ASRock B860M LiveMixer WiFi VS MSI B860M Gaming Plus WiFi

Both the ASRock B860M LiveMixer WiFi and the MSI B860M Gaming Plus WiFi share the same essential platform: the LGA 1851 socket with the B860 chipset, a Micro-ATX form factor, and nearly identical physical dimensions. They both support overclocking, include dual BIOS protection, feature RGB lighting, and carry a 3-year warranty. For users evaluating the baseline platform, these boards are effectively equivalent.

The meaningful differences emerge in wireless connectivity and BIOS usability. The MSI steps ahead with Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) support, while the ASRock tops out at Wi-Fi 6E. In practice, Wi-Fi 7 delivers significantly higher theoretical throughput and lower latency, which matters for users with a Wi-Fi 7 router or planning to upgrade soon. The MSI also edges out with Bluetooth 5.4 versus 5.3 on the ASRock — a minor but real improvement in connection stability and efficiency. On top of that, the MSI supports easy BIOS reset, whereas the ASRock does not, which is a convenience advantage for less experienced builders or anyone who stress-tests their system regularly.

The MSI B860M Gaming Plus WiFi holds a clear advantage in this group. Its Wi-Fi 7 support is the standout differentiator — future-proofing wireless connectivity in a way the ASRock simply cannot match — and the added ease of BIOS reset makes it the more user-friendly option. Unless the ASRock offers a compelling advantage in another spec group, the MSI is the stronger choice on general feature grounds.

Both the ASRock B860M LiveMixer WiFi and MSI B860M Gaming Plus WiFi support a maximum memory amount of 256GB and feature 4 memory slots. They also both use DDR5 memory with two memory channels. However, there are some differences in their memory performance capabilities. The ASRock board supports a maximum RAM speed of 5600 MHz and can overclock RAM to 8666 MHz, while the MSI board supports a slightly higher maximum RAM speed of 6400 MHz, with overclocked RAM speeds reaching 8600 MHz.

Neither motherboard supports ECC memory, which means they are not designed for error-correcting code memory. Overall, while both motherboards have similar memory configurations, the MSI B860M Gaming Plus WiFi offers slightly faster RAM speeds compared to the ASRock B860M LiveMixer WiFi, particularly in terms of its maximum supported RAM speed and overclocking capabilities.

The ASRock B860M LiveMixer WiFi and MSI B860M Gaming Plus WiFi both offer a variety of port options, but there are several differences in their configurations. Both motherboards feature one USB 4 40Gbps port and one Thunderbolt 4 port, as well as HDMI outputs and RJ45 ports for network connectivity. However, the ASRock model does not have any USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-A), while the MSI board includes one. Additionally, the ASRock board has six USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-A), whereas the MSI board only provides two. The ASRock board lacks USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-C), while the MSI board includes one USB 3.2 Gen 1 USB-C port. Both motherboards also feature six USB 2.0 ports.

In terms of video outputs, the ASRock board does not provide a DisplayPort output, while the MSI board includes one. Neither motherboard has a VGA connector, and both lack eSATA, DVI outputs, and PS/2 ports. The ASRock B860M LiveMixer WiFi also offers one USB Type-C port, while the MSI board supports USB Type-C through its USB 3.2 Gen 1 USB-C port.

Overall, both boards are fairly similar in their port offerings, but the MSI B860M Gaming Plus WiFi has a bit more versatility in terms of USB and video outputs, especially with its additional USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-A) port and DisplayPort output.

The ASRock B860M LiveMixer WiFi and MSI B860M Gaming Plus WiFi share many similarities when it comes to their connectors. Both motherboards offer the same number of USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (through expansion) with 4, and the same number of USB 2.0 ports (through expansion) with 4. Additionally, both have 4 SATA 3 connectors and 4 USB 3.0 ports (through expansion). They also feature 3 M.2 sockets and have a TPM connector, but neither includes an mSATA connector or SATA 2 connectors, and neither has U.2 sockets.

The primary difference between these two motherboards in this category is the number of fan headers. The ASRock board includes 6 fan headers, while the MSI board provides 5 fan headers. This slight difference in fan headers may influence cooling options depending on your build.

Overall, the ASRock B860M LiveMixer WiFi and MSI B860M Gaming Plus WiFi are quite similar in terms of connectors, with only a minor variation in the number of fan headers, where the ASRock board offers one more header than the MSI model.

The ASRock B860M LiveMixer WiFi and MSI B860M Gaming Plus WiFi differ in their expansion slot configurations. The ASRock board offers a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot and a PCIe x4 slot, but it does not include any PCIe 4.0 x16 slots, PCIe 3.0 x16 slots, or PCIe x1 slots. In contrast, the MSI board features one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot and one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, alongside two PCIe x1 slots. The MSI board lacks PCIe x4, PCIe x8, or PCI slots, which the ASRock board has in its configuration.

Overall, both motherboards support the latest PCIe 5.0 x16 slots, but the MSI B860M Gaming Plus WiFi offers an additional PCIe 4.0 x16 slot and more PCIe x1 slots, giving it a slightly more flexible configuration for expansion cards compared to the ASRock model.

Both the ASRock B860M LiveMixer WiFi and MSI B860M Gaming Plus WiFi motherboards feature 7.1 audio channels, providing high-quality sound output. However, there are differences in their audio connectors and S/PDIF Out support. The ASRock board includes 2 audio connectors and has an S/PDIF Out port, whereas the MSI board has 3 audio connectors but does not feature an S/PDIF Out port.

Overall, while both motherboards support the same 7.1 audio channels, the ASRock B860M LiveMixer WiFi offers an S/PDIF Out port, while the MSI B860M Gaming Plus WiFi provides an additional audio connector in its configuration.

Both the ASRock B860M LiveMixer WiFi and MSI B860M Gaming Plus WiFi motherboards support several RAID configurations, including RAID 1, RAID 10 (1+0), RAID 5, and RAID 0. Neither motherboard supports RAID 0+1, but all other RAID levels are available on both boards. This means that in terms of RAID support, the two models are identical, offering the same capabilities for data redundancy and performance optimization.

Overall, there are no differences in the storage-related features between the ASRock and MSI motherboards when it comes to RAID support. Both offer comprehensive RAID options for users who need advanced storage configurations.