ASUS TUF Gaming B860M-Plus WIFI M-ATX Motherboard

The ASUS TUF Gaming B860M-Plus WIFI is a Micro-ATX motherboard built on Intel's B860 chipset with an LGA1851 socket, designed to pair with Intel Core Ultra Processors (Series 2). It combines a robust power delivery system with connectivity features suited to demanding gaming and AI-accelerated workloads in a compact form factor. At the heart of its power design is a 12+1+2+1 phase VRM configuration, with each stage rated at 80A, delivering stable and efficient power to high-core-count Intel processors. Proprietary ProCool 8+8-pin power connectors reinforce the CPU power connection, while an eight-layer PCB provides additional signal integrity and thermal headroom. ASUS TUF-grade chokes and capacitors contribute to the board's long-term durability under sustained gaming loads. Memory support spans dual-channel DDR5 with a maximum capacity of 256 GB across two DIMM slots, with speeds reaching DDR5-8800 and beyond via ASUS Enhanced Memory Profile III (AEMP III). This firmware feature performs a two-phase tuning process — optimising the clock driver first, then memory frequency — to extract the most from CUDIMM and standard DDR5 modules alike. DIMM Fit, an ASUS-exclusive BIOS tool, analyses installed memory to tailor performance profiles and flag compatibility concerns automatically. Intel XMP profiles are also supported. Storage flexibility is provided by three M.2 Key-M slots; one operates at PCIe 5.0 x4 for transfer speeds up to 128 Gbps, while a full-size PCIe 5.0 x16 slot and a PCIe 4.0 x4 slot accommodate discrete graphics and add-in cards respectively. Four SATA 6 Gb/s ports round out storage connectivity. Networking is handled by an onboard Realtek 2.5 Gb Ethernet port and an integrated WiFi 7 module with Bluetooth 5.4, supporting stable high-bandwidth wireless connections. The back panel offers comprehensive I/O: one USB 20 Gbps Type-C port with DisplayPort Alt mode, two USB 10 Gbps Type-A ports, four USB 5 Gbps Type-A ports, one USB 2.0 Type-A port, a DisplayPort output, an HDMI port, five audio jacks, and an optical S/PDIF output. An internal Thunderbolt (USB4) header adds further expansion potential. Fan and thermal management encompasses a 4-pin CPU fan header, a CPU OPT header, an AIO pump header, and three chassis fan headers. Three Addressable Gen 2 RGB headers enable ARGB lighting integration. The NPU Boost BIOS feature allows single-click overclocking of the NPU integrated in Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processors, with ASUS reporting up to 24% performance uplift in supported AI workloads. An asynchronous clock generator isolates CPU base clock from memory, NPU, and other domains, enabling independent frequency tuning without destabilising the CPU clock. Key Verified Specifications: - Socket: LGA1851 - Chipset: Intel B860 - Form Factor: Micro-ATX - CPU Compatibility: Intel Core Ultra Processors (Series 2) - Memory: DDR5, Dual Channel, up to 256 GB, up to DDR5-8800+ - Expansion: 1x PCIe 5.0 x16, 1x PCIe 4.0 x4, 3x M.2 (1x PCIe 5.0, others PCIe 4.0/3.0) - Storage: 4x SATA 6 Gb/s - LAN: Realtek 2.5 Gb Ethernet - Wireless: WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 - Back Panel USB: 1x USB 20Gbps Type-C, 2x USB 10Gbps, 4x USB 5Gbps, 1x USB 2.0 - Video Output: 1x DisplayPort, 1x HDMI - Warranty: 3 Years