Best Motherboard For i5 8400

The primary component of a PC case is the motherboard it has. In other words, the performance, function, and compatibility of a PC depend mostly on the motherboard. Intel Core i5 8400 is a six core designed, powerful, and a beast CPU for gaming. It is a mid-range offering processor with some outstanding performance. And to squeeze out the max performance from this processor, you’ll need to get the best possible motherboards. In this article, you can get the necessary information on the best motherboard for i5 8400.

Be it a gaming PC or a professional work bound PC, it is necessary to get that motherboard that is powerful, can give you what you need, and is compatible with the other components.

Our Recommendations

Model	Details	Price
ASUS Prime H370M-Plus	M.2: 2 SATA: 6 RAM DIMMs: 4	Check Price
ASUS Prime Z370-A II	M.2: 2 SATA: 6 RAM DIMMs: 4	Check Price
Gigabyte Z390 AORUS PRO WiFi	M.2: 2 SATA: 6 RAM DIMMs: 4	Check Price
MSI B360M Gaming Plus	M.2: 1 SATA: 6 RAM DIMMs: 2	Check Price
MSI Z390-A PRO	M.2: 1 SATA: 6 RAM DIMMs: 4	Check Price

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ASUS Prime H370M-Plus

ASUS Prime H370M-Plus is called the perfect choice for anyone who wants a high performance PC. As usual, ASUS has released another amazing, reliable, and DIY-friendly motherboard. Other than providing a solid foundation, it also gives a flexible performance. As a member of prime 300 motherboards, H370M also has comprehensive control over its water pumps, fans, and AIO coolers. With just one click, your motherboard’s auto-tuning can configure all the parameters whether you cool it through air or water. The UEFI BIOS of prime 300 series is probably one of the best in the market. It is easy to navigate and comfortable to work with. Its reasonable price has made it more appealing than most other motherboards. An easy, smart, and affordable motherboard that works for the Intel 8th gen processors. It has the latest Intel Ethernet that ensures lower CPU workload and higher TCP and UDP throughput.

The USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A on-board offers a faster speed of 10Gbps and it is twice the speed of USB 3.1 Gen 1. It will provide better connection flexibility and a fast data transfer rate. Moreover, USB 3.1 Gen 1 front-panel connector comes with instant plug-n-play connectivity. The PCIe 3.0/2.0 supports M.2 for more than 32Gbps data transfer speeds. Be it for the operating system, fast access to data, or application drive, ASUS Prime is a perfect choice. It has the endurance for intense work or gaming sessions. Furthermore, it has this outstanding audio quality made with premium hardware and intelligent design. Combining onboard features, it offers elevated audio and ensures minimal crosstalk between both audio paths. Also, you can brighten up your build with onboard illumination.

Specification

Motherboard	ASUS Prime H370M-Plus
Form Factor	m-ATX
Maximum Memory Speed	2666 MHz
DIMM Slots	4
MAX MEMORY	64GB
SATA III Ports	6
M.2 Slots	2
Total PCIe Slots	5

Key Features & Downsides

Key Features: ASUS Prime H370M-Plus features a 4 x DIMM DDR4 memory slot with a maximum of 64GB of memory and the highest frequency id 2666 MHz. It only supports AMD CROSSFIRE technology. As for expansion slots, it includes a single PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16 mode), one x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x4 mode), and double PCIe 3.0/2.0 x1. Moreover, it has dual M.2 slots and 6 SATA 6Gb/s ports. H370M-Plus also includes 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 both Type- A & C, 5 x USB 3.1 Gen 1, and 6 x USB 2.0 ports up to 10Gbps. It has 3 x 4-pin fan connectors where two of them are chassis.

Downsides: It has a lack of SATA 5 & 6 while using NVMe.

Final Thoughts

ASUS Prime H370M-Plus works fast and also the user interface is a great deal. It is neither very expensive nor very cheap. The installation process is also smooth. Though the manual is not good, it is neither bad.

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ASUS Prime Z370-A II

Z370-A-II, as well as Prime Z370 series motherboards of ASUS, offer the solid foundation which is needed even for your very first build. It has got some good stuff packed into the latest Intel processors. Also, the necessary ASUS design and engineering will benefit you with the latest technologies. The comprehensive cooling controls, onboard audio, automating system tuning, even support for the ASUS Fan Extension Card are everything you get with this board. The Z370-A-II combines high side as well as low side MOSFETs using DrMOS and delivers the necessary power and efficiency your CPU needs. Its ProCool sockets ensure flush contact with the power supply power lines. It is built with tight specs which lower the impedance and that will help you to prevent connector failure and hotspots. Moreover, it has a 5-way optimization feature for auto-tuning and better-overclocking performance.

The 5-way optimization will optimize the overclocking along with the cooling system for the system configuration. It enables the fans to have a quiet operation during working hours and will deliver optimal airflow if there are some intensive works. Furthermore, the Fan Xpert 4 ensures your comprehensive controls over fans, water pumps, and AIO coolers. A single click and its auto-tuning option will configure all the parameters whether you cool it through air or water. With the extreme quiet mode, it will reduce all fan’s speed to below minimum ensuring a noise-free environment. Prime Z370-A-II is amazingly fast, and the UEFI BIOS is great also. Moreover, it can provide good performance with NVMe. It is of reasonable price and also plug-n-play. Besides, the system setup is clear. It supports both 2-way SLI and 3-way CROSSFIRE technology.

Specification

Motherboard	ASUS Prime Z370-A II
Form Factor	ATX
Maximum Memory Speed	4000 MHz
DIMM Slots	4
MAX MEMORY	64GB
SATA III Ports	6
M.2 Slots	2
Total PCIe Slots	7

Key Features & Downsides

Key Features: ASUS Prime Z370-A II includes 4 x DIMM memory slots with 64GB of maximum memory and 4000 (O.C). It features 2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16, x8/x8, x8/x4, x4/x4 modes), 1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x4 mode), and 4 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x1 slots. Also, it comes with 2 x M.2 Socket 3, 6 x SATA 6Gb/s, 4 x 4-pin fan connectors, and a M.2 fan header. As for USB, it has 6 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 port, 6 x USB 2.0 ports, and 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports Type- A & C.

Downsides: The RGB it has is underwhelming and not that much. Also, the motherboard has some plastic parts.

Final Thoughts

ASUS Prime Z370 comes with a reasonable price, great performance, and some awesome features. Moreover, it is compatible with the Core i5 8400.

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Gigabyte Z390 AORUS PRO WiFi

Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro WiFi comes with the 12 Phases Digital VRM Solutions along with Multi-cuts Heatsinks with Heatpipe. It has a very clean design with a cool look. The appearance of this mobo has made a certain place in the users’ hearts. The VRM is literally more than enough for higher overclocking. Gigabyte Z390 is one of the best for a Z390 mobo. However, the upper side of this board is somewhat thick, which makes things harder to install fans at the top of particular PC cases. This board features a 12+1 phase digital processor power design. And this particular design is made consisting of both DrMOS and PWM Controller. Along with the digital controller, its additional 8+4 solid pin power connectors ensure precise power delivery. It’s precision of power delivery to the energy sensitive and most power hungry components makes the motherboard provide excellent performance.

Z390 AORUS PRO WiFi uses advanced thermal design to make sure it remains cool even during any intense working or gaming session. With the integrated I/O shield, the installation process of this build gets much easier. Besides, the BIOS is easy to navigate. RGB is another bonus for this super good-looking motherboard. It supports both CROSSFIRE and 2-way SLI technology. Also, it supports Intel 8th/9th processors especially core i9/ i7/ i5/ i3 processors. As for connectivity, it offers 802.11ac Wave 2 function and speeds up to 1.73 Gbps and Bluetooth 5. Its GbE LAN includes cFosSpeed known as a network traffic management app. This application will help you to improve network latency as well as maintain low ping. In fact, this motherboard has a pretty good reputation, and why not? It has plenty of USB, chic design, on-board I/O, great performance, and whatnot.

Specification

Motherboard	Gigabyte Z390 AORUS PRO WiFi
Form Factor	ATX
Maximum Memory Speed	4266 MHz
DIMM Slots	4
MAX MEMORY	128GB
SATA III Ports	6
M.2 Slots	2
Total PCIe Slots	6

Key Features & Downsides

Key Features: Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro WiFi features 4 x DDR4 DIMM sockets which supports 128GB of maximum memory with more than 4266MHz of frequency. Besides, it has 1 x PCIe x16 (x16 mode), 1 x PCIe x16 (x8 mode), 1 x PCe x16 (x4 mode), and 3 x PCIe x1. It has dual M.2 connector, 6 x system fan header, 2 x CPU fan header, and 6 SATA 6 Gb/s. Finally, this board has 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C, 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C, 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A, and 5 x USB 3.1 Gen 1.

Downsides: The BIOS is not bad but it is not defined clearly. Moreover, you have to research to define some options if you tweak your board.

Final Thoughts

This motherboard is a better Z390 chipset choice. With this price, it won’t disappoint you on most points. Your Core i5 8400 processor will likely be the best pair with Gigabyte Z390.

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MSI B360M Gaming Plus

MSI B360M Gaming Plus was designed especially for hardcore gamers and PC enthusiasts. It supports the 9th/8th Gen Intel processors. You get reliable gaming performance only when your PC has the necessary cooling option to cool down the system. B360M has enough fan headers to fulfill the cooling option. Also, it has the Intel Coffee Lake 6 core processors to deliver an outstanding gaming performance. Its PCI express’ steel armor ensures the protection of the VGA cards against bending. You can even personalize your PC case through customization and change the colors using the color palette. Being integrated with the best technology on MSI hardware offers a better VR ride. Through this, you can have a realistic experience that looks alive. Moreover, it features outstanding audio that provides a crispier and more smooth sound. You can hear the enemy’s footsteps clearly and have a blast gaming session.

MSI B360M Gaming Plus offers lag-free gaming sessions with the latest Intel LAN. This motherboard is loaded with some of the best features to boost your PC with higher overclocking ability, increased stability, and memory with more speed. It is built with everlasting quality and the finest components that make it have a premium look and performance. And, it makes the motherboard deliver outstanding performance on both gaming and professional works. The BIOS contains the latest options and is easy to use for everyone. Moreover, the EZ Debug LED ensures the easiest way to troubleshoot. It has got only two DDR4 memory slots with a maximum of 32GB memory and 2666 Mhz frequency. The memory supports dual channel mode and the DDR4 boost helps to transfer data in a fast and smooth way.

Specification

Motherboard	MSI B360M Gaming Plus
Form Factor	m-ATX
Maximum Memory Speed	2666 MHz
DIMM Slots	2
MAX MEMORY	32GB
SATA III Ports	6
M.2 Slots	1
Total PCIe Slots	3

Key Features & Downsides

Key Features: MSI B360M Gaming Plus comes with a single PCIe 3.0 x16, 2 x PCIe 3.0 x1 slots, and 6 SATA 6Gb/s ports. It includes only one M.2 slot that can support PCIe 3.0 x4 and SATA 6Gb/s. Besides, it has 6 x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A & C, 6 x USB 2.0, and 3 x 4 -pin fan connectors. It has got a Gigabit LAN controller for connectivity.

Downsides: You can find a USB issue on this motherboard and slow at charging.

Final Thoughts

B360M Gaming Plus is great with onboard audio, intelligent design, and some outstanding features. Though it was designed keeping the hardcore gamers in mind, professional works can also be done smoothly and fast.

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MSI Z390-A PRO

MSI Z390-A PRO was designed with an extended architecture for a better thermal solution. As it is from the MSI lineage, Z390-A is DIY-friendly with numerous smart features and options. MSI motherboards come with better components’ location such as USB and SATA port at a friendly location as well as pin-header keep out zone etc. Thus, any gamer can choose the MSI mobo for any kind of gaming rig. Z390-A PRO has an outstanding power design with solid and metal heatsinks. Besides, it has gotten enough fan headers along with the power design which ensures a cool atmosphere for your PC. Also, MSI has made sure that every MSI motherboard is compatible with a wide range of components and devices. The BIOS is quite decent and it has some useful tools to work with. Moreover, it has quite some latest solutions for enthusiasts up to its sleeves.

MSI Z390-A PRO ensures stable and high-speed performance with high-quality power supply components while the fan headers optimize CPU cooling performance. Also, the DDR4 memory boost offers a perfect and issue-free performance in the gaming session. It has got a super fast and huge storage capacity that will help with faster performance. You will get a wide variety of options to choose from to connect the USB devices as well as boost them. It offers USB transfer speeds up to 10Gb/s. With a high-quality data connection, you can transfer big files easily and fastly. This motherboard as well as all the MSI mobo are designed with the finest components and latest technology. And that’s why it is able to provide excellent performances each time.

*An important thing to be noted, you may go through a hassle to find the MSI screw. There will be a small bag with a sticker of a barcode and some numbers. In case you miss this guy and have a hard time building the board, we have made this note.

Specification

Motherboard	MSI Z390-A PRO
Form Factor	ATX
Maximum Memory Speed	4400 MHz
DIMM Slots	4
MAX MEMORY	64GB
SATA III Ports	6
M.2 Slots	1
Total PCIe Slots	6

Key Features & Downsides

Key Features: MSI Z390-A PRO comes with 4 x DDR4 memory slots with a maximum memory of 128GB and 4400Mhz frequency. It includes 2 x PCI Express 3.0 x16 (x16/x4 mode), 4 x PCI Express 3.0 x1, and 1 x M.2 slot with E key. Also, it has 1 M.2 slot for M key, 6 SATA 6Gb/s ports, and 6 USB 2.0. Z390-A Pro features 2 x USB 3.1 Gen2 (Type-A port and Type-C), 6 x USB 3.1 Gen1, 5 x 4-pin system fas connectors, and 1 x CPU fan header.

Downsides: The documentation it included is quite poor. The BIOS shows some problems during configuration. Only works with Windows 10.

Final Thoughts

We don’t recommend MSI Z390-A PRO as the best but it is quite decent and provides stable performance for i5 8400. Also, it doesn’t quite stand out among all of the motherboards but this mobo is quite a great board especially for the enthusiasts.

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Closing Thought

As the motherboard is one of the most important components of any PC build, you have to do some research on the motherboard you’re trying to buy. And of course, not all the time you get the right one for your build. As for Intel Core i5 8400, we have lessened your hard work and presented some of the best motherboards that will go with your processor. We hope that this document has helped you through your buying journey. If you find any mistakes in our recommendation or anything we’ve missed out, please contact us or leave a comment.

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