The Intel B560 Motherboard Overview: 30+ Budget Models Starting from $75
by Gavin Bonshor on March 29, 2021 7:00 AM ESTMSI MAG B560M Mortar Wi-Fi & B560M Mortar
Moving on to MSI's MAG series micro-ATX sized models, and we have the MAG B560M Mortar Wi-Fi and B560M Mortar. Both models share the same core specifications and features, with the only difference between both models is the Wi-Fi version comes with Intel's latest Wi-Fi 6E CNVi. Both Mortar models use the same design, with an all-black PCB and metallic silver heatsinks, including one covering the PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slot, the chipset, and power delivery heatsinks. The rear panel cover also fits in with the design, which also includes black accents on all of the board's heatsinks.
In the middle of the board is the B560M Mortars PCIe slots, which include one full-length PCIe 4.0 x16, one full-length PCIe 3.0 x4, and one PCIe 3.0 x1 slot. The storage options consist of two M.2 slots with one supporting PCIe 4.0 x4 and the other PCIe 3.0 x4/SATA, with six SATA ports with RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 array capabilities. In the top right-hand corner is four memory slots, which can accommodate up to 128 GB, with speeds of up to DDR4-5066.
The MSI MAG B560M Mortar Wi-Fi rear panel with Intel's AX210 Wi-Fi 6E CNVi
On the rear panel, the MSI MAG B560M Mortar Wi-Fi includes an Intel AX210 Wi-Fi 6E CNVi, which also adds support for BT 5.2 devices. Other than that, the rear panels of both models are the same including a Realtek RTL8125B 2.5 GbE controller, with five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output powered by a Realtek ALC897 HD audio codec. USB support consists of one USB 3.2 G2x2 Type-C, one USB 3.2 G2 Type-A, two USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and four USB 2.0 ports. Finishing off the rear panel is a pair of video outputs including an HDMI and DisplayPort.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
59 Comments
View All Comments
Flunk - Monday, March 29, 2021 - link
Still limiting overclocking on mid-range boards even though the competition doesn't? Shame Intel, shame.shabby - Monday, March 29, 2021 - link
Do you really need to overclock though? Don't these cpus overclock themselves to 200w+ anyway?Linustechtips12#6900xt - Thursday, April 8, 2021 - link
just adjust the turbo limit time or enable MCE if you can, at least i think you can on b560 not sure and 2933/3000 mhz memory isnt the biggest deal eitherGreat_Scott - Monday, March 29, 2021 - link
The most recent crop of Intel CPUs 1) overclock on their own, and 2) don't have any thermal headroom.Really, getting a Non-K with a B-series motherboard and saving the money for (any) GPU is the better idea...
Martin84a - Monday, March 29, 2021 - link
Not that the work isn't appreciated, but I think you should just hire raisonjohn and call it a day. His work on a massive comparison spreadsheet for the AMD A, B and X motherboard is amazing, and light years ahead of anything I've seen.https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1wmsTYK9Z3-...
Tomatotech - Monday, March 29, 2021 - link
Decent stack range, but the vast majority have too many SATA and not enough m.2 and not enough USB type C ports. In the next few years there will be more and more type C equipment to plug in.Apart from that, most of them are good for final DDR4 boards as a final home for DDR4 RAM as DDR 5 starts coming in next year (or the year after).
With AMD’s reduction in CPU power the way seems open for some low power desktops to run entirely off USB-C with its power supply of up to 100w (delivered via DC so equal to a wall supply of maybe 130w AC as the transformer losses are in the wall wart not in the desktop PSU). That could mean smaller and cheaper desktops, powered straight from the monitor (if it has a USBC power supply) through the USBC video cable. Apple already has this setup though a few hoops need to be jumped through.
DanNeely - Monday, March 29, 2021 - link
Limited m.2 is mostly down to being mATX and budget. The smaller board size combined with m.2 being attached to the board itself doesn't leave much room for a 2nd slot unless you go with some sort of riser setup. And using a riser crashes into being budget products.USB-C rollout has been strangled by the decision to implement reversibility by adding an extra chip between the physical port and controller whose job is to swap the IO around instead of offloading that to the controller. Adding an extra dollar or two to the BOM per port has resulted in all the board makers deciding that not having multiple C ports is a good way to cut costs.
Lastly, mATX is going to be the last place we see SATA numbers shrink as long as Intel keep offering them on their chipsets. The plugs are dirt cheap, and unless you're building a maxed out full ATX board the chipset has more IO lanes than you can use. If numbers ever start dropping below what's offered in the chipset it'll either be on mITX boards that are badly space constrained or full ATX ones where the designers decide a few more PCIe lanes or USB3 ports would be more valuable.
TheinsanegamerN - Monday, March 29, 2021 - link
Plenty of AMD micro ATX boards have 2 slots, you just need some intelligent board design. Hell they can fit 2 on mini ITX without riser boards.Tomatotech - Tuesday, March 30, 2021 - link
Thanks Dan for the reply. I didn’t know that info about the USB-C extra chip causing issues. USB-IF strikes again!vailr - Monday, March 29, 2021 - link
Gigabyte also has the (full size ATX board) B460 HD3:https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/B460-HD3-rev-...