Motherboards for Intel's 9th Gen CPUs are no longer being manufactured and have limited availability.
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Motherboard Requirements for the Core i5-9400T Processor
For Intel's 9th generation Core i5-9400T processor, you'll need a motherboard with an LGA 1151 socket and 300-series chipset.
Motherboards for Intel processors are made with chipsets provided by Intel. Each chipset offers a unique set of capabilities. However, motherboards must explicitly support features and capabilities for you to use them. Verify that a motherboard supports the features and capabilities you desire.
The lack of a "K" suffix in the model name 9400T means it doesn't support overclocking. Because of this, you may not need to use the top of the line Z390 or Z370 chipsets which support overclocking. Instead, you can use a motherboard with Intel's other 300-series desktop chipsets listed below.
For compatiblity with Intel's 11th generation Core processors, you can use any of the 300-series chipsets: Z390, Z370, H370, B365, B360, H310. These are roughly sorted from most to least functionality.
The Q370 chipset is also compatible, but is intended for business use cases; its availability in stand-alone motherboards is limited.
| Z390 | Z370 | H370 | B365 | B360 | H310 | Q370 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recommended Usage | For Enthusiast Gamer PCs | For Enthusiast Gamer PCs | For General Home and Gaming PCs | For Budget PCs | For Budget PCs | For Barebones PCs | For Nicer Business PCs |
| Motherboard Availability | Limited | ||||||
| Launch Date | Q4 2018 | Q4 2017 | Q2 2018 | Q4 2018 | Q2 2018 | Q2 2018 | Q2 2018 |
| CPU Overclocking | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Memory Overclocking | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| PCIe 3.0 Slots via Processor |
One x16 or Two x8 or One x8 + Two x4 |
One x16 or Two x8 or One x8 + Two x4 | One x16 | One x16 | One x16 | One x16 |
One x16 or Two x8 or One x8 + Two x4 |
| PCIe 3.0 Lanes via Chipset | 24 | 24 | 20 | 20 | 12 | None | 24 |
| PCIe 2.0 Lanes via Chipset | None | None | None | None | None | 6 | None |
| Integrated Wireless | Wireless-AC MAC | None | Wireless-AC MAC | None | Wireless-AC MAC | Wireless-AC MAC | Wireless-AC MAC |
| USB 3.2 Gen 2x1 (10 Gbps) | Up to 6 | None | Up to 4 | None | Up to 4 | None | Up to 6 |
| USB 3.2 Gen 1x1 (5 Gbps) | Up to 10 | Up to 10 | Up to 8 | 8 | Up to 6 | 4 | Up to 10 |
| USB 2.0 Ports | 14 | Up to 14 | 14 | Up to 14 | 12 | 10 | 14 |
| SATA 3.0 Ports | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 |
| PCIe RAID | 0, 1, 5 | 0, 1, 5 | 0, 1, 5 | 0, 1, 5 | None | None | 0, 1, 5 |
| SATA RAID | 0, 1, 5, 10 | 0, 1, 5, 10 | 0, 1, 5, 10 | 0, 1, 5, 10 | None | None | 0, 1, 5, 10 |
- Find Z390 Chipset Motherboards on Amazon
- Find Z370 Chipset Motherboards on Amazon
- Find H370 Chipset Motherboards on Amazon
- Find B365 Chipset Motherboards on Amazon
- Find B360 Chipset Motherboards on Amazon
- Find H310 Chipset Motherboards on Amazon
Other Considerations When Choosing a 9400T Motherboard
When choosing a motherboard for the 9400T, we considered several key factors beyond socket type and chipset compatibility. These include form factor, expandability, power delivery, and additional features like USB ports, audio quality, and Wi-Fi support. By focusing on these elements, you can identify the features that matter most for your specific needs, ensuring an optimal and future-proof setup.
Memory Overclocking
To be able to overclock DDR memory, such as via an XMP profile, your motherboard chipset needs to support memory overclocking.
Video Output Port
The lack of an "F" in the 9400T model name indicates that the CPU has integrated graphics support. You will need to make sure that your motherboard also has a video output port (e.g., HDMI) if you want to use the integrated graphics.
Even if you primarily connect your monitors to a graphics card, we found that integrated graphics can be beneficial when troubleshooting and fixing graphics card problems.
Storage: M.2 Slots and SATA Ports
NVMe M.2 cards are the latest and fastest SSD storage form. However, we suggest ensuring your motherboard includes enough slots.
The Z390, Z370, and Q370 chipsets support the most PCIe 3.0 lanes, which means that motherboards with these chipsets are likely to have the most x4 NVMe M.2 slots available.
Learn more about storage types in our article Storage Type Comparison: M.2, U.2, NVMe, SATA, SSDs, HDDs
.
Connectivity
USB
We found that it's wise to make sure the motherboard provides enough USB ports at your desired speeds. The Z390 and Q370 can support the most USB ports for the 9400T at USB 3.2 2x1 (10 Gbps) and USB 3.2 1x1 (5 Gbps) speeds.
From our experience, devices requiring high bandwidth typically fall into two categories: storage devices and high-resolution video devices. These devices depend heavily on high-speed data transfer. In fact, we have encountered instances where insufficient bandwidth notably impeded their performance.
In testing various storage devices, we found that those capable of handling large data transfers at high speeds delivered the best performance. Similarly, when working with high-resolution video devices, we discovered that a reliable and fast connection is essential for smooth playback and editing. Our experience has highlighted the importance of high bandwidth for these specific types of devices.
Audio
We recommend ensuring the motherboard has audio outputs. From my experience, it's crucial to verify the availability of rear and center speaker ports if you're using a surround sound system.
If your audio equipment is dependent on optical input, like mine, it's advisable to opt for a motherboard that includes this specific port. Alternatively, you might consider purchasing a separate PCIe or USB sound card. This allows you to expand your connectivity options and add features such as optical or RCA connections, tailored to your preferences.
When choosing a motherboard, prioritize one with physical audio ports if sound quality matters to you. Look for color-coded 3.5mm jacks (green for front, black for rear, orange for center/sub) to ensure proper speaker connections. If you're using a soundbar or AV receiver, we recommend opting for a motherboard with an optical (S/PDIF) port—it provides cleaner audio by avoiding electrical noise, which we've found makes a noticeable difference.
While built-in audio quality isn't the most critical factor, we suggest selecting a motherboard with a high-quality audio codec if you're using high-end headphones. It can reduce background noise, especially at higher volumes. If the motherboard's audio doesn't meet your standards, consider keeping an external audio solution (like a USB DAC) as a reliable backup—it's an affordable way to bypass onboard limitations and improve sound quality. We've found these solutions work well for both laptops and desktops.
To avoid the need for costly upgrades in the future, choose a motherboard whose ports are compatible with your current equipment. By making a thoughtful selection now, you can ensure better performance and a more satisfying listening experience.
Form Factor
When it comes to motherboards, we've encountered three primary form factors. In our experience, ATX stands out as the most common for desktop PCs. We've also explored Mini-ITX and MicroATX for building mini-PCs, and found they typically offer fewer PCIe slots, RAM slots, and storage support.
We've observed that these smaller form factors are backward compatible with standard ATX cases, using a subset of their mounting holes. In fact, we've frequently used Mini-ITX motherboards in ATX cases.
One crucial consideration is ensuring your case matches your motherboard's form factor. We've learned from experience how important it is to choose a case that aligns with your motherboard's specific needs.
PCIe Expansion Slots
Based on our analysis, the Z390, Z370, and Q370 chipsets provide the most flexibility when paired with the 9400T, allowing multiple PCIe 3.0 graphics cards in the dual x8 configuration.
The other chipsets, on the other hand, are very limited, with only a single PCIe 3.0 x16 slot.
Learn More About the Intel Core i5-9400T