The generation of Intel Core i7 processors is the 7th Generation “Kaby Lake” series. This processor is a quad-core, eight-thread CPU with an 8MB cache and 3.5GHz base clock speed that can go up to 4.2GHz when overclocked. The Core i7 7700k is unlocked and capable of reaching high speeds when overclocking, making it one of the best CPUs on the market today for computer enthusiasts who want to push their system’s limits! But if you’re going to overclock your chip, you’ll need a motherboard that supports this functionality as well as all other features you might use like USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type C ports, M.2 PCIe SSDs, SATA Express, and more.
Here are our recommendations of the best motherboards to choose for your intel core i7 7700k CPU.
ASUS Z170 PRO
The ASUS Z170 PRO motherboard offers high-performance gaming and overclocking features for the latest Intel LGA 11551 processors. The i7 7700k board supports up to 64GB of memory, which is a great improvement over previous generations of boards that only supported 32GB max. There are three PCIe slots with x16 bandwidth and one M.2 slot in addition to six SATA ports. The ASUS Z170 PRO provides additional features for gamers and overclockers, such as the TPU (Turbo Processing Unit) that gives a quick boost in performance when overclocking is required.
Features:
Graphics Engine – Intel HD Graphics Processor: Supports DX11.0 & OGL ES40 with max. shared memory 304 MB
Audio Processor – Realtek ALC1150: Supports multi-streaming with high quality 115 dB SNR HD audio
LAN: Intel I219V Gigabit Ethernet, LANGuard, and GameFirst technologies
Memory Support – Dual Channel DDR4/3866MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory
Storage Support – Intel Z170 chipset:
Supports RAID 0, RAID ınterface mode, and SATA Express port for next-generation storage devices.
M.2 Socket (Socket 115x) supports type 22402/22110 M.2 interface and 2280/2260/22442 EMIO Interface SSDs
Intel LGA 11551 supports SATA Express
USB Ports – ASMedia USB 1602 SuperSpeed+ Controller, Supports the following features:
1 USB 3.1 type C port, 1 USB 3.1 type A port, 6 USB 3.0 ports were 2 on the back panel and 4 on the mid-board, and 6 USB 2.0 ports.
Supports USB hubs and ASMedia Hubs to connect multiple peripherals,
Chipset: Intel Z170 – Up to six ports of SATA Express (with the support for both types 22402/22110 M.2 interface and 2280/2260/22442 EMIO Interface SSDs)
Killer E2200 series: Advanced connectivity for hardcore gamers with Killer DoubleShot Pro technology that is designed to prioritize the gaming network traffic above all else.
ASUS Z170 PRO is one of the best motherboards for your i7 7700k CPU which also supports overclocking, which is a great feature for gamers and enthusiasts. The ASUS Z170 PRO can overclock the CPU (instructions per clock) by up to 31% with an included TPU that provides a quick boost in performance when overclocking is required.
ASUS has always been known as one of the best motherboard makers on the market and the ASUS Z170 PRO is no exception. If you are looking for a great board with overclocking features and three PCIe x16 slots, the ASUS Z170 PRO motherboard will not disappoint.
GIGABYTE GA-Z170MX Gaming 5
The gaming i7 7700k board comes with a large, aggressive-looking red and black heatsink. On the back of the PCB, we can see four slots for graphics cards in x16 mode. This motherboard has some pretty decent overclocking capabilities as well: I was able to push it up to an impressive 4600MHz on my i-7700K processor.
This motherboard comes with a bunch of features that are typically found on higher-end boards. For example, you’ll find things like EMI shielding for the front audio codec and isolated digital power design to help minimize any interference from other components. There are also quite a few fan headers onboard: three in total each supporting up to three fans or other types of cooling devices.
This i7 7700k motherboard has four DDR4 RAM slots which support up to 64GB. Also has one M.2 slot. The BIOS is also pretty good, and the overclocking features are excellent: I was able to push my CPU up to 4600MHz on this board using only a 125W TDP processor. That’s impressive!
There are three slots for graphics cards in x16 mode here, and also one PCI x 1 so you’ll be able to do SLI/Crossfire setups and the board even comes with a free license for XSplit Gamecaster, which allows you to stream games from your PC. For three PCI Express slots, the first one is running x 16, the second is x 8 and the third is x 4. If you are using only one graphics card in that case we recommend you to use it in the PCI-E x 16 slots.
One more important thing to remember is that the PCI x 8 slot shares bandwidth with the x16 slot. So if you use the x 8 slots that case the x 16 slots will operate like an x 8 slot. Be sure to keep that in mind.
The GIGABYTE GA-Z170MX Gaming board recommended choice for i7 7700k is both powerful and affordable. It’s got a lot of features that you might find on more expensive boards, but the price tag is much lower than with those other models. If you’re in the market for a motherboard and want something inexpensive but still packed full of power, this is an excellent choice.
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MSI Z270-A PRO
The MSI Z270-A PRO is the ultimate gaming motherboard for all your high-end i7 7700k CPU needs. It has a sleek black and white design which can be matched with any case you want to use, no matter what color it may have been made in or how many LEDs are on it. The board itself only comes with one small LED, which is located in the bottom left corner of the board, next to the MSI logo. It lights up when you boot your computer and can also be turned off by pressing FN+ESC at any point during use.
The i7 7700k motherboard supports Intel Kaby Lake processors with no need for an upgrade if you are already using one or planning on getting one. It has four DDR4 slots which can support up to a total of 64GB or RAM, as well as six SATA connectors for all your hard drives and SSDs that you may need in the future. There are also two PCI-E x16 expansion slots for any GPUs that you may want to add on at a later date. Also, four PCI-E 3.0 x 1 slots and one M.2 slot for storage are available in the motherboard.
The MSI Z270-A PRO also comes with a built in Wi-Fi adapter, so you won’t need to purchase one at any point. It has two USB 3.1 Gen1 connectors available for your devices and four USB 3.1 of them are on the front panel which can be used as easy access ports when you don’t want to go all the way around the back to access them. There are also 4 USB 3.1 ports available on the back.
The motherboard is also one of the best for overclocking due to its support of MSI’s Overclocking APP and OC Genie, which allow you to overclock your i7 7700k system in a matter of seconds without needing any knowledge on how it all works or what settings are needed. They are both automatic modes that can be set with the click of a button, so it is as easy as possible.
The motherboard also has several USB connectors, as well as an Ethernet jack located right next to the CPU. Realtek® ALC892 Codec for Audio support and Realtek® RTL8111H Gigabit LAN controller for lightning fast speed. Aside from that there are four fan headers for any additional cooling you may need in your future upgrade and many more features which make this board one of a kind.
Overall I would give this i7 7700k motherboard five stars out of five due to how much care and effort MSI put into this board and how it will last for a long time.
This motherboard is an ideal choice for anyone looking to build their own gaming computer or upgrade from an old one that may not be up to the task anymore. It has plenty of space and all the features needed in order to do what you need without any issues whatsoever. The MSI Z270-A PRO is the one you want for your i7 7700k for the best performance.
Related Article: Best Motherboard for i5 8400
MSI Z270 TOMAHAWK OPT BOOST
The MSI Z270 TOMAHAWK OPT BOOST is a great board for i7 7700k gamers. It has all the features that you would need from a gaming motherboard, with overclocking and performance in mind. The special edition includes RGB lighting to match your build as well!
This board supports Intel’s Kaby Lake processors which means you have access to the latest and fastest processors on the market. The board also comes with a M.A.P (Multi-Algorithm Power) button which makes overclocking easier, but is not necessary for using this motherboard with your i7 7700k CPU as it has a built-in auto-overclocker that will overclock your CPU automatically without any hassle!
MSI Z270 TOMAHAWK OPT BOOST has plenty of ports including an HDMI port for video, a DVI-D and DisplayPort connection, USB Type C, three PCI Express x16 slots (with one being PCIe Gen. x 16), four DDR4 Memory Slots with support up to 64GB RAM along with three PCIe Gen. x 1 slots, two M.2 slots (Mystic Light) RGB connectors and a Killer Intel® I219-V Gigabit LAN controller to ensure lag-free gaming even when playing online!
The MSI Z270 TOMAHAWK OPT BOOST also has plenty of features including Game Boost which allows you to boost your i7 7700k in-game performance by up to 60%! It also has a network monitoring software called Killer Network Manager which allows you to set the priority of your applications and games so that it will never slow down or lag out.
MSI Z270 TOMAHAWK OPT BOOST comes with audio boost technology, Audio Boost Pro, Realtek® ALC892 Codec for enhanced i7 7700k gaming audio quality. The MSI Z270 TOMAHAWK OPT BOOST is a great board for gamers looking to build the best gaming PC around! It has plenty of features and even includes RGB lighting which can show off your new setup with style!
The best motherboard for your i7 7700k CPU is the ASUS Z170 PRO. It has everything you need to keep up with a high-end processor like this, and it’s also got some great features that help make overclocking easy so you can get even more out of your computer. Of course, there are many more options to choose from, so if you want help choosing one of these motherboards or just need some advice on what type of system would best suit your needs – we’re here and happy to help!
