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Searching for the best motherboard for your Intel Core i5 13500?
When it comes to PC building, choosing the right motherboard for your Intel Core i5 13500 is crucial. This guide is here to simplify your journey by presenting the top 3 motherboards that perfectly complement your CPU’s capabilities.
As you venture to construct a high-performance pc build, aligning with the right motherboard can elevate your experience significantly. Dive into this concise guide to explore the motherboards that not only match the Intel Core i5 13500 in terms of performance but also promise reliability and cost-effectiveness..
Our Top Picks
- 3. Gigabyte B760M DS3H AX (DDR4) – Best Budget Motherboard For Intel Core i5 13500
- 2. Gigabyte Z790 AERO G – Best Premium Motherboard For Intel Core i5 13500
- 1. MSI MAG B760 Tomahawk WiFi – Our Top Choice
Why Should You Trust Me?
I’m Konstantinos Chiotis, a fervent tech enthusiast and a seasoned PC builder since the age of 14. With over a decade immersed in the tech industry, I’ve honed my expertise in dissecting the finer details of essential components like motherboards.
My enduring passion for technology and gaming fuels my commitment to providing you with well-rounded and insightful advice.
As we delve into finding the best motherboard for your Intel Core i5 13500, rest assured, my recommendations are grounded in extensive experience and genuine enthusiasm for helping you build the optimal PC setup. Let’s craft your dream PC together!
How I Choose the Best Motherboards For The Intel Core i5 13500
The important key points that helped me in choosing the best motherboards for the Intel Core i5 13500 are:
- Price and Value: The Core i5 13500 is a 14-core (6 Performance and 8 Efficiency) CPU with a mid-range price tag that focuses heavily on maximizing value for money. It is the best option for those looking for an affordable alternative to the Intel Core i5 13600K and don’t care about overclocking. I chose the best motherboards for each category based on the value they provided for the price.
- Chipset – The Intel Core i5 13500 needs LGA 1700 Intel 700 series motherboards or 600 series boards with a BIOS update. I don’t consider any H610 motherboards because you don’t save a significant chunk of money and lose out on a lot of great features like dual channel RAM, memory overclocking, and PCIe 4.0 support.
- VRM configuration and Overclocking potential – The Intel Core i5 13500 is not an overclockable CPU. However, I always give consideration to the motherboard that has a better VRM with proper cooling over those that compromise on this. VRMs are a good indicator of how well-made the motherboard is and how well it will support more demanding CPUs now and into the future.
- RAM Support – The Intel Core i5 13500 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 RAM. I chose DDR5 for almost every category because you should be building a brand new PC in 2023 and beyond with DDR5 and their prices are continuously plummeting. I chose DDR4-compatible motherboards only where saving money is a priority and it makes little sense to choose DDR5. DDR4 is still a great option if you cannot spend more on DDR5 RAM.
- Storage and Connectivity Options: I chose the best motherboard for each category based on the I/O and storage connectivity. If I had to make a decision between two identically capable boards, I would choose the one that comes with better ports.
- User Feedback and Brand Reputation: When we pick our motherboards, we consider real-world user experiences and the manufacturers’ reputation. If the reviews are glowing and the after-sale support is top-notch, you can bet the product quality is on point and customers are happy.
Best Motherboards For Intel Core i5 13500 Reviews
1. MSI MAG B760 Tomahawk WiFi – Our Top Choice
PROS
- Excellent price and availability
- Top-notch I/O
- Strong VRM design for its price
CONS
- No CMOS clear and BIOS flash button
- No troubleshooting LEDs
I rarely come across boards that tend to be, dare I say, “perfect”. Of course, nothing in life is perfect and suggesting the “perfect” motherboard is tricky.
You need to look into too much information while keeping an eye on the cost. My definition of a perfect motherboard for a processor is that it needs to cover all the essentials, add onto them, and then have a low price to really increase its value.
The MSI MAG B760 Tomahawk WiFi is one hell of a motherboard and comes really close to what I would call “a perfect motherboard for the i5 13500”.
I knew that to choose the ideal motherboard for the Intel Core i5 13500, I’d need to see all of the options available in the $150 to $200 price range and then choose the board that provides the best value in terms of connectivity, build quality, and power delivery.
There is a lot of competition in this price range. The most notable standout motherboards were the Gigabyte B760 Gaming X AX at the lower end of this range and the Gigabyte B760 Aorus Elite AX at the upper end.
The advantage that the MSI MAG B760 Tomahawk WiFi has over its competition is that it was initially competing in the $200+ range and has more features to justify that premium. But where that advantage turns into an unfair advantage is when MSI decided to cut the price of this motherboard. It is now available everywhere for around $180 which pits it head-to-head with the Gigabyte B760 Aorus Elite AX.
The Gigabyte B760 Aorus Elite AX was my first pick, but when I started to compare it to the MSI MAG B760 Tomahawk WiFi, it became crystal clear which was the better motherboard.
Let’s start with the power delivery – MSI did not cut back and features a VRM with a 12+1+1-phase design rated at 75A. When you use both of its 8-pin connectors, you can essentially pair any Intel 12th or 13th-generation CPU without bottlenecks. The Gigabyte B760 Aorus Elite AX offers an identical VRM configuration, but that’s where the similarities stop.
Moving to the rear I/O, it is simply top-notch. We get 9 USB ports (four 2.0 type-A, four 3.2 gen1 type-A, and a 3.2 gen2 type-C port). Unlike Gigabyte where different models have different connectivity, this board has a full array of audio jacks powered by the Realtek ALC897 Codec and WiFi 6E with Bluetooth 5.3 as a standard. The cherry on top is the 2.5 Gb ethernet, HDMI 2.1, and DisplayPort 1.4 connectors.
Unfortunately, nothing is perfect so let’s now discuss some complaints I have with this board that prevent it from being perfect.
I am a fan of BIOS flash and CMOS clear buttons and I see no reason why MSI couldn’t have included them in this board. MSI could’ve easily added them on the board itself if not with the rear I/O but unfortunatelly they did not.
The other issue I have with this board is a little mixed. On the one hand, the primary expansion slot is running at PCIe Gen 5.0 x16 whereas every other motherboard only features PCIe 4.0 including the Gigabyte B760 Gaming X AX.
This is fantastic, but really unbalanced given that the second slot is PCIe Gen 3.0 x4 and the third slot is PCIe Gen 4.0 x1. Both of those slots are controlled through the chipset while the first one is controlled through the CPU.
This isn’t a deal breaker for me, but I wish this board included the buttons and had a more balanced PCIe expansion. Then, it would have made it completely impossible for me to even consider any other board at this price range.
Even with that nitpick out of the way, this is one of the best motherboards for the LGA 1700 socket.
Being sub-200 dollars gives it an unfair advantage because it is now competing with motherboards like the Gigabyte B760 Gaming X AX. Although that is also a great motherboard, it lacks features like the PCIe 5.0 slot and has a much weaker VRM.
All in all, the MSI MAG B760 Tomahawk WiFi will serve you well with any locked Intel 12 or 13-generation CPU like the i5 13500 for a very long time.
RATINGS:
VRM Design: 8/10
Features: 9/10
Aesthetics: 8/10
Value for Money: 9/10
Overall Rating: 9/10
2. Gigabyte Z790 AERO G – Best Premium Motherboard For Intel Core i5 13500
PROS
- Amazing design
- Thunderbolt support
- Very strong VRM design
- Plenty of storage options
CONS
- Unbalanced PCIe slot configuration
If you’re on the hunt for a high-end motherboard for your Intel Core i5 13500 setup, you really should check out Gigabyte Z790 AERO G that not only looks great but also delivers killer performance.
The VRM is some of the strongest on the market packing a 16+1+2-phase VRM design which is overkill for the i5 13500, but that means you will have no worries even when you get an Intel Core i9 13900K.
The design and aesthetics of this board are obviously its strongest features. Everything is laid out nicely and you will notice that a lot of thought was put into developing this board. It has beautiful and uniform whitish-silver heatsinks all over the board for the M.2 SSDs and VRMs. The whole PCB could’ve been white but the dark gray color compliments the design well.
Moving down we can see that the space between the top PCIe 5.0 x16 slot and the next PCIe slot is wide enough to fit a massive 3-slot graphics card without losing access to the second slot.
Many people complain that the other two PCIe slots are also full-sized instead of being x4 or x1.
I think that’s a perfectly adequate choice on Gigabyte’s behalf since x16 PCIe slots allow x8, x4 and even x1 devices to be connected to them. However, upon closer inspection, the other two slots are just PCIe 4.0 x4 and PCIe 3.0 x4 respectively. This is the reason why I think that these slots could’ve just been shorter to save space or the Gigabyte Z790 Aero G should’ve actually had longer PCIe slots.
There is however one particular area where the Gigabyte Z790 Aero G outshines its competition – storage expansion. You get 5 M.2 slots (the top one is PCIe 5.0 and the rest are PCIe 4.0!) and 4 SATA 3 ports. And as always with Gigabyte motherboards, the rear I/O is excellent.
You get WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, 2.5 Gb ethernet, HDMI 2.0 and a DisplayPort in port.
The Z790 Aero G features a total of 8 USB type-A ports (2*USB 2.0, 4*USB 3.2 Gen1, 2*USB 3.2 Gen2) and 2 USB 3.2 Gen2 type-C ports (one of which carries video signals over DisplayPort 1.4).
Even the front I/O is amazing giving us 2 Thunderbolt add-in card connectors and a USB 3.2 header.
While the rear I/O is mighty impressive, the BIOS flash and CMOS clear buttons are sadly missing and have been placed on the board instead. I find that inconvenient but certainly better than not having them at all.
Also, for the audio jacks, you get your standard mic and headphones input with an SPDIF input powered by the Realtek ALC1220-VB Codec. I do wonder why Gigabyte couldn’t have given us the full array of 5 audio jacks. I understand that most creators get sound cards, but when you are buying a creator board, it should come with everything included already.
Where other boards make you choose features, the Z790 Aero G gives you everything. The strongest competition that this board has is the Asus TUF Z790-Plus which has been a favorite of ours since it came out and is constantly recommended by us.
So the question is, why do I recommend the Gigabyte Z790 Aero G over the Asus TUF Z790-Plus?
To put it simply, the Asus TUF Z790-Plus is already an excellent choice, but it focuses on being a top choice for gamers. That means that it delivers well on the essentials but doesn’t go beyond that.
It isn’t that much cheaper than the Gigabyte Z790 Aero G and you lose some features notably when looking at the storage. The Gigabyte Z790 Aero G offers an extra PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot as well as another PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot that is also directly connected to the CPU rather than routed through the chipset.
The point of getting an Intel Core i5 13500 over the Intel Core i5 13600K is to save almost $100 and get all of its features and performance except for overclocking. So it makes sense to invest those savings on a motherboard that provides an uncompromising package.
In conclusion, if you are looking to pair your Intel Core i5 13500 with a premium motherboard then the Gigabyte Z790 Aero G stands out as the obvious choice. It looks gorgeous and will bring new life to a boring PC. You can rest assured that it will not disappoint you when you decide to upgrade to even an Intel Core i9 13900K.
RATINGS:
VRM Design: 9/10
Features: 9/10
Aesthetics: 9.5/10
Value for Money: 8.5/10
Overall Rating: 9/10
3. Gigabyte B760M DS3H AX (DDR4) – Best Budget Motherboard For Intel Core i5 13500
Form Factor: Micro ATX | Chipset: B760 | VRM: 6+2+1 Phase | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-5333+ | Video Outputs: 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort | USB Ports: 6x rear IO, 7x internal | Network: 1x 2.5 GbE LAN | Storage: 2x M.2, 4x SATA
PROS
- It’s cheap
- It has all the essential features
CONS
- VRM heatsink could be bigger
When building a PC on a tight budget, picking the right motherboard can be tough. You are most likely trying your best to save up as much as possible and start scraping the bottom of the barrel to just get your PC up and running. Your dilemma is having to choose between spending less on a basic motherboard that doesn’t have many features or spending more on a better one, which leaves less money for a better GPU and more RAM.
For this reason, most people choose H610 motherboards for a budget intel pc build. However, in my experience building Intel-based PCs, I have noticed that H610 motherboards are a complete waste of money.
They are extremely starved of features just to cut the costs down. And even then, they are asking a lot more than what they are worth.
Almost every H610 motherboard is available between $80 and $100 and that to me is the equivalent of burning your money because you can spend a little more than that and get an excellent B660 or B760 motherboard.
There are several note-worthy B-series motherboards but to me, the Gigabyte B760M DS3H AX DDR4 stood out above the rest and is my favorite pairing for the Intel Core i5 13500 on a budget.
Let’s first take a look at what Gigabyte has to offer and then move to the alternatives to see what makes this motherboard so special.
Starting off with the rear I/O, Gigabyte did an outstanding job considering the low price. It comes with 5 USB type-A ports (2 USB 2.0 and 3 USB 3.2 gen 1), 1 USB 3.2 gen 2 type-C port, a PS/2 port, 1 HDMI 2.0 port, 2 DisplayPort 1.2 ports, WiFi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3. The board features the three standard audio jacks that come with every other board, but it does support 7.1 surround sound.
The B760M DS3H AX DDR4 comes with a 2.5 Gb ethernet port which is rare since budget boards usually never come with more than a 1Gb port. Another feature on this board that almost every other manufacturer skips on their budget boards is that both of its M.2 slots are PCIe 4.0
A delightful surprise is the inclusion of Q-Flash and CMOS clear buttons on the motherboard. I would’ve liked these to be included with the rear I/O instead of the bottom of the board itself however.
Moving to the VRM, we have a 6+2+1 phase design. This certainly is not impressive but anything from a Core i7 13700 and under will have no issues running at its maximum potential if you choose to upgrade the CPU later.
The situation around the $100 to $150 is rather weird because there are a lot of motherboards to choose from. For only around $110, the Gigabyte B760M DS3H AX DDR4 offers everything that a decently priced motherboard should provide.
For around $100, you could also go with the MSI PRO B760M-P DDR4 which is the cheapest option available that has a high-quality PCB. But compared to the Gigabyte B760M DS3H AX DDR4, it is a barren. The rear I/O on this board is poor, it does not offer WiFi and Bluetooth, and the VRMs do not come with any shielding.
For a bit more at around $130, ASRock B760M Pro RS stands out as a solid option, but it is a DDR5 motherboard which will bring the cost up overall compared to the Gigabyte B760M DS3H AX DDR4.
The ASRock B760M Pro RS/D4 supports DDR4 memory but costs around $150 making it more expensive than its DDR5 counterpart so when it comes to value for money the B760M DS3H AX DDR4 is still a winner.
So the only motherboard that comes close to the Gigabyte B760M DS3H AX DDR4 is the ASRock B760M PG Lightning/D4 but ultimately is defeated. It offers no WiFi or Bluetooth out of the box and has a 1 Gb ethernet port compared to the Gigabyte’s 2.5 Gb.
At the end of the day, the Gigabyte B760M DS3H AX DDR4 taunts its competition and manages to strike a perfect balance by giving us everything that we need for a bargain price.
The back of the board is a connectivity party with plenty of USB ports (even a speedy USB-C), HDMI, DisplayPort, WiFi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3. It even breaks the norm with a speedy 2.5 Gb Ethernet port, both M.2 slots being PCIe 4.0, CMOS clear and Q-Flash buttons.
The board’s power delivery system is beefed up for the price, meaning smooth sailing for most CPUs, making the B760M DS3H AX DDR4 an obvious wallet-friendly winner for budget PC builders looking for the perfect budget motherboard to pair their Intel Core i5 13500 with.
RATINGS:
- VRM Design: 7.5/10
- Features: 9/10
- Aesthetics: 8/10
- Value for Money: 9.5/10
- Overall Rating: 8.5/10
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