Z790 is the top chipset for Intel's LGA1700 socket. It launched in late 2022 alongside 13th generation Core, supports 12th, 13th and 14th generation processors, and is the 700-series chipset that allows CPU overclocking. It is also the last enthusiast chipset LGA1700 will get, which shapes the buying advice below. Current prices are on the Z790 deals page.
Cheapest Z790 boards right now
All 41 Z790 motherboards, with price drops and price history
Amazon Warehouse offers on Z790 boards
What Z790 is and who it is for
Z790 replaced Z690 as Intel's flagship LGA1700 chipset and was itself replaced in late 2024 by Z890, which uses a different socket and different processors. Within LGA1700 it sits above H770, B760 and the entry-level H610.
It is for three kinds of buyer: owners of an unlocked K-series chip such as a Core i5-14600K or Core i7-14700K who want to tune it, builders who need more M.2 slots and USB ports than B-series boards offer, and anyone running a Core i9, since the stronger power delivery that such a chip needs is found mostly on Z-series boards. If you have a non-K processor and ordinary storage needs, Z790 vs B760 explains why B760 is usually enough.
Key specifications
| Feature | Z790 |
|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1700 |
| Processors | 12th, 13th and 14th gen Intel Core |
| Memory | DDR4 or DDR5, depending on the board (never both) |
| CPU overclocking | Yes, with a K-series processor |
| Memory overclocking (XMP) | Yes |
| PCIe from the CPU | PCIe 5.0 x16 for graphics, PCIe 4.0 x4 for an M.2 SSD |
| PCIe from the chipset | PCIe 4.0 and 3.0 |
| Launched | Late 2022 |
Compatible CPUs and the BIOS question
Every Z790 board supports 12th and 13th generation Core from its first BIOS. 14th generation chips arrived in late 2023, a year after the first Z790 boards, so a board made before then may need a BIOS update before it will start one. The refreshed Z790 models released alongside 14th generation, many of which added WiFi 7, support all three generations out of the box. If you are buying an older or open-box board for a 14th generation chip, look for a BIOS flashback button, which lets you update without a working CPU. BIOS updates and CPU compatibility explains the process.
There is a second reason to update. In 2024 Intel and the board makers released BIOS versions that apply Intel's recommended power and voltage settings by default on 13th and 14th generation K-series chips, following reports of instability on boards that had been running them well beyond those limits. On any Z790 board, install a current BIOS before you do anything else.
DDR4 or DDR5
LGA1700 processors support both DDR4 and DDR5, but a board is built for one or the other. The two types are not physically interchangeable and no board takes both. DDR4 versions usually carry DDR4 or D4 in the model name, but do not rely on the name alone: check the memory line of the listing. Most Z790 boards are DDR5, and DDR5 is the better pairing for a high-end chip; DDR4 boards make sense mainly if you already own a good DDR4 kit. DDR4 vs DDR5 motherboards goes through the choice.
PCIe: CPU lanes and chipset lanes
The processor provides PCIe 5.0 x16 for the graphics slot and a separate PCIe 4.0 x4 link for the main M.2 slot. LGA1700 chips have no dedicated PCIe 5.0 lanes for storage, so the few Z790 boards with a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot take eight lanes from the graphics slot when that slot is in use, leaving the graphics card at x8. That is rare on this platform and not a reason to choose a board; see PCIe 5.0 motherboards: do you need it?
The chipset supplies a mix of PCIe 4.0 and 3.0 lanes for the remaining M.2 slots, expansion slots and controllers. Z790 has more PCIe 4.0 lanes than Z690, so a typical Z790 board has more PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots.
How Z790 compares with its neighbours
| Z790 | Z690 | B760 | Z890 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1700 | LGA1700 | LGA1700 | LGA1851 |
| CPU overclocking | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Memory overclocking | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Memory | DDR4 or DDR5 | DDR4 or DDR5 | DDR4 or DDR5 | DDR5 only |
| 13th / 14th gen out of the box | 13th yes; 14th on later boards | Needs a BIOS update | 13th yes; 14th on later boards | Not supported |
| Launched | Late 2022 | Late 2021 | Early 2023 | Late 2024 |
A discounted Z690 board does nearly everything Z790 does once its BIOS is updated. B760 is the choice for non-K chips, and Z890 is the equivalent on the newer socket.
What to check on the listing
- Memory type. DDR4 or DDR5. This is the mistake that cannot be fixed after delivery.
- Size. Mostly ATX, with micro-ATX, mini-ITX and E-ATX models available.
- Power delivery. A Core i9 draws a great deal of power under load. Motherboard VRM explained shows what to look for.
- M.2 slots, WiFi and Thunderbolt. All vary by board; none is a chipset guarantee.
- BIOS flashback. Worth having if the board predates your processor.
Is Z790 still worth buying?
LGA1700 is complete: 14th generation was its last processor family, so a Z790 board bought now will never take a newer chip than the ones already on sale. The processors remain fast, DDR4 boards let you reuse memory, and the platform's age means boards are often discounted. It makes most sense if you already own an LGA1700 chip or are buying one at a good price; for a completely new build, compare it with the alternatives in LGA1851 vs LGA1700.
Open-box Z790 boards are common and can be good value, provided the socket pins are intact. Read are Amazon Warehouse motherboards worth it?, then compare the Z790 deal list with the Warehouse offers and price drops.
Questions people ask
Does Z790 support 14th gen Intel processors?
Yes. Boards made before 14th generation launched in late 2023 may need a BIOS update first; the refreshed Z790 models released at that time support it out of the box.
Can I use DDR4 on a Z790 board?
Only on a DDR4 version of the board. Each Z790 board is built for DDR4 or DDR5, never both, so check the memory type on the listing before ordering.
Do I need Z790 for a Core i5-14600K?
Only if you want to overclock it. The chip runs at stock speed on a B760 board with adequate power delivery, and memory overclocking works on both.
Will a Z790 board take Core Ultra 200S processors?
No. Core Ultra 200S uses the LGA1851 socket and 800-series chipsets. Z790 supports 12th, 13th and 14th generation Core only.