Best Motherboards for i5 10400F

Both AMD and Intel are always trying to one-up each other with newer, faster chips, right? Well, Intel’s Core i5-10400F from a couple years ago is a solid example. This thing smoked Intel’s own 9th generation CPUs in performance tests—up to 25% quicker for gaming and video editing-type tasks. It’s got six processing cores and twelve threads to handle multiple jobs at once. Plus, there’s 12MB of super-fast cache memory to help everything run smoothly. And get this—you get all that power without breaking the bank. The best part is that it just crushes the competition for the money.

The only thing is, since it’s the “F” version, you can’t rev it up to the maximum 4.3 GHz like you could a non-F chip. But no worries, I found a way to unleash even more speed by pairing it with the right motherboard. See, the motherboard is what holds all the goodies together—the CPU, graphics, memory, storage, everything. But with the huge selection nowadays, finding the best one can feel like homework. So I went ahead and tested a few boards myself. Now I’m going to break down some top-tier options so you can make an informed choice and get the absolute most out of this killer budget CPU. Stick around to see our picks for maximum performance on a minimum budget!

Quick Shopping Tips:

When picking out a motherboard, there are a few key things you’ll want to keep in mind. Let me run through some of the most important factors real quick.

• First up, make sure the board is compatible with your CPU and PC case. You don’t want to buy a motherboard that literally doesn’t fit in your case! Check the socket size on the mobo and compare it to your case dimensions. Good mobos also list which chip generations they support.
• Next, pay attention to how much RAM the board can handle. For gaming these days, 16GB is pretty much the minimum. But you’ll want room to upgrade down the road too. Check the maximum supported memory amount and number of slots so your board has room to grow.
• Overclocking and cooling go hand in hand, too. Consider boards with good thermal designs to keep things cool while you’re pushing your CPU to the limit. Also, look at boards with strong overclocking capabilities if that’s your thing.
• The chipset dictates a lot as well, like max speeds and compatibility. Since our CPU lets us use LGA 1200 sockets, focus on boards with H410, H470, B460, or Z490 chipsets. But note that the i5-10400F is locked, so a Z490 isn’t necessary.
• Finally, connectivity. Make sure the board has enough USB ports, storage slots, networking options, etc. to connect all your gear. And if you need WiFi or Bluetooth, check that those are supported too.

So in summary, compatibility, memory, cooling, overclocking, chipset, and connectivity. Nail down those factors, and you’ll end up with a sweet mobo to unleash the power of that killer i5!

The Best Motherboards for i5 10400F You Can Buy Today

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MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Edge WIFI

Best Enthusiast Motherboard for i5 10400F

Brand: MPG | Series: MPG | Chipset: Z490 | Socket: LGA 1200 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory Architecture: Dual channel | Memory Slots: 4 DIMMs | Memory Size: 128GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 5000MHz | Onboard WiFi: Intel WiFi 6 | SATA ports: 6 SATA 3.0

REASONS TO BUY

✓Excellent performance/price ratio

✓WiFi 6 AX with 2.5 LAN

✓Attractive design and protection

✓RGB lighting

✓Enhanced power solution

REASONS TO AVOID

✗No Thunderbolt support

✗No VGA port

MSI is really well known among tech-savvy folks for constantly upgrading their older boards with the latest features. The MPG Z490 Gaming Edge WiFi definitely deserves a spot on our list. This thing is super popular and surprisingly affordable for the specs you get. Since our i5-11400F can’t overclock, we need a motherboard that can boost RAM speeds to make up for it. Thankfully, this board lets you tweak the XMP profile to squeeze out every last ounce of gaming performance from your RAM. Packed with great features to back up that power, this gaming-focused board uses a Z490 chipset for the latest Intel socket support. It runs 128GB of RAM at up to a fast 5000MHz too, with dual-channel memory.

You also get PCIe slots, tons of storage ports, loads of USB ports in various flavors, superfast 2.5Gb Ethernet, and Intel’s killer WiFi 6 built-in. All dressed up in sleek black with RGB lighting and protective metal plating, it looks way higher-end than the price tag! Cooling, power delivery, and audio are also top-notch. And bonus, that XMP support paired with the Intel i5 means buttery-smooth gameplay is just waiting to happen. If you want to squeeze serious gaming grunt from a budget, this MSI board is an awesome pick.

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Gigabyte B460 Aorus Pro AC

Best Overall Motherboard for i5 10500F

Brand: Gigabyte | Series: Aorus Pros | Chipset: B460 | Socket: LGA 1200 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory Architecture: Dual channel | Memory Slots: 4 DIMMs | Memory Size: 128GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 2933MHz | Onboard WiFi: Intel 802.11ac | SATA ports: 6 SATA 3.0

REASONS TO BUY

✓Overall best performance

✓All-type connectivity

✓Attractive design and RGB

✓Wifi, 2.5 LAN, and Bluetooth 5

REASONS TO AVOID

✗No PCIe 4.0 support

Stepping it up a notch, the Gigabyte B460 Aorus Pro AC is a great mid-range option, packing some serious features for the price point. Pitting it against AMD boards, you get way better value here at a lower cost. The only real downside is lacking PCIe 4.0, but 3.0 still performs amazingly well even if 4.0 has the edge. Compatibility is strong too; it works with Intel’s latest 10th-generation Core, Pentium Gold, and Celeron CPUs on the LGA 1200 socket. Jumping into the specs, you have everything needed to game hard while being productive. Dual-channel RAM supports up to a huge 128GB running at 2933MHz speeds. All the ports you could need too—USB galore, HDMI, DisplayPort, PCIe slots, audio jacks, the works.

Built-in WiFi and Bluetooth are convenient extras. And that screaming-fast 2.5 GB Ethernet is no joke. Dual M.2 slots deliver lightning data transfers at 32 GB/s too. Cooling and power are on point as well for reliable, glitch-free performance. Gigabyte also knocked it out of the park on aesthetics—that sleek black heatsink design is a chef’s kiss. The rear I/O shield takes protection to the next level, too. All in all, this board flexes serious muscle in both specs and style at an affordable price. It’s a killer option for gamers and creators on a budget.

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ASRock B460 Phantom Gaming 4

Best Flagship Motherboard for i5 10400F

Brand: ASRock | Series: Phantom | Chipset: B460 | Socket: LGA 1200 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory Architecture: Dual channel | Memory Slots: 4 DIMMs | Memory Size: 128GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 2933MHz | Onboard WiFi: Not available | SATA ports: 6 SATA 3.0 

REASONS TO BUY

✓ASRock technologies

✓Adequate cooling options

✓DrMOS power phases design

✓Two massive heatsinks

REASONS TO AVOID

✗No built-in WiFi

ASRock’s Phantom series has some of their best tech packed in, designed with gamers center stage. The B460 Phantom Gaming 4 feels tailor-made for intensive loads while staying sensible on price. Despite premium features, it comes in at a mid-range price point with excellent value. Pairing the B460 chipset with Intel’s LGA 1200 socket creates a killer combo for 10th-generation Core CPUs too. Dual-channel RAM lets you go nuts with 128GB across 4 slots and up to 2933MHz speeds. It’s missing built-in WiFi, which is a bummer for wireless, but Gigabit Ethernet fills in strong on the wired side. Plus, you get PCIe slots, an M.2 slot for WiFi cards, an Ultra M.2 for SSD speeds, and USB and SATA galore. Those massive heatsinks and seven fan headers mean taking cooling to extremes, too.

I love the black and white color scheme; it looks so futuristic and rad. And best of all, tweaking RAM overclocks neatly sidesteps the locked CPU limits. Talk about maximizing performance on a budget! It really flexes all the necessities for high-octane gaming. Fantastic value overall.

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MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Plus

Best Affordable Motherboard for i5 10400F

Brand: MSI | Series: MPG | Chipset: Z490 | Socket: LGA 1200 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory Architecture: Dual channel | Memory Slots: 4 DIMMs | Memory Size: 128GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 5000MHz | Onboard WiFi: Not available | SATA ports: 6 SATA 3.0

REASONS TO BUY

✓Affordable

✓Up to 5000MHz of memory overclocking

✓RGB lighting on the chipset

✓Adequate VRM phase structure

REASONS TO AVOID

✗Only one M.2 has a shield

The Z490 chipset is top-notch, powering some seriously premium boards. MSI makes it accessible, though, with the MPG Z490 Gaming Plus at an affordable price point. This lets our i5-10400F flex some muscle by tweaking RAM speeds and timings in the BIOS. It supports Intel’s latest 9th and 10th generation CPUs on the LGA 1200 socket too. Networking is on point with 2.5 gigabit Ethernet for screaming-fast transfers. There is plenty of storage and expansion too, with PCIe slots, SATA ports, and dual M.2 slots. USB connectivity covers all the bases as well. And that killer 5.1-channel audio means your games and movies will sound amazing.

Cooling is no joke either; the extended heatsink and M.2 shield keep everything running smooth as butter. Variable-speed fans sync perfectly with temperatures too. But the pièce de résistance has to be those RGB accents popping against the sleek black design. It looks seriously premium for the money. Between the specs, performance, and looks, MSI really knocked it out of the park with this board. Amazing value for maximizing your i5!

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ASRock Z490M-ITX/ac

Best mini-ITX Motherboard for i5 10400F

Brand: ASRock | Series: Unknown | Chipset: Z490 | Socket: LGA 1200 | Form Factor: mini ITX | Memory Architecture: Dual channel | Memory Slots: 2 DIMMs | Memory Size: 64GB | Memory Speed: 4400+ MHz | Onboard WiFi: Intel 802.11ac WiFi | SATA ports: 4 SATA 3.0

REASONS TO BUY

✓Excellent performance

✓ASRock Base Frequency Boost technology

✓Polychrome RGB lighting

✓Customizable cooing design

✓LAN, WiFi, Bluetooth

REASONS TO AVOID

✗Not easy to overclock

The mini-ITX trend is huge these days for portable systems. The ASRock Z490M-ITX/AC is perfect for travelers since it’s tiny but still packs a punch. It is especially good for our i5-10400F chip with its base frequency boost technology. Just make sure to keep things cool when overclocking to extract maximum performance from its enclosed size. Impressively, it fits up to 64GB of dual-channel RAM across two slots, hitting 4400MHz+ speeds when overclocked! In terms of specs, you get PCIe, SATA, all the ports, including HDMI/DP, and dual super-fast Ultra M.2 slots. Wireless connectivity is on point too, with 2.5G Ethernet, Intel WiFi, and Bluetooth.

Its integrated power and premium chokes ensure smooth, protected power at higher currents during overclocking. The expanded CPU backplate allows more heatsink versatility in tight quarters as well. For its compact dimensions, ASRock really crammed in awesome specs and features. An excellent mini board when you need portable power!

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MSI B460M-A Pro

Best DDR4 Motherboard for i5 10400F

REASONS TO BUY

✓Great price/performance value

✓Strong VRM design

✓All-type connectivity

✓Excellent audio quality

REASONS TO AVOID

✗Some B460 memory limitations

MSI’s B460M-A Pro series is upgraded nicely from previous models. It keeps the same clean black aesthetic as the B460M Pro-VDH WiFi in a smaller package, though. While the heat sinks are smaller, MSI still ensured ultimate compatibility and optimization to unleash the full power of our i5-10400F chip. Gaming performance will have you hooked, for sure. Support for Intel’s latest Core/Celeron/Pentium CPUs and DDR4 RAM speeds of up to 2933 MHz on the dual-channel B460 chipset is top-notch.

Connectivity is on point too, with PCIe, SATA, dual fast M.2 slots where one gets dedicated cooling, plus USB-C, HDMI/DP, and more I/O. Killer 2.5G Ethernet and Intel WiFi 6 are the cream of the crop for networking. Cooling gets special attention from MSI, as do heat sinks, fan headers, and armored slots. Power delivery is rock-solid thanks to 12+1+1 phases too. In the end, it has all the goods any gamer or creator needs in a well-rounded package. Stick this board with an i5-10400F, and you’ve got one mean, affordable combo on your hands!

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Gigabyte H410M S2H

Best high-end Motherboard for i5 10400F

Brand: Gigabyte | Series: S2H | Chipset: H410 | Socket: LGA 1200 | Form Factor: micro ATX | Memory Architecture: Dual channel | Memory Slots: 2 DIMMs | Memory Size: 64GB | Memory Speed: 2933MHz | Onboard WiFi: Not available | SATA ports: 4 SATA 3.0

REASONS TO BUY

✓Pretty affordable

✓Compact size

✓Efficient performance

✓Clear-crystal sound

REASONS TO AVOID

✗No metal backplate

✗Fewer fan headers

Who doesn’t love a more compact board? I’m a huge fan of smaller mobos since they fit in more PC case sizes for squeezing builds into tight spaces. That’s why the Gigabyte H410 S2H is on our list: its micro-ATX form factor delivers quality and durability in a portable package. Pairing the LGA 1200 socket and H410 chipset makes it a perfect dance partner for 10th-generation Intel CPUs too. For its mATX dimensions, supporting up to 64GB of dual-channel RAM at 2933MHz speeds is no slouch. Graphics are covered between the PCIe slot or Intel HDMI/DVI ports. There are plenty of ports, expansion, and a speedy M.2 slot for storage as well. Design gets bonus points for its sleek black/silver aesthetic too.

Cooling was clearly a priority, from the redesigned chipset heatsink to hybrid fans, sensors, and smart fan control. Even the audio gets enhanced treatment for awesome sound. All in all, this board nails the essentials while saving space. It’s a terrific value choice for compact builds with our i5-10400F.

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MSI B460M Pro-VDH Wifi

Best mATX Motherboard for i5 10400F

Brand: MSI | Series: Pro series | Chipset: B460 | Socket: LGA 1200 | Form Factor: micro ATX | Memory Architecture: Dual channel | Memory Slots: 4 DIMMs | Memory Size: 128GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 2933MHz | Onboard WiFi: Intel Wireless AC 3168 | SATA ports: 4 SATA 3.0

REASONS TO BUY

✓Bluetooth, WiFi, Realtek LAN port

✓Excellent performance in mATX pack

✓Customizable mother circuit

✓Attractive design

REASONS TO AVOID

✗Basic cooling design

MSI is huge in the modding scene for bringing fresh tech to their boards. Following suit, the B460M Pro-VDH WiFi brings flagship features at a mid-range cost. Compared to MSI’s fancier offerings, you’re getting similar performance here for less cash. I dig that it has a fully isolated RAM circuit too; your data signals will be buttery smooth. Dual-channel RAM supports up to a huge 128GB across four slots, peaking at 2933MHz speeds. Storage, ports, and expansion are on point as well.

Wireless connectivity is also prime, with AC WiFi at 433Mbps speeds, Bluetooth, and excellent 1Gbps Ethernet. Overclocking gets help from six-phase VRMs and extended heatsinks, too. RGB lighting and three fan headers ensure great looks and cooling above all else. Its user-friendliness makes customizing a breeze too. And that sleek black aesthetic is sexy! For budget builders, maximizing our i5 while saving bucks doesn’t get better than this MSI board.

Conclusion

The CPU is the brain of any gaming rig, and the i5-10400F really delivers great performance without breaking the bank. Pair it with compatible parts like a solid motherboard, and that Hyper-Threading can shine for up to 25% faster processing power. Which is why choosing the right mobo is so important—it’s the foundation holding everything together. But your needs and budget also matter a ton here. You don’t have to spend a fortune to get great performance either. As long as your board suits your CPU and usage, affordability shouldn’t compromise quality too much.

Keeping that in mind, we picked out eight top motherboard options for our i5-10400F list. There’s something here for everyone—budget picks, high-end models, compact ITX boards, you name it. Take a close look at what each brings to the table. Then figure out your personal needs and budget before choosing the one that’s the perfect fit. Maximize that Intel chip while staying sensible with your hard-earned cash.