Looking for the best motherboard for i5 6500?

It is surely an exciting time for PC gaming. DDR5 is finally here, Intel core processors and AMD are still going at it, and games look better than ever. Unfortunately, not everything is that great, as chips availability is still an issue going into 2023.

Fortunately, that makes us appreciate the fact that older hardware is still quite good. A great example is Intel’s Skylake Core i5 6500. While it is quite an old processor, it is still a decent processor for entry-level gaming.

You get dual channel DDR4 memory support, and that certainly improves things if you’re coming from a 3rd or 4th generation system. If you’ve managed to snag one for yourself, you might be wondering about the best motherboards for i5 6500.

Well, you are in luck. After extensive research, we have managed to procure five of the best options available to buy right now.

We’ll talk about how we sorted through the dozens of options shortly. For now, let’s take a look at a comparison of our top three choices.

Before moving on make sure you check the following detailed tutorial on how to choose the best motherboard for you: How To Choose The Right Motherboard For Your Needs: A Comprehensive Guide

Best Motherboards for i5 6500 Comparison Table

How Did We Choose The Best Motherboard for i5 6500

The first thing we have to consider is that we are talking about an Intel Core i5 6500. This is not an unlocked processor, so a motherboard’s overclocking abilities and power consumption is something we don’t need to consider.

However, many Z170 motherboards are available at such a decent price that it makes it hard to look past them. You get a better design, a higher number of ports, including display port options, and better future proofing. Remember, Z170 will support 7th gen processors without any issues.

However, that just makes things more complicated. We can’t narrow it down to one chipset, or CPU MOBO combination, since availability and pricing are always subject to change. The best approach possible in this scenario then is to find the best motherboard available in all three form factors, with different chipsets all around.

Finally, once we had our list of the best motherboards for intel core i5 6500 sorted, the task was quite simple. We needed to grade the motherboards based on four parameters:

• VRMs
• Design
• Connectivity
• Value for Money

We then give each motherboard an average score, and they are ranked according to this overall rating. Each motherboard also has a unique award relating to its standout aspect.

Check These:

• Best Motherboards For i7 4790K
• Best Motherboards For Intel i7 10700K
• Best Motherboards For Intel Core i5 6500

5 Best Motherboards for Intel Core i5 6500

Now that you know how we selected these motherboards, let’s get to the roundup itself. Here are five of the best motherboards for Intel core i5 6500 that money can buy.

1. BEST SELLER: ASUS Z170-A – Editor’s Choice

Memory Support: 64GB DDR4 @ 3466MHz | Chipset: Intel Z170 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 8 Phases | Storage: 1x M.2, 6x SATA, 1x Sata Express | RGB: No | Network: Gigabit Ethernet

For the first spot on our list, we have the ASUS Z170-A. This also earns our editor’s choice award. This is because while this Is a Z170 motherboard, it does not cost much more than the lower-end chipsets.

Instead, it brings in more features than other motherboards, better stability, and overall a great value into the mix even for moderate budget minded gamers. This one was a no-brainer for our top pick.

The Z170-A boasts a reasonably attractive design. It uses a white plastic shroud over the IO section that makes it stand out from other Z170 options. The chipset heatsink has an old-school ASUS logo over it, and the white rear panel cover we talked about earlier is quite large. Great for a separate color scheme from the motherboard.

This thing also has three PCIe slots (PCIe 3.0 x16), meaning it can do both two way Nvidia SLI and AMD Crossfire. You also get three x1 slots for more modern expansion cards.

Just like other Z170 motherboards, this great motherboard features a single M.2 slot. Out of the box, this slot uses the SATA interfaces, but you can change it in the BIOS to use PCIe 3.0 instead.

Adding a fast PCIe 3.0 M.2 drive is a good way of breathing new life into your entire PC. The positioning of this slot is right below the chipset heatsink, meaning you likely won’t have to remove your dedicated graphics card to install or reinstall the M.2 drive.

Other than that, you get support for 64 gigs of RAM that can be overclocked to 3466MHz. This ATX form factor motherboard’s overclocking ability is really not bad. You also get a classic SATA Express slot, as that used to be a major feature for most motherboards back then.

You also have access to a USB 3.1, and it uses Realtek ALC892 audio codecs which is not bad at all for an older motherboard. Overall, there’s not much to complain about with this board, since the motherboard ensures great performance for your intel core processor and that is why it is our editor’s choice.

Rating:

• VRM Design: 9/10
• Aesthetics: 8/10
• Connectivity: 9/10
• Value for Money: 9/10
• Overall Rating: 8.75/10

2. ASUS ROG Maximus VIII Hero – Best Premium Motherboard for Intel Core i5 6500

Memory Support: 64GB DDR4 @ 3733MHz | Chipset: Intel Z170 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 10 Phases | Storage: 1x M.2, 6x SATA, 2x Sata Express | RGB: No | Network: Gigabit Ethernet | Reputable PCB

It is a bit hard to find a 6th or 7th generation motherboard that does not feel outdated in 2023. If you are buying a high end motherboard today, it should have stable and consistent performance, a good design language, and enough ports for your daily use.

Fortunately, the ROG Maximus VIII Hero is up to the task. This is the best premium motherboard for i5 6500.

You can’t deny that the ROG Maximus VIII Hero is a great-looking motherboard. It has a slick and stylish design. Predominantly, it uses a grey and black color scheme along with some red accents to complete the overall look.

The solid PCB backed matte finish, further adds to the sleek design. Every exterior pc components here is of quality, and the reinforcing plates on the back of the board add to the overall durability aspect.

Now let’s see what this gaming motherboard has to offer apart from the design. You get access to high-frequency overclockable memory, as this motherboard supports 64 gigs of RAM that can be overclocked to 3733MHz or more.

Faster RAM helps in gaming performance, especially if you are using older hardware. It has a modern Turbo Processing Unit (TPU) and uses a 10 phase VRM design, which is honestly a bit overkill for the i5 6500. You also get an M.2 slot, six SATA ports, two SATA Express ports, fortified PCIe slot to avoid GPU sagging and Gigabit Ethernet.

Apart from that, you also get access to a USB 3.1 port in the form of a USB Type-C port on the back. That is highly useful in the modern era. You even get a lot of hardware buttons on the board itself.

These include a power switch, reset switch, LN2 mode, and one-click overclocking buttons. Of course, a lot of these aren’t of use with the i5 6500, but they might come in handy if you plan to upgrade your Intel Core later on.

Admittedly, the ROG Maximus VIII Hero is a bit overkill for the i5 6500 with decent specs. However, if you want to buy a gaming motherboard that looks and feels good in 2023, with balanced power distribution this is without a doubt the one to go for. Just try to look out for not so reasonable pricing on this almost flawless motherboard.

Rating:

• VRM Design: 9/10
• Aesthetics: 8/10
• Connectivity: 9/10
• Value for money: 7.5/10
• Overall Rating: 8.6/10

3. ASRock H170M Pro 4 – Best Budget Motherboard For i5 6500

Memory Support: 64GB DDR4 @ 3000MHz | Chipset: Intel H170 | Form Factor: Micro-ATX | Voltage Regulator: 6 Phases | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA | RGB: Yes | Network: Gigabit Ethernet

Last but not least, we have an entry-level Micro-ATX form factor motherboard on our hands. This is one of the few entry-level H170 options that we feel safe recommending.

You give up on a lot of features available with the Z-series chipset, but you also get an astronomically low price. For some, that’s a fair tradeoff.

Since we’re talking about an H170 motherboard here, know that there was a B150 option introduced with Skylake as well. However, that chipset is even more limited, as you don’t get M.2 slots with most. The ASRock H170M Pro 4 manages to look relatively modern.

Especially compared to our Gigabyte pick above. You get a decently sized back panel cover, and ASRock is using black as the main color theme, with bright orange accents all-around.

Both the VRM and chipset heatsinks are large and painted in a metallic orange finish. This further adds some personality to the motherboard. The battery is located between the CPU socket and the full-length PCIe 3.0 slot.

This board includes six SATA ports, and four are on the front edge near the bottom right of the motherboard. Because of the size limitation, two of the SATA ports are placed vertically.

Furthermore, this fair motherboard has an impressive six USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, support for 7.1 surround sound, Gigabit Ethernet, and support for AMD Crossfire.

Not bad at all for a cheap micro-ATX motherboard, and it manages to compete with many Z170 motherboards and Mid-ATX size boards in terms of performance. An impressive effort from ASRock.

All in all, this is an excellent motherboard. It supports high-frequency memory, features an M.2 slot, and plenty of USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports. This motherboard has aged beautifully and is a better value right now than ever before.

Rating:

• VRM Design: 8/10
• Aesthetics: 8/10
• Connectivity: 9/10
• Value for money: 9/10
• Overall Rating: 8.5/10

4. ASUS ROG Strix B250-I – Best ITX Motherboard For Intel Core i5 6500

Memory Support: 32GB DDR4 @ 3000MHz | Chipset: Intel B250 | Form Factor: Mini-ITX | Voltage Regulator: 8 Phases | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA | RGB: Yes | Network: Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 5

Next up, we have another B250 motherboard in the form of ITX. A lot has changed since Skylake and then shortly Kaby Lake were introduced.

However, one thing remains the same: ASUS still has the best ITX motherboards to date. This is something the company deserves credit for, as the Strix B250-I does not feel outdated, even in 2023.

A lot of this simply comes down to the design. While some may still argue it looks outdated, we think it looks excellent considering this compact beast came out back in 2016.

It uses a black PCB with silver stenciling, and the silver heatsinks on the chipset and VRMs compliment that beautifully. You even get an RGB strip along the right side of the board, something you rarely see on older hardware.

Moving on, the design isn’t the only thing this motherboard has going for it. It features a single PCIe 3.0 x16 slot but incorporates support for Dual channel M.2 storage. It ditches SATA Express entirely in favor of M.2, a move that aged well.

You can add two fast M.2 drives into this board, and never worry about storage again. Credit where credit is due, this was a great move from ASUS. Also, it has Intel Optane Memory compatibility.

Other than that, this motherboard features an 8-phase design for the VRMs. This is more than enough for the i5 6500, and it ages well here.

You even get access to built-in Wi-FI with this motherboard, which opens the door to better networking opportunities. Both of the M.2 slots feature heatsinks, and you also get access to Aura Sync and Fan Xpert 4.

Overall, this is one of the few of the older generation motherboards that still hold up in 2021. That is impressive on its own.

Installation is a bit difficult, as it does not take intuition into account as modern ITX motherboards. Still, this is by far the best ITX motherboard for the i5 6500.

Rating:

• VRM Design: 8/10
• Aesthetics: 9/10
• Connectivity: 9/10
• Value for money: 7.5/10
• Overall Rating: 8.3/10

5. Gigabyte GA-B520M-DS3H – Entry-level Micro-ATX Pick Motherboard for i5 6500

Memory Support: 64GB DDR4 @ 2400MHz | Chipset: Intel B250 | Form Factor: mATX | Voltage Regulator: 4+2 Phases | Storage: 1x M.2, 6x SATA, 2x Sata Express | RGB: No | Network: Gigabit Ethernet

The i5 6500 is quite an old processor. As such, while the choices above are excellent, some might want to save a considerable amount on costs.

This works well since most people might be looking at it as a temporary gaming rig, or a very entry-level one. Well, the Gigabyte GA-B250M-DS3H is an excellent choice for that, despite the odd naming convention.

We’d usually start off by talking about the design first. However, there’s not much to talk about here. If you were looking for a proper motherboard that does not look out of place in 2023, this is not the one.

The design is very generic, and it looks like a barebones motherboard for i5. The only hint of character or personality here is the Gigabyte logo on the chipset heatsink. Now, that may sound bad, but budget motherboards were always like this.

Fortunately, while this is a cheap motherboard, the quality is anything but cheap. You still get access to four DIMM slots and this mATX motherboard supports 64 gigs of RAM, albeit at 2400MHz.

However, this motherboard came out at a time when even the 200-series chipsets supported XMP. High-frequency memory should not be too much of an issue here, as XMP helps you attain max speed of nearly 3000MHz with decent stability.

Apart from that, you get a single M.2 slot, common with B250 micro-ATX boards. You also get six SATA ports, and two SATA Express ports. If you can find a use for those SATA express, then they very well may speed up select models of solid-state drives.

While this motherboard feels limited in many regards, it makes up for it with the extensive storage options available.

Overall, this is a good motherboard at a very reasonable price if you want to get your foot into the door with PC gaming. It only has one fan header, and that’s the most limiting part about this board.

However, you can find it for next to nothing these days, and that makes it an excellent value board in 2023.

Rating:

• VRM Design: 8/10
• Aesthetics: 6/10
• Connectivity: 7/10
• Value for money: 9/10
• Overall Rating: 7.5/10

Buyer’s Guide

Now that we have talked about some of the best motherboards for i5 6500, let’s have a look at some things to look out for when buying a motherboard. This buyer’s guide should further help in making sure you make the right choice.

You will need a motherboard that has decent surface capacitors so you won’t generate power outages, as well as decent graphics card and more. Take a look at some of the best features to look out for in a motherboard for i5 6500.

Compatibility and Motherboard Features

It is crucial for all buyers to consider the compatibility between the processor and motherboard they want to buy.

Both AMD and Intel tend to use different motherboards with separate sockets and chipsets. So the decision of the motherboard is interdependent on the decision of the CPU. Both of them go hand in hand.

As of right now, AMD uses the AM4 socket, which is going to likely change in 2022. Intel is using the LGA1700 socket right now, and they already have DDR5 support.

Older generations of motherboards will have different sockets. Subsequently, these sockets are used in several different chipsets. And may require a BIOS update.

Ultimately, remember that not every processor will work with a motherboard just because they share the same socket. While something like a 10900K will be compatible with Intel B460 motherboards, you will be limited because of the slower memory support, and obvious lack of overclocking.

Most manufacturers have product compatibility pages on each motherboard online. Check that out to see if your CPU is the right fit for your potential new motherboard.

Connectivity

First and foremost, connectivity options are crucial for any buyer. You want to be able to connect all of your devices seamlessly and have all the display options you want!

Faster ports and options are also preferred since this saves you a lot of time and makes the motherboard more future proof. Connectivity options include Ethernet, USB ports, fan headers, dvi ports for display connectivity, RGB headers, lan ports, wireless connectivity and more.

Perhaps the most important out of all of these are the USB ports found on the rear panel of the motherboard. You want to make sure you have enough to accommodate all of your peripherals and extra devices. Not to mention having standard headphone jacks.

USB 3.1 Gen 2 is the latest and greatest, although USB 3.1 Gen 1 is not that far behind for most people. Some people might also want Thunderbolt ports in order to connect a certain display. Apart from that, you can also find USB headers on motherboards for further expansion.

Fan headers and RGB headers are also crucial. Addressable RGB headers allow you to control the lighting of every component within your gaming PC. Fan headers are important for connecting case fans, but you’ll likely end up using a fan controller either way.

2.5 Gigabit Ethernet seems to be the standard these days for LAN for a reliable connection, but older boards might support only a 1000Mbps connection.

Choosing The Right Form Factor

There are three main motherboard form factors to concern yourself with. These are ATX, Micro-ATX (mATX), and Mini-ITX (ITX). Apart from the physical size, the main difference comes down to the number of a motherboard’s key features.

ATX

ATX motherboards tend to be the standard mainstream option, where you get quadruple DIMM slots, two or more M.2 slots, two or more x16 PCIe slots, and a good selection of ports.

ITX

ITX is more niche and aimed at people who want to create compact gaming rigs. Since great options are few and far between, the price can get a bit high. The desired performance can be yours, but for a higher price!

Micro ATX Form Factor

Micro-ATX has a smaller physical size and retains the four DIMM slots. However, it has fewer headers, sometimes fewer M.2 slots, and lacks a few extra features to cut down on cost. ITX goes a step further and only has one PCIe x16 slot, two DIMM slots, and one or two M.2 slots.

FAQs

What Motherboard is Compatible with i5 6500?

LGA1151 socket motherboards are compatible with the Intel i5-6500. On launch, the i5 6500 supported different chipsets: H110, B150, H170, and Z170. Kabylake chipsets or the 200 Series motherboards also work with the i5 6500 perfectly.

Is the I5 6500 Good for Gaming?

The intel core i5 6500 is a good CPU for gaming even in 2023. This quad-core processor does bottleneck some of the more recent graphics cards. However, it still works well for Esports titles and entry-level gaming at low/medium settings.

Can I Overclock i5 6500?

You can’t overclock the i5 6500 because Intel locked down unofficial overclocking methods or non-K series CPUs. There are workarounds for this, but you are better off buying a processor with the “K” designation for a more seamless overclocking experience.

Does i5 6500 Have Hyperthreading?

The i5 6500 does not support hyperthreading. It can only run 4 threads simultaneously.