Top 6 Best Motherboards For Core i7-8700k In 2022 Review

Let’s start by asking, why is it so important to buy the right motherboard for the i7-8700k processor? Well, in a nutshell, the best compatible motherboards enable you to take full advantage of your new CPU, enhancing its performance and squeezing every ounce of power from it.

Another significant advantage is the overclocking abilities the right motherboard can offer. It will help push the CPUs boundaries to the limit providing your computer with incredible speeds for a better gaming experience.

Recent studies have also shown that your PC will continue to perform for extended periods if you invest in motherboards that are highly compatible with your CPU.

Therefore, we decided to find the Best Motherboards for Core i7-8700k currently on the market. So, let’s go through them and find the board that perfectly fits your requirements to experience a whole new level of gaming…

Best Motherboards For Core i7-8700k In 2022 – Top 6 Rated Review

1 MSI Performance GAMING Intel 8th Gen – Best Intel Motherboard for Core i7-8700k

The MSI Performance GAMING is specially designed for the 8th generation coffee lake, Pentiums, and Celeron processors. It provides a strong base for your new powerhouse, making it perfect for the i7-8700k.

It’s based on the Intel Z370 chipset and has many slots and connectors, including quad DIMMS. Dual PCIe x 16, two USB 3.1 Gen 2, and one M.2. It’s one of the best motherboards you can buy and will enhance your dream build allowing you to take advantage of the latest devices and peripherals.

Sync the RGBs with Aura capable hardware…

The MSI Performance GAMING includes RGB lighting. You can control a wide variety of functional presets for the RGB LEDs and strips pre-attached to the onboard RGB headers. You can sync all the lighting to the ever-growing portfolio of Aura capable hardware, turning your gaming rig into an attractive and well-tuned machined.

If you’re a dedicated gamer or PC enthusiast, the MSI performance GAMING will be the perfect choice. It’s easy to customize and set up your color scheme with the MSI Mystic Light utility. You can choose between 16.8 million colors and 17 different preset effects controlled in one click with the Mystic Light App.

Load games faster and gain advantages over your enemies…

It’s an ATX form factor and supports RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 10 for SATA devices, and RAID 0, and RAID 1 for M.2 PCIe storage devices. The four DIMM slots support up to 64GB of RAM, and the two PCIe x 16 slots support two-way Nvidia SLI so that you can install two GPUs.

The support of ultra-fast storage devices gives you in-game benefits, like faster loading games, and faster level loading. You can also outsmart your opponents by using various unique MSI GAMING tools, allowing you to keep one step ahead of the competition and boost your skills.

Our verdict…

The MSI Performance GAMING is ready to go straight out of the box. It’s easy to install and offers excellent performance. It’s as good as it looks, having built-in WiFi, RGB illumination, and support for 3D printed parts.

Likewise, the support of ultra-fast storage devices gives you an upper hand, and the vast array of tools helps boost your in-game skills. Without a doubt, this is one of the best motherboards for gaming, and it’s a perfect fit for the i7-8700k.

Our rating: (4.4 / 5)

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2 ASUS ROG Strix Z370-I Gaming Mini-ITX Motherboard – Best Mini ITX Motherboard for Core i7-8700k

The Mini-ITX ROG Strix Z370-I is an excellent motherboard built for the flagship i7-8700k due to its five-way optimization, enabling you to optimize your entire system with a single click. When combined with the right processor, the Z370-I can unleash your computer’s full potential and outshine any competition with customizable Aura Sync RGB lighting.

Including an innovative double-decker heatsink, onboard WiFi, and front panel USB 3.1, the Z370-I provides you with maximum connectivity speeds. It also offers excellent performance and value.

One of the best options for small form factor builds…

If you aim to build a powerful PC in a small package, this is one of your best options. The Z370-I is a creative board, and ASUS deserves a lot of credit for finding room for two M.2 slots, placing the second on the back works in its favor, even if it makes manufacturing of the board harder.

Besides the two M.2 slots, the board includes the ASUS ROG Supreme FX S1220 modified Realtek Audio codec, a USB 3.1 header, Intel networking, and four SATA ports.

Along with optimizing essential aspects of your system, it also offers you stable overclocking abilities and extreme cooling setups tailored for your gaming rig. The only things missing when you compare it to a full-sized board are the additional PCIe and DRAM slots.

Our verdict…

While the Z370-I Gaming is one of the best small form factor motherboards, ASUS provided a well-rounded Mini-ITX board that will suit gamers and enthusiasts. It is excellently designed and includes high-quality features that offer great value for your investment.

It provides fine-tuning for your entire system making it easy to get every part up to speed. The ASUS ROG Strix Z370-I Gaming is an exciting choice for anyone looking to build a small, rugged PC, pairing it with the i7-8700k.

Our rating: (4.6 / 5)

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3 ASRock Z370 EXTREME4 – Best 8 Gen Motherboard for i7-8700k

ASRock Z370 EXTREME4 includes some exceptional high-quality, efficient components making it a great motherboard for your Core i7-8700k. It’s also aesthetically appealing and offers excellent performance along with excellent build quality.

At first glance, it looks like a beast with its rough, mysterious look and black and grey colors. As soon as it’s installed, you will be pleasantly surprised when the blue LEDs light up the board. The features include four DIMM slots, which support 64GB up to 2666Mhz, which are overclockable to 4333Mhz.

It only works with 8000-series CPUs…

It has a standard 24-pin power connector, an 8-pin CPU power connector, and an 1151 socket, which only supports 8 Gen coffee lake processors. This means it’s one of the best 8000 series motherboards, making it perfect for the i7-8700k. However, if you try to pair it with anything lower, like the 7000 series, it won’t work.

Another great feature is the coffin-shaped, oversized aluminum heatsinks covering the MOSFET and chipset. This provides excellent cooling for a stable performance.

Multiple GPUs and excellent connectivity…

It also has three PCIe x 16 and three PCIe x 1 slots that support both Nvidia SLI and AMD CrossFireX. So, you can install multiple GPUs.

The I/O panel has D-Sub, DVI-D, and HDMI connectivity options. The iGPU will provide you with a 4K resolution at 30Hz, and there is also five USB 3.1 slots and one USB Type-C port. And eight SATA 3.0 ports and two M.2 Gen 3 provide more than enough storage options for your HDD and SSD needs.

Our verdict…

The ASRock Z370 EXTREME4 provides everything you need and more; it looks and performs like a beast. It’s also very well priced, so you can compare it to buying a Bugatti for the price of a Fiat. However, it’s only compatible with 8000-series CPUs, but regardless, it’s easily one of the Best Motherboards for Core i7-8700k you can buy.

Our rating: (4.4 / 5)

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4 ASUS TUF X299 Mark 1 – Most Reliable Motherboard for Core i7-8700k

One of the most significant advantages of the TUF X299 Mark 1 is that it comes with a dedicated base-clock (BCLK) generator for overclocking the CPU and memory. The ASUS T-Technology makes it easy to overclock memory speeds up to 4133MHz. Combined with the i7-8700k, the TUF X299 Mark 1 is a real contender for the best overall motherboard.

If you’re an enthusiastic gamer, the TUF X299 Mark 1 is a great fit since it will provide you with reliable performance for all your gaming sessions. It’s also designed and equipped with cooling controls and temperature monitoring so you can always play your games at optimal speed.

Thermal Armor and M.2 heatsink…

The TUF X299 Mark 1 has been engineered for maximum airflow and heat dissipation so your components will remain cool, enhancing their performance. It also has a pre-installed fan in the PHC area that directs the airflow towards the M.2 heatsink.

Multiple ports and connections…

Three reinforced full-length PCIe slots support Nvidia SLI and AMD Crossfire. The configuration allows three-slot GPUs to fit in the primary GPU slot. Two M.2 slots are connected to the chipset, and one supports both SATA and PCIe devices while the other only supports PCIe.

A total of eight SATA ports, all connected to the chipset, share bandwidth with the PCIe x 4 slots. Two USB 3.1 ports, one Type-A, and one Type-C, are conveniently located on the front panel. Plus, eight additional USB 3.0 ports. Four at the back panel and four through internal headers. If that wasn’t enough, there are another six USB 2.0 ports.

Performance-wise it’s a mid-ranged motherboard. That said, some optimizing features like the Multi-Core Turbo are provided when the XMP is enabled.

Our Verdict…

The TUF X299 Mark 1 is incredibly durable and reliable. It comes with a 5-year warranty if anything should break, which is highly unlikely. It has incredible cooling features, including the TUF ICe, and overclocking is easy.

If you want to save money, the X299 Mark 1 is reasonable priced while still offering everything you need. If you need a rugged, well-protected board, this is the best gaming motherboard for you.

Our rating: (4.5 / 5)

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5 GIGABYTE Z370 AORUS Ultra Gaming WiFi – Best Value for the Money Motherboard for Core i7-8700k

The Z370 AORUS Ultra Gaming WiFi from Gigabyte is a well-rounded and optimized board offering many premium features while remaining budget-friendly. Gigabyte has a special place in our hearts for always providing gamers with some of the best bang-for-buck products.

The Z370 Aorus Ultra Gaming is one of the best ATX motherboards. Fantastic design, excellent storage options, and a decent amount of RGB customizations are all in there.

Customizable LEDs and a decent aesthetic look…

Labeled as a more affordable and straightforward solution for the Z370 chipsets, Gigabyte equipped the AORUS Ultra Gaming with some very decent aesthetics. Both the Gigabyte logo and Aorus text light up along with some LED strips here and there.

All LEDs are customizable via the BIOS or the RGB Fusion app. Even though the design won’t let it stand out that much, the aesthetics spice things up once the lights are turned on. Like most of Gigabyte’s boards, the Aorus Ultra Gaming uses a 12+1 phase for power delivery, which is more than adequate for most users.

Quad DDR4 DIMM slots support 64GB of RAM, which can be overclocked to 4000Mhz. If you’re an overclocker, you should be thrilled to know that it also supports XMP profiles making it one of the best overclocking motherboards around.

Looking at the specs…

It includes one DVI-D port, one HDMI port, three PCIe slots, six SATA 3.0 slots, and two M.2 PCIe x 4 slots. The motherboard has six USB 3.1 ports, six USB 2.0 ports, one USB Type-C, and a legacy PS/2 connector when it comes to connectivity. The first versions of the Aorus Ultra Gaming didn’t include WiFi, but the latest versions are equipped with an 802.11AC WiFi chip.

It also includes ESD and surge protection in addition to the anti-sulfur design. It comes with Intel’s Optane memory, something Intel has been trying to push for quite some time.

A smart mobo?

The board’s smart infrastructure manages to handle loads well. However, it does have some high-temperature bumps that can be a bit alarming over extended periods. Overclockers usually require onboard buttons and debugging LEDs, but the Aorus Ultra Gaming lacks those.

Our verdict…

The Gigabyte Aorus Ultra Gaming lives up to its reputation as a “gaming motherboard” with its heavy-duty performance at overclocked speeds, pushing the i7-8700k to its limits. All these high-end features are a telltale for the solid bang it will give for your money.

The upright SATA ports can be off-putting at first, but that is compensated with robust performance and some fantastic RGB lights. Who in their right mind would say no to that?

Our rating: (4.5 / 5)

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6 ASUS Prime Z390-A Motherboard LGA1151 – Best Budget Motherboard for Core i7-8700k

The Prime Z390-A is an entry-level ATX motherboard from ASUS. It’s also one of the best selling motherboards and arguably the most widely circulated for the i7-8700k CPU. So you can see that a lot is at stake here.

The Prime Z390-A…

First of all, the board will fit in virtually any case you throw at it. Nothing new there. But it does lack a PCB back shield, and as you might already know, the big difference in this newer series is, of course, the chipset. The Prime-A uses the Z390 chipset, unlike most other boards in this review that use the Z370.

All you need to know here is that the Z390 is almost identical to the Z370. The only noticeable differences are the Integrated Intel Wireless-AC Support (CNVi) and that the Z390 can support Gen 2 USB ports. Other than that, they are the same chipset which is good since they both are one of the best fits for the i7-8700k.

Good support and potential upgrades…

Luckily, the board still uses the highly compatible 1151 LGA CPU socket. So if you have installed any Intel CPUs in the past decade, you will be right at home. And the CPU socket supports both 8th and 9th Gen processors from Intel.

When it comes to the RAM, it uses the usual dual-channel configuration, which can support (for now) up to 64GB, overclockable to 4.266GHz, which is 266Mhz more than on the predecessor. The reason we said “for now” is because rumors are circulating that the Prime Z390-A will, in the future, support up to 128GB of RAM in a 32 x 4 configuration.

Storage…

Two M.2 SSD slots offer you decent storage options. And of course, the chipset is Optane, allowing your M.2 SSD sticks to swap data up to 32Gbps.

Considering these kinds of theoretical transfers, don’t be surprised if your SSD sticks overheat and thermo-throttle. But there is no need to worry as ASUS equipped the back of the M.2 slots with a thermo-padded heatsink, which is always welcome.

Finally, ASUS decided to separate the M.2 SSD and chipset heatsinks. They are no longer merged as we saw them before. This enhances the cooling process further since the heat diffusion no longer comes from the M.2 SSDs towards the chipset. A simple but efficient change, hats of to ASUS for that.

SATA 3.0, PCIe lanes, and front panel connectors…

Back to a more classical solution, the board is equipped with six SATA 3.0 slots. It also keeps the same lane configuration seen in the previous three generations of boards. 24 PCIe lanes can accommodate different configurations depending on your needs. Considering that this is an entry-level board, it is not suitable for anything more than a two GPU configuration.

The I/O connectors consist of one PS/2 keyboard/mouse connector, two USB 2.0 ports, four USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports (3 Type-A + 1 Type-C), two display outputs, one Gigabit Lan port. It uses Realtek S1220a 8 channel HD Crystal Sound 3 that delivers crisp, clear sounds, enhancing your gaming experience.

Our Verdict…

It’s evident that ASUS spent more time on the actual design of the Prime Z390-A rather than adding new features, which is a good thing. The board focuses on delivering a worry-free, feature-rich, premium-built motherboard to both enthusiasts and first-time builders.

And the price tag is incredibly low for a motherboard of this capacity. The Prime Z390-A supports both 8th and 9th Gen processors making it one of the best motherboards for Core i7-8700k.

Our rating: (4.5 / 5)

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Best Motherboards For Core i7-8700k Buyers Guide

Before you buy a gaming motherboard, you need to understand their relevant parameters and whether they match your CPU or not. So here’s a guide of things you need to consider before buying the best gaming motherboard for the Core i7-8700k.

Look at the form factor…

The first thing you need to look at is the form factor. Most motherboards are ATX, which is the standard motherboard size with plenty of slots and connectivity options. If you’re upgrading to a new motherboard and don’t know which size fits, you can measure your old motherboard and compare it.

Check the processor socket…

After deciding on the form factor, you need to choose the CPU socket. There are numerous sockets, but only three are applicable; LGA, PGA, and BGA.

BGA sockets are pretty rare since they are permanently attached to the motherboard. The most common socket is LGA. The socket you choose depends on the type of GPU you have. So, when choosing a motherboard for the i7-8700k, you need an LGA-compatible socket.

Random Access Memory…

The motherboard you choose will determine the amount and kind of memory you can use. The motherboard should support 16GB of RAM, but you should seriously consider opting for a 32 or 64GB motherboard.

The board should preferably have four memory slots or DIMM slots, as they are popularly called. That means you can start by installing two RAM sticks and still have some spare room if you want to upgrade later on.

Check the PCIe slots…

The PCI slots are where you install various components like a graphics card. There should at least be two PCIe slots on the motherboard, but the more you have, the better. If you want to install multiple graphics cards, make sure that at least two slots are PCIe x 16 and support either Nvidia SLI or AMD Crossfire or both.

Some motherboards also provide smaller PCI slots for other cards like WiFi adaptors, sound cards, etc. The best motherboards have built-in surround sound quality codecs and booming 3D effects.

Built-in WiFi…

If you can’t decide which motherboard to buy, you should opt for one with built-in WiFi. Almost all contemporary motherboards have a WiFi module to meet today’s demands.

For reliable connectivity, make sure the board includes 802.11 ac/b/g/ n. Some motherboards have special Ethernet connectors for lossless connectivity. They are faster than wireless connections and are more productive in extensive bandwidth connectivity options.

Features…

You want to buy a motherboard that provides high-end features. However, you don’t need a board with two hundred features if you only plan on using ten. Decide what features you might need and opt for a motherboard that only contains those features. You can also consider buying a motherboard with built-in features. That way, you don’t have to buy any expansion cards.

SATA…

The number of SATA ports available on a motherboard can be crucial. Each SATA port enables you to connect an optical drive like an SSD or HDD. Therefore, you should first look at your storage needs and then choose a motherboard to accommodate that.

Furthermore, the motherboard you choose should provide SATA 3.0. On top of that, check how many USB ports the board has and if it can handle all your peripherals.

Looking For Something Else?

The computer you need is now easier than ever to build. So, check out our in-depth Best GTX 1070 Laptops Review, our Best Budget PC Cases Reviews, our Best Gaming Monitor under 100 Dollars, our Best Cheap 4K Gaming Monitors under 300 Dollars, and our Best Mini ITX Cases Reviews for the very best products available in 2022.

Also, take a look at our comprehensive Best Budget Gaming Chairs under $200 Reviews, our Best Gaming Desk Review, our Best Sound Card Review, our Best Ultrawide Monitor Reviews, and our Best Budget Gaming Headsets Reviews for more items currently on the market.

What Are The Best Motherboards For Core i7-8700k?

If you only want the absolute best, then the motherboards we have featured in this review are all excellent choices for the i7-8700k. As we said in the beginning, they are all handpicked to get the most out of the processor. They are also future-proof, which is essential if you’re a gamer.

However, if you haven’t already decided, we highly recommend the…

GIGABYTE Z370 AORUS Ultra Gaming WiFi

Our choice for the best motherboard for the Core i7-8700k.

Until next time, it’s always game on.