Picking the right motherboard and CPU when building a PC is essential.

The motherboard is the backbone of your PC, and inadequate hardware can easily bottleneck your CPU and GPU.

It also massively undercuts the Intel Core i9-13900K while outperforming it in most games.

A collage photo of the GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Elite AX motherboard and Intel Core i5-13600K CPU.

The Intel Core i5-13600K is an excellent option for gamers, particularly if you’re on a budget. When paired with the GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Elite AX motherboard, you can take advantage of the latest features, such as PCIe 5.0 and DDR5, to build a powerful gaming rig without breaking the bank.

This makes the last-gen AM4 an attractive choice if you want to save money.

The motherboard also includes onboard RGB, seven rear I/O USB ports, and robust VRM heatsinks.

The Intel Core i9-12900K may be a last-gen processor but it delivers stronger productivity performance than most current CPUs.

A collage photo of the ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero motherboard and Intel Core i9-13900K processor.

The MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi is among thebest Z690 motherboardsavailable.

Released in late 2021, the Intel Core i5-12600K remains an incredible option for mid-range builds.

A photo collage of the GIGABYTE B760M DS3H AX motherboard and Intel Core i3-13100 CPU

ASUS ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming WiFi motherboard

A photo collage of the ASUS AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus motherboard and AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D CPU.

A photo collage of the MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi and Intel Core i9-12900K.

ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I Gaming WiFi and Intel Core i5-12600K