The Intel B560 Motherboard Overview: 30+ Budget Models Starting from $75
by Gavin Bonshor on March 29, 2021 7:00 AM ESTChoosing The Right B560 Motherboard
One of Intel's new Rocket Lake (11th gen) processors' biggest driving forces is official support for PCIe 4.0. We've seen AMD implement PCIe 4.0 into the mainstream with its Ryzen 3000 series processors almost two years ago now, back in the summer of 2019. It took a while for Intel to catch up finally, but PCIe 4.0 after March 30th will be a key element of Intel's desktop platforms going forward into 2021 and beyond.
Not just looking forward to the future of its technologies and designs, Intel has also made its Z590, B560, and H510 backward compatible with existing Comet Lake (10th gen) processors too. This allows users to either use existing chips to upgrade to the 500 series chipsets or pick up a cheaper 10-core Comet Lake processor. However, using Comet Lake with 500-series boards willmean PCIe 3.0 as per Intel's specifications.
The most notable additions toB560 over the previous B460 are in networking. Not only do a number of boards come with a Wi-Fi 6 interface, a lot of B4570 models are 2.5 Gb Ethernet enabled. Over half of the models announced so far include either a Realtek RTL8125 or Intel's own I225-V 2.5 GbE controller. Even in a mid-range chipset such as B560, it's a notable statement of intent and an indicator that Gigabit Ethernet could soon be a thing of the past.
When paired with an 11th generation Rocket Lake processor, on all the B560 boards we've looked at so far, at least one of the M.2 ports will support super-fast PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 drives. The rest of the M.2 slots are all PCIe 3.0, as they come from the chipset, which is limited to PCIe 3.0. Regarding the number of M.2 slots on B560 boards, the maximum number we've seen a B560 model includes is three, but this requires an ATX model, and uses 66% of the chipset PCIe lanes in full speed mode (some boards use x2 links instead).
Regardless of the needs or requirements, functionality, storage support, even in rear panel connectivity, we have a handy table that specifies which model includes what specific feature.
Note: We usually include a list of micro-ATX models in the below list, but given that most B560 models are micro-ATX, we've opted to highlight the ATX and mini-ITX boards. Outside of this, it means that the model is micro-ATX.
Choosing the Right B560 Motherboard | |||
If You Need | Then The Options Are | Size | Price |
2.5 Gigabit Ethernet | ASRock B560 Steel Legend | ATX | $130 |
ASRock B560M Steel Legend | mATX | $120 | |
ASUS ROG Strix B560-F Gaming WIFI | ATX | - | |
ASUS ROG Strix B560-A Gaming WIFI | ATX | $175 | |
ASUS ROG Strix B560-G Gaming WIFI | mATX | - | |
ASUS ROG Strix B560-I Gaming WIFI | ITX | - | |
ASUS TUF Gaming B560-Plus WIFI | ATX | - | |
ASUS TUF Gaming B560M-Plus WIFI | mATX | - | |
ASUS TUF Gaming B560M-Plus | mATX | - | |
Biostar B560GTQ | mATX | - | |
GIGABYTE B560 Aorus Pro AX | ATX | - | |
GIGABYTE B560M Aorus Elite | mATX | - | |
GIGABYTE B560M Aorus Pro AX | mATX | - | |
GIGABYTE B560M Aorus Pro | mATX | - | |
MSI MAG B560 Tomahawk Wi-Fi | ATX | - | |
MSI MAG B560 Torpedo | ATX | - | |
MSI MAG B560M Mortar Wi-Fi | mATX | - | |
MSI MAG B560M Mortar | mATX | - | |
MSI MAG B560M Bazooka | mATX | - | |
MSI B560M-A Pro | mATX | - | |
MSI B560M Pro | mATX | - | |
3 or more M.2 Slots | ASRock B560 Steel Legend | ATX | $130 |
ASRock B560 Pro4/ac | ATX | - | |
ASRock B560 Pro4 | ATX | $110 | |
GIGABYTE B560 Aorus Pro AX | ATX | - | |
Intel Wi-Fi 6E | MSI MAG B560 Tomahawk Wi-Fi | ATX | - |
MSI MAG B560M Mortar Wi-Fi | mATX | - | |
Intel Wi-Fi 6 | ASUS ROG Strix B560-F Gaming WIFI | ATX | - |
ASUS ROG Strix B560-A Gaming WIFI | ATX | $175 | |
ASUS ROG Strix B560-G Gaming WIFI | mATX | - | |
ASUS ROG Strix B560-I Gaming WIFI | ITX | - | |
ASUS TUF Gaming B560-Plus WIFI | ATX | - | |
ASUS TUF Gaming B560M-Plus WIFI | mATX | - | |
GIGABYTE B560 Aorus Pro AX | ATX | - | |
GIGABYTE B560M Aorus Pro AX | mATX | - | |
USB 3.2 G2x2 Type-C | ASUS ROG Strix B560-F Gaming WIFI | ATX | - |
ASUS ROG Strix B560-G Gaming WIFI | mATX | - | |
ASUS ROG Strix B560-I Gaming WIFI | ITX | - | |
Biostar B560GTQ | mATX | - | |
GIGABYTE B560 Aorus Pro AX | ATX | - | |
GIGABYTE B560M Aorus Pro AX | mATX | - | |
GIGABYTE B560M Aorus Pro | mATX | - | |
MSI MAG B560 Tomahawk Wi-Fi | ATX | - | |
MSI MAG B560 Torpedo | ATX | - | |
MSI MAG B560M Mortar Wi-Fi | mATX | - | |
MSI MAG B560M Mortar | mATX | - | |
USB 3.2 G2 Type-C | ASRock B560 Steel Legend | ATX | $130 |
ASUS Prime B560M-A AC | mATX | - | |
ASUS Prime B560M-A | mATX | - | |
ASUS TUF Gaming B560-Plus WIFI | ATX | - | |
ASUS TUF Gaming B560M-Plus WIFI | mATX | - | |
ASUS TUF Gaming B560M-Plus | mATX | - | |
GIGABYTE B560M Aorus Elite | mATX | - | |
BIOS Flashback Button | ASUS ROG Strix B560-F Gaming WIFI | ATX | - |
ASUS ROG Strix B560-G Gaming WIFI | mATX | - | |
ATX | ASRock B560 Steel Legend | ATX | $130 |
ASRock B560 Pro4/ac | ATX | - | |
ASRock B560 Pro4 | ATX | $110 | |
ASUS ROG Strix B560-E Gaming WIFI | ATX | - | |
ASUS ROG Strix B560-F Gaming WIFI | ATX | - | |
ASUS ROG Strix B560-A Gaming WIFI | ATX | $175 | |
ASUS Prime B560-Plus | ATX | $120 | |
ASUS TUF Gaming B560-Pro WIFI | ATX | - | |
Biostar Racing B560GTQ | ATX | - | |
GIGABYTE B560 Aorus Pro AX | ATX | - | |
MSI MAG B560 Tomahawk Wi-Fi | ATX | - | |
MSI MAG B560 Torpedo | ATX | - | |
Mini-ITX | ASRock B560M-ITX/ac | ITX | $95 |
ASUS ROG Strix B560-I Gaming WIFI | ITX | - | |
MSI MPG B560I Gaming Edge Wi-Fi | ITX | - |
As the B560 chipset is considered budget, the vast majority include one of Realtek's budget-friendly HD audio codecs, such as the ALC897. Only one model so far includes one of Realtek's latest ALC4080 HD audio codec (GIGABYTE), with some of the ASUS ROG models, which is using a Realtek S1220A HD audio codec.
Only a minimal selection of modelscomes with anything better than the ALC897.
B560 Motherboard Audio | |
Codec | Boards |
Realtek ALC897 | Almost Everything, Except The Following |
Realtek ALC4080 | GIGABYTE B560 Aorus Pro AX |
Realtek S1220A | ASUS ROG Strix B560-F Gaming WIFI |
ASUS ROG Strix B560-A Gaming WIFI | |
ASUS ROG Strix B560-G Gaming WIFI | |
ASUS ROG Strix B560-I Gaming WIFI | |
ASUS TUF Gaming Z590-Plus | |
Realtek ALC1220 | Biostar B560GTQ |
As we receive updates from vendors with more information, we will endeavor to keep this B560 overview updated and as often as possible.
59 Comments
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Alistair - Monday, March 29, 2021 - link
AMD's motherboards are cheaper and include OC features at lower prices. Nothing has changed with Intel sadly. If you look at a bundle of motherboard+CPU AMD is still cheaper.evilpaul666 - Monday, March 29, 2021 - link
Most of the AMD boards at Microcenter were in the $200-250 range when I was looking. And they weren't the ROG/Aurous ones. Closer to entry level.ballsystemlord - Tuesday, March 30, 2021 - link
I'm totally behind you there. AMD should stop pricing their products like they are Intel/Nvidia.Qasar - Tuesday, March 30, 2021 - link
so even though AMD has the performance lead, they STILL need to price their cpus LESS then what intel charges for less performance ?ballsystemlord - Tuesday, March 30, 2021 - link
You're a normal person (consumer) also, right? They were not always this high. Don't you want prices to be more reasonable?I actually created a set of tables (completely cited), illustrating this point during AMD's run of the 3000 series and sent it to one of the YT's that does reviews. Nothing ever came of it though.
Here you go: https://ufile.io/tkepsb72
Please note that pricing, at least on AMD parts, has continued to go up. We are now paying 491% per MM2 of silicon vs. the Phenom II x6 1090T.
Qasar - Tuesday, March 30, 2021 - link
" They were not always this high. Don't you want prices to be more reasonable? " ask me that question when the things that are effecting the market right now, and raising the prices higher then they could be,have settled down. as it stands the 5900x is about 70 bucks more then i paid for the 3900x i am currently using, and even though i got the 3900x about this time last year, im STILL considering upgrading to the 5800X when it is available." Please note that pricing, at least on AMD parts, has continued to go up. We are now paying 491% per MM2 of silicon vs. the Phenom II x6 1090T." and look at the performance different between now and then ? the only way for intel's pricing to go was down. as when they were the top, look at what they charged for their cpus. my 5930k cost me 800 in 2015, thats approx $886 now, for that price i can get a 5900x and almost a NH-d15 to go with it.
again, it seems like when intel kept raising its prices for its cpus, no one batted an eye. amd does it, and some are getting upset. quite frankly,. amd has the right to raise their prices, as their cpus are, IMO, worth the price. just like intel did pre Zen, but the difference is, while amd increased performance quite a bit, at best, intel only increased something like 10% or less, depending on what was being run. seems some still consider amd to be the value. cheapo option, and they should still price their cpus as such, well, intel is no the cheapo option, and they should be priced less then amd's equivalent cpus.
ballsystemlord - Wednesday, March 31, 2021 - link
"Ask me that question when the things that are effecting the market right now, and raising the prices higher then they could be, have settled down." Ok."And look at the performance different between now and then?" If bring this line of reasoning to the PDP-7 vs. the 8086, the performance difference is in favor of the 8086 as is the price. Good performance does not have to come at a price premium.
"Again, it seems like when Intel kept raising its prices for its CPUs, no one batted an eye. AMD does it, and some are getting upset." Well, people like myself have been faithful customers for years. It was the core counts, not the fanboy in me that chose this route. We are a bit disappointed -- just as loyal Intel customers are about their current lineup's lack of performance. I feel for them. I just don't vocalize on their behalf because it's not my place as someone who doesn't buy from Intel if he has a choice.
"..AMD has the right to raise their prices..." Of course. I'm not disagreeing with that. I am saying that AMD can but *should not* be raising them so high. OFC: See your first comment above. Demand is insane.
Qasar - Wednesday, March 31, 2021 - link
" Good performance does not have to come at a price premium. " tell that to intel before Zen was released. :-) intel, for what they were offering, were charging quite a bit.you seem to be blaming AMD for its current CPU prices, which is not the case, its the current situation with what has been going on for the last year. as you said, demand is insane.
Linustechtips12#6900xt - Thursday, April 8, 2021 - link
its just how the market works if someones willing to pay for the better performance then its going to naturally cost more than the lesser productpablo906 - Sunday, April 4, 2021 - link
Well of course lower nm lithography is more expensive mer mm2 of wafer space. Like that's literally how it works.....I'm so confused by your comment. Are you saying that price per mm should come down with smaller nodes of lithography?