Best Motherboard for i7 7700k

Sure, you might be on top of your game with the Intel Core i7 7700k processor.

However, Intel Core processors cannot do their jobs all by themselves. They need the best motherboards for i7 7700k processors to work with as a complete system.

You might already look for a gaming motherboard for i7 7700k in the market. You might find an overwhelming amount of motherboards available for Intel core processors, which leads you to this article.

No worries, this guide will help you pick the best motherboard for i7 7700k.

7 Best Motherboards for i7 7700

MSI Enthusiastic Gaming: Best Overall

If you decide to purchase the best motherboard for i7 7700k with or without a tight budget, the MSI Enthusiastic Gaming Intel ATX Motherboard is the perfect fit for you.

Let me tell you why.

For starters, you can find all the premium features here that work best with 7th-generation Intel core processors.

Like other models in this list, the best motherboard for i7 7700k offers a 5-way optimization option to let you optimize your system with only one click of a button.

Simple. Easy. Convenient. And Hassle-free.

However, the fun does not end there as MSI Enthusiastic Gaming Z270 promises to provide users a unique Intel i7 7700k gaming experience with the following features:

Versatility

As manufacturers designed this motherboard for gaming purposes, the Intel Z270 motherboard not only works well with 7th Intel core, but also 6th Intel core processors.

There’s no reason why you would not enjoy the best gaming experience provided by this Intel Z270 motherboard.

Quick and Easy Customizations

The Intel Z270 motherboard brings out the best features and options available in its default mode to impress users with the 5-way optimization.

This Intel Z270 motherboard allows you to customize your gaming action with its user-friendly UEFI BIOS.

With its 64 GB memory and four memory slots, you have plenty of options to choose from in controlling your gameplay, so if you’re a hardcore gamer it’s hard to say you’ll ever run out of ways to enjoy your game time.

During unprecedented events, you can recover the BIOS quickly with a flash BIOS button. This button removes the need for a CPU, VGA card, or memory card.

Virtual Gaming Settings

Perhaps, the best thing you could get from this Intel Z270 motherboard is the unique virtual experience during gameplay.

This surreal experience was possible with the help of VR Ready and VR Boost inclusions in the model.

The DDR4 memory onboard includes a performance boost shielded with steel armor to give a smooth gaming experience.

Virtual simulator games, anyone? You’re in for a treat.

On top of these features, you can expect lower latency with the best bandwidth management that this Z270 model can provide.

Stimulating your sense of hearing is the pompous sound quality generated by the Audio Boost 4 with Nahimic 2.

Exquisite Layout and Design

While people say that you cannot judge a book by its cover, you need to check on the layout of the best motherboard for Intel Z270 to see if it’s suitable for your PC.

The best motherboard for i7 7700k model design accommodates fan headers and M.2 slots for maximum performance.

Its dark color scheme is pleasing to the eyes, especially with the superimposed RGB lighting layout turned on.

After all, we can see that this Intel Z270 motherboard stays true to its name with all the features that will make your i7 7700k gaming experience better.

Now if you’ve been meaning to find an upgrade to your gaming performance, the Intel z270 just might be the one.

Considering professional eSports players show their approval of this Intel Z270 motherboard, there is no doubt that this motherboard is one-of-a-kind.

As the model can manage to overclock, gamers use the MSI Enthusiastic Gaming Z270 for 24-hour online and offline testing of gaming tournaments. 

Let the international awards and recognitions received by this model speak to you.

Pros

• Virtual reality gameplay
• Excellent performance & value
• Captivating dark layout
• Highly-functional inclusions

Cons

• RGB lighting not well-supported
• Incomprehensible manual

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Gigabyte Aorus GA-Z270X: Best Value

If you are someone who has a good amount of money to spend on a motherboard, you could consider the Gigabyte Aorus GA Z270X.

It might be expensive at first, but once you get to know what you are paying for, you might even ignore its price at all.

If you are curious about the GA Z270X motherboard, here is the list of its novel features you might not find in other products: 

High-Capacity Slots and Ports

With the number of slots and plots scattered around the motherboard, you don’t need to buy any extensions or hubs for additional connections.

The product comes with PCIe, SATA, and SATA Express slots. 

There are also four DDR4 RAM slots that can handle a maximum of 64GB of data. Such an amount of data is large enough to support multiple actions and programs running simultaneously.

Those are the slots only; there are more ports than you would expect to.

Starting with USB ports, you have two each for USB 3.1 and USB 2.0; both are Type-A and Type-C ports. Also onboard are two LAN ports and gold-plated jacks.

The list doesn’t end there as you also have dual M.2 ports to maximize storage speeds. The motherboard can also accommodate four GPUs for added capacity.

The dual U.2 connectors, together with triple PCIe SSDs with Raid 0 support, keeps your SSD above 1 GB.

Adaptable Cooling System

Having seen several slots and ports in this model, you might expect this gaming motherboard to have more inclusions, and you’re right.

All in all, there are eight fan connectors made available in this model. These connectors allow you to install air and liquid coolers WITHOUT WORRYING about limited space for other installations.

Moreover, the hybrid pin headers onboard let you connect multiple liquid pump coolers, fans, and radiators.

There are also built-in EK G-Frost hybrid water blocks if you find it a hassle to look for an external water cooling system.

The CPU slot makes it easier to prevent the system from overheating with the Smart Fan 5 technology. 

The product deems overheating as a critical issue that it also comes with multiple thermal sensors inside and outside. 

Not only that, but there are also corrugated heat sinks onboard made of anti-corrosive materials for a powerful water cooling system.

Enchanting RGB Light Shows

At first, you might find the all-black design of the model with dainty white covers boring; until you turn on the light straps found from RAM slots to GPU slots.

Inside the motherboard are LED strips with RGB fusion lighting that runs on a 12-V power supply. This setup gives rich color contrasts of 16.8 million illumination strength.

Based on your choice, you can modify the lighting through a native app. The RGB Fusion App allows you to track and customize lighting, among other control functions.

Overall, the app gives you several choices to modify various lighting parameters. Customize your mini light show by adjusting the LED pattern or creating your lighting pattern or the preset lighting combinations available.

You can find up to seven preset light effects in the software together with an interchangeable LED overlay.

Beyond these aesthetic lights are supplementary LED modes that serve as indicators of temperature, pressure, time, and other control flags.

With all of these features included in the Gigabyte Aorus GA-Z270X gaming motherboard, why would you hesitate to spend big money if you can afford to do so?

You will appreciate its price by looking inside out, where every aspect of the product ensures a unique gaming experience.

Pros

• Great noise level control
• Customizable RGB lighting
• Highly-efficient GUI for monitor and control

Cons

• Not suitable for medium-end gamers
• Relatively heavy

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ASRock B250M-HDV: Budget Option

We understand there are other components you need to purchase in building your PC.

Other components are equally as necessary as a motherboard, so you might not want to hold your budget tight on purchasing them.

With that, the ASRock B250M-HDV for i7 7700k provides everything that you are looking for in a motherboard at a low price.

You can see that it has a fair share of unique offers in this list:

Multiple Connections

For once, you might find the need to work on multiple activities on your PC simultaneously. 

While your PC gives you an option to perform several actions on the system all at once, you still find difficulty in doing so with a single monitor.

This motherboard may solve your problem as it allows three display units at a time. It was possible because of various connections onboard the motherboard.

The inclusion of HDMI enables you to connect to an external projector. Moreover, there are also multiple USB ports available for other components.

Fast Internet Connectivity

Most computer users struggle in connecting their unit to a fast and reliable Internet connection due to several reasons, one being the complexity of their motherboards.

Connecting to the Internet becomes simple with the dual-band Wi-Fi antenna and Bluetooth 4.0 version included in this product. 

On top of that, you can customize your connections while using 2.4 GHZ/5 GHz bands optimal for this motherboard.

For maximum connectivity, six SATA ports, along with one Ultra M.2 and six USB ports, spread around the model.  

Precise Graphics and Sound Outputs

Engineers design the best motherboard to generate graphics and sound interfaces catering to the various needs of the users.

The result is a rigid combination of video and audio quality that most people find the highlight of this motherboard.

Having the HDMI output onboard, users can enjoy video clips and animations at a 4k or 3k setting.

Completing the perfect blend of audio-visual presentation is the HD audio system supported by various components.

Backing the 7.1 channel enabled HD audio system of the motherboard for i7 7700k is the Realtek audio codecs with ELNA audio caps.

System Integrity

You cannot protect your motherboard for i7 7700k from all sorts of hazards, either internally or externally, at all times. 

With that, you must ensure the best motherboard for i7 7700k itself has its capability to prevent irreversible complications of system malfunctioning.

Its high-frequency MOSFETs can provide quick performance without any excess heat build-up.

A premium 50A power choke offers overvoltage and overcurrent protection. It is responsible for monitoring and keeping all functions working at a saturation current level.

So if you’re worried about this motherboard calling quits on you one day, don’t be. It’s as loyal as a dog is to its owner.

The exterior layout of the model also offers added protection. The glass fabric layout with PCB layers prevents moisture from accumulating that could potentially cause short circuits.

All of these features explain why such an inexpensive model lasts long enough with an efficient working system.

ASRock Live App

The native app included in the model package serves as a one-stop support program that lets you customize and control your PC performance. 

You can also monitor several parameters of your PC. You have real-time temperature and pressure statistics that might affect the system’s efficiency.

It also gives regular updates on your internal drive; while keeping your systems configuration check with multiple live apps.

Need help with issues on your PC? You could ask for assistance from their real-time customer support. They might help you in dealing with configurations and system settings.

Who said you need a big budget to get yourself the best gaming motherboard?

When we’re talking about electronics items such as motherboards, there is no price at taking risks.

However, you cannot dismiss everything that ASRock B250M-HDV has to offer at a low price. What do you think? 

Pros

• Compatible with both old and new processors
• Relatively inexpensive
• Increased accessibility with multiple ports

Cons

• Dim LED lights
• High-maintenance Ethernet ports

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ASUS Z170-PRO: Most User-Friendly

The ASUS Z170-PRO comes as one of the ASUS’ best motherboards for i7 7th-generation Intel processors.

Beginners might find this ASUS gaming motherboard for i7 7700k a good option in building a computer with its UEFI-BIOS.

You can ensure security with your motherboard as it comes with high-end hardware safeguards.

The ASUS Z170-PRO stands out from the rest of ASUS motherboards for i7 7700k with the following list of outstanding features:

Advanced Base Clock Technology

If you want a more stable motherboard that can last the test of time, the ASUS Z170 leaves any worry behind after you make the purchase.  

With its advanced technology, expect faster processing and lesser delays in gaming.

You don’t need to worry about overclocking with this motherboard. It includes different performance maps and the option for a system twist. 

The GUI BIOS makes twisting your system easier with just some clicks of your mouse.

Extreme Audio Quality

Equipped with crystal sound 3, Turbo LAN, and Intel LAN, the best motherboard for i7 7700k produces loud and clear sounds with low latency networking.

However, you might be mindful of its audio boosting that may not satisfy your sense of hearing.

Diverse USB Port Options

The ASUS Z170-PRO comes with Intel USB 3.1 that includes Type-A and reversible Type-C ports. It also contains VGA ports, among other benefaction ports.

Water Pump Header Inclusion

This motherboard has an onboard water-pump header for installing any water cooler system. With this feature, you don’t need to worry about your system overheating anymore.

There are many mid-range motherboards for i7 7700k available in the market today. It might be hard to choose the best motherboard for i7 7700k from a myriad of choices.

As simple as it is, the ASUS Z170-PRO offers user-friendly features for anyone.

Its 5-way optimization system enables you to control the system in just a click. It also includes DIY features for customized system management.

Compared to other i7 7700k best motherboards, the several inclusions in the product make it more durable and stable. 

There’s no doubt that this model becomes a top pick among several ASUS products.

Pros

• High-quality audio output
• Five-way optimization option
• Supports data mining

Cons

• Plain black, grey, and white color schemes
• Mediocre audio boosting

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Gigabyte GA-Z170MX: Best Video Quality

Sure, it’s hard to convince consumers to buy complicated products such as motherboards for i7 7700k. One motherboard for i7 7700k that stepped up to this challenge is the Gigabyte GA-Z170MX.

Its dual-channel DDR4 produces high-quality video outputs that most people love.

The exciting list of unique features of Gigabyte GA-Z170MX continues with the following:

Excellent Video Viewing Experience

You might adore its dual channels that make doubling of data throughput effective from the RAM to a memory controller. 

The best motherboard for i7 7700k has a display port with a 3-way graphics support reinforced with a metal shielding to heighten its durability.

To provide users flawless video quality, the motherboard for i7 7700k also includes multiple DIMMs along with a supporting HDMI port.

Efficient Data Transfers

There is a need for efficient data transfers within the system to achieve excellent video quality.

The dual-channel system enables the memory controller to use two 64 bits of data channels, resulting in 128 bits of increased bandwidth.

The three SATA Express Connectors can also handle a maximum of 16Gb/s data transfer.

Furthermore, the PCIe Gen3 x4 M.2 connector allows up to 32Gb/s data transfer supported by PCIe and SATA SSD.

Great Lighting System

If you want to add color to your gaming experience, this motherboard for i7 7700k will help you with that. 

While other motherboards for i7 7700k exert effort in making their exterior designs look more appealing, this model offers another way to lure users through lighting sets.

Depending on your mood, you can turn the volume up of the pulsating beat provided by the eclectic music.

Upon witnessing the greatness of this motherboard for i7 7700k, you would start considering spending more on your motherboard.

Its excellent video output quality would make it hard to ignore, especially if what you’re after is great graphics animation.

Pros

• Durable graphics support
• Well-designed display port for video output
• USB3.1 and Type C ports

Cons

• Inconvertible, outdated BIOS
• Relatively expensive

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ASUS Maximus IX Hero: Best for Start-ups

As you go through this list of the best motherboards for i7 processors, you witness a wide range of models that have distinct features.

You can also notice that the products included have different prices as well. 

Well, let’s say this model falls right in the middle of this spectrum. This product is your average PC gamer’s dream.

Elegant Model Design

Looking from the outside, it may seem that the ASUS ROG Maximus IX Hero motherboard is bland and simple. The ingenious red accents bombard the overall black and grey exterior.

Things start to spice up once the Maximus and ROG logo brings an incredible sight while it glows red.

For a more personal experience, you can use the Aura Lighting Control software for synchronized colored light shows with all your devices.

If that does not satisfy you, don’t worry. The ASUS ROG Maximus IX Hero supports 3D printing for further motherboard customization.

You can assure that this motherboard can stand long enough without flexing or tilting.

Inspecting each component of the model, you will find that high-quality materials make up every part to perform well for the best gaming experience.

Highly-Functioning Slots and Ports

With its 1151 socket and Z270 chipset, you can tell that this model can run on modern generation Intel processors.

You will never run out of slots and ports to work with this gaming motherboard. 

Hardcore gamers, in particular, will love this model, as it can allow a maximum of 64 GB of RAM, way more than what you need in heavy-duty gameplay.

The four RAM slots sitting next to the CPU slot are the key to achieving a maximum speed of 4133 MHz. You can also have 2-way or 3-way SLI with the ASUS ROG Maximus IX Hero.

You will see numerous ports scattered around the product, which are more than what you ask. There are four USB 3.0 and USB 3.1 ports around beside the USB Type-C ports.

While USB 3.0 is good all alone, you will get DOUBLE the speed with USB 3.1. This perfect combination works together to provide a smooth gaming experience.

Capping the list of these essential ports are HDMI, DisplayPort, and audio jacks.

Streamer’s Great Companion

Whether you plan to stream your gameplay for fun or profit, the ASUS ROG Maximus IX Hero is your one reliable friend.

You won’t feel lonely in your video streaming, even if no one watches your live stream. This model won’t leave you behind.

This motherboard has one of the best LAN ports available in the market. With this feature, you will never encounter any problem with your Internet connectivity again, except if it’s the provider’s fault.

Besides the lagging and unpredictable Internet connection, streamers struggle with compromised PC gaming systems. Your fast and reliable Wi-Fi connection is useless with a crappy and exhausted PC unit.

Overclocking your components is as easy as passing the quick tutorial of your favorite game. Also, you can make custom modifications to the BIOS depending on your needs.

All in all, the ASUS ROG Maximus IX model is one of the best starting units for a high-end gaming system.

It is simple to use with several customizable options. Plus, the model gets regular updates to fix any notable bugs and issue users might find during their gameplay.

You would not ask for more once you have this model in hand.

Pros

• Handles big amount of data
• Multiple connectivity
• Attractive design and layout

Cons

• Limited OC power
• Highly expensive

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ASRock FatalityZ270 Gaming: Best Ergonomic Features

If you worry more about overclocking in your system, hold still. This Z270 chipset-supported model will take your fears away.

From the previous items on this list, you saw how each product handles overclocking through different approaches.

To understand overclocking, the users must look into various components of the gaming system. Every part of the unit plays a critical role in determining its efficiency, especially in disparaging situations.

We’ll explore overclocking by relating some features of the ASRock Fatality Z270 motherboard in dealing with this issue:

Increased Connectivity for Gamers

On top of your usual connectivity ports in your gaming motherboard, you will find that this model does not put up several connections for display. They all serve essential functions to keep the unit in check.

With this model, you’ll have carefully-designed PCIe slots and USB ports to serve the best interests of gamers.

Unlike other motherboards you encountered earlier, this model can support both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 connections. It’s all up to you which one you will use for either average-speed or fast connectivity.

Furthermore, the USB 3.0 ports conveniently sit around the model, either on the front or back. You can also find the sole USB Type-C port at the front side with Intel Thunderbolt 3 speed enhancement. 

Scaled-Up Memory Storage

Now, you might be enthusiastic about knowing why there is a need for several ports and slots in your gaming motherboard.

For one, the PCIe slots integrate with dual power connectors.

These items support quick data sync and file storage, together with a Bluetooth 4.0 module and a dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz arbitrary bandwidth coverage range.

To expand the storage capacity in SSD and HDD units, one can use any of the six SATA ports found in the model. With the Serial ATA bus interface, the transfer rate for SATA ports can go up to 150MBps. 

Moreover, there is the 1x SATA Express to assist SATA for both PCIe and SATA storage devices.

You might also find the SDRAM helpful in providing an additional 32GB of memory with the dual DDR4 slots.

Beyond these ports and slots, the dual ultra M.2 device onboard lets you add more internal memory for increased productivity.

Well-Crafted Ergonomic Design

The product employs a spacious design that allows you to install multiple components at the same time.

You also don’t need to invest in an audio system anymore. It has built-in Realtek HD Audio drivers together with other essential audio components.

There is a gold-plated audio connector to maximize the signal processing of the audio output. 

The Creative Sound Blaster Cinema3 Audio driver adds to the overall quality of sounds generated by the system.

Now, if music production is up your alley, you have to give this motherboard a shot.

This Z270 motherboard also gives you a unique VR gaming experience with its ASRock VR-ready components and drives.

If you find the ASRock Fatality Z270 motherboard worth your money, you should be quick in purchasing one until the stocks last.

There’s a reason why this model is a limited edition only. 

We’ll see what can come in this series of Z270 chipset motherboards in the future.

Pros

• Ergonomic features
• Lightweight
• Extendable memory

Cons

• Relatively expensive
• Limited connectivity

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Before You Make a Purchase, Make Sure You Know These Things

Perhaps, you already have an idea of the best motherboard for i7 7700k that suits your needs and desires. 

Wait a minute. Before you even take your cash out for the best gaming motherboard for your high-end CPU, you might need to consider the following reminders.

Is the Intel i7 7700k Processor Still Good for Gaming Today?

Someone who loves gaming might find the Intel Core i7 processor one of the best modern generation Intel core processors out there.

Also known as Intel’s Kaby Lake, the 7th-generation Intel Core i7 processor enables you to control your desktop with better command. 

With its more advanced clock technology, expect higher clock speeds on top of improved graphics performance and architecture.

The i7 processors also allow you to use a gaming CPU that comes with high-end GPUs without worrying about bottlenecks.

Things You Should Look for the Best Gaming Motherboard for i7 7700k Processors

After getting to know the processor itself, we now look into the features you should consider in choosing the best motherboards for i7 7700k.

Generally, you want to have a gaming motherboard that works best with a 7th-generation Intel core processor as a great gaming system.

After all, you want your CPU to provide a smooth gaming experience without lags and glitches.

With that, we will go through the list of things you should check out for the best gaming motherboard.

Compatibility

It must be your top priority that the motherboard can keep up with the 7th-generation Intel core processor.

You must opt to check the system compatibility of the motherboard before you consider other features.

Power Connectors

Among motherboards, there are various types of power connectors such as ATX, micro-ATX, and mini-ATX.

As they create vital connections within the motherboard, you should be careful in choosing a form factor that supports a certain number of pins and expansion slots.

Ports and Slots

A strong gaming CPU comes with more slots allowing faster processing. In that matter, modern i7 7700k motherboards often have nine USB slots. 

With these USB slots, the fastest in all of the connection pins are the USB 3.0 and USB 3.1 Generation 2-connectors.  

In terms of versatility, a great gaming PC can work efficiently through any connections. A flexible PC can manage itself through either PCIe slots or USB ports for internal or external connectivity.

Consequently, USB Type-C ports may come for Type-C external cable connectivity in modern motherboards.

Moreover, DIMM slots are as equally important as PCIe and USB slots. You can compare them by their DDR capacity. 

You will find these slots on i7 7700k motherboards for RAM building.

RAM slots

High-end games typically consume a big chunk of gigabytes from the RAM to meet the game’s graphics requirements.

Considering this, you might want to check for an expandable RAM capacity in a gaming motherboard.

Usually, gaming PCs come with either dual- or quad-channel RAM slots. We recommend the quad-channel RAMs that have better RAM capacity and color-coding.

Also, it is preferable to have a dual-RAM combination over a single RAM as it allows for higher efficiency and lower heat build-up in your RAM.

Cooling System and Heatsink

As heat build-up is inevitable in a gaming or overclocking computer, a cooling system is a must-have in the motherboard.

Sometimes, you can hear a loud, roaring noise inside your system when gaming over a long period. This noise is an indication of the quick heating up of the system components.

You might want to get a water cooling system type of fan that operates quickly and noiseless.

As your cooling fan occupies a considerable amount of space in your motherboard, you should look for one that can still accommodate RAM and PCIe slots.

If you want real-time control of speed, cooling, and quiet modes, you should choose a PWM fan.

RGB Lighting

Today, most modern gaming motherboards have LED strips that come with synced and isolated RGB lighting supplies. 

Over time, more recent models have better RGB programming that might cost you more in return.

Choose RGB and RGBW headers for aesthetic light shows that can have external lighting patterns.

The 4-pin and 5-pin RGB headers, along with Wi-Fi connection, made this feature possible.

Final Thoughts

Finally, we’ve come to the end of this article. With all the best models you witnessed earlier, it might be hard to pick the best item among them.

However, we picked our Top 3 choices for the best motherboards for i7 7700k.

2nd Runner-Up: ASUS Maximus IX Hero

If you are starting to build a high-end gaming system at a fair price, the ASUS Maximus IX Hero is the perfect fit for you.

1st Runner-Up: Gigabyte Aorus GA-Z270X

For premium features, from custom-ready RGB light sets to versatile cooling systems, every penny you spent for this model is worth it.

Champion: MSI Enthusiastic Gaming

This model gives justice to its name as it comes with everything a gamer needs for a unique gaming experience.