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
limitedaccess - Tuesday, March 30, 2021 - link
Rocket Lake CPUs have 20 PCIe (4.0) lanes off the CPU. This a departure from previous generations in terms of lane count. Comet Lake (and older) for Intel have 16 lanes off the CPU.4 of those lanes are connected to the "first" m.2 slot of B560/Z590 motherboards. 10th gen CPUs don't have those lanes even as PCIe 3.0. Previous generation motherboards have all their m.2 slots using lanes connected to the chipset.
jrbales@outlook.com - Wednesday, March 31, 2021 - link
Thanks for the explanation. My AMD X570 has PCIE 4 lanes from both CPU and chipset, so this is my first build wheres I'm running up against this limitation. Now it all makes sense and fortunately, I did place my Samsung 970 EVO into the 2nd M.2 slot. Thanks again! And old dog CAN learn something new!ScottSoapbox - Tuesday, March 30, 2021 - link
There are three typos in the first paragraph that Word or a browser would catch if you took 10 seconds to check. Hint: words need spaces between them.Linustechtips12#6900xt - Thursday, April 8, 2021 - link
am I the only one who noticed the CMOS battery on the wifi thing in the asrock board?? lolutmode - Saturday, April 10, 2021 - link
has reaktek fixed speed dropping issue in their RTL8125B 2.5G NICmammuthus - Sunday, June 20, 2021 - link
Guys, witch one I should choose between ASUS ROG Strix B560-I Gaming WIFI and MSI MPG B560I Gaming Edge Wi-Fi?aigo - Thursday, July 29, 2021 - link
There is no sound through HDMI ports regardless of the OS; Linux, Windows. Definitely not a multimedia board, and neither it is for gaming.dwoodcock - Friday, August 13, 2021 - link
After messing about with this board all day trying to get RAID working I find out it doesn't support RAID at all!!!BadConfiguration - Thursday, October 28, 2021 - link
Hi Gavin, will the M.2_2 (marked ultra m2) use the pcie lanes from chipset ? Or would it use the pcie lanes from cpu ?