes it ideal for the Intel Core i5-11400. Not only is it priced well (except during the current electronics shortage), but you also get plenty of features that would allow for the creation of a very powerful PC.
If you want to build a PC that will take up less desk space, or you don t need all the power of an Intel Core i9 and the best graphics card, there s always the MSI MEG Z590I UNIFY. This has the same chipset as our top ASUS recommended pick, but comes with fewer features due to the fact that it measures in at just 170mm by 170mm. Perfect for compact builds.
Choosing the best Intel Z590 motherboard
Intel added some highlight features to the Z590 chipset, unlocking PCIe 4.0 support with 11th Gen Intel processors. Compared to the Z490 chipset, many motherboards of which didn t include PCIe 4.0 future-proofing, there are numerous improvements including additional high-speed USB ports.
If we were to recommend a single Z590 motherboard for Intel CPUs, it would be the ASUS ROG Strix Z590-E Gaming. As well as the aforementioned PCIe 4.0 support, there s also Wi-Fi 6E, 14+2 power stage design for stable overclocking, DDR4-5333+ RAM support, dual Intel 2.5Gb LAN, Thunderbolt 4, and four M.2 SSD slots.
If you want something that allows for a more compact PC build, look no further than MSI s MEG Z590I UNIFY. This motherboard has everything you need for a small PC, including PCIe 4.0 support, 2.5Gb LAN (or Wi-Fi 6) and the capabilities for handling even more powerful processors like a Core i9.