ASUS Prime B860M-A Wifi CSM DDR5 Intel Motherboard

The ASUS Prime B860M-A WiFi CSM DDR5 is a micro-ATX motherboard built around the Intel B860 chipset and the LGA 1851 socket, making it fully compatible with Intel Core Ultra Processors (Series 2). Designed under ASUS's Corporate Stable Model (CSM) programme, it targets both professional workstation builders and commercial IT environments that require long-term platform stability — the CSM designation provides up to 36 months of product lifecycle support and a 6-month end-of-life notice, giving organisations ample transition time. Each board ships with access to ASUS Control Center Express, a server-grade IT management tool that supports remote monitoring, scheduled BIOS and driver updates, and endpoint configuration across over 100 compatible ASUS motherboards. Power delivery is handled by a 7+1+1+1 DrMOS stage configuration, with each power stage rated at 80 A. The 8-pin ProCool connector, alloy chokes, and durable capacitors work together to provide stable voltage to high-core-count Intel processors. For memory, four DDR5 DIMM slots support up to 256 GB of non-ECC unbuffered RAM, with speeds reaching DDR5-8666+ MT/s (OC) via AEMP III or XMP profiles. Support for CUDIMM is also included, and the DIMM Fit BIOS feature helps optimise individual module performance and compatibility. Storage options include one PCIe 5.0 x4 M.2 slot (up to 128 Gbps) and one PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slot (up to 64 Gbps), both in Key M form factor accommodating 2242, 2260, and 2280 drives. Four SATA 6 Gb/s ports add further capacity, with Intel Rapid Storage Technology enabling RAID 0/1/5/10. Expansion is covered by a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot (CPU-connected) alongside a PCIe 4.0 x16 slot (x4 mode) and a PCIe 4.0 x1 slot from the chipset. Connectivity is broad: built-in 2×2 Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) spans 2.4/5/6 GHz bands, Bluetooth 5.3 is included, and a Realtek 2.5 Gb Ethernet port with ASUS LANGuard rounds out wired networking. The rear I/O panel provides one USB 20 Gbps Type-C port, one USB 10 Gbps Type-A port, two USB 5 Gbps Type-A ports, and four USB 2.0 Type-A ports, plus two DisplayPort 1.4 outputs and one HDMI 2.1 port — all supporting up to 4K@60 Hz. Front-panel connectivity includes a USB 10 Gbps Type-C connector and a USB 5 Gbps header. Audio is powered by a Realtek HD codec delivering 7.1 surround sound at up to 24-bit/192 kHz, with audio shielding and dedicated PCB layers. Thermal management includes enlarged VRM heatsinks, one M.2 heatsink, and a PCH heatsink, supported by five 4-pin fan/pump headers and Fan Xpert 2+ software. The board's micro-ATX footprint measures 9.6 × 9.6 inches (24.4 × 24.4 cm). Verified Specifications: • Socket: Intel LGA 1851 • Chipset: Intel B860 • Form Factor: micro-ATX, 244 × 244 mm • Memory: 4× DDR5 DIMM, max 256 GB, up to DDR5-8666+ MT/s (OC), dual-channel, CUDIMM/XMP/AEMP III • M.2 Slots: 1× PCIe 5.0 x4 (128 Gbps) + 1× PCIe 4.0 x4 (64 Gbps) • SATA: 4× SATA 6 Gb/s (RAID 0/1/5/10) • PCIe: 1× PCIe 5.0 x16, 1× PCIe 4.0 x16 (x4 mode), 1× PCIe 4.0 x1 • Wireless: Wi-Fi 6E 2×2 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.3 • Ethernet: Realtek 2.5 Gb • Rear USB: 1× 20 Gbps Type-C, 1× 10 Gbps Type-A, 2× 5 Gbps Type-A, 4× USB 2.0 Type-A • Display: 2× DisplayPort 1.4 (4K@60 Hz), 1× HDMI 2.1 (4K@60 Hz) • Audio: Realtek 7.1 HD, 24-bit/192 kHz • Power: 7+1+1+1 × 80 A DrMOS, 8-pin CPU power • BIOS: 256 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI AMI • OS Support: Windows 11 (22H2+), Windows 10 64-bit (21H2+)