What motherboard do you need to pair with an i7-14700 chip?
What motherboard do you need to pair with an i7-14700 chip?
I have an Intel i7-14700 Processor. My budget is tight, so I found this Asus TUF Gaming z790 Plus WiFi on Amazon. It looks good and fits my money. But the box says it only works with 12th or 13th Gen chips. Some people say if I update the BIOS, I can also use a 14th Gen chip. So I am confused: should I buy this one or something else?
I also saw an MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk MAX WiFi. But I have never used MSI before; I only like using Asus. Please help me decide which motherboard to pick and suggest a CPU cooler for me, because I won't be trying to overclock my processor.
Hey there, your CPU is not an 'x' version, so I'd go with a B660 or B760 motherboard. The older type B660 might need a BIOS update to work with the CPU. But, the B760 should handle it right out of the box. Something like this would be fine: PCPartPicker Part List Motherboard: MSI B760 GAMING PLUS WIFI ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($160.00 @ Amazon) Total: $160.00 Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available Generated by PCPartPicker 2025-05-25 10:08 EDT-0400 You don't need an Z790.
The ASUS board should work with BIOS versions 1205 or higher. This is the TUF GAMING Z790-PLUS WIFI, an Intel Z790 gaming motherboard for big rigs. It has sixteen plus one DrMOS power stages, supports PCIe 5.0, runs on DDR5 RAM, comes in four M.2 slots, and offers USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C ports along with Aura Sync RGB lighting. Visit www.asus.com
The Intel i7 14700 comes with a nice cooler included. I think that's worth checking first because it feels pretty good to touch. The fan spins fast enough when needed, but it stays very quiet even at full speed. To get the best performance from this processor, you need BIOS version 1205 or higher; otherwise, some features won't work as intended. This chip came out on June 24th, so if you have really old inventory made before that date, you're probably safe. It's not a bad choice to pick MSI gear, but if you've used ASUS chips before and know them well, I'd recommend sticking with those instead of switching brands. You might also find an older model B760 motherboard for less money right now.
Here is a simple breakdown:
If you are looking at a new CPU, B760 is okay for now. But Z790 gives you better power delivery (VRMs), more USB and PCIe slots, faster RAM speeds, and usually a better value to buy in the future. So should I choose B760 or Z790? Asus has two models: Prime and Plus. The Prime is cheaper, so maybe I can pick Prime instead of B760? Also, it gets really hot outside (30-35 degrees Celsius) during summer. Do I need the RM1 Cooler now or should I get something better? Is that info on the motherboard box?
Your room temperature shows how good your cooler is doing. Turn on the AC or open a window when you're under heavy load so it can get heat out of the PC case. The fans inside try to pull that heat away, but sometimes some packages come with too much power for the chip (bios level). If you go to a local store, they'll give you new parts or even let you swap in an old one just to fix the BIOS issue. Honestly, I don't think two-year-old motherboards are common anymore!