The Best Motherboard and CPU Combos for All Budgets

2 weeks ago

Building your ain PC? Choosing nan correct motherboard for your setup is key. Here are nan champion motherboard and CPU combos.

Picking nan correct motherboard and CPU erstwhile building a PC is essential. The motherboard is nan backbone of your PC, and inadequate hardware tin easy bottleneck your CPU and GPU.

Rather than buying abstracted parts, opting for a motherboard and CPU combo will destruct compatibility issues and thief prevention immoderate funds, which you tin put successful a much tin GPU.

Whether you want to build a high-end PC for gaming aliases a fund PC for agency work, present are nan champion motherboard and CPU combos disposable correct now.

GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Elite AX and Intel Core i5-13600K

Best Overall
ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero and Intel Core i9-13900K

Best Performance
GIGABYTE B760M DS3H AX and Intel Core i3-13100

Most Affordable
ASUS ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming WiFi and AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D

Best for Gaming
ASUS AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus and AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D

Best for AM4

Our Favorite Motherboard and CPU Combos successful 2023

A collage photograph of nan GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Elite AX motherboard and Intel Core i5-13600K CPU.

GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Elite AX and Intel Core i5-13600K

Best Overall

Outstanding capacity astatine an accessible price

$558 $589 Save $31

The Intel Core i5-13600K is an fantabulous action for gamers, peculiarly if you're connected a budget. When paired pinch nan GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Elite AX motherboard, you tin return advantage of nan latest features, specified arsenic PCIe 5.0 and DDR5, to build a powerful gaming rig without breaking nan bank.

Pros

Excellent performance-to-price ratio
Capable powerfulness transportation for nan 13600K
DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 support
Four heatsinked PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots

Cons

No support for PCIe 5.0 SSDs

When Intel released its 13th-generation processors, nan Intel Core i5-13600K quickly became nan go-to action for gamers acknowledgment to its higher capacity and charismatic pricing. Unless you want to tally dense games for illustration "CyberPunk 2077" successful 4K and astatine higher refresh rates, this processor is bully for conscionable astir anything. It besides massively undercuts its Core i7 and Core i9 cousins, which is cleanable if you want to prevention a batch of money.

Pairing nicely pinch nan 13600K is GIGABYTE's Z790 AORUS Elite AX, a midrange Z790 motherboard that offers astir of nan latest features that travel pinch Intel's latest processors, including DDR5 support and PCIe 5.0. 16-phase Vcore VRMs besides supply nan basal powerfulness to overclock nan 13600K to its limits, while a robust cooling solution ensures you don't tally basking erstwhile afloat immersed successful nan game.

Unfortunately, nan motherboard does not support PCIe 5.0 SSDs, but it's not a woody breaker since existent PCIe 4.0 SSDs are still plentifulness accelerated and tin grip astir games for galore much years. On nan upside, DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 present nan speeds needed to get those higher framerates, provided you brace this bundle pinch a tin RAM kit and GPU. The motherboard is besides awesome successful nan connectivity department, pinch 10 USB ports, 4 M.2 slots, 2.5G Ethernet, and onboard Wi-Fi 6E.

A collage photograph of nan ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero motherboard and Intel Core i9-13900K processor.

ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero and Intel Core i9-13900K

Best Performance

Unbeatable capacity for multi-threaded workloads

$1134 $1239 Save $105

Combining Intel's fastest processor successful nan Raptor Lake lineup pinch 1 of nan best Z790 motherboards, this motherboard and CPU combo should beryllium correct up your alley if you want to build nan astir powerful desktop PC. It peculiarly stands retired successful heavily-threaded tasks for illustration contented creation and programming, and it besides performs incredibly good successful gaming erstwhile paired pinch an arsenic tin GPU.

Pros

Leading azygous and multi-threaded performance
A batch of overclocking headroom
Outstanding gaming performance
PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 support
Next-gen PCIe 5.0 M.2 SSD support

Cons

Expensive
Needs a powerful GPU to match

While there's a bladed capacity separator betwixt nan apical AMD and Intel processors, Team Blue ever comes retired connected apical successful multi-threaded performance. The Intel Core i9-13900K builds connected nan already awesome Intel Core i9-12900K, expanding nan number of businesslike cores from 8 to 16 for a full of 24 cores, an upgrade that helps accelerate demanding multi-threaded tasks for illustration schematic creation and video editing moreover further.

With a blistering-fast 5.8GHz timepiece speed, nan Core i9-13900K is not only a beast for productivity, but it is besides 1 of nan best processors for gaming, provided you brace it pinch an elite-class graphics paper specified arsenic NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 4090 aliases AMD's Radeon RX 7900 XTX. With higher capacity travel insane powerfulness demands, and nan ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero is built for that, pinch a 20-phase, 90A Vcore VRM dedicated to nan processor.

This motherboard besides packs cutting-edge features for illustration PCIe 5.0 support for graphics cards and storage, 7800+MHz DDR5 representation speeds, and a robust cooling design, making it nan cleanable combo for nan Core i9-13900K. In addition, coagulated VRMs, built-in troubleshooting devices specified arsenic nan BIOS Flashback button, onboard powerfulness button, and a 7-segment display, on pinch AI overclocking features, guarantee that you tin push your processor to its limits and extract each spot of performance.

A photograph collage of nan GIGABYTE B760M DS3H AX motherboard and Intel Core i3-13100 CPU

GIGABYTE B760M DS3H AX and Intel Core i3-13100

Most Affordable

Budget-friendly capacity for day-to-day tasks

$259 $319 Save $60

If your activity involves chiefly web browsing, checking email, convention calls, aliases moving connected documents, you don't request to splurge connected a high-end motherboard and CPU. The GIGABYTE B760M DS3H AX, mixed pinch nan Intel Core i3-13100, forms an fantabulous instauration for a tin desktop PC that tin easy grip mundane tasks and browsing.

Pros

Affordable
Plenty of powerfulness for mundane tasks
Fast NVMe retention and DDR5 representation support
No high-end cooling required
Fast Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5GbE LAN

Cons

Not perfect for demanding workloads
No beforehand sheet USB-C header

While nan Intel Core i3-13100 isn't a powerhouse for illustration nan Intel Core i9-13900K aliases moreover nan Intel Core i5-13600K, it packs conscionable capable powerfulness to breeze done day-to-day tasks without issues. It sits connected nan little extremity of nan pricing spectrum, making it cleanable for building a decent PC for agency activity without spending a fortune. The cherry connected apical is that this processor tin grip little demanding FPS games for illustration Fortnite erstwhile paired pinch a decent graphics card.

Designed to activity good pinch entry-level to mid-range 13th Gen Intel processors, nan GIGABYTE B760M DS3H AX is simply a cleanable companion for nan Intel Core i3-13100. It's affordable and lets you brace your processor pinch next-gen DDR5 representation kits and PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDs for blazing-fast strategy capacity and speedy loading speeds successful games and programs.

ASUS ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming WiFi motherboard

ASUS ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming WiFi and AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D

Best for Gaming

Fastest gaming processor for less

$399 $441 Save $42

Sitting beneath nan flagship AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D and Ryzen 9 7900X3D, nan AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D offers comparable gaming capacity astatine a overmuch little price. It besides massively undercuts nan Intel Core i9-13900K while outperforming it successful astir games. Combined pinch a coagulated AM5 motherboard for illustration nan ASUS ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming WiFi, you tin build a gaming PC to beryllium reckoned with.

Pros

Best-in-class gaming performance
Excellent overclocking support and features
Supports DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 for GPU and storage
13 USB ports
More power businesslike than Intel alternatives

Cons

Not truthful overmuch for productivity

If you want nan champion motherboard and CPU combo for gaming, nan ASUS ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming WiFi and AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D are formidable. This bundle combines nan fastest gaming spot connected nan marketplace pinch nan champion AM5 gaming motherboard, providing a coagulated instauration for a high-performance gaming rig.

While not moreover nan astir costly spot successful AMD's lineup, nan Ryzen 7 7800X3D manages to hit reliable title from AMD's pricier options and Intel's flagship Core i9-13900K successful position of gaming performance. It whitethorn lag down nan premium offerings successful demanding productivity tasks, but if you're building a desktop PC chiefly for gaming, that shouldn't beryllium a woody breaker.

On nan different hand, nan ASUS ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming WiFi offers everything you request to return afloat advantage of nan Ryzen 7 7800X3D and nan AM5 platform. It supports DDR5 representation and PCIe 5.0 for graphics cards and storage, while nan 18-phase, 110A Vcore VRMs tin easy grip nan Ryzen 7 7800X3D astatine afloat throttle. Thanks to nan chip's little powerfulness consumption, you won't request to brace it pinch an costly cooler aliases powerfulness supply.

A photograph collage of nan ASUS AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus motherboard and AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D CPU.

ASUS AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus and AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D

Best for AM4

The champion combo for value-focused gamers

If you want to build a powerful gaming PC but don't person overmuch to spend, see building connected nan last-gen AM4 platform. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D is still 1 of nan fastest gaming CPUs, and pinch nan ASUS AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus, you tin build a high-performance gaming rig pinch readily disposable and much affordable parts.

Pros

Fastest gaming CPU for nan money
Low powerfulness demands
PCIe 4.0 support for GPU and M.2 SSDs
Durable and unchangeable motherboard
Uses much affordable DDR4 representation kits

Cons

No DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 support
No overclocking

While nan AM5 level offers capacity improvements and precocious features for illustration DDR5 and PCIe 5.0, nan value hike of nan caller ecosystem puts it retired of scope for galore gamers. This makes nan last-gen AM4 an charismatic prime if you want to prevention money. The Ryzen 7 5800X3D, equipped pinch 3D V-Cache, continues to beryllium a favourite owed to its outstanding gaming capacity compared to immoderate different last-gen chip.

The Ryzen 7 5800X3D fits nicely into nan ASUS AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus, a tin AM4 motherboard that is importantly much affordable than comparable AM5 boards. It supports 5100MHz DDR4 RAM speeds and PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSDs, allowing you to limb your rig pinch lightning-fast retention and memory. While it doesn't support PCIe 5.0, PCIe 4.0 offers capable bandwidth to get nan astir retired of astir immoderate existent graphics card.

With nan Ryzen 7 5800X3D's little powerfulness requirements and deficiency of overclocking support, nan 12 Vcore VRMs are capable to grip nan processor astatine afloat throttle. The motherboard besides includes onboard RGB, 7 rear I/O USB ports, and robust VRM heatsinks.

MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi and Intel Core i9-12900K

Best Last-Gen

Excellent worth for a high-performance productivity PC

$650 $700 Save $50

If you want to build a high-performance desktop PC for demanding productivity activity and don't want to splurge connected nan Intel Core i9-13900K, there's a ton of worth to beryllium had successful going last-gen. The MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi and Intel Core i9-12900K combo will group you backmost almost nan aforesaid arsenic nan Intel Core i9-13900K, and you'll beryllium getting 1 of nan fastest CPUs for highly-threaded workloads and gaming.

Pros

Outstanding all-around performance
Incredible value
Packed pinch latest features
Excellent overclocking headroom

Cons

The latest 13th Gen CPUs person amended multi-core performance

The Intel Core i9-12900K whitethorn beryllium a last-gen processor but it delivers stronger productivity capacity than astir existent CPUs. With 8 capacity cores, 8 businesslike cores, and up to 5.20GHz timepiece speeds, it excels successful multi-threaded workloads and single-threaded tasks for illustration gaming. And dissimilar AMD's last-gen CPUs, it supports astir of nan latest features, including DDR5 and PCIe 5.0.

Paired pinch nan MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi, you get an fantabulous motherboard and CPU combo for building a high-performance PC for demanding productivity tasks and gaming astatine a value good beneath existent flagship prices. The motherboard lets you return afloat advantage of nan Intel Core i9-12900K's capabilities pinch a robust VRM, support for DDR5 representation up to 6666+(OC) MHz, and PCIe 5.0 description slots.

The MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi is among nan best Z690 motherboards available. It offers 5 M.2 slots and six SATA ports for storage, beefy heatsinks, and fantabulous rear I/O, including 10 USB ports. The onboard RGB lighting puts you correct into nan gaming mood, and you tin overclock and tweak your PC pinch easiness acknowledgment to its easy-to-use BIOS and built-in troubleshooting devices for illustration a Flash BIOS fastener and a 7-segment display.

ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I Gaming WiFi and Intel Core i5-12600K

Best for Compact Builds

Excellent capacity without taking up excessively overmuch space

If you want to prevention connected abstraction aliases conscionable for illustration nan artistic entreaty of compact PCs, nan ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I Gaming WiFi and Intel Core i5-12600K combo is simply a awesome choice. You get a decent and reasonably priced processor and a feature-rich mini-ITX motherboard, allowing you to build a tin compact PC that tin tally astir modern games and programs smoothly.

Pros

Affordable
Well-balanced capacity for gaming and productivity
DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 support
Onboard Thunderbolt 4 ports

Cons

Not overmuch room for upgrades

Released successful precocious 2021, nan Intel Core i5-12600K remains an unthinkable action for mid-range builds. It has fantabulous single-core and multi-core performance, acknowledgment to Intel's hybrid architecture, making it a cleanable prime for gaming, contented creation, and all-around performance. With nan merchandise of nan 13th Gen Intel CPUs, nan Intel Core i5-12600K is disposable astatine a discounted price, which is fantabulous if you want to walk little connected a high-performance mid-range build.

When paired pinch nan ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I Gaming WiFi, nan motherboard lets you return advantage of each nan latest successful tech, including DDR5, PCIe 5.0, and Thunderbolt 4. It besides has a tin VRM that tin grip an overclocked Intel Core i5-12600K, provided you person coagulated cooling.

Choosing nan Best Motherboard and CPU Combo

The prime of motherboard and CPU determines nan capacity of your PC. While each CPU sold coming tin smoothly tally astir day-to-day tasks specified arsenic browsing nan web, online video calling, and moving connected documents, you'll request a powerful CPU for much demanding tasks. A CPU pinch fantabulous multi-core capacity is perfect for heavy threaded productivity tasks for illustration video editing, while those pinch fantabulous single-core capacity thin to radiance champion successful gaming.

While nan 12th and 13th generations of Intel processors and nan latest AM5 AMD level support precocious features for illustration DDR5 and PCIe 5.0, you'll besides request a compatible motherboard to return afloat advantage of them. Manufacturers of Intel motherboards, for example, tin take to support DDR4 successful their boards moreover though nan existent Intel chips are DDR5-capable. In summation to features, guarantee nan motherboard has a tin VRM to grip nan processor, particularly erstwhile you scheme to overclock it.

The GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Elite AX and Intel Core i5-13600K combo is simply a cleanable motherboard and CPU pairing for astir people. It's affordable, guarantees fantabulous capacity for gaming and productivity, and supports astir of nan latest features, making it afloat future-proof. If you request thing moreover much affordable, nan GIGABYTE B760M DS3H AX and Intel Core i3-13100 combo is an fantabulous alternative, and it tin grip ray gaming and mundane work.

If you want to build nan astir powerful desktop PC, nan Intel Core i9-13900K mightiness beryllium a pricier option, but it does present its money's worth. It has nary existent title for multi-threaded productivity tasks and gives nan latest AMD CPUs a tally for their money successful gaming. Pair it pinch nan ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero, and you tin push this processor to its limits while having entree to each nan latest features.

However, you don't request to splurge that overmuch connected nan Intel Core i9-13900K if you do much gaming than productivity. The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is simply a cheaper replacement that delivers amended gaming performance, making nan ASUS ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming WiFi and AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D combo nan champion action for high-performance gaming rigs.