While Intel has released the 9th generation of CPUs, they are still based on the 14nm process. With that in mind, the Intel i7 8700K is still a very good CPU for gaming and content creation.
We are going to include motherboards that support overclocking.
This means that we are going to include Z370 and Z390 motherboards. Both are pretty much the same, and you could say that the Z390 chipset is an updated version of the Z370 chipset.
Best Overall
- Great for Overclocking
- 8th Generation Intel
- Clean Stealth Look
Premium Pick
- Great Overclocking Support
- 8th & 9th Generation Intel
- Futuristic Design
Budget Pick
- Onboard LED Controller
- 8th Generation Intel
- Impressive Build Quality
The only differences are that the Z390 chipset supports CNVi and USB 3.1 Gen 2. Other than that, both have the same features.
The following are all the motherboards that we are going to look into here and some of their features that you might be interested in learning about.
Top Rated Gaming Motherboards for the Intel i7 8700k CPU
Now that you know about all the motherboards that we are going to look into here, we are going to look into each one in-depth. This is what you need to know.
The Best Gaming Motherboard for i7 8700k in 2020
1. ASUS ROG Maximus X Code – Best i7 8700k Motherboard For Overclocking
Asus is known for making some of the best motherboards and here we have the Asus ROG Maximus X Code, which is a very high-end motherboard with all the bells and whistles that you could ask for. Most of the motherboard is covered in armor and it is a very interesting look that gamers are going to like.
The I/O shield is integrated into the motherboard for easier installation. You should be able to install this motherboard into your case with relative ease. This is an ATX motherboard and you can install it in any ATX case. You get 4 RAM Slots with support up to 64 GB, which is more than what you are going to need for gaming and ideal for professional applications. The motherboard supports 4133+ MHz RAM speeds.
Our Pick
The Asus ROG Maximus X Code is a premium motherboard and costs a lot of money but if you are looking for the best motherboard that money can buy then this is definitely an option that you should consider.
This is an Asus motherboard, so you get exclusive features such as 5-Way Optimization with Auto-Tuning and FanXpert 4 AURA Sync RGB lighting and ROG exclusive SupremeFX S1220 CODEC for audio. The motherboard also comes with liquid cooler headers that will allow you to monitor the temperature and the flow of the liquid.
The motherboard comes with a clear CMOS button and BIOS flashback buttons in case you need to use them. You can find them with the rest of the ports. The motherboard comes with all the ports that you expect to get on a motherboard in 2020 including HDMI, Display Port, USB 3.1 Gen1 and USB Type-C. The motherboard supports Intel 802.11ac WiFi.
Read also: Best Motherboard for Intel i7 7700k
The Asus ROG Maximus X Code is a premium motherboard for enthusiasts that has been designed with overclocking in mind. It goes well with the Intel 8700K and you can overclock the RAM as well if that is something that you are interested in. You can get the 8700K up to 5.1 GHz using this motherboard and proper cooling. All these premium features do come at a very high cost though.
Pros
- Great for overclocking
- Clear CMOS button
- BIOS flashback button
- Very nice to look at
Cons
- Expensive
- Bluetooth is not the best
2. Asus ROG Strix Z390-E – Best i7 8700k Motherboard for Gaming
Here we have another motherboard from Asus. While this is an ATX board, this is a newer model and features the Z390 chipset rather than the Z370. The look is new as well. It has the new cybertext, which I personally like very much and I actually have got a new Asus board with a very similar look. This is surely not for everyone but if you do like the design then this is a different look for sure.
The motherboard does have some armor and even the PCIe slots are reinforced for durability and better GPU support. This is an Asus motherboard so you get features like Revamped 5 way Optimization for overclocking, FanXpert, Gamer’s Guardian, ESD guards and ASUS optimum II. Not only can you overclock the Intel i7 8700K but you can overclock the RAM as well.
Ability to Upgrade to the 9th Generation Later
The Asus ROG Strix Z390-E Gaming motherboard is a very nice looking motherboard that is functional as well. This might not be the best Z390 motherboard on the market but it is not priced like that either.
This is an ATX motherboard and you can install it in any ATX case. You get 4 RAM Slots with support up to 64 GB, which is more than what you are going to need for gaming and ideal for professional applications. The motherboard supports 4266+ MHz RAM speeds. The motherboard features 2 M.2 slots for fast storage and you even have 6 SATA 3 ports for SSDs and HDDs. The motherboard has multiple fan headers and even an AIO liquid cooler pump header. The motherboard has plenty of RGB options like other Asus motherboards and competing models on this list.
The I/O shield is preinstalled so you can install the board with relative ease. Other than that, the motherboard features integrated Wi-Fi. It comes with all the ports that you expect to get on a motherboard in 2020 including HDMI, Display Port, USB 3.1 Gen2, USB 3.1 Gen1 and USB Type-C.
Not only does the motherboard worth with the 8700K but the 9700K and the 9900K as well. If you were to upgrade in the future you would not need to change your motherboard. That is something that you should keep in mind when in the market for a new motherboard.
Pros
- Beautiful futuristic design
- Plenty of fan headers
- Dedicated AIO pump header
- Great overclocking support
- Robust build quality
Cons
- Bottom M.2 cover is tricky to remove
- Needs BIOS update
3. ASRock Z370 Killer – Best Budget Motherboard for Intel i7 8700k
We have yet another motherboard from ASRock. The Z370 killer is not as high-end as the ASRock Z370 Professional Gaming I7 but it does not cost as much either. The color scheme is subtle and the armor is not as much but that is not a bad thing.
This is an ATX motherboard and you can install it in any ATX case. You get 4 RAM Slots with support up to 64 GB, which is more than what you are going to need for gaming and ideal for professional applications. The motherboard supports 4266+ MHz RAM speeds. Faster RAM does mean better performance in games and you can take advantage of that with this motherboard.
Our Budget Pick
The ASRock Z370 killer is great value for the price. It comes with plenty of features but does not cost as much as most high-end Z370 motherboards. It could use more fan headers and an additional USB 3.0 header but other than that the motherboard is perfect for overclocking the 8700K.
The motherboard comes with all the ports that you expect to get on a motherboard in 2020 including HDMI, Display Port, USB 3.1 Gen1 and USB Type-C. The motherboard has a very easy to use BIOS and the overclocking options are very helpful.
This is a Z370 chipset so you can overclock your Intel 8700K to 5 GHz provided that you use proper cooling. If you have a decent air cooler for i7 8700k or an AIO liquid cooler then you should be able to hit that number without any issues.
Pros
- Easy to use BIOS
- Onboard LED controller
- Wi-Fi
- Very impressive build quality
- Extremely reliable
Cons
- Needs more fan headers
- An additional USB 3.0 header would have been nice
4. ASRock Z370 – Good i7 8700k Motherboard
The ASRock Z370 Professional Gaming I7 is an impressive option for gaming and professional work. The motherboard comes with all the features that you are going to need and you can save some money compared to more expensive Z390 options. The motherboard supports the 8700K out of the box and compatibility is not going to be an issue.
This is an ATX motherboard and you can install it in any ATX case. You get 4 RAM Slots with support up to 64 GB, which is more than what you are going to need for gaming and ideal for professional applications. The motherboard supports 4333+ MHz RAM speeds. Out of the box, the motherboard is Intel Optane ready. While we recommend using a single powerful graphics card, the motherboard does support Nvidia SLI and AMD Crossfire if you need to use multiple graphics cards.
Top Tier Motherboard
The ASRock Z370 Professional Gaming I7 is a very impressive motherboard for the price. It comes with all the bells and whistles that you are going to need. The motherboard is great for manual overclocking and the easy overclocking utilities are helpful as well. If you are looking for a solid motherboard to go with your 8700K but are not interested in spending too much money then this is a great option to consider.
The ASRock Z370 Professional Gaming I7 features 3 M.2 ports for fast storage and has 8 SATA ports for SSDs and HDDs. On the audio side, you have Purity Sound 4 & Creative Sound Blaster Cinema 3 which provides immersive sound quality when gaming and consuming content.
The motherboard comes with all the ports that you expect to get on a motherboard in 2020 including HDMI, Display Port, USB 3.1 Gen1 and USB Type-C. The motherboard supports Intel 802.11ac WiFi and Bluetooth 4.2. So you have plenty of ports and connectivity options. We recommend using ethernet for gaming but the Wi-Fi option is there if you ever need it.
Pros
- 10 Gb ethernet
- Nice UEFI implementation
- Impressive build quality
- 3 M.2 slots
- Great for overclocking
Cons
- Some users have reported missing items in the box
5. MSI Z370 GAMING M5
MSI has a number of great motherboards on the market that you can get for the Intel 8700K and the Z370 Gaming M5 is one of the models that we can recommend. The motherboard has a very sleek look and comes with plenty of armor. The RAM and PCIe slots are reinforced and should support your graphics card much better. Not to mention that the reinforcements will increase the durability of these slots.
The board also has plenty fo RGB lighting, so not only does the motherboard function well but it looks nice while doing so. This is an ATX motherboard and you can install it in any ATX case. You get 4 RAM Slots with support up to 64 GB, which is more than what you are going to need for gaming and ideal for professional applications. The motherboard supports 4333+ MHz RAM speeds. Out of the box, the motherboard is Intel Optane ready. While we recommend using a single powerful graphics card, the motherboard does support Nvidia SLI. You can use the feature if you need to run multiple graphics cards.
Intel Z370 Express Chipset
The Z370 Gaming M5 is a very good motherboard that comes with all the bells and whistles that you expect to get in 2020. It works well with the 8700K and with proper cooling, you can get the CPU to 5 GHz without any issues. If that is your goal then the Z370 Gaming M5 is a motherboard that we can recommend.
The motherboard comes with all the ports that you expect to get on a motherboard in 2020 including HDMI, Display Port, USB 3.1 Gen1 and USB Type-C. The motherboard has a very easy to use BIOS and th overclocking options are very helpful. If you have proper cooling then you can easily get the 8700K to 5.0 GHz.
The motherboard supports 9th generation CPUs as well but you will need to update the BIOS for that. This is something to keep in mind if you are interested in upgrading to the 9900K in the future. If that is the case then you will not need to change your motherboard.
Pros
- High-quality motherboard
- Supports high-speed RAM
- Bios is easy to use
- Supports 5.0Ghz overclock with proper cooling
Cons
- Only 2 USB 2.0 headers can limit RGB compatibility
- Lack of speaker makes troubleshooting difficult
6. GIGABYTE Z370 AORUS Ultra
Gigabyte has plenty of motherboards and Aorus is the premium brand from Gigabyte. While this is not as fancy as the Z390 motherboards, it is still compatible with the 8700K and has all the features that you are going to need for gaming and content creation. As this is not a Z390 motherboard you can save some money while getting pretty much all the features. You do not need to update the BIOS to get this motherboard working with the Intel 8700K.
This is an ATX motherboard and you can install it in any ATX case. You get 4 RAM Slots with support up to 64 GB, which is more than what you are going to need for gaming and ideal for professional applications. The motherboard supports 4133+ MHz RAM speeds.
The Gigabyte Z370 Aorus Ultra is a great motherboard. It looks good and comes with all the features that you are going to need for gaming. The price is great and is lower than Z390 boards.
It has 2 M.2 ports for fast storage and you also get 6 SATA 3 ports for SSDs and HDDs. It comes with all the ports that you expect to get on a motherboard in 2020 including HDMI, Display Port, USB 3.1 Gen1 and USB Type-C. The Orange accents are a nice touch and there are RGB zones all over the motherboard.
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There is plenty of armor on the motherboard and the RAM slots and PCIe slots are reinforced for durability and better support for the graphics card. This motherboard offers pretty much everything that you are going to need for gaming or content creation and is not priced as high as Z390 motherboards.
Pros
- Works with 8700K out of the box
- Great price
- Very nice design
Cons
- Only 2 USB headers
What Motherboard Should You Pick for Intel i7 8700k?
What do you look for in a motherboard?
These are the options that we think you should pick, but at the end of the day which option is the most suitable for you depends on how you perceive something is the most beneficial.
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