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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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 ?