The Intel B560 Motherboard Overview: 30+ Budget Models Starting from $75
by Gavin Bonshor on March 29, 2021 7:00 AM ESTMSI MAG B560 Torpedo
A newer addition to MSI'smore cost-effective ranges is the Torpedo. Built around the Arsenal Gaming (MAG) series, the MSI MAG B560 Torpedo a slightly different take on the Tomahawk series, with a more vibrant color scheme, as well as offering a more premium (and ultimately more expensive) alternative. The MSI MAG B560 Torpedo uses a metallic blue finish on its power delivery and chipset heatsinks, with a solid-looking rear panel cover. It also uses a deeper blue and gunmetal grey for its alternative colored memory slots. It does have some RGB, which can be found integrated around the chipset area.
In the center of the Torpedo's PCB is a full-length PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, with a second full-length slot locked to PCIe 3.0 x4. MSI includes just one PCIe 3.0 x1 slot, with one PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2, and two PCIe 3.0 x4/SATA M.2 slots. For SATA devices, MSI includes a total of six SATA ports, with two featuring straight-angled connectors found in the bottom right-hand corner. The four with right-angled connectors are located towards the right, with MSI employing a PCB cut-out for easier cable management. Located in the top-right hand corner are four memory slots, with support for up to DDR4-5000 and a maximum capacity of up to 128 GB.
Interestingly, MSI also includes a 6-pin 12 V PCIe power input, which can deliver more power to the PCIe slots for large graphics cards, although the decision to include this on a B560 board that doesn't support overclocking is a little strange.
The rear panel includes one USB 3.2 G2x2 Type-C, with four USB 3.2 G1 Type-A and four USB 2.0 ports. A pair of video outputs including one HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.4 output allows users to utilize Intel's UHD integrated graphics. MSI hasn't given us information at the time of writing on the HD audio codec of choice, but it'll be Realtek and it powers five 3.5 mm audio jacks and a single S/PDIF optical output. The Torpedo drops wireless networking but instead opts for a duo of Ethernet controllers, including one Realtek RTL8125B 2.5 Gb and an Intel I219-V Gigabit.
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siggidarius - Monday, March 29, 2021 - link
With pricing like that for both motherboards and cpus, and good availability Intel is becoming a great value option.Personally I don't see why I'd choose AMD cpu in 200-350USD bracket with local prices.
ballsystemlord - Monday, March 29, 2021 - link
"Intel great value option" LOL. How the mighty have fallen.m53 - Monday, March 29, 2021 - link
@ballsystemlord: Or in other words how AMD starts price gouging and becoming more anti-consumer. How the "value brand" is now too expensive for the average customers.(not disagreeing with you. Just showing the other side of the reality.)
WaltC - Monday, March 29, 2021 - link
If it wasn't for AMD you might be in one of these Intel "value" motherboards, only you'd be paying 2x-3x as much for it....like you were about 4 years ago, remember? And there's no question that if it wasn't for AMD you'd be paying *huge sums* for ~14nm++++++++++++++++++++ CPUs Intel is selling now for bargain-basement prices *because* of AMD. Don't you realize that if not for AMD you'd be paying more, though the nose, for inferior components? Have you even checked to see that Z590 motherboards are ~$1k and up and can't even provide system-wide PCIe4 bus coverage? Heck, that's more expensive than the most expensive x570 motherboards. Welcome to the real side of reality....;) Without AMD there would be no competition in these markets at all and Intel would be selling the same--likely worse garbage--at stratospheric prices.laduran - Tuesday, March 30, 2021 - link
Everything you said is provably falseQasar - Tuesday, March 30, 2021 - link
you sure about that ? i guess you forgot the wonderful <10% gen on gen performance increases we were getting before Zen was released, and the ever increasing prices for that performance ? or the fact that mainstream was stuck on quad core cpus and you NEEDED to get intel HEDT cpus to get anything more then 4 cores ?RanFodar - Tuesday, March 30, 2021 - link
Tbf what AMD did to competition back then doesn't mean it's an excuse for them to copy Intel's playbook in the past. They can maintain their value position, but even the lowest Ryzen 5000 SKU is a bit overpriced for consumers here in the Philippines. Maybe Intel needs to thank AMD for being in such a position that is desired for consumers.pablo906 - Sunday, April 4, 2021 - link
Even the 3000 series? I've seen the 3000 series for pretty good prices around the world, the 5000 is supply constrained and demand outstrips supply so there is no reason to lower the price....That's how markets workjabber - Wednesday, March 31, 2021 - link
I remember not that long ago an AMD 'budget board' would have HDMI/eSATA/Toslink/6 USB ports (some USB3) and decent audio chip etc. and the Intel budget board would give you just VGA/PS2/ serial, a couple of USB2 and a parallel port instead. Terrible.cxtalxg - Wednesday, May 5, 2021 - link
Such a dumb argument, you do realize than intel had massive generations jumps from core 2 duo, to intel core 1st gen, then second gen. While amds overpriced phenoms flopped. All these companies are the same, lack of competition means lack of advancement