MSI MAG B660 Tomahawk Wifi DDR5 Intel Motherboard

The MSI MAG B660 Tomahawk WiFi DDR5 is an ATX-form-factor motherboard built on Intel's B660 chipset, designed for 12th Generation Intel Core, Pentium Gold, and Celeron processors using the LGA1700 socket. It pairs the platform's mid-range chipset with DDR5 memory support, making it a practical choice for builders who want next-generation memory bandwidth without stepping up to a flagship Z-series board. Memory flexibility is a highlight: the board carries four DDR5 slots capable of holding up to 128 GB of non-ECC, unbuffered RAM. At stock (JEDEC) speeds the platform runs at 4800 MHz (1R), and with Intel XMP 3.0 profiles enabled, a single-rank single-DIMM configuration can reach speeds above 6200 MHz, while dual-rank or dual-DIMM setups are rated above 5200 MHz and 4000 MHz respectively depending on configuration. Storage options are generous. Three M.2 Key-M slots are present: the first (CPU-attached) runs at up to PCIe 4.0 x4, the second (chipset-attached) also supports PCIe 4.0 x4, and the third supports PCIe 4.0 x2 or SATA. Six SATA 6 Gb/s ports round out traditional storage, and RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 configurations are supported for SATA devices. M.2 Shield Frozr thermal covers are included to manage SSD temperatures under sustained workloads. Connectivity is well-equipped for a B660-class board. Wired networking uses a Realtek RTL8125B-CG controller delivering 2.5 Gbps throughput. Wireless is handled by an Intel Wi-Fi 6E module (pre-installed in the M.2 Key-E slot) supporting 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands at up to 2.4 Gbps with MU-MIMO, plus Bluetooth 5.2. The rear I/O includes an HDMI 2.1 port (4K 60 Hz) and a DisplayPort 1.4 (HBR3, 4K 60 Hz) for systems using Intel integrated graphics. USB connectivity spans multiple generations: one USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C port at 20 Gbps on the rear panel, four USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports at 10 Gbps on the rear panel, and an assortment of Gen 1 and USB 2.0 ports via internal headers. Audio is powered by a Realtek ALC1220P codec supporting 7.1-channel high-definition output and S/PDIF. Expansion slots include two PCIe x16 physical slots (the primary running PCIe 4.0 from the CPU; the secondary running PCIe 3.0 x4 from the chipset) and one PCIe 3.0 x1 slot. AMD CrossFire multi-GPU configurations are supported. Fan control extends to one CPU fan header, one water-pump header, and five system fan headers, all 4-pin. Verified Specifications: - Form Factor: ATX, 30.5 cm x 24.4 cm (12 in x 9.6 in) - Socket: LGA1700 - Chipset: Intel B660 - Memory: 4x DDR5, up to 128 GB, JEDEC 4800 MHz, XMP 3.0 up to 6200+ MHz (1DPC 1R) - Storage: 3x M.2 (PCIe 4.0 x4 / x4 / x2+SATA), 6x SATA 6 Gb/s, RAID 0/1/5/10 - Display: 1x HDMI 2.1 (4K 60 Hz), 1x DisplayPort 1.4 (4K 60 Hz) - LAN: Realtek RTL8125B-CG 2.5 Gbps - Wireless: Intel Wi-Fi 6E (2.4/5/6 GHz, up to 2.4 Gbps), Bluetooth 5.2 - USB Rear: 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C (20 Gbps), 4x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (10 Gbps), 4x USB 2.0 Type-A - Audio: Realtek ALC1220P, 7.1-CH HD, S/PDIF out - RGB: 2x 4-pin RGB, 2x 3-pin ARGB headers; 4x EZ Debug LEDs - Warranty: 3 Years