Choosing between CPUs, motherboards & memory parts can be confusing when the two listings are not substitutes at all. The Intel Core i7-8700 fills the processor role; the MSI Z390-A PRO fills the motherboard role. The useful decision is which missing component to buy first, especially for a desktop build using the LGA 1151 platform.
Quick verdict
Choose the Intel Core i7-8700 when your immediate need is a desktop processor. Its title identifies a Core i7 8th Gen processor with six cores, and the sale is specifically for the CPU.
Choose the MSI Z390-A PRO when the missing part is the motherboard. Its title calls out DDR4, M.2, USB 3.1, and support wording for 9th/8th Intel processors. The processor and board share LGA 1151 wording, while the board's processor-generation wording includes the i7-8700's 8th Gen designation.
Neither replaces the other. A processor-first purchase points toward the i7-8700; a board-first build plan points toward the Z390-A PRO.
Listed comparison
| Detail | Intel Core i7-8700 | MSI Z390-A PRO |
|---|---|---|
| Listed price | USD 64.00 | USD 172.21 |
| Component named | Desktop CPU processor | Motherboard |
| Platform wording | LGA 1151; Core i7 8th Gen | LGA 1151 for 9th/8th Intel |
| Condition | Used | New |
Where each product wins
Intel Core i7-8700 wins for a processor-first purchase. If a build plan specifically calls for a Core i7 desktop CPU, this is the direct match between the two. Its six-core configuration, 3.20 GHz clock speed, 1.5 MB L2 cache, and 12 MB L3 cache give the processor a clearly stated configuration for shoppers comparing CPU requirements. It is also the lower-listed-price component in this head-to-head.
MSI Z390-A PRO wins for a motherboard-first purchase. This is the relevant choice when the priority is adding the board that will anchor the processor, desktop memory, and named connections. The DDR4, M.2, USB 3.1, and ATX language in the title makes its role clear: it is for the motherboard side of the build rather than an alternative processor choice.
Product notes
Intel Core i7-8700 CPU
The Intel Core i7-8700 is the focused pick when the shopping list calls for a standalone processor rather than the motherboard around it. The listing identifies six cores and a 3.20 GHz clock speed, alongside 1.5 MB of L2 cache and 12 MB of L3 cache. Those are useful concrete details for matching a CPU requirement without paying for a second major component at the same time. The main limitation is just as clear: it is marked used, and the sale is for the CPU only. Choose the i7-8700 when the required component is an 8th Gen Core i7 desktop processor; it does not fill the motherboard role.
MSI Z390-A PRO Motherboard
The MSI Z390-A PRO is for the shopper who needs the board portion of an LGA 1151 desktop setup. Its title names DDR4 memory, M.2, USB 3.1, and ATX, giving it a different job from the i7-8700 processor. It also explicitly references 9th/8th Intel processor support, which makes it relevant to a build plan centered on those generations. Its limitation is the higher listed price: at USD 172.21, it requires the larger outlay in this comparison. Pick the Z390-A PRO when motherboard features and the named DDR4 and M.2 provisions are the priority, rather than when a CPU is the missing part.
Final choice by use case
Buy the Intel Core i7-8700 if the immediate gap in your desktop is the processor, particularly when a used CPU-only purchase suits the plan. Buy the MSI Z390-A PRO if the missing piece is the motherboard and its DDR4, M.2, and USB 3.1 labels match the build requirements. For a build needing both roles, treat them as complementary components and decide purchase order by the part you need now.
