A CPU is everything, it is the next best thing that gamers look for when figuring out how powerful a PC can be. If the CPU is lagging behind, no matter how capable the GPU is, the system will always be bottlenecked (see bottleneck calculators here). Therefore, getting a high-performance CPU is crucial for many applications.
Unlike the GPU; the CPU is always on, whether it’s simple tasks such as browsing the web or high-end tasks like video editing; everyday it’s hustling.
The Intel Core i7-10700K has always been the best Intel CPU of the 10th generation, and as of right now it sits at the number 4 spot in the CPU user benchmark list. This is quite remarkable as they’ve managed to hold on to one of the top 5 positions during all this time.
Although there’s already an 11th generation i7, many of you might still be considering this processor, and in that case, there’s nothing to worry about as there are plenty of compatible motherboards out there.
So to help speed up your decision making process, I’ve listed out seven motherboards that use the LGA 1200 socket, along with the best motherboard for i7-10700K; nothing but the best for the best.
You might also want to check this article that we have about best CPU GPU combination.
| Award | Model | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Most Expensive Motherboard for i7-10700K |
MEG Z590 GODLIKE
|
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| Least expensive Motherboard for i7-10700K |
Gigabyte H410M S2H
|
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| Smallest Motherboard for i7-10700K |
ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming-ITX/TB3
|
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| Personal Favorite Motherboard for i7-10700K |
GIGABYTE Z490 Vision G
|
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| Best Motherboard for i7-10700K |
ASUS TUF Gaming Z590-Plus WIFI
|
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Spare no expense! The MEG Z590 GODLIKE is a boon from the gods, this motherboard is the best of the best, only for those that can afford it. It’s got all the features you would expect along with a ton of cool optional features that makes it a very aesthetic and versatile masterpiece.
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Overcompensating much? Not to make fun of this motherboard but despite it’s extravagance, this mobo really has it all. While the other mobos were worrying about how to fit 2 M.2 slots and if they will be able to afford SLI/Crossfire support, this one already came prepared: with four M.2 slots, SLI/Crossfire support; for upto 3 GPUs, LAN, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 6 SATA III ports, you name it; it’s got what you need.
And the aesthetics, just amazing. I have never seen a more clean motherboard layout. It’s jam-packed with features but on the outside it looks very clean and simple. Other than the DIMM slots, CPU socket and PCIe slots, everything else is neatly tucked away under beautiful heatsinks.
The more fun but optional features on this mobo are the Dynamic Dashboard II; a customizable OLED panel, an 8-layer PCB design and an optional PCIe Expansion slot for two more M.2 slots. I could go on and on but you get the idea.
Looking for that cheap but efficient mobo to pair up your old i7-10700K? Well look no further friend, the Gigabyte H410M S2H has got you covered, this motherboard is ultra durable (or so they claim) and it’s got enough specs for a simple yet powerful build.
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On the other end of the spectrum we have the Gigabyte H410M S2H. Although it lacks a lot of extra features that our previous entry did, This mobo is still very reliable and durable.
The versatility on this motherboard is amazing, although it’s primary customer base simply relies on lower performing CPUs like the Core i3 and Core i5, don’t forget that this mobo is one that has an LGA 1200 socket and therefore will fully support even 11th gen Intel Core Processors.
Some optional features include: an onboard graphics support, along with real time hardware monitoring functions, 2 DIMMS with dual channel Non-ECC unbuffered DDR4 and Gigabyte’s anti-sulphur resistors; for maximum durability.
In my opinion the design looks a bit messy, but it’s Gigabyte’s signature style so, it’s not really that important. What’s actually important are the specs. Although you won’t get a beast of a machine with this motherboard, it will be enough for a budget gamer who somehow got his hands on a 10th/11th generation Intel Core processor.
If, for whatever reason, you like to keep things small and minimal, this motherboard will do just fine, maybe you want to build one of those stealth builds or just want something that will fit inside that coffin you call an apartment. The ASRock Z490 Mini-ITX motherboard has compromised a lot, but it’s a very reliable LGA 1200 socket mobo.
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What a very inquisitive mind, to utilize an i7-10700K on a Mini-ITX motherboard. That’s a very bold move.
The ASRock Z490 is built for gaming, it’s got that futuristic techy look that many gamers go for while still retaining it’s mini-ITX size.
For that small a form factor they have managed to cram whatever features they deemed necessary, such as a vertical M.2 slot, Wi-Fi, in-built graphics support along with silent but efficient fans and heatsinks, overall, an impressive design.
Although it looks small, this bad boy definitely packs a punch, at least more so than our cheapest entry, the Gigabyte H410M.
A sleek new design, multi-GPU support, more efficient temperature dissipation, the Gigabyte Z490 Vision G has got most of it. It’s a great mid-level motherboard that is somewhat future-proof and provides plenty of freedom to upgrade. For a mid level PC build I’d highly recommend this.
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The Vision G looks super sleek, the layout looks a little cleaner and it’s packed with enough features to whoop other mid-range motherboards.
Gigabyte also touts their “higher durability” claims with this mobo, along with some solid 2x Copper PCB which allows for more conductivity and cooling. The DIMM slots are a little over the top and they have upto 5000 MHz XMP profiles. These features may not seem much but they ensure a safe environment on which to easily overclock your PC.
This mobo is a good, future-proof mid level motherboard; in my opinion. If, for some reason, this won’t impress you, don’t worry, our final entry definitely will.
A brilliant confluence of form and function, the ASUS TUF Z590 ATX motherboard will get you going no matter what components you throw at it. It’s tough, reliable and most importantly it’s got what you need, I highly recommend it.
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Here’s the moment y’all been waiting for, this motherboard is the most reliable and perfectly balanced item in this list. It’s the perfect addition to your entry-mid level build.
The DIMMs on this mobo are good enough, it’s got a high enough speed that can be overclocked while also supporting Intel XMP.
It’s got onboard graphics, if you would ever need it, along with one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, (however, 4.0 support is only for 11th gen).
The bluetooth and the Wif-Fi are great additional features, I just love the shark fin antennas and the audio codec is also perfect.
All-in-all I think this is the one, the motherboard you should put on your build, especially if you don’t like my personal favorite entry.
I like to consider the Core i7-10700K as the final entry of the 10th generation. It marked the end of an era where I got to play Doom Eternal, one of the best games of all time. I’m sure many gamers played this game with an i7-10700K at high graphics and they had a magical time with this game.
Right now Intel has already released their 11th generation of Intel Core processors. Despite this, the Core i7-10700K is still going strong. Let me show you what makes this CPU so special and why it is still highly desired by the community.
The Intel Core i7-10700K was built for high-end PCs, it’s got 8 cores and 16 threads at 3.8 GHz base clock speed. This CPU was released during the second quarter of 2020 along with Intel’s flagship processor, the i9-10900K.
Since this CPU’s product line suffix is ‘K’, it means that the i7-10700K can be easily overclocked. When done so, it yields an exorbitant clock speed of 5.1 GHz from all 16 threads. This high-performance capacity is what makes it one of the top CPUs out there.
For more information on these specs and a quick guide on their numbering system, check out my previous article on the Best LGA 1150 Socket CPU.
Like I mentioned before, it is still one of the top five of the “Best Rated CPU list”. No Ryzen processor has been able to top this CPU. Although AMD has made good progress over the years, Intel is still dominating the market and the Intel Core i7-10700K has been instrumental in this endeavor.
So, if you can afford an Intel Core i7-10700K, by all means, go for it, you won’t be disappointed. But before you do, check out this next section where I go into detail on a high-end PC build based on this CPU.
Nothing but the best components for an i7-10700K CPU, in this section I’m going to list out all the other PC parts you will need, to get the most out of this CPU. This example build will help you get an idea of the necessary specs and help you plan future builds.
Being a gamer myself, I like to base all my builds as gaming rigs, because it’s fun and a high-end gaming setup is very versatile, it can be used for many other applications as well.
So, let’s get into the meat and potatoes, (or in our case: RAM sticks and motherboards) of this build.
CPU: Nothing but the best, the Intel Core i7-10700K
Motherboard: It’s a special secret, one that you will find at the end of this lineup.
RAM: 32GB will be enough for gaming, we don’t need to go overboard with 128GB just because the motherboard supports it. Something like a couple of G Skill Ripjaws V with 16GB each, with a speed of 3600 MHz.
GPU: Ah yes, the cream of the crop. Here you have the option of going for an Nvidia RTX 2070 Super or the RX 5700 XT by AMD. And no, the AMD GPU will not run slower on the i7-10700K just because they are competitors. Personally, myself and many other gamers would prefer the RX 5700 in this situation, as it is much cheaper and performs slightly better than it’s Nvidia counterpart.
For beginners, I’d recommend sticking to AIO cooling and not going DIY, but if you are ever interested in learning more about water cooling, check out my guide on the Best PC case for watercooling, where I list out some good PC cases along with the basics of getting started with watercooling.
CPU Cooling: For this build, I’d recommend an off-the-shelf Thermaltake TH360 ARGB AIO CPU cooler, it’s got a very efficient 360mm radiator and a water block that’s compatible with the LGA1200 socket.
Storage isn’t that important but, if you want to prepare this PC to be able to perform video editing and other tasks that take up a lot of space, I’d recommend a HDD of 5TB; for those large video files, an M.2 SSD with 500GB; for your video games, along with an extra SATA SSD of 500GB; for the OS.
Storage: For these three parts, something along the lines of a Toshiba X300 5TB, Samsung 970 EVO 500GB (see also Samsung 970 EVO vs 980 Pro) and a Samsung 860 EVO 500GB would be perfect.
Case: Any case that would fit the desired motherboard would do, make sure you have enough space for the RX 5700XT and the 360mm Radiator, an ASUS ROG Strix Helios is a good case, as it can support upto E-ATX mobos and there’s plenty of space for radiators, whether it’s DIY or AIO.
PSU: This is going to be a more power consuming build, the CPU along with the GPU are going to eat up a lot of power, and I’d recommend the 750W 80 plus gold XPG Core Reactor. For a detailed guide on PSUs and how to size up a PSU for build, check out my list of the best PSU for an RTX 3080.
Well that’s the gist of it, I hope these parts helped you get an idea of the scope of the overall build. I didn’t recommend an exact motherboard because that’s in the upcoming section where I list out four compatible mobos along with the most suitable one for an i7-10700K.
A good motherboard is a must-have if you’re planning to install an i7-10700K on it. If you want to utilize the full capabilities of this CPU, then it’s best to look for a mid-range motherboard that has enough features including good storage, memory configuration and SLI/Crossfire support. Anything else is just wasted potential on a 10th generation i7.
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