5 Best Motherboard for i5

Looking for the best motherboard to pair with an i5 processor? We’ve got you covered. Here are some of our favorite motherboards that will make your next PC run like a dream.

The i5 is an amazing processor, but by no means the best. That’s why this list of 5 motherboards will help you get the most out of your new computer. If you’re looking for more options or want to learn about other parts in a PC check our full guide on building PCs here: https://www.techradar.com/news/best-motherboard-for-intel-i5In the past few years, motherboard makers have been hard at work to incorporate more power-efficient components and increase performance in a small package. We’ve tested five of the best motherboards from brands like Gigabyte with i5 processors for your consideration.

The “best motherboard for i5-10600k” is a list of 5 motherboards that are specifically made for the i5 processor. They have different features, but they all work well with the i5.

Test Outcomes

Our test results are detailed in the next section. Every motherboard in this test was thoroughly examined and tested. All of them are compatible with Intel’s 8th generation processors, such as the i5-8600K. There are, nevertheless, significant variances between these motherboards.

ASUS ROG Maximus X Hero is ranked first.

The ASUS ROG Maximus X Hero is a gaming laptop designed by ASUS.

• Design is stunning.
• Processing is excellent.
• Good power supply of high quality
• Excellent MOSFET and VRM cooling

ROG stands for Republic of Gamers, and ASUS promotes gaming-oriented gear and accessories. The ASUS ROG MAXIMUS X HERO is the subject of this analysis. This is a top-of-the-line motherboard for the Coffee Lake platform from Intel. With a price tag of $200, the MAXIMUS X HERO is the lowest motherboard in the MAXIMUS X series. There’s also the APEX, CODE, and FORMULA, in addition to the HERO. The ROG MAXIMUS X HERO’s heroic performance in our test will be revealed on the following pages.

 

Video Analysis of the ASUS ROG Maximus X Hero

In detail

Let’s take a look at the ROG MAXIMUS X HERO’s design before we get into the details. ASUS has done an excellent job with this. The mainboard and cooler have a design that is reminiscent of the Transformers from movies and television shows. Because our test system employs a unique water cooling system that necessitates the usage of fans, we’re also curious as to how many fan connections are fitted on the mainboard. There are eight 4-pin fan connections in all, which is more than plenty.

The front panel connections, among other things, are located in the bottom section. There are two USB 2.0 ports, one USB 3.1 Gen1 port, and an audio connection on the front panel. ASUS provides two connections in the mainboard’s bottom section for connecting LEDs. We offer a connection for addressable LED strips in addition to the standard 4-PIN RGB connector. The Power, Reset, Safe Boot, and Retry buttons should not be absent since the MAXIMUS X HERO is also built for overclockers. If the mainboard is utilized on a bench table, they are extremely interesting. Overclockers who wish to cool the CPU with dry ice or nitrogen should be interested in the slow mode setting.

ASUS places the audio processor in the MAXIMUS X HERO’s bottom left corner. Realtek’s SupremeFX S1220 audio processor has eight channels, thus nothing stands in the way of a 7.1 setup. Thirteen Nichicon capacitors additionally serve the audio processor.

We can attach a total of six SATA hard drives to the ASUS ROG MAXIMUS X HERO. Another key connection, the USB 3.1 Gen2 front panel connector, is located to the right of the memory banks.

The MAXIMUS X HERO has a built-in I/O panel, which is a significant plus. This saves us a step during motherboard installation, and we must not forget to install the I/O panel. At the I/O, we discover a plethora of connections. We have four USB 3.1 Gen1 (blue) ports, two USB 2.0 (black) ports, and two USB 3.1 Gen2 (red) ports in total. There are two types of USB 3.1 Gen2 connectors: Type-B and Type-C. We can utilize a DisplayPort and/or HDMI connection if we wish to employ the integrated graphics device.

On the I/O, we discover crucial features for overclockers, just as we did with the internal connections. A ClearCMOS and a BIOS button may be found here. We reset the UEFI to factory settings using the ClearCMOS button. As soon as we installed a fresh UEFI and everything went wrong, the BIOS button becomes fascinating. In most situations, this warning indicates that the motherboard is no longer usable. As a result, ASUS uses the flashback function. The BIOS setting may be found on a USB 2.0 port. We put a USB stick with a compatible UEFI here and hit the BIOS button after rebooting if a UEFI flash has gone awry. The UEFI is flashed and hence the UEFI is fixed using this process, even if there is no boot screen. There are five 3.5mm connectors for audio input and output, as well as one optical SPDIF connection.

On the motherboard, ASUS has three actual PCIe x16 slots. There are sixteen PCI Express lanes in the two top PCIe x16 slots, which have reinforced save slots. Both higher slots have eight PCI Express lanes as soon as graphics cards are placed in them. The smallest PCIe x16 card has four PCI Express lanes. Three PCIe x1 slots are included in addition to the huge PCIe slots.

The two M.2 slots are located underneath the CPU socket and the chipset. Both provide four PCI Express lanes of connectivity. Because the CPU only has sixteen PCI Express lanes, the connection speed might still vary depending on the arrangement of the PCIe and M.2 slots. Passive cooling is provided via the M.2 slot, which is placed underneath the CPU socket. This has been unscrewed. Two screws must be loosened in order to remove it.

Verdict

Currently, the ASUS ROG MAXIMUS X HERO is available for $200. We receive a lot of features, a very nice design, a very good power supply, and plenty of internal and I/O connectors for this price. The superb M.2 and VRM cooling, as well as the low power consumption, pleased us the most throughout our testing. ASUS has done an excellent job with the design of the ROG MAXIMUS X HERO, particularly in terms of the materials utilized. The main flaw we perceive with DC fans is that we can’t manage them below 60% of their maximum speed.

The ASUS ROG MAXIMUS X HERO wins a Gold Award after receiving 9.8 out of 10 points. It also earns the Design, High-End, and OC Awards in addition to the Gold Award.

MSI MPG Z390 Gaming PRO Carbon is the second option.

The MSI MPG Z390 Gaming PRO Carbon is a gaming laptop from MSI.

• Excellent CPU power supply for great performance
• Potential for overclocking
• At idle, the energy efficiency is quite high.
• There are five USB 3.2 Gen2 ports.

• Only two SATA cables were sent out.

In detail

Because MSI has also taken use of the Z390-PCH, the difference between the MSI Z370 Gaming Pro Carbon (AC) from 2017 and the MPG Z390 Gaming Pro Carbon (AC) from last year may without a doubt be described as a logical progression. The VRM range has been somewhat expanded to accommodate the two eight-core CPUs, and the CPU power supply has been supplemented by a fourth 4-pin connection. In the overclocking test, the VRM expansion was unquestionably beneficial.

 

Video Analysis of the MSI Z370 Gaming Pro Carbon motherboard with the Intel i5-8600K processor

In this situation, a maximum of four DDR4 DIMM memory banks are required, allowing the user to boost the RAM to 64 GB. For this, MSI mentions a potential clock rate of up to 4,400 MHz, which is already rather fair. The Steel Armor functionality, which also applies to the two CPU-side PCIe 3.0 x16 slots, thus adds to the overall support (mechanically). There are also three PCIe 3.0 x1 ports and one mechanical PCIe 3.0 x16 port for a total of four Gen3 lanes.

The six native SATA 6GBit/s ports allow for storage expansion, however they must share the connection with the two M.2 M key interfaces, each of which can support a module ranging in length from 4.2 cm to 11 cm. A passive cooler is also included into the bottom interface. Four of the first USB 3.2 generation ports and one type C port of the second USB 3.2 generation may be tapped internally on the side of the USB ports. The overall number of USB ports on the I/O panel has been decreased to six, although four of them support the USB 3.2 Gen2 protocol. The two USB 2.0 ports, on the other hand, have stayed unchanged.

A PS/2 connector, an HDMI 1.4b and DisplayPort 1.2 graphics output, a Gigabit LAN, and the typical audio interfaces are included on the I/O panel. The AC version also features Intel’s Wireless AC-9560 module, which can carry data at up to 1.73 gigabits per second and supports Bluetooth 5.0. The Audio Boost 4 function with Realtek’s ALC1220, several audio capacitors, and a headphone amplifier are still present in both circumstances.

Verdict

The MSI MPG Z390 Gaming Pro Carbon (AC) is an improved version of the Z370 Gaming Pro Carbon (AC), with higher overclocking capabilities and an excellent setup. We can’t think of anything bad to say about the MPG Z390 Gaming Pro Carbon (AC). In terms of functionality, it’s on par with the Z370 model, albeit the lack of two USB ports on the I/O panel is a minor annoyance. The MSI MPG Z390 Gaming Pro Carbon is a superb motherboard for the Intel i5-8600K CPU that costs less than our first-place finisher.

MSI PRO Series Intel 8th Gen is the third option.

MSI PRO Series Intel LGA 1151 8th Gen

• a user-friendly BIOS menu
• Lighting using LEDs
• Intel CPUs of the eighth generation are supported.

• Only monochromatic illumination is used.
• There are just a few links.

In detail

MSI’s Z390 motherboards are compatible with Intel’s eighth and ninth generation CPUs. As a result, new motherboards with eighth-generation processors, such as the Intel i5-8600K CPU, are available. MSI fan connections detect DC or PWM fans automatically and provide customisation for a quiet system. Hysteresis ensures that the fans revolve smoothly at all times, ensuring that they are as quiet as possible.

 

Video Analysis of the MSI PRO Series Intel 8th Gen

Unrivaled memory capabilities:

MSI uses improved signal lines in a separate circuit to power the DDR4 Boost technology. Other components have little effect on memory signals, thus performance and stability are unaffected.

LAN Intel:

Intel’s premium network solution is included with the Z390 A-Pro. The high-quality network component is built for professional and multimedia usage, and it performs admirably.

Immersive in-game sound and high-quality materials:

The finest possible user experience is ensured by carefully chosen materials and cutting-edge technology. M.2, DDR4, and graphics cards are all protected by MSI Steel Armor from bending and EMI interference. High-quality audio components provide for the finest sound quality and an immersive sound experience while gaming. With this motherboard, you may enjoy beautiful acoustics while gaming.

Verdict

Although it is inexpensive, it nevertheless performs well. In our tests, the MSI PRO Series Intel 8th Gen motherboard performed well. It’s a great match with the Intel i5-8600K processor. Of course, at this budget bracket, you can’t expect top performance, but for the casual gamer or multimedia PC user, this is a fantastic choice.

The Asus Prime Z390-P comes in fourth place.

The Asus Prime Z390-P LGA1151 is a motherboard by Asus.

• Excellent value for money
• Lighting that can be changed
• Comfortable to use BIOS
• Audio chip that is reasonably excellent.

In detail

The ASUS Prime Z390-P Mainboard is based on the Intel Z390 chipset and supports Intel 8th and 9th generation Socket 1151 CPUs. It includes four DDR4 DIMM slots for up to 64 GB RAM in twin channel mode. A CPU-dependent graphics solution, two PCIe 3.0 x16 slots, and four PCIe 3.0 x1 slots are among the other features. The ASUS Prime Z390-A also has 8-channel sound, a Gigabit LAN interface, four SATA3 connections, two M.2 connectors, and a variety of USB interfaces, in addition to Intel Optane Memory Technology.

Verdict

Overall, the ASUS Prime Z390-P motherboard performs well. It’s a fantastic choice to pair with the Intel i5-8600K processor. Of course, if you have the correct GPU to go along with the i5-8600K CPU, this combination is ideal for gamers and other intensive computer users.

The fifth is the Gigabyte Z390 UD.

The Gigabyte Z390 UD is a motherboard by Gigabyte.

• A good price-to-performance ratio is important.
• dependable gear
• Design is excellent.

• Overall, the performance may be improved.

In detail

GIGABYTE’s new Z390 motherboards have arrived! The fierce character and hunting skills of a falcon influenced the design of the Z390 motherboards. The falcon pursues its prey with extraordinary efficiency and accuracy because to its straight wings. The Z390 design exemplifies these traits.

Every game you want to play may be played on the Z390 UD. It includes everything you’ll need for your favorite hobby. The Dual Channel DDR 4 memory provides for extremely fast rates, which is advantageous to gaming play.

 

Video Analysis of the Gigabyte ZZ390 UD

The Gigabyte ZZ390 DU motherboard (ATX) has three PCIe x16 slots, one of which is linked to the chipset with full 16 lanes and the others with four data lines. Three PCIe x1 slots are available on the motherboard for extra plug-in and expansion cards.

In dual-channel mode, the four DIMM slots handle up to 64 GB DDR4 memory. The Z390 chipset supports native clock speeds of up to 2,666 MHz, however the Gigabyte Z390 UD can run RAM modules at up to 4,266 MHz through overclocking. Hard drives and SSDs may be connected through six SATA-6G connections and one M.2 slot.

The Gigabyte Z390 Gaming X includes six USB 3.0 ports and an HDMI port on the I/O panel. The motherboard has a lot of headers on the inside, including four 4-pin connections for fans. LED illumination is also installed on the mainboard.

Verdict

The Z390 motherboard is currently only compatible with Intel Core 8th and 9th generation CPUs. This makes it an excellent match for the Intel i5-8600K processor. We highly suggest this motherboard since it has a superb price-to-performance ratio.

We’ve previously gone through the advances, the chip, the socket, and the new chipset in detail, so we’ll skip the tiresome repetition at this point. Please check it out if you want to read it again.

AMD still has equivalent Ryzen CPUs in the race as an option, albeit a price cut makes many of them even more appealing. After all, you don’t have to buy a new platform with every refresh, and AMD claims that the socket will be compatible with the direct Zen successor as well. Good boards that are also appropriate for overclocking may be found for less than $100, thus a whole AMD system might be a financial temptation.

As a result, we’ve paired the Core i5-8600K with the Ryzen 5 1600X and Ryzen 7 1700, which, like Intel’s Core i5-8600K, have been overclocked to the point of stability. This comparison will cast the Ryzen 7 1700 in a fresh light that is surely not uninteresting.

 

Video Analysis of the Intel i5-8600K CPU

The requirements

The TDP similarly specifies 97 watts for the Core i5-8600K, but it remains to be seen how motherboard makers react to it, as well as if All-Core Turbo clock speeds, which are substantially higher and so breach the TDP limits, will be achievable this time. Later in the power consumption measurements, we’ll return to this.

Overclocking

We use the chiller again at first to cool the IHS at a constant 20°C to ensure we don’t run into thermal restrictions, since Intel still uses the unpleasant thermal paste between die and IHS.

We’ve easily surpassed the 5 GHz threshold once again. Although Windows still booted up at 5.2 GHz and various games were running, Cinebench was already complete. Luxrender was the most recent, and it operated at 5.1 GHz as well. Creo 3.0, Solidworks, and a few HPC apps all crashed around 5 GHz, thus we couldn’t test anything reliable until 4.9 GHz.

In this context, we’d like to emphasize the advantages of manual load line calibration once again. Nonetheless, the Core i5-8600K already runs well in Prime95 with AVX2 when set at MSI’s preset defaults of 1.29 Volt and 4.9 GHz. We could then measure or read out an average of 1.22 volts without overclocking. Even if one of the cores is severely loaded, the 1.3 volts are sometimes surpassed when gaming. The Core i5-8400 was often under 1.2 volts, which is a significant reduction.

We didn’t get carried away with the 5 GHz mark, which we were able to reach for extended periods of time in certain scenarios — it’s only ostensibly steady. It crashes at some point when tested with real-world apps. If in doubt, reduce the frequency to 100 MHz and prioritize stability. That’s precisely what we did this time, and the outcome was still usable at 4.9 GHz.

Take a look at our graph depicting the relationship between power use and performance. Both curves are very congruent on top of one other, however the Core i7-8700K has a flatter performance rise curve starting at about 4.8 GHz. Even though (or better because) the results are much lower without HT, the memory link seems to be entirely adequate for proper scaling:

Electricity usage

In idle, there aren’t any very noticeable distinctions. Nothing out of the ordinary, and all other CPUs remain within the range of what we could measure before. The reason that the Ryzen 7 uses up much more space is most likely owing to its somewhat too high idle clock rate. Despite the massive measurement time of 30 minutes, the observed variances in the range of one watt and less still pass as measurement tolerances, where the irregularly occurring and inevitable load peaks have somewhat spoilt the show for the overclocked Core i5-8600K.

For the time being, two additional cores for the middle class would be ideal. However, it remains to be seen if these will be adequate in the near future. Because, with hyper-threading off, it’ll only be a matter of time until software catches up to hardware.

Because Intel is increasingly reliant on a bigger number of cores, software vendors will find it difficult to resist this trend. In reality, it’s impossible to forecast how slowly or rapidly this will occur in games and application applications. However, the initial signs of life are clearly visible.

What category does the Core i5-8600K belong in? Is it now upper class lite, with the 2-core premium cost for the occasional rendering and a few acceptable games, or is it more premium middle class, giving you a taste of the digital upper class? Or is this CPU neither fish nor fowl in the end, since it doesn’t give enough for the price?

A Ryzen 7 1700 with boxed cooler costs the same as the Core i5-8600K, but it has 8 cores and SMT, resulting in 16 threads rather of the Core i5-86006. K’s The Ryzen 7 1700, on the other hand, requires a significant amount of overclocking and adequate memory to stay competitive in most circumstances. Even the most suited motherboards, however, are less expensive.

Let’s simply look at the game outcomes and compare the average and lowest frames per second. The overclocked Core i5-8600K is over 10% quicker than the non-overclocked Core i5-8600K, whereas the overclocked Ryzen 7 is just 4% slower than the regular Core i5-8600K and roughly 14% slower than the overclocked i5. The Ryzen 7 1700 is intrinsically more slower, even when not overclocked, owing to the low clock rates out of the box, which also applies to the Ryzen 5 1600X.

At the end of the day, it’s safe to say that it’s quite balanced. But what we really appreciate is the new, far more vibrant competition environment, which can only benefit our consumers in the end. AMD is on par with Ryzen in terms of performance, and in certain cases, it is even superior. As a result, it is up to each person to reconsider his or her own premises and choose the most appropriate product.

In the present scenario, we don’t want to grant an award to the Core i5-8600K. The “Tested” award would be insufficient to do honor to the CPU, thus we can confidently offer it the “Buying Tip” award.

Conclusion

What do you want as a consumer in the end? Gaming with ruthless overclocking in the never-ending pursuit of the greatest frame rates, or an all-around PC that you can play with but not exclusively? There are two potential solutions to this question. We haven’t had it in this form in a long time, and the pain of decision has some positive aspects.

The “best motherboard for i5 9400f” is a device that allows users to upgrade their computer’s performance. It has been built with high-quality components and is reliable in terms of performance and quality.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What motherboard is best for i5?

A: The Asus PRIME Z370-P is a good motherboard.

Which motherboard is best for i5 processor 10th Gen?

A: As a general rule of thumb, the more cores and threads your motherboard has, the better. In this case you could check out our article about best motherboards for gaming, which includes different boards from all major makers.

Which motherboard is best for i5 11400?

A: The Intel i5-8400 is the best motherboard for your needs.

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