ASRock B860M LiveMixer WiFi VS MSI Pro B860M-A WiFi

Both the ASRock B860M LiveMixer WiFi and the MSI Pro B860M-A WiFi share the same foundational platform: the LGA 1851 socket with a B860 chipset in a Micro-ATX form factor. They both support overclocking, include RGB lighting, feature HDMI 2.1, carry a 3-year warranty, and are virtually identical in physical dimensions. For most users, these boards will feel like peers at the platform level.

The differences, while subtle, are meaningful in practice. The MSI supports Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) in addition to the Wi-Fi 6E that both boards share — a tangible future-proofing advantage for users on Wi-Fi 7 routers, offering significantly higher throughput and lower latency. MSI also steps ahead with Bluetooth 5.4 vs. ASRock's 5.3, which brings minor but real improvements in connection stability and power efficiency. Critically, the MSI also offers an easy BIOS reset feature that the ASRock lacks — a practical convenience during troubleshooting or failed overclocking attempts. Both boards include dual BIOS, which is a meaningful safety net either way.

Overall, the MSI Pro B860M-A WiFi holds a clear edge in this category. Wi-Fi 7 support alone is a forward-looking advantage, and the easier BIOS reset adds everyday usability that budget and mid-range builders will appreciate. The ASRock is not disadvantaged in any fundamental way, but the MSI simply offers more for users who value connectivity longevity and ease of maintenance.

The ASRock B860M LiveMixer WiFi and MSI Pro B860M-A WiFi both support up to 256GB of maximum memory, with 4 memory slots and dual memory channels. Both motherboards also support DDR5 memory, with no ECC memory support. When it comes to memory speed, the ASRock B860M LiveMixer WiFi offers a maximum RAM speed of 5600 MHz, while the MSI Pro B860M-A WiFi supports a higher maximum RAM speed of 6400 MHz.

For overclocked RAM speeds, the ASRock B860M LiveMixer WiFi can handle up to 8666 MHz, while the MSI Pro B860M-A WiFi has a slightly lower overclocked RAM speed of 8600 MHz. This shows that the ASRock board can push slightly higher speeds when overclocked, though the difference is minimal.

In summary, both motherboards provide strong memory support with similar features, though the MSI board has a higher base memory speed, while the ASRock board supports slightly higher overclocked speeds.

The ASRock B860M LiveMixer WiFi and MSI Pro B860M-A WiFi offer several similar ports, but there are a few key differences. Both motherboards provide USB 4 40Gbps ports (1 port each) and Thunderbolt 4 ports (1 port each). Both also include an HDMI output, RJ45 ports (1 port each), and USB Type-C support. However, there are some differences in the USB ports: the ASRock board has 6 USB 3.2 Gen 1 (USB-A) ports and 6 USB 2.0 ports, while the MSI board has 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-A) port, 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 (USB-A) ports, and 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 (USB-C) ports.

The ASRock board also lacks DisplayPort outputs, whereas the MSI board includes 1 DisplayPort output. Additionally, the MSI board has a PS/2 port, which is not available on the ASRock board. Both motherboards lack VGA connectors, eSATA ports, and DVI outputs.

In summary, the MSI board offers a bit more variety in terms of USB ports and includes a DisplayPort output and a PS/2 port, while the ASRock board offers a higher number of USB 2.0 ports and more USB 3.2 Gen 1 (USB-A) ports.

The ASRock B860M LiveMixer WiFi and MSI Pro B860M-A WiFi share many similar connectors, but with a few small differences. Both motherboards have 4 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (through expansion), 4 USB 2.0 ports (through expansion), and 4 SATA 3 connectors. They both feature 3 M.2 sockets and provide a TPM connector. Additionally, neither motherboard includes SATA 2 connectors, U.2 sockets, or an mSATA connector.

The main difference between the two is in the number of fan headers: the ASRock B860M LiveMixer WiFi has 6 fan headers, while the MSI Pro B860M-A WiFi has 5 fan headers.

In summary, both motherboards offer a solid set of expansion options, with only a slight difference in fan headers, where the ASRock board has one more than the MSI board.

The ASRock B860M LiveMixer WiFi and MSI Pro B860M-A WiFi have some similarities and differences in their expansion slots. Both motherboards feature a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, with the ASRock board having only one such slot and the MSI board also offering one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot in addition to the PCIe 5.0 x16 slot. The ASRock board lacks any PCIe 4.0 x16 slots, while the MSI board includes two PCIe x1 slots, which the ASRock board does not have.

Neither motherboard includes PCI slots or PCIe 2.0 x16 slots. The ASRock board has one PCIe x4 slot, whereas the MSI board has no PCIe x4 slot.

In summary, the MSI board offers a greater variety of PCIe slots, including both PCIe 4.0 x16 and PCIe x1 slots, while the ASRock board has a PCIe x4 slot and only PCIe 5.0 x16 support.

Both the ASRock B860M LiveMixer WiFi and MSI Pro B860M-A WiFi support 7.1 audio channels, providing high-quality sound. However, there is a difference when it comes to the audio connectors and additional features. The ASRock B860M LiveMixer WiFi has 2 audio connectors and includes an S/PDIF Out port, while the MSI Pro B860M-A WiFi has 3 audio connectors but does not include an S/PDIF Out port.

In summary, the ASRock board offers the advantage of an S/PDIF Out port for digital audio output, whereas the MSI board offers one more audio connector but lacks the S/PDIF feature.

The ASRock B860M LiveMixer WiFi and MSI Pro B860M-A WiFi both offer similar RAID support options. Both motherboards support RAID 1, RAID 10 (1+0), RAID 5, and RAID 0. However, neither of them supports RAID 0+1, as indicated by both products lacking support for this configuration.

In summary, both boards are identical in terms of RAID capabilities, with no differences between them regarding the supported RAID levels.