Chipset for i5-9400 processor

[vlilley]

I trying to buy a computer with a Core i5-9400 Processor

Are there different chipsets associated with this processor to choose from?

[n_scott_pearson]

This processor requires a motherboard with an LGA1151 socket and a 300 Series Intel chipset (B360, B365, H310. H370, Q370, Z370 or Z390).

Note: I personally recommend that you stay away from boards with B360 and B365 chipsets.

Hope this helps,

...S

[vlilley]

Hi Scott,

Thanks very much, that is a great help.

I tried searching Google but couldn't get any joy.

Information from advice sites and computer manufacturers, so far, have only mentioned the processor but not chipsets, so I was beginning to wonder if it didn't have any.

Now I can see I was justified in not assuming that every processor offering was necessarily the same. 

And your suggestion on what to avoid is especially useful, as such information is so specialised, I would be unlikely to discover it otherwise.

All the best,

Vic

[AlHill]

But, it is more than just the socket and chipset.  You must also confirm that the motherboard bios supports your i5-9400. 

Doc (not an Intel employee or contractor)

[vlilley]

Thanks Al,

I realised after posting that there were probably other options I hadn't considered yet.

However, I was hoping to buy a ready built PC, rather than build my own.

[n_scott_pearson]

As an example, I googled "Z390 motherboard" and got lots of hits. The very first entry took me to the NewEgg site where it showed me dozens and dozens of Z390-based motherboards from MSI, Gigabyte and Asus. Prices ranged from US$90 to US$1000, but the sweet spot seemed to be in the US$200-US$300 range. You can do the same kind of search for the H370, Q370, etc.

What Al says is absolutely correct; you should check the documentation to ensure that a board supports your processor. In this case, since you have one of the mainstream 9th gen processors, you should not have any problems finding compatible motherboards. Most of the sampling of boards that I looked at simply stated that they supported "all 8th gen and 9th gen processors".

I realize I didn't do much in my last response to explain what the various chipsets are typically used for. Here's a breakdown:

H370 - Mainstream Multimedia/Gaming

Q370 - Business

Z370/Z390 - Enthusiast Multimedia/Gaming

Hope this helps,

...S

[vlilley]

Thanks Scott,

I want it for business use, searching the Web, including watching videos, and word processing, accounting, and backup.

So telling me about

Q370 - Business.

is very useful

As I wrote in reply above, I'm not trying to build a PC.

Vic