Intel’s Core i5-11400F improves upon previous-generation chips with six cores, twelve threads, a 12MB Intel Smart Cache, and a 2.6GHz base clock boosting to 4.4GHz. It delivers excellent multi-threaded performance when paired with a suitable motherboard, which is crucial for optimizing the rig’s performance. This ‘F’ version, which lacks integrated graphics, is more affordable, and being a locked chip, it works well with a locked chipset motherboard, saving money without compromising performance.
Choosing the right motherboard is vital as it holds and connects most components, influencing their speed, performance, and communication. Therefore, ensuring compatibility and performance optimization between the CPU and motherboard is essential.
| Award | Design | Best | Retailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Budget Motherboard for i5 11400F |  | View | |
| Best Mini ITX Motherboard for i5 11400F |  | View | |
| Best Flagship Motherboard for i5 11400F |  | View | |
| Best Premium Motherboard for i5 11400F |  | View | |
| Best Budget Motherboard for i5 11400F |  | View | |
| Best Value Motherboard for i5 11400F |  | View | |
| Best Gaming Motherboard for i5 11400F |  | View |
Quick Shopping Tips:
Size: Ensure the motherboard fits your PC case. Take measurements of the socket and match them with the board you’re interested in buying.
Memory Capacity: Verify the motherboard can accommodate at least 32 GB of volatile memory. Each board has specific memory module sockets and capacities, crucial for future expansion.
Compatibility: Ensure the motherboard supports the LGA 1200 socket used by the i5-11400F. The wrong socket type will prevent fitting the chip on the motherboard.
Chipset: The i5-11400F is a locked variant, so choose a motherboard with a locked chipset. Avoid wasting money on an expensive motherboard meant for overclocking. Latest 500-series motherboard are suitable if they match this criterion.
Cooling Capabilities: Motherboards should handle the temperature produced at peak performance. Check reviews, consult online tech communities, or use this guide to ensure adequate cooling.
Best Motherboard for i5 11400F List
MSI MAG B560 Tomahawk WiFi
Best Budget Motherboard for i5 11400F
Chipset: Intel B560 | Socket: LGA 1200 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory: 128 GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 2133 MHz
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The MSI MAG B560 Tomahawk WiFi, part of the gaming-focused MAG series, is an affordable motherboard for Intel’s budget-friendly LGA 1200 B560 series. It features a 12+2+1 duet rail power system and an 8+4 pin power connector, ensuring system performance.
It supports up to 128GB of DDR4 memory at speeds up to 5000MHz. Connectivity includes ten USB ports, six SATA 3.0 slots with RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 support, PCIe 3.0/4.0, and two M.2 slots. It also offers HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.4 outputs.
The board includes a Realtek HD audio codec for audio and a Realtek RTL8125B 2.5GbE controller for networking. Intel AX210 WiFi 6E CNVi chip enables wireless tasks. Its extended heatsink design, fast airflow, and M.2 Shield Frozr technology ensure effective cooling. Aesthetically, it boasts a black PCB with gunmetal grey heatsinks and “Tomahawk” lettering.
ASUS TUF GAMING B560M-PLUS WIFI
Best Micro ATX Motherboard for i5 11400F
Chipset: Intel B560 | Socket: LGA 1200 | Form Factor: micro ATX | Memory: 128 GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 5000 MHz
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The ASUS TUF Gaming B560M-Plus WiFi is ideal for compact gaming systems. It comes in three variants, with the B560M-Plus WiFi offering WiFi support, an improved VRM, and better M.2 and PCH heatsinks. Its robust 8+1 power phase design works well with a single 8-pin 12V power connector.
Built on a 6-layer PCB, it ensures fast signal transmission and data flow. It supports the latest 10th and 11th generation Intel chips via the LGA 1200 socket and DDR4 memory up to 5000MHz. It features fifteen USB connections, six SATA 6Gb/s ports, PCIe 3.0/4.0 support, and two M.2 slots for storage.
For networking, it offers Realtek 2.5Gb Ethernet with TUF LANGuard, Intel WiFi 6 CNVi, and Bluetooth v5.0. It includes Realtek HD audio codec with five 3.5mm audio jacks. Aesthetically, it has a black and grey design with yellow accents, presenting an eye-catching look. This motherboard is built to handle Intel’s latest processors, featuring a strong build, pre-installed IO shield, and easy-to-use BIOS.
MSI MPG B560I GAMING EDGE WIFI
Best Mini ITX Motherboard for i5 11400F
Chipset: Intel B560 | Socket: LGA 1200 | Form Factor: Mini-ATX | Memory: 64 GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 5200 MHz
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The MSI MPG B560I Gaming Edge WiFi is ideal for small form factor (SFF) PCs, built on a mini ITX board. It features a 6+2+1 power phase configuration on an 8-layer PCB with two heatsinks for exceptional power delivery.
Despite its smaller size, it supports two DDR4 DIMMs up to 64GB with 5200MHz speed, eight USB connections, four SATA 6Gb/s ports, PCIe 4.0 with heatsink, and two M.2 slots. It includes 2.5 Gb/s LAN Ethernet, WiFi 6E, and Audio Boost with three 3.5mm audio jacks.
The motherboard offers Click BIOS 5 with EZ-mode and advanced mode, updated from the CMOS Setup utility. It has a sleek design with white accents, a dragon logo, and robust heatsinks. This compact board doesn’t skimp on features or performance.
GIGABYTE X570 AORUS Master
Best Flagship Motherboard for i5 11400F
Chipset: AMD X570 | Socket: AM4 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory: 128 GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 2133 MHz
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The Gigabyte X570 Aorus Master is an excellent gaming motherboard with the AMD X570 chipset, making it one of the top-tier options. It costs twice as much as more affordable X570 boards like the ASUS Prime X570-P and MSI X570-A Pro, but the features justify the price. It supports Ryzen processors up to the 5000-series and four DDR4 DIMMs at 4400MHz.
It delivers smooth power input with a 12+2 configuration of 50A MOSFETs, making the power system 4% more efficient. It offers numerous USB ports, six SATA 6Gb/s connectors, PCIe 3.0/4.0 ports, and three M.2 slots, all usable simultaneously. Networking is supported by dual LAN with 2.5GbE and Gigabit Ethernet, along with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0.
The motherboard features a new UEFI BIOS with improved mouse control and layout, featuring Easy mode but without the one-click feature. The board’s design includes attractive aesthetics, RGB lighting, and efficient cooling with fins-array heatsinks, heat pipes, thermal pads, and a thermal baseplate. It’s a well-equipped, feature-rich motherboard, ideal for high-end gaming.
ASUS TUF Gaming Z590-Plus WiFi
Best Premium Motherboard for i5 11400F
Chipset: Intel Z590 | Socket: LGA 1200 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory: 128 GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 5333 MHz
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ASUS manufactures high-performance tech components, including motherboards. The ASUS TUF Gaming Z590-Plus WiFi delivers top-tier performance with many features. Its VRM setup is slightly inadequate, and the fan headers are few, but it offers excellent value.
The motherboard supports all Intel 14nm processors and four DDR4 DIMMs at 5133MHz. It has a 14+2 DrMOS power phase design on a six-layer PCB with ProCool sockets for optimal power delivery. It includes various USB ports, six SATA 6Gb/s ports, PCIe 3.0/4.0 support, and three M.2 slots.
Networking features include 2.5Gb/s Ethernet and WiFi 6. For audio, it uses an ASUS ALC 1200 codec with optical S/PDIF out. The all-black PCB has yellow accents and RGB lighting. Cooling features include enlarged heatsinks, PCH fanless heatsinks, hybrid fan headers, and an M.2 heatsink.
MSI MPG Z590 Gaming Plus
Best Budget Motherboard for i5 11400F
Chipset: Intel Z590 | Socket: LGA 1200 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory: 128 GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 5333 MHz
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The MSI MPG Z590 Gaming Plus provides high-end features without raising prices. The motherboard features a 14+1+1 VRM circuit design, each phase supplying 75A power.
MSI’s BIOS design remains efficient, especially with updates via USB-C port and Flash BIOS button. The motherboard includes eight USB ports, six SATA ports, PCIe 4.0 support with three PCIe 4.0 x16 ports, two PCIe x1 ports, and three M.2 slots. It lacks Wi-Fi and Bluetooth but includes a 2.5G LAN for stable networking.
For audio, it uses the high-end ALC4080 by Realtek. The black PCB, with grey touches and the dark black dragon logo on the heatsink, offers an attractive design. This board is ideal for mid-range or budget users, providing a long list of features at an affordable price.
MSI MAG B560 Tomahawk WiFi
Best Value Motherboard for i5 11400F
Chipset: Intel B560 | Socket: LGA 1200 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory: 128 GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 2133 MHz
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The MSI MAG B560 Tomahawk WiFi is ideal for getting optimal performance for every penny spent. The Tomahawk series is well-regarded, and the B560 model excels, despite not being ideal for overclocking, which is unnecessary for the locked i5 11400F.
It supports 128GB of DDR4 memory at 5066MHz in four DIMMs. The board has a 12+2+1 power phase VRM design with 60A per-phase power to enhance memory and CPU speeds. Connectivity includes ten USB ports, six SATA 3.0 6Gb/s ports, steel-armored PCIe 4.0 slots, and three M.2 slots, with one supporting PCIe 4.0.
Networking features include a 2.5Gb/s LAN and WiFi 6. The Click BIOS 5 allows easy BIOS updates via the CMOS Setup utility. The black PCB with grey heatsinks and varying lines, combined with LED and RGB headers, creates an attractive design, making it one of the best motherboards for the i5 11400F.
ASUS ROG Strix B560-A Gaming WiFi
Best Gaming Motherboard for i5 11400F
Chipset: Intel B560 | Socket: LGA 1200 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory: 128 GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 5000 MHz
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The ASUS ROG Strix B560-A Gaming WiFi is a budget-friendly motherboard ideal for building a unique system. It pairs perfectly with the locked Intel Core i5 11400 CPU. The B560-A resembles the B460-F but offers a different storage configuration, color scheme, and an extra PCIe 3.0 x1 slot. It has an 8+2 power stages VRM design, superior chokes, and durable capacitors.
The motherboard supports 128GB of DDR4 memory in four DIMMs at 3200MHz. It offers sixteen USB ports, six SATA 6Gb/s ports supporting RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays, PCIe 3.0/4.0 connections, and two M.2 slots. Realtek 2.5GbE Ethernet and Intel AX200 WiFi 6 CNVi provide robust networking options. For audio, it includes five jacks with a SupremeFX S1220A HD codec chip.
The design features a sleek silver and black patterned PCB with silver heatsinks, pink highlights, and an RGB glowing logo. The ASUS ROG Strix B560-A Gaming WiFi delivers strong connectivity and features, making it an excellent choice for gamers on a budget.
CEO, Lead Writer
Sajid Ali is a tech enthusiast and gamer who loves to write reviews about gaming hardware. He has a passion for staying up-to-date with the latest technological advancements and loves sharing his knowledge with others. Sajid studied Intermediate Computer Science at Degree College and went on to earn his Bachelor's in Computer Science from GSC. In his free time, you can find him testing out new hardware and software, or playing the latest video games. Sajid's in-depth understanding of computers and his love for gaming make him the perfect author to turn to for all things tech and gaming.
