MSI Pro B860M-B Wifi7 DDR5 Intel Motherboard

The MSI Pro B860M-B WiFi 7 DDR5 is a Micro-ATX motherboard built on the Intel B860 chipset for the LGA 1851 socket, designed to support Intel Core Ultra processors (Series 2). Measuring 220 mm × 243.84 mm, it fits a wide range of mATX and mid-tower cases while delivering a feature set more typically associated with premium builds. Connectivity is a standout strength. Onboard Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) covers 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands at up to 2.9 Gbps and is paired with Bluetooth 5.4 with MLO and 4KQAM support. Wired networking is handled by a Realtek 8126 controller delivering 5 Gbps LAN — noticeably faster than the 2.5 Gbps ports found on many competing boards. The Wi-Fi module ships pre-installed in the dedicated M.2 Key-E slot and connects via the included EZ Antenna, which attaches without rotation for a quicker setup. Storage options include two M.2 slots: the primary slot (from the CPU) supports PCIe 5.0 x4 and accepts 2242, 2260, and 2280 form factors, while the secondary (from the chipset) supports PCIe 4.0 x4 for 2260 and 2280 drives. Four SATA 6 Gb/s ports round out the storage configuration for traditional drives. The primary PCIe x16 slot runs at Gen 5 speeds from the CPU and features MSI's Steel Armor reinforcement with extra solder points for heavier graphics cards. A secondary PCIe x1 slot (Gen 4, from the chipset) is also present. Memory support spans two DDR5 UDIMM slots with a maximum capacity of 128 GB. JEDEC speeds range from 4800 to 6400 MT/s, and overclocked profiles reach 9066+ MT/s (1DPC 1R) or 7200+ MT/s (1DPC 2R). Intel XMP 3.0, CUDIMM, and the board's own Memory Extension Mode are all supported for users looking to push performance further. Display output includes HDMI 2.1 (up to 4K 60 Hz) and DisplayPort 1.4 (up to 4K 60 Hz) on the rear panel, active only when using a processor with integrated graphics. Audio is handled by a Realtek ALC897 codec with 7.1-channel HD audio output. USB connectivity is comprehensive: the rear panel offers one USB 20 Gbps Type-C, two USB 5 Gbps Type-A, and four USB 2.0 ports. Internal headers add two USB 5 Gbps Type-A ports, one USB 10 Gbps Type-C, and four USB 2.0 ports, enabling a fully loaded front-panel I/O setup. The board also includes three ARGB V2 headers and one RGB header for lighting integration. Safety and reliability features include Transient Voltage Suppressors (TVS) across all board models, Overcurrent Protection (OCP) on USB, DDR, PWM IC, and CPU lines, a pre-installed I/O shield, and a corrosion-resistant stainless-steel I/O cover with EM shielding foam. A 6+1+1+1 digital power phase design with an 8-pin CPU power connector supports demanding processor loads. EZ Debug LEDs (×4) and an EZ Memory Detection LED simplify troubleshooting. The board is officially certified for Windows 11 64-bit. Verified Specifications: - Chipset: Intel B860 - Socket: LGA 1851 - Form Factor: Micro-ATX (220 mm × 243.84 mm) - Memory: 2× DDR5 UDIMM, up to 128 GB; XMP 3.0; 4800–9066+ MT/s - PCIe: 1× PCIe 5.0 x16 (CPU), 1× PCIe 4.0 x1 (chipset) - Storage: 2× M.2 (PCIe 5.0 + PCIe 4.0), 4× SATA 6 Gb/s - Wireless: Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), 2.4/5/6 GHz, up to 2.9 Gbps; Bluetooth 5.4 - LAN: Realtek 8126, 5 Gbps - Rear USB: 1× USB 20 Gbps Type-C, 2× USB 5 Gbps Type-A, 4× USB 2.0 - Video Out: HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4 (iGPU required) - Audio: Realtek ALC897, 7.1-channel HD - OS Support: Windows 11 64-bit