Best Motherboards for the Intel Core i5-13400F

Introduction

Intel’s Core i5-13400F is a strong budget CPU, offering solid performance metrics at 1080p and 1440p. But in order to utilise the 13400F you’ll want to pick up a solid motherboard capable of providing the necessary performance and features for a 13400F PC build. But which option should you choose?

To determine which is the best motherboard for the Core i5-13400F, our written and benchmarking team have joined forces to test and analyse a range of B760 and Z790 motherboards. We’ve taken a myriad of factors into account such as PCI-E slots, USB ports, RAM and CPU overclocking capability, price points, and more.

We’re starting off strong, with the ASUS TUF Gaming Z790-Plus WiFi D4. Whilst we’ve previously stated that the B760-Plus WiFi version of this design and the i5-13400F is one of the best motherboard-CPU pairings currently on the market, we wanted to highlight the Z790 option this time around. In terms of looks, the Z790 version is almost identical to its B760 alternative, with the industrial aesthetic fitting naturally into the internals any PC build.

However, the features is where the Z790-Plus WiFi comes into it’s own. With support for 128GB of DDR5 memory and PCI-E 5.0, this motherboard is designed to last for years to come, whilst providing support for the highest-performing components available right now.

This future-proofing does come at a cost, but the Z790-Plus WiFi is a good option for those willing to make an investment that will survive another round of upgrades. It is also worth noting as well that while this board does support CPU overclocking, the 13400F is not unlocked, so some of the extra costs comes with the overclocking support that this chipset offers. But despite this, the ASUS TUF Z790-Plus is still well worth considering for those looking to build a more mid-range system with their 13400F.

On the other side of the price spectrum, we have Gigabyte’s B760 DS3H AX. Featuring a more stripped-back design, this motherboard is a solid choice for budget builds, as it focuses on providing only the essentials in order to keep pricing to a minimum. Supporting 128GB of DDR4 memory and PCI-E 4.0 for graphics and storage, this board has more than enough performance to keep up with the latest budget components.

In terms of connectivity, the B760 DS3H AX DDR4 includes 5 USB ports for connecting peripherals and accessories to your system, along with a single USB-C port, which is a useful addition to a budget board like this one.

For those looking for a more well-rounded motherboard, then its worth taking a look at the MSI MAG B760 Tomahawk. This particular PCB puts more of a priority on features versus other options, with a bigger focus on connectivity and expansion. Consumers can leverage more ports and slots for their 13400F build, with some upgrade paths for the next generation of graphics cards too.

Tomahawk boards have always been a mainstay in the PC gaming and building space, and this particular definitely subscribes to this idea. Not only does the B760 Tomahawk look great, but it is also priced competitively.

It does this, while offering an excellent set of features that will allow consumers to build a solid mid-range system, with space for upgrades later down the line. Unfortunately, the MAG B760 TOMAHAWK while a great option, does have a couple of features that I feel could be enhanced, such as the USB 2.0 ports, and lack of a Gen5 M.2 slot.

An awesome motherboard that puts some priority on aesthetics while still offering a solid set of features is the ROG STRIX B760-A Gaming WiFi D4. This DDR4 option is a cheaper board that still provides consumers some great design choices due to the white heatsinks and renowned ASUS RGB lighting. Consumers can also push their 13400F system a little bit harder with the high speed DDR4 overclocking capability that this motherboard offers.

Much like the B760 MAG Tomahawk, the strengths of the ROG STRIX B760-A lie in the features. Consumers can leverage a vast range of connectivity options including high speed USB 3.2 Gen2 ports, and a PCI-E 5.0 slot ready for the next generation of graphics cards.

While I do love this motherboard, it does come in at a higher price in comparison to some of the other options that we’ve looked at. Alongside the fact that a lot of the configuration and customisation options are locked behind armoury crate, this is a larger downside than most. But if you’re looking to build a white-themed 13400F gaming PC, the ROG STRIX B760-A is a worthwhile pickup.

Our final motherboard to pair up with the Core i5-13400F, is a DDR5 option from Gigabyte. Gigabyte’s Elite AX options always provide a well-rounded set of features that doesn’t sacrifice on the price and design, despite being a bit more mid-range or even high-end. This particular DDR5 board, offers consumers high speed memory overclocking up to 7600MHz. And although the 13400F isn’t an unlocked CPU, there is room for an overclockable processor too.

Consumers can also utilise some decent high speed USB ports, which includes USB 3.2 Gen2.

Consumers can also utilise some decent high speed USB ports, which includes USB 3.2 Gen2. Although this mid-range design is a solid option, there’s a couple of design and feature choices that we feel could be improved, which includes the four USB 2.0 ports on the rear IO, and lack of Gen5 PCI-E M.2 slots.

Choosing a Chipset – B760 vs Z790

Before getting into the details of our motherboards of choice, it’s important to understand the differences between chipsets. Knowing how to differentiate chipsets not only lets you understand which motherboards are compatible with your chosen CPU, but it will indicate what performance and connectivity features to expect.

The MAG B760 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4 from MSI is the best motherboard for the Core i5-13400F following our testing and analysis. This board comes in with a very strong value-proposition, striking a nice balance between features and design, whilst also being pretty affordable.

There are a couple of small caveats to the B760 Tomahawk, but I feel despite this, the excellent price point is very difficult to argue with, especially if you’re building more of a budget system.

Read our full MSI MAG B760 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4 review, or Buy the MAG B760 Tomahawk WiFi on Amazon