Buying Guide
The Best Motherboards for the Intel Core i5-13400F
Six B760 boards for the locked Core i5-13400F compared on DDR4 or DDR5 support, M.2 slots, Wi-Fi and size.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read6 products evaluated
The Core i5-13400F is a locked chip with no integrated graphics, so a Z790 board adds nothing. B760 boards run it at full speed.
We compared 6 boards for it. This is a research-based comparison built from maker specifications and retailer listings; we did not test these parts ourselves.
Quick Picks
Our 6 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Best Value DDR5
MSI B760 Gaming Plus WiFi V1
DDR5, Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5Gbps LAN at a low price.
Best for: Most 13400F builds.
Our take Check price for MSI B760 Gaming Plus WiFi V1 (opens in a new tab)
Best Features
GIGABYTE B760 AORUS Elite AX
A 12+1+1 layout, three M.2 slots and Q-Flash Plus.
Best for: Builders who want more storage.
Our take Check price for GIGABYTE B760 AORUS Elite AX (opens in a new tab)
Best for DDR4
ASUS B760M-AYW WiFi D4 II
DDR4, Wi-Fi 6 and 2.5Gbps LAN on Micro-ATX.
Best for: Reusing DDR4 memory.
Our take Check price for ASUS B760M-AYW WiFi D4 II (opens in a new tab)
Well-Rounded Choice
ASRock B760M PG Riptide WiFi
The B760M PG Riptide offers a 14+1+1 layout on a Micro-ATX DDR5 board with Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5Gbps LAN.
Best for: Buyers who want 14+1+1 power stage layout.
Our take Check price for ASRock B760M PG Riptide WiFi (opens in a new tab)
Solid Alternative
ASUS Prime B760M-A AX
The Prime B760M-A AX is a Micro-ATX DDR5 board with two M.2 slots, Wi-Fi 6 and 2.5Gbps LAN.
Best for: Buyers who want front usb 3.2 gen 1 type-c header.
Our take Check price for ASUS Prime B760M-A AX (opens in a new tab)
Worth Considering
ASRock B760M Pro-A/D4 WiFi
The B760M Pro-A/D4 WiFi is a Micro-ATX DDR4 board with Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5Gbps LAN.
Best for: Buyers who want memory support to ddr4-5333 (oc).
Our take Check price for ASRock B760M Pro-A/D4 WiFi (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| DDR5, Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5Gbps LAN at a low price. | Most 13400F builds. | Check price for MSI B760 Gaming Plus WiFi V1 (opens in a new tab) |
| A 12+1+1 layout, three M.2 slots and Q-Flash Plus. | Builders who want more storage. | Check price for GIGABYTE B760 AORUS Elite AX (opens in a new tab) |
| DDR4, Wi-Fi 6 and 2.5Gbps LAN on Micro-ATX. | Reusing DDR4 memory. | Check price for ASUS B760M-AYW WiFi D4 II (opens in a new tab) |
| The B760M PG Riptide offers a 14+1+1 layout on a Micro-ATX DDR5 board with Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5Gbps LAN. | Buyers who want 14+1+1 power stage layout. | Check price for ASRock B760M PG Riptide WiFi (opens in a new tab) |
| The Prime B760M-A AX is a Micro-ATX DDR5 board with two M.2 slots, Wi-Fi 6 and 2.5Gbps LAN. | Buyers who want front usb 3.2 gen 1 type-c header. | Check price for ASUS Prime B760M-A AX (opens in a new tab) |
| The B760M Pro-A/D4 WiFi is a Micro-ATX DDR4 board with Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5Gbps LAN. | Buyers who want memory support to ddr4-5333 (oc). | Check price for ASRock B760M Pro-A/D4 WiFi (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Best Value DDR51 of 6
MSI B760 Gaming Plus WiFi V1 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The B760 Gaming Plus WiFi is a low-cost DDR5 ATX board with Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5Gbps LAN.
Best for
- Most 13400F builds.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: only 2 M.2 slots.
Why we like it
Two M.2 slots limit storage. On M.2 slot count it ties with the B760M-AYW D4 and the Prime B760M-A at 2. It also offers Bluetooth 5.3 alongside Wi-Fi 6E and HDMI and DisplayPort outputs.
It uses Intel's LGA1700 socket for 12th, 13th and 14th Gen Core processors; check the CPU support list for the BIOS version your chip needs, since early boards shipped before 14th Gen launched. Check the manual for which M.2 slots share lanes with SATA ports or the second PCIe slot before filling them all. On price it sat second of 6, between the cheaper B760M-AYW D4 and the pricier B760M PG Riptide, at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- M.2 slots: 2
- Wired LAN: 2.5Gbps
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E
- Form factor: ATX
- Socket: LGA1700
- Memory type: DDR5
- Chipset: B760
Pros
- Bluetooth 5.3 alongside Wi-Fi 6E
- HDMI and DisplayPort outputs
- 2.5Gbps Ethernet
- DDR5, Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5Gbps LAN at a low price
Cons
- Only 2 M.2 slots
- Wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7
- Costs more than the B760M-AYW D4 at the time of writing
Best Features2 of 6
GIGABYTE B760 AORUS Elite AX on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The B760 AORUS Elite AX offers a 12+1+1 layout, three M.2 slots and Q-Flash Plus, which updates the BIOS without a CPU installed.
Best for
- Builders who want more storage.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi is a problem.
Why we like it
It is the strongest B760 board here. On M.2 slot count it leads this guide at 3, ahead of the B760 Gaming Plus (2). No other pick in this guide offers 12+1+1 power stages; compare the B760M PG Riptide, which has 14+1+1 power stages.
It also offers EZ-Latch for tool-free card removal and Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5Gbps Ethernet. It uses Intel's LGA1700 socket for 12th, 13th and 14th Gen Core processors; check the CPU support list for the BIOS version your chip needs, since early boards shipped before 14th Gen launched. Check the manual for which M.2 slots share lanes with SATA ports or the second PCIe slot before filling them all. Only the Prime B760M-A came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 6 picks.
Key dimensions & specs
- M.2 slots: 3
- Wired LAN: 2.5Gbps
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E
- Power stages: 12+1+1
- Form factor: ATX
- Socket: LGA1700
- Memory type: DDR5
- Chipset: B760
Pros
- Q-Flash Plus BIOS updating without a CPU
- EZ-Latch for tool-free card removal
- Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5Gbps Ethernet
- Most M.2 slot count of the picks (3)
Cons
- Wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7
- Costs more than the B760M-AYW D4 at the time of writing
Best for DDR43 of 6
ASUS B760M-AYW WiFi D4 II on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The B760M-AYW WiFi D4 II is a Micro-ATX DDR4 board with two M.2 slots, Wi-Fi 6 and 2.5Gbps LAN at a low price.
Best for
- Reusing DDR4 memory.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when only 2 M.2 slot is a problem.
Why we like it
It matches the B760 Gaming Plus and the Prime B760M-A on M.2 slot count (2). Like the Prime B760M-A, it has a wi-Fi 6, while the B760 Gaming Plus uses a wi-Fi 6E. Like the B760M Pro-A/D4 WiFi, it has a DDR4 memory type, while the B760M PG Riptide uses a DDR5 memory type.
You also get a PCIe 5.0 x16 graphics slot and a front USB 5Gbps port. It uses Intel's LGA1700 socket for 12th, 13th and 14th Gen Core processors; check the CPU support list for the BIOS version your chip needs, since early boards shipped before 14th Gen launched. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the B760 Gaming Plus was closest. What it gives up: M.2 slot count of 2, behind the B760 AORUS Elite AX (3); by contrast, the B760 AORUS Elite AX offers 3.
Key dimensions & specs
- M.2 slots: 2
- Wired LAN: 2.5Gbps
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6
- Form factor: Micro-ATX
- Socket: LGA1700
- Memory type: DDR4
- Chipset: B760
Pros
- PCIe 5.0 x16 graphics slot
- Front USB 5Gbps port
- DDR4, Wi-Fi 6 and 2.5Gbps LAN on Micro-ATX
Cons
- Only 2 M.2 slots
- Takes DDR4 only, not DDR5 kits
- M.2 slot count of 2, behind the B760 AORUS Elite AX (3)
Well-Rounded Choice4 of 6
ASRock B760M PG Riptide WiFi on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The B760M PG Riptide offers a 14+1+1 layout on a Micro-ATX DDR5 board with Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5Gbps LAN.
Best for
- Buyers who want 14+1+1 power stage layout.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi is a problem.
Why we like it
It suits compact builds with a Core i5 or i7. No other pick in this guide offers 14+1+1 power stages; compare the B760 AORUS Elite AX, which has 12+1+1 power stages. It also offers front and rear USB-C and memory support to DDR5-7200 (OC).
It uses Intel's LGA1700 socket for 12th, 13th and 14th Gen Core processors; check the CPU support list for the BIOS version your chip needs, since early boards shipped before 14th Gen launched. As a Micro-ATX board it fits smaller cases but has fewer expansion slots than ATX; check the gap between the GPU and the lower slots. There is no published M.2 slot count figure, whereas the B760 AORUS Elite AX offers 3.
Key dimensions & specs
- Wired LAN: 2.5Gbps
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E
- Power stages: 14+1+1
- Form factor: Micro-ATX
- Socket: LGA1700
- Memory type: DDR5
- Chipset: B760
Pros
- 14+1+1 power stage layout
- Front and rear USB-C
- Memory support to DDR5-7200 (OC)
Cons
- Wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7
- No published M.2 slot count
- Costs more than the B760M-AYW D4 at the time of writing
Solid Alternative5 of 6
ASUS Prime B760M-A AX on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Prime B760M-A AX is a Micro-ATX DDR5 board with two M.2 slots, Wi-Fi 6 and 2.5Gbps LAN.
Best for
- Buyers who want front usb 3.2 gen 1 type-c header.
Skip if
- Pass on it if only 2 M.2 slot rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It suits compact Core i5 builds. It matches the B760 Gaming Plus and the B760M-AYW D4 on M.2 slot count (2). Like the B760M-AYW D4, it has a wi-Fi 6, while the B760M PG Riptide uses a wi-Fi 6E.
It also offers a front USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C header and DisplayPort output. It uses Intel's LGA1700 socket for 12th, 13th and 14th Gen Core processors; check the CPU support list for the BIOS version your chip needs, since early boards shipped before 14th Gen launched. As a Micro-ATX board it fits smaller cases but has fewer expansion slots than ATX; check the gap between the GPU and the lower slots.
It was priced above the B760M Pro-A/D4 WiFi and below the B760 AORUS Elite AX at the time of writing. It gives ground on M.2 slot count, where the B760 AORUS Elite AX offers 3.
Key dimensions & specs
- M.2 slots: 2
- Wired LAN: 2.5Gbps
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6
- Form factor: Micro-ATX
- Socket: LGA1700
- Memory type: DDR5
- Chipset: B760
Pros
- Front USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C header
- DisplayPort output
- 2.5Gbps Ethernet
Cons
- Only 2 M.2 slots
- M.2 slot count trails the B760 AORUS Elite AX (3)
- Costs more than the B760M-AYW D4 at the time of writing
Worth Considering6 of 6
ASRock B760M Pro-A/D4 WiFi on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The B760M Pro-A/D4 WiFi is a Micro-ATX DDR4 board with Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5Gbps LAN.
Best for
- Buyers who want memory support to ddr4-5333 (oc).
Skip if
- Worth skipping when wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi is a problem.
Why we like it
Its 7+1+1 layout suits a Core i5. No other pick in this guide offers 7+1+1 power stages; compare the B760 AORUS Elite AX, which has 12+1+1 power stages. Like the B760M-AYW D4, it has a DDR4 memory type, while the B760 Gaming Plus uses a DDR5 memory type.
It also offers memory support to DDR4-5333 (OC) and Dr.MOS power stages. It uses Intel's LGA1700 socket for 12th, 13th and 14th Gen Core processors; check the CPU support list for the BIOS version your chip needs, since early boards shipped before 14th Gen launched. It takes DDR4 memory only, so reuse or buy a DDR4 kit; DDR5 sticks do not fit its slots.
As a Micro-ATX board it fits smaller cases but has fewer expansion slots than ATX; check the gap between the GPU and the lower slots. There is no published M.2 slot count figure, whereas the B760 AORUS Elite AX offers 3.
Key dimensions & specs
- Wired LAN: 2.5Gbps
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E
- Power stages: 7+1+1
- Form factor: Micro-ATX
- Socket: LGA1700
- Memory type: DDR4
- Chipset: B760
Pros
- Memory support to DDR4-5333 (OC)
- Dr.MOS power stages
- Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5Gbps Ethernet
Cons
- Wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7
- Takes DDR4 only, not DDR5 kits
- No published M.2 slot count
How We Chose These Core i5-13400F Motherboards
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- Connectivity
- We compared Wi-Fi, wired LAN speed and USB4.
- Storage
- We counted listed M.2 slots and PCIe 5.0 support.
- Platform
- We checked socket, chipset and form factor from each listing.
- Power delivery
- We noted power stage layouts where the maker lists them.
What to Look for in a Core i5-13400F Motherboard
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Check DDR4 or DDR5 before you buy
LGA1700 boards come in DDR4 and DDR5 versions that look alike; the model name usually carries D4 for DDR4. Buy the board that matches the memory you plan to use.
Z-series for K chips, B-series for the rest
Z790 and Z890 boards let you overclock an unlocked K processor and usually carry stronger power delivery. B760 boards run the same chips at stock settings for less money.
A Core i5-13400F or 14400F loses nothing on a B760 board.
Networking matters for daily use
Wi-Fi 7 and 5Gbps Ethernet help only if your router supports them, but built-in Wi-Fi saves a PCIe card.
Count M.2 slots
Most games now install to NVMe drives. Count how many M.2 slots you need now and later, and check which ones share lanes with other ports.
Check the rear and front I/O
Count USB ports you use every day and confirm a front USB-C header if your case has a USB-C port. Thunderbolt ports matter only for Thunderbolt docks and drives.
Confirm BIOS support for 14th Gen
Boards made before 14th Gen launched may need a BIOS update to run a 14th Gen chip, and Intel's microcode updates for 13th and 14th Gen stability arrive through BIOS releases. Update to the latest BIOS before daily use.
How to Choose a Core i5-13400F Motherboard
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Most 13400F builds | B760 Gaming Plus | DDR5, Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5Gbps LAN at a low price |
| Builders who want more storage | B760 AORUS Elite AX | A 12+1+1 layout, three M.2 slots and Q-Flash Plus |
| Reusing DDR4 memory | B760M-AYW D4 | DDR4, Wi-Fi 6 and 2.5Gbps LAN on Micro-ATX |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
Figures as each maker states them.
| Board | M.2 slots | Wired LAN | Wi-Fi | Power stages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B760 Gaming Plus | 2 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 6E | Not listed |
| B760 AORUS Elite AX | 3 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 6E | 12+1+1 |
| B760M-AYW D4 | 2 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 6 | Not listed |
| B760M PG Riptide | Not listed | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 6E | 14+1+1 |
| Prime B760M-A | 2 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 6 | Not listed |
| B760M Pro-A/D4 WiFi | Not listed | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 6E | 7+1+1 |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a 13th Gen board run a 14th Gen CPU?
Yes on the same LGA1700 socket, after a BIOS update if the board shipped before 14th Gen launched. Check the board's CPU support list.
Do I need a Z790 board for a Core i7-14700K?
Only to overclock it or to get stronger power delivery. A good B760 board runs a 14700K at stock settings, though the cheapest boards may lower its sustained boost.
What size motherboard should I buy?
ATX fits most mid-towers and has the most slots. Micro-ATX suits smaller cases with fewer expansion needs.
Will these boards take Core Ultra processors?
Z890 and B860 boards use LGA1851 for Core Ultra 200S. LGA1700 boards (Z790, B760) take 12th to 14th Gen chips only.
Is built-in Wi-Fi worth it?
Yes if you cannot run a cable. Otherwise wired Ethernet is more consistent.
Can I use DDR4 on an LGA1700 board?
Only on a DDR4 version of the board. DDR4 and DDR5 slots are keyed differently, so a board takes one type or the other.
Bottom Line
The B760 Gaming Plus WiFi is the budget DDR5 pick, the B760 AORUS Elite AX the stronger one. The B760M-AYW WiFi D4 II suits DDR4 reuse.