Best Motherboards for i5 9400F

ASUS ROG Maximus XI Hero

Brand: ASUS | Series: ROG Maximus | Socket: LGA 1151 | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory Architecture: Dual Channel | Memory Slots: 4 DIMMs | Memory Size: 128GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 4400MHz | WiFi: Intel 802.11ac Wi-Fi | SATA ports: 6 SATA 3.0

The ASUS ROG Maximus XI Hero has prepared for dealing with the one and two GPU while having some overclocked CPU. This is the best motherboard for i5 9400F, having three PCIe×16 slots between two of them that run at 8x speed and have steel support. On the contrary, the third one is limited to 4x, which is fine for other expansion cards. Those who want to take their PC’s gaming and content creation performance up to the next level can utilize the dual-GPU support to get the most out of the system. 

Furthermore, talking about the memory, it has the support to accommodate four DDR4 DIMMs to get 128GB of volatile memory storage. Nevertheless, the two sockets of M.2 are included in the board, which are used for PCI bandwidth and SATA. On the other hand, the other one is used only for PCI speed. These M.2 sockets are covered with heatsinks to keep the temperature around them calm. Other specifications include dual M.2, HDMI, USB 3.1 Gen 2 onboard connections, and six SATA ports.

At the same time, you can use WIFI 6 802.11AC and Bluetooth to establish stable wireless communication with other devices. On top of that, there is an Intel Gigabit Ethernet controller along with the LANGuard technology to help to get the fastest data flow during networking. The addition of the SupremeFX function enhances the audio equality amazingly for playing, gaming and watching movies. Its 10-phase power design filtered the incoming voltages and fed them into each connecting element for stable performance.

The addition of the heatsinks with a Southbridge design gives a classy look to the motherboard and enhances heat dissipation. This is the best ASUS motherboard for i5 9400F with five-way revamped optimization that precisely overclocks the system, whereas the FanXpert 4 provides a dynamic cooling system. The board is embedded with RGB LEDs, which are located in the back IO panel. In addition to this, the four RGB headers are well-fitted there. These RGB settings will manage with ASUS Aura Sync.

MSI Z390-A PRO

Brand: MSI | Series: Pro | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Socket: LGA 1151 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory Architecture: Dual Channel | Memory Slots: 4 DIMMs | Memory Size: 128GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 4400 MHz | WiFi: Not available | SATA ports: 6 SATA 3.0

In our list, the second motherboard we are going to discuss is MSI Z390-A PRO. The match of Z390-A PRO and Intel Core i5 9400F is the most compatible and reliable. You know that the i5 9400F is a budget CPU that has mediocre performance. Therefore, considering an expensive motherboard is not wise unless you have an unlocked CPU. In this case, the MOBO, like MSI Z390-A PRO, is highly considered the best motherboard for i5 9400F due to its rich collection of features and CPU boost clock.

The board features the dual-channel memory architecture to support up to four DDR4 DIMMs having a memory speed of about 4400 MHz and 64 GB of memory storage. For connectivity, there are plenty of USB ports available for connections in the actual panel. It has connections like USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C and Type-A and four more 2.0 USB ports, and so on. Other features include two dual PCLe 3.0 with four extra 3.0×1 PCIe ports with the addition of stable steel armor PCIe slots, multiple GPU support, and more. 

If you prefer to use wireless communication, you can utilize the E-key M.2 slot for optional Intel CNVi WiFi and Bluetooth module support. At the same time, you can use the Intel 1219V Gigabit Ethernet controller for networking and Realtek ALC892 audio codec to get sharp audio quality. Other than that, the motherboard comes with core boost technology and a CPU 8+4 pin power connector for the durable working of the system. Overall, you get pretty much all types of features that you may need for current-era uses.

If we look at the design, there is an extended heat sink to get rid of the excessive heat and maintain a proper temperature level. The aesthetics of the board are simple yet elegant. It includes a PCB of coffee-colored silver patterning across the board edges and heatsinks. Besides, the main factor in the accomplishment of this MOBO is controller selection. Overall, MSI Z390-A PRO is the best overall motherboard for i5 9400F since it has all the functions that PC lovers want in their system to use for gaming and more.

MSI MAG Z390 Tomahawk

Brand: MSI | Series: MAG Tomahawk | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Socket: LGA 1151 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory Architecture: Dual Channel | Memory Slots: 4 DIMMs | Memory Size: 128GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 4400 MHz | SATA ports: 6 SATA 3.0

In the Z390 series, this MSI MAG Z390 Tomahawk is the cheapest motherboard in the group. The low price doesn’t mean the features this board will give is also underrated. In actuality, it has been designed with a military-grade imagery concept. No doubt, this build is great in terms of durability and is well-known for this fact. The board gives a weapons container look which makes it the best motherboard for i5 9400F in terms of looks and aesthetics. Now let’s discuss the features of the motherboard.

You can connect up to four DDR4 DIMMs to get up to 128GB of volatile memory with a 4400MHz of memory speed. Moreover, the board comes with four memory slots and six SATA ports which is impressive. There is one PCIe x16 slot with total bandwidth covered by steel; the other two run at 1x and 4x, that’s why it is only adequate for Non-GPU cards. There are numerous connectivity options on the board. On the back, the mobo has 3 USB 3.1 Type-C ports of Gen 2 to get an enormous data transfer speed. 

It doesn’t feature WiFi and Bluetooth but you can connect third-party WiFi and Bluetooth modules via the dual M.2 connectors to help in wireless communication. In addition, the presence of the dual Intel LAN is good news for those who keep surfing the internet all the time. For entry-level mainstream audio quality, this MOBO has Realtek ALC892 audio. Further, the booster four-pin connector enables the CPU to get direct electricity to the CPU required for overclocking.

To make it aesthetically pleasing, it has some RGB LEDs, but all of these do not cover it. However, you can get expert exceptional mainstream from this board. Compared to ASUS TUF Z390 Plus gaming, the board is suitable for multicore, but it’s somehow slow single-core. It’s the cheapest Z390 motherboard for i5 9400F in terms of price but is great for its design and features. Only, the performance is not on a professional level but still, the board can handle multiple tasks efficiently.

AsRock B365M-HDV

Brand: ASRock | Series: Unknown | Chipset: Intel B365 | Socket: LGA 1151 | Form Factor: micro ATX | Memory Architecture: Dual Channel | Memory Slots: 2 DIMMs | Memory Size: 32GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 2666 MHz | WiFi: Not available | SATA ports: 6 SATA 3.0

The AsRock B365-HDV is a motherboard that comes with essential features and a simple design to complete the need for a board in your computer. It’s the best budget motherboard for i5 9400F since it not only has an affordable price tag but is also quite impressive in terms of performance. Remember, it has the microATX form factor so you can build a compact system to show compatibility between multimedia and office work. Nonetheless, you can also perform good gaming and other low-demanding tasks. 

Despite being an affordable motherboard, it features a dual-channel memory architecture to accommodate two DDR4 DIMMs and run those with up to 2666MHz memory speed. Upon this, the six SATA ports and one M 2 socket were used for PCIe Gen3×4 and SATA3. It offers all types of USB ports along with PCIe×3.0×16x to fulfill expansion requirements. It has one PCIe slot with full length and two PCIe ×1 slots for installing the expansion cards, but the lack of PCIe Steel Armor may be an issue for some users. 

Most of the ports we discussed earlier are given on the front panel, but several USB ports are also on the back. No doubt, the wired connectivity of this board is excellent, but it lags in wireless communication. You won’t be able to use the WiFi and Bluetooth for wireless connectivity since it’s absent on the board. But Intel Gigabit LAN is given so you can utilize steady networking with effective data transfer rate. The audio quality would also be great due to the onboard Realtek controller. 

Unfortunately, there are also some downsides of this motherboard that are necessary to mention. Firstly, nowadays, dual memory DIMMs are not reliable; at least there would be four slots of DIMMs. The distance between the PCIe×16 slot and M.2 slots is somehow narrow. You can easily find low-budget motherboards for a processor like i5 9400F, you can find low-budget motherboards very easily. Anyhow, if we look at the design, the AsRock B365-HDV is the best example of featuring a simple yet elegant design to finish up mild office work and multimedia use.

Asus Prime Z390-P

Brand: Intel | Series: Prime | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Socket: LGA 1151 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory Architecture: Dual Channel | Memory Slots: 4 DIMMs | Memory Size: 128GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 4266 MHz | WiFi: Not available | SATA ports: 4 SATA 3.0

Asus Prime Z390-P is the combination of potential overclocking, advanced features, and an effective thermal design. It has been designed for Intel’s latest Generation, 8th and 9th. On this board, you have full access to customize the motherboard’s performance. The board’s management simplifies the adjustment of overclocking with the help of software. Nonetheless, the wide range of tweaking options for the seasoned and newbie PC enthusiast is accessible in the mobo, making it the best enthusiast motherboard for i5 9400F and other mid-tier chips. 

When we only talk about memory and performance, the board can let four DDR4 DIMMs sit to make up to 64GB RAM storage and operate with a 4266MHz memory speed. No doubt, you can expect a lot from this ATX mother circuit since it has pretty much all types of required features. It comes with ultrafast connectivity making it a perfect choice for the PC system. For this, an x4 PCIe 3.0/2.0 bandwidth, USB 3.1 Gen Type-A, and M.2/32 Gbps have been added to the MOBO for fast data transfer speeds.

The board has all the necessary features to make stable wired connections but lags in terms of wireless connectivity. It doesn’t have built-in WiFi and Bluetooth for non-wired communication—you can use WiFi and Bluetooth modules to do so. Anyhow, the presence of Realtek RTL8111H with LANGuard, along with an effective audio codec, is good news for its users. Moreover, the Z390-P comes embedded with extra power phases to ensure the right type of power input to the components. 

Also, this motherboard is more excellent by design as there are three fan headers and their thermal sensors. On this, the Fan Xpert 4 technology enables you to figure out the temperature graph of the graphics cards for handling the cooling of intensive tasks and GPU. Undoubtedly, this board has the best aesthetics due to the combination of black and silver colors that perfectly combine to present a catchy look. The RGB strips and RGB headers offer a fantastic multicolored display.

MSI MPG Z390 Gaming Plus

Brand: MSI | Series: MPG | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Socket: LGA 1151 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory Architecture: Dual Channel | Memory Slots: 4 DIMMs | Memory Size: 128GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 4400MHz | WiFi: Not available | SATA ports: 6 SATA 3.0

MSI MPG Z390 Gaming Plus is one of the most desirable motherboards that gained love from many PC builders. Mainly, the motherboard has been made for steaming, complex 3D modeling, and heavy gaming. Overall, MSI MPG Z390 Gaming Plus is the best flagship motherboard for i5 9400F that has incorporated a bundle of practical features and reliable performance. With the help of Core boost technology, the CPU gets a perfect ratio of current to perform well and compete with some price competitors.

The motherboard doesn’t require overclocking because the DDR boost has a different high memory speed of about 4400 MHz. Nonetheless, the board consists of exclusive features such as dual PCIe ×16 slots with full length. Furthermore, the topic is not closed here yet; there are 4×PCIe 3.0 ×1 slots and dual M.2 32Gb/s effective slots. It has six ports of SATA 6Gb/s, dual-channel DDR, and four DIMMs slots for exceptional memory and next-level connectivity.  Plus, the HDMI, DVI-D, and SATA RAID are also supported in the MSI MPG Z390.

Interestingly, the brand has done a great job in enhancing the data transfer speed over the USB, and now, you can get up to 10Gb/s of transfer speed. There is no built-in WiFi on this board, but you can use an Intel CNVi Wi-Fi module via PCIe support to establish the wireless connections. Moreover, you can utilize LAN Ethernet support to get the most out of the system via networking. On this, the board has eight-channel HD Audio for refined audio sounds while gaming or watching movies. 

On top of VRM, an advanced designed heatsink is fitted for maintaining coolness to dissipate the heat faster, which enables it to perform with excellent stability. MSI features a wide range of thermal features to maintain reliable cooling, like good fan headers, a massive heat sink, as I mentioned earlier, a smart DIY design, and more in one spot. The aesthetics of the MOBO is pretty well embedded with dark red, black, and silver colors to deliver a simple and aesthetic look.

AsRock B365 Phantom Gaming 4

Brand: ASRock | Series: Phantom | Chipset: Intel B365 | Socket: LGA 1151 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory Architecture: Dual Channel | Memory Slots: 4 DIMMs | Memory Size: 128GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 2666 MHz | WiFi: Not available | SATA ports: 6 SATA 3.0

If you are confused about which board you should take, go with Asrock B365 Phantom Gaming 4 without thinking twice. It is the best entry-level motherboard for i5 9400F that demands a mid-tier budget and a lot of space for installation. This B365 model by ASUS has been designed while considering the gaming theme and the microform factor format, which is rarely found anywhere. Asrock has all the key elements that a motherboard should have, such as onboard RGB lighting, dual M.2 drives, M.2 cooking, and so on. 

Like most of the ATX boards on the list, the B365 Phantom 4 features a dual-channel memory architecture that can accommodate four DDR4 DIMMs with 64GB 2666MHz memory. On the back panel of the USB, there are four USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports, along with a 1G LAN port, HDMI, DisplayPort, and Ps/2 mouse/keyboard support. Plus, USB 3.1 type-C and type-A are also available at the back. Further, there are four SATA 6GB/s, USB 3.1 type-A and-C ports, and so on for connectivity purposes.

Unfortunately, the board is not equipped with WIFI and Bluetooth, so the wireless aspect is not that good. But you can use the M.2 Key-E to include the WiFi models which is a good piece of news for enthusiasts. In addition, the USB 3.1 (10GB/d) is also not present on the board. You can listen to sharp audio with Realtek ALC1200 Audio codes, plus use the Intel Gigabit LAN for networking. For effective power intake, the given 8-phase power design can be utilized to get the most out of the connected component. 

The board has five fan headers; one is located for the CPU and gives up to 1A power along with on mode. On the other side, the four fan headers offer up to 2A power, while the PWC or DC fan will automatically detect the method. The black, red, and silver combination of the board seems mind-blowing on the RGB strips, and the lighting is cheery on the cake. If you are a beginner and need a board for practicing mid-range gaming, you can consider this AsRock B365 Phantom Gaming 4.

Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro

Brand: Gigabyte | Series: Aorus Pro | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Socket: LGA 1151 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory Architecture: Dual Channel | Memory Slots: 4 DIMMs | Memory Size: 128GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 4133MHz | WiFi: Intel 802.11ac Wi-Fi | SATA ports: 6 SATA 3.0

Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro is what everyone is missing. The motherboard is suitable for high-end gaming and other professional work like video editing. Moreover, this MOBO has enough potential to support a CPU like i5-9400F. You can overclock with this board up to 5GHz and even more without facing bottlenecks and throttling issues. Nevertheless, we call it the best motherboard for i5 9400F since it has been designed while considering fast speed, efficient thermal layout, and robust power. 

The board’s dual-channel memory architecture supports four DDR4 DIMMs to make up a 128GB volatile memory space. Further, another worthy aspect is up to 4133MHz memory speed, which is something that every passionate gamer wants—you can further enhance it via the XMP profile. On the contrary, there are several USB 3.1 Type-C ports, four USB 2 ports, two M.1 slots, five audio jacks, and one HDMI port for connectivity. It seems that the brand has embedded everything in one board. 

In wireless communication, there is an 802.11ac dual WIFI module along with Bluetooth 5 option feature. These specifications, along with some others like Intel Gigabit LAN and AL1220-VB, sets this board apart from a wide range of rivals’ mother circuits. The 13 VRM power stages of MOBO ensure the actual deliverance of power and smooth working of the CPU. Furthermore, the solid-pin 8+4 power connector for the CPU provides the maximum performance for the 9th Gen Intel processor.

The technology Smart fan five, screw-mounted Heat Pipe, and heatsinks all work together to keep the temperature in control. Upon this, a thermal guard is placed for heat dissipation for the two M.2 and every M.2 SDDs components; the board offers you wired and wireless connections to maintain the motherboard’s versatility. It’s the best value motherboard for i5 9400F since it includes the RGB fusion, RGB headers, strips, and overall mystic lighting on the board despite a competitive price tag.