The Intel i7 8700K is a flagship processor which is better than its predecessor. This processor was in the vanguard of Intel’s widely popular Coffee Lake processors. The fans are very excited about the release of 8700K. This processor has 12 threads and 6 cores. This processor is one of the perfect options among Intel’s Coffee Lake lineup of processors. It claims to offer 30% better gaming performance than the previous processor, i7-7700K. The 8th Generation, Intel 8700K processor, is ideal for many hardcore users looking to build their setups.
The Intel 8700K makes a perfect combination with the motherboards having 300 series chipsets. This processor can handle overclocking without any problem, but you need a suitable cooler for i7 8700K. There is no need to compromise on the quality of your Coffee Lake CPU by using a meager motherboard.
We have provided a list of some the best motherboards for i7 8700K having compatible chipsets suitable with 8700K. You don’t need a motherboard that supports 8700K, but you need a motherboard that will help you experience this processor’s full power.
Best Motherboards for Intel i7 8700K
It is not easy to find a perfect motherboard for the i7 8700K, especially when you want to build your dream gaming machine. This CPU focuses more on performance, and it needs stable and clean power from the board to work at its maximum potential. It is best to buy a motherboard having well-built VRM components and power delivery systems.
Overclocking is another major point to consider while making a decision. We have provided a list of the best motherboards for i7 8700K, which are capable enough to handle overclocking and experience the full power of this processor.
Our Recommendations of Best Motherboards for i7 8700K:
AWARD | MODEL | RETAILER |
BEST MOTHERBOARD FOR I7 PROCESSORS | Gigabyte Z390 Designare Gaming Motherboard | |
BEST WIFI MOTHERBOARD | ASRock Z370 Taichi | |
BEST MID-RANGE MOTHERBOARD | ASUS Prime Z370-A | |
BEST BUDGET MOTHERBOARD | Gigabyte Z390 UD | |
BEST ATX MOTHERBOARD | ASRock Z370 Extreme 4 | |
BEST MINI ITX MOTHERBOARD | ASUS ROG Strix Z370-I Gaming | |
PERFECT CHOICE FOR GAMING ADDICTS | Gigabyte AORUS Gaming 7 Motherboard | |
GREAT GAMING MOTHERBOARD | ASUS Strix Z370-E Gaming | |
BEST GAMING MOTHERBOARD | ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E Gaming |
Let’s dive deeper into the reviews of our best picks:
ASRock Z370 Taichi is known as the best WiFi motherboard for i7 8700K.
Key Features
- ATX Form Factor
- Intel Z370 Chipset
- Supports 64 GB DDR4
- LGA 1151 Socket
Overview
This motherboard is known as the master grinder. It was released back in October 2017, and it is compatible with the 8th generation Intel Core processors. It comes with an extremely progressive design. Moreover, it has curvaceous dual heatsinks that are connected to the power supply area with the help of a heat pipe. The placement of the RGB lights is unique, which are attached under the chipset heatsink.
This unit offers decent performance for boosting as the Intel i7 8700K needs premium performance. This board can easily reach the highest limit with single-threading. While using all of its cores it can reach up to 4.3 GHz, which is also acceptable for a board available in this price range. This motherboard tops the list with its great overclocking performance to easily reach the compelling 5.1 GHz without any problem.
Furthermore, it comes with 4 dual-channel memory slots that are capable of supporting 64 GB of RAM. It can reach up to 4333+ MHz which is powered by the Hyper DDR technology. However, the 8th Generation Intel CPU is capable of supporting DDR4 up to 2666MHz. It comes with better storage options, having 3 high-speed M.2 slots and 8 SATA ports. The ASRock Z370 Taichi is regarded as the best motherboard for overclocking the i7 8700K. This unit offers a dual-card SLI and three-card crossfire combined with its full-length solid steel covering for PCIe slots.
The rear I/O panel has only one legacy PS/2 mouse/keyboard port, a pair of RJ-45 LAN ports combined with LED powered with two chipsets, an HDMI and 1.2 DisplayPort to offer video output, a single USB 3.1 2nd Generation Type-A port, and USB 3.1 2nd Generation Type-C port as well as four USB 3.1 1st Generation ports.
It comes with HD audio jacks empowered with the Realtek ALC1220 codec and Purity Sound 4 Technology to offer HD 7.1 CH sound output. Moreover, it also has two Antenna ports and a small CLR_CMOS button available at the corner. The internal I/O of this board can further expand the connectivity with the help of 3 USB 2.0 headers, 2 USB 3.1 1st Generation headers, and USB 3.1 2nd Generation Type-C headers. This unit also offers additional support for the Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 to provide users with powerful performance. It also comes with onboard dual-band 802.11ac WiFi support to provide wireless connectivity. Users will also get support for the Bluetooth 4.2 and high-speed 5G connections. Overall, it is a great motherboard that comes with numerous wonderful features.
PROS |
Offers Excellent Power Efficiency |
CONS |
Mediocre Overclocking |
ASUS Prime Z370-A is known as the best mid-range motherboard for i7 8700K.
Key Features
- ATX Form Factor
- Intel Z370 Chipset
- Supports 64 GB DDR4
- LGA 1151 Socket
Overview
This motherboard is a mid to high-end unit with high-end features while keeping the price as low as possible. However, you won’t experience the performance like the ASUS Maximus series, but this unit’s performance is still better than many other Z-series motherboards. It comes with a white theme, and enthusiasts love the design. The I/O panel cover, the VRM heatsink, and the chipset heatsink; all are white in color, and their complex design provides premium touch to this board. However, the PCB of this board is mostly black, but you will find white-colored triangular patterns as well.
It comes with 4 DIMM slots; they are black in color and provide support for a memory of 128 GB. However, users are recommended to use 32 GB memory sticks. It has 7 PCIe slots, three of them are PCIe x16 slots, and the other four are PCIe x1 slots. Moreover, two of its PCIe x16 slots are reinforced with metal, enabling users to easily install two heavy graphics cards without putting pressure on the slots.
This unit comes with two M.2 slots. One slot is available above the PCIe slots, and the other one is available along the chipset heatsink combined with a heat-spreader. You can install the M.2 SSD on this slot if you have only installed one SSD. It also offers six SATA III ports for better storage, and you can use SSDs, SATA, and HDDs on them.
Talking about the overclocking capability of this unit, it offers great overclocking performance than most of the Z-series motherboards. The flagship processors, 8th and 9th generation offered by Intel, can overclock up to 5.0 GHz. The VRM heatsink of this board is capable enough to handle the output. Combined with the high airflow, this unit can provide a notable performance improvement while overclocking against a stock processor.
Furthermore, the I/O of this unit comes with five 3.5mm jacks, two USB 3.2 1st Generation Type-A ports, one USB 3.2 2nd Generation Type-A port, one USB 3.2 2nd Generation Type-C port, two USB 2.0 Type-A ports, a DP port, an HDMI port, an RJ-45 port, and a dual-link DVI-D port. This unit can support 8 channel audio having DTS support and comes with Realtek S1220A Audio Codec.
PROS |
Comes With a Unique Color Theme |
CONS |
A Bit Expensive for an Average User. |
3. Gigabyte Z390 UD
Gigabyte Z390 UD is known as the best budget motherboard for i7 8700K.
Key Features
- ATX Form Factor
- Intel Z390 Express Chipset
- Supports 128 GB DDR4
- LGA 1151 Socket
Overview
The Gigabyte Z390 UD comes with an ATX form factor. It was released back in October 2018. The manufacturer has dropped all the gaming bulk and comes with a more standard and cleaner look. It has a black PCB and gray pattern that sweeps straight through most PCB, combined with the heatsinks. This unit has three full-length PCIe 3.0 slots, and the top slot supports x16, and the other two ports support x4.
Moreover, it also offers 3 PCIe 3.0 x1 slots. This unit has 12V ATX power input having 8-pin and 4-pin. It comes with 6 SATA ports having two right-angled connectors, and the other four have straight angled connectors. It has a single M.2 slot capable of supporting both PCIe 3.0 x4 and SATA drives. This unit can support up to 64 GB of RAM. The rear I/O panel comes with 6 USB 3.0 Type-A ports, an HDMI video output, and a pair of PS/2 ports.
This unit doesn’t offer any USB 3.1 2nd Generation ports due to its low cost. It also includes the Realtek ALC887 Audio Codec, which is less expensive. It is a great choice for those looking for modest attributes and don’t care about the gaming features on the board. It is a budget-friendly unit and perfect for those who are on a budget. It is a budget-friendly option for the Intel Core i7 8700K. This unit comes with the latest features and is available at an affordable price.
PROS |
Comes With Thunderbolt 3 Connector to Offer Fata Data Transfers |
CONS |
Lacks Onboard WiFi Support |
ASRock Z370 Extreme 4 is known as the best ATX motherboard for i7 8700K.
Key Features
- ATX Form Factor
- Intel Z370 Chipset
- Supports 64 GB DDR4
- LGA 1151 Socket
Overview
The ASRock Z370 Extreme 4 is an aesthetically appealing motherboard capable of supporting the most powerful processors and providing great overclocking performance. It offers a great futuristic feel with the help of its white stripes available on the black PCB. It comes with lighting on the I/O cover, PCIe slots, and chipset heatsink. The VRM heatsinks and I/O cover of this unit are gray-colored, and the chipset heatsink is black in color.
This unit can support up to 128 GB of RAM. It comes with 4 black-colored DIMM slots capable of supporting up to 4333 MHz memory during overclocking. Moreover, it has 6 PCIe slots available on the board, three of these slots are PCIe x16, and two slots are PCIe x1. It has a single M.2 slot available for storage and 8 SATA III ports. This unit has Realtek ALC1220 audio CODEC and provides Purity Sound 4.
The rear I/O of this unit has five 3.5mm audio jacks, four USB 3.2 1st Generation Type-A ports, one USB 3.2 2nd Generation Type-A port, one USB 3.2 2nd Generation Type-C port, an HDMI port, a Gigabit LAN port, PS/2 port, VGA port, and a DVI port.
This motherboard offers exceptional overclocking capabilities. It provides a 12-phase VRM, which can easily overkill a processor like Intel Core i7 8700K. You can easily overclock the processor up to 4.8 GHz available on all cores. However, the cooling solution of the unit should be capable enough to handle the overclocking.
PROS |
Offers RGB Lighting |
CONS |
More Voltage Required for Big Overclocks |
ASUS ROG Strix Z370-I Gaming is known as the best Mini ITX motherboard for i7 8700K.
Key Features
- Mini ITX Form Factor
- Intel Z370 Chipset
- Supports 32 GB DDR4
- LGA 1151 Socket
Overview
This unit is a great addition to the ASUS lineup. It was released back in October 2017 and is known as a high-end mainstream board with many powerful features available at a decent price tag. It comes with great support for the Intel 8th Generation processors. This board is aesthetically appealing, having infused RGB support, and offers great overclocking power. It offers maximized cooling operation to keep everything working fine.
This unit is a great choice for gaming due to its unmatchable speed and wonderful features. The power delivery heatsinks of this unit offer unbeatable support for overclocking, helpful enough to keep things cool during overclocking. It provides an excellent boot speed with the help of ASUS Pro Clock Technology. This unit can hit up to 4.3 GHz on all cores, and a single core can hit 4.7 GHz, which is fair enough. It has the supreme overclocking ability and can boost things up to 5.1 GHz while using i7 8700K.
The impressive feature of this unit is it’s automatic overclocking, with the help of 5-way optimization, it can boost the speed of all cores up to 4.7 GHz easily, and four of the cores can take the speed up to 5 GHz without having any trouble and of course constant support from heatsinks is required.
This unit can offer an optimal speed of 4333+ MHz and provides ultimate support for stable overclocking. It comes with two high-speed M.2 slots to support storage. The primary slot can be found at the front by the chipset, and the other one is available at the rear. It has only two DIMM slots available, and it can support up to 32 GB of RAM. Moreover, it has four SATA 6 GB/s ports, which are available around the DRAM slots. They offer RAID support 0, 1, 5, 10.
This board comes with an integrated Intel HD graphics support, which can catch 4K on native video outputs. It has only one PCIe 3.0 full-length slot, which can support up to x16. This unit offers no support for Crossfire or SLI.
The rear I/O panel has enough range of USB ports, 4 USB 2.0, and 4 USB 3.1 1st Generation slots. It comes with a DisplayPort and an HDMI to support video output. It has Dual Op Amplifiers to provide high-quality audio, and it has five audio output jacks. The audio is empowered by the ASUS exclusive Realtek ALC1220A codec combined with Premium Nichicon audio capacitors. With excellent support for ASUS Sonic Studio III, it offers a fantastic audio experience.
Overall, this motherboard is a great choice for gamers who are using i7 8700K. The design of this unit is heavily featured and super curvaceous. It comes with double-decker heatsinks and a perfect unit for regular and overclocks cooling operation. It comes with all the essential features available at an affordable price.
PROS |
Comes With Dual M.2 Slots |
CONS |
Some Gamers Need More Onboard LEDs. |
Gigabyte AORUS Gaming 7 is a perfect choice for gaming addicts.
Key Features
- ATX Form Factor
- Intel Z370 Express Chipset
- Supports 64 GB DDR4
- LGA 1151 Socket
Overview
This motherboard offers exceptional performance to maintain low voltage, works cool, and runs easily. This motherboard is ideal for gaming addicts who want to have their hands only on the best motherboard for building a gaming PC.
It comes with 3 M.2 connectors to offer great data transfer of up to 32 GB/s. It comes with the Thermal Guard technology to avoid bottlenecks and throttling from M.2 devices by dissipating the heat before it creates any problem. The DAC of this unit is great. The VRM is helpful to keep the unit cool under heavy workloads. It offers great SSD speeds and offers 5 second boot time. Everything works perfectly on this unit.
This motherboard comes with 300 LEDs lights for its RGB fusion lighting system. It provides users with the choice to comfortably choose their desired lighting and easily customize onboard RGB and outer light strips.
This motherboard is integrated with the Smart Fan 5 system to make it ideal for gaming and keep the system cool by maintaining the temperature. Users can experience great performance with the help of nine temperature sensors, an automatic user interface to control the fan, and eight water pump connectors.
It contains 6 SATA slots to provide better storage options. If you install an M.2 SSD in the M2M socket on the board, you will lose two slots due to conflicts. Overall, this motherboard is a great purchase for gamers who want to experience great performance and speed.
PROS |
Great Bluetooth and WiFi Support. |
CONS |
Lacks Onboard WiFi Support |
7. ASUS Strix Z370-E Gaming
ASUS Strix Z370-E Gaming is known as a great gaming motherboard for i7 8700K.
Key Features
- ATX Form Factor
- Intel Z370 Chipset
- Supports 64 GB DDR4
- LGA 1151 Chipset
Overview
This motherboard is an ideal unit for gaming. It comes with built-in RGB lighting and offers support for 3D printed parts. This motherboard looks aesthetically appealing. This board comes with an ATX form factor and offers strong coolers and customizable LEDs. It comes with the Aura Sync RGB LED lighting system provided by ASUS. It offers full control and multiple functional presets for the built-in RGB lights and strips attached with the RGB headers available on the board.
This motherboard looks appealing like other ASUS motherboards. It offers a T-Topology layout that is an excellent feature for beginners. This feature provides time-aligned signaling by adjusting trace lights available between the memory slots and boosting the DDR4 speeds up to 4000.
This motherboard offers onboard 802.11ac WiFi support. It has 2 x 2 dual-band 2.4/5 GHz antennas that are helpful to offer speeds up to 867 Mbps. There are two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots available on the board. You can connect two NVMe SSDs in the RAID setup and enjoy the great data transfer speeds of up to 32 GB/s.
This unit comes with an M.2 heatsink which is housed in the PCH heatsink. It has a large cooling surface, and M.2 heatsink can easily cool the connected M.2 SSD to provide steady performance. It has a stylish angular design.
Overclocking is an easy task on this motherboard with the help of ASUS 5-Way Optimization technology. It can optimize the primary aspect of a system dynamically and provides users with cooling and overclocking profiles that are best for your build.
It offers great audio quality to help gamers catch every detail of the game and provide an enhanced gaming experience.
PROS |
Onboard WiFi Support |
CONS |
It’s Not Easy to Detect a Problem While Troubleshooting. |
ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E Gaming is known as the best gaming motherboard for the Intel i7 8700K.
Key Features
- ATX Form Factor
- Intel Z390 Chipset
- Supports 128 GB DDR4
- LGA 1151 Socket
Overview
This is another motherboard in the list offered by ASUS. It is designed specifically for gamers. It comes with onboard WiFi support and software that provides 5-Way intelligent optimization that every gamer wants.
Another highlighted feature of this unit is the Gamer’s guard, which ensures great product reliability and durability. This motherboard can reach up to 5.0 GHz speed without facing any problem. BIOS of this unit is user-friendly and well set out.
This motherboard comes with heatsinks available for the NVMe drives, and it ensures that SSDs are working great under the desired temperature. This unit offers “Automatic OC,” a BIOS setting that offers incredible capacity. Few tweaks are required before using this setting, and this motherboard will deliver the performance you are looking for.
It comes with lighting available in front of the I/O shield, but it can make this unit stand out. It has multiple AURA headers, 4 USB ports, and several USB headers. It comes with two M.2 slots, Onboard WiFi, and Bluetooth 5.0 support with an adapter inserted as well as a Gigabit LAN port.
PROS |
Built-in AIO Shield. |
CONS |
The Size of I/O front Shielding |
9. Gigabyte Z390 Designare Gaming Motherboard
Gigabyte Z390 Designare Gaming Motherboard is ideal for those who are looking for maximized system potential.
Key Features
- ATX Form Factor
- Intel Z390 Chipset
- Supports 128 GB DDR4
- LGA 1151 Socket
Overview
This motherboard is specifically designed for 8th and 9th generation Intel core processors. It comes with great thermal control and offers excellent performance to users looking to experience the maximum potential of 9th generation processors. It comes with a wide range of features.
This unit has been built to last longer with the help of its Ultra Durable materials. The unorthodox one-piece stainless-steel shield covers the PCIe connectors. This unit offers additional strength that helps support the heavy graphics card.
This unit offers smooth performance to the users. It comes with built-in fast control, which is essential to have an effective command of your PC. It has several flexible and straightforward tools that are helpful to twist any aspect of the system. It offers great support for audio and storage. This unit comes with many highlighted features and a large AORUS logo on it.
At the backside of the packaging, you will find all the details regarding this board. Complex tuning of the system can be done with just one click. It can easily optimize the system’s important aspects and provide stable overclocking and exceptional cooling profiles designed for your PC.
Most of the motherboards use their AMP UP audio solution. However, this unit comes with an integrated Realtek ALC 1220 audio codec with a Smart Headphone Amp that can detect your headphones’ impedance immediately and helps avoid issues regarding distortion and low volume issues, etc. The audio solution has both Nichicon and H-Fi grade WIMA FKP2 audio capacitors. Overall, it is a great motherboard for gamers looking to enhance their skill and beat their competition.
PROS |
Great Software Support |
CONS |
The Color Scheme is a Bit Odd, i.e., White, Grey, and Black. |
Summary for The Best Motherboards for i7 8700K:
AWARD | MODEL | RETAILER |
BEST MOTHERBOARD FOR I7 PROCESSORS | Gigabyte Z390 Designare Gaming Motherboard | |
BEST WIFI MOTHERBOARD | ASRock Z370 Taichi | |
BEST MID-RANGE MOTHERBOARD | ASUS Prime Z370-A | |
BEST BUDGET MOTHERBOARD | Gigabyte Z390 UD | |
BEST ATX MOTHERBOARD | ASRock Z370 Extreme 4 | |
BEST MINI ITX MOTHERBOARD | ASUS ROG Strix Z370-I Gaming | |
PERFECT CHOICE FOR GAMING ADDICTS | Gigabyte AORUS Gaming 7 Motherboard | |
GREAT GAMING MOTHERBOARD | ASUS Strix Z370-E Gaming | |
BEST GAMING MOTHERBOARD | ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E Gaming |
Conclusion
We have provided a list of the best motherboards for i7 8700K. All the products are reviewed in-depth so that our readers can make a perfect decision according to their needs. We hope this buying guide will help you know your needs and find what you are looking for. Having enough knowledge before making a purchase is helpful to save your time and money.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which motherboard is compatible with i7 8700K?
Z370 is easily compatible with i7 8700K, but Z270 is incompatible, and it won’t support this processor Z270 that is made for the 7th generation i7 processors. However, these processors are K variants, and Z-series processors are compatible with i7 8700K.
Which motherboard is best for i7 processors?
If you are a person who is looking to build a PC and doesn’t look at the price tag before buying a motherboard, then Gigabyte Z390 Designare Gaming Motherboard is a perfect choice for you. It is compatible with both 8th and 9th generations of i7 processors.
Which is better, i7 8700K or i7 9700K?
The starting base frequency of Intel Core i7 8700K is 3.7 GHz. However, i7 9700K can reach up to 4.7 GHz after overclocking, and it can easily avoid any heat issues with the help of a Soldered Integrated Heat Spreader. So, i7 9700K is a better choice than i7 8700K.
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