What is the difference between MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi and MSI Pro B860-P?

The main differences between MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi and MSI Pro B860-P are: Wi-Fi support is present on the MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi but not available on the MSI Pro B860-P. Bluetooth support is present on the MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi but not available on the MSI Pro B860-P. The warranty period is 3 years on the MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi and 2 years on the MSI Pro B860-P. The number of PCIe x1 slots is 2 on the MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi and 1 on the MSI Pro B860-P.

What are the common features of MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi and MSI Pro B860-P?

MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi and MSI Pro B860-P share several common features: Both products use the LGA 1851 CPU socket. Both products feature the B860 chipset. Both products use the ATX form factor. Both products support HDMI 2.1. Overclocking support is available on both products.

MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi MSI Pro B860-P

Overview

Welcome to our in-depth specification comparison between the MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi and the MSI Pro B860-P. Both motherboards share the same LGA 1851 socket and B860 chipset foundation, making this a fascinating head-to-head between two boards that differ more in their connectivity features and target audiences than in raw hardware capability. Read on as we break down every spec category to help you decide which board best suits your next build.

Common Features

✓ Both products use the LGA 1851 CPU socket.
✓ Both products feature the B860 chipset.
✓ Both products use the ATX form factor.
✓ Both products support HDMI 2.1.
✓ Overclocking support is available on both products.
✓ RGB lighting is present on both products.
✓ Easy BIOS reset functionality is available on both products.
✓ Dual BIOS is present on both products.
✓ Both products support a maximum of 256GB of RAM.
✓ Both products support a maximum RAM speed of 6400 MHz and an overclocked RAM speed of 8600 MHz.
✓ Both products have 4 memory slots and support 2 memory channels.
✓ Both products use DDR5 memory.
✓ ECC memory is not supported on either product.
✓ Both products have 2 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports and 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports.
✓ Both products have 4 USB 2.0 ports and 1 USB 4 40Gbps port.
✓ Both products have no USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C or Gen 1 Type-C ports.
✓ Both products include 4 SATA 3 connectors, 3 M.2 sockets, and 6 fan headers.
✓ A TPM connector is present on both products.
✓ Both products offer 7.1 audio channels with 3 audio connectors.
✓ An S/PDIF output port is not available on either product.
✓ Both products include 1 PCIe 5.0 x16 slot and 1 PCIe 4.0 x16 slot.
✓ Both products support RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, and RAID 10, but do not support RAID 0+1.

Main Differences

• Wi-Fi support is present on the MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi but not available on the MSI Pro B860-P.
• Bluetooth support is present on the MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi but not available on the MSI Pro B860-P.
• The warranty period is 3 years on the MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi and 2 years on the MSI Pro B860-P.
• The number of PCIe x1 slots is 2 on the MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi and 1 on the MSI Pro B860-P.

Specs Comparison

MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi

MSI Pro B860-P

General info:

CPU socket	LGA 1851	LGA 1851
chipset	B860	B860
form factor	ATX	ATX
release date	January 2025	January 2025
supports Wi-Fi	✓	✕
Has Bluetooth	✓	✕
HDMI version	HDMI 2.1	HDMI 2.1
Easy to overclock	✓	✓
has RGB lighting	✓	✓
Easy to reset BIOS	✓	✓
Has dual BIOS	✓	✓
CPU sockets	1	1
Has integrated graphics	✕	✕
warranty period	3 years	2 years
height	243.8 mm	243.8 mm
width	304.8 mm	304.8 mm
Has integrated CPU	✕	✕

Both boards share the same fundamental DNA: the LGA 1851 socket with a B860 chipset in a standard ATX form factor, with identical physical dimensions of 304.8 × 243.8 mm. This means they target the same Intel platform and fit the same cases, making the choice between them one of features rather than compatibility.

The most meaningful separation lies in connectivity: the MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi includes built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, while the MSI Pro B860-P omits both entirely. In practice, this matters significantly for builds in rooms without easy Ethernet access, or for users who rely on wireless peripherals. Adding a PCIe Wi-Fi card later is possible but costs extra and occupies an expansion slot. Both boards share quality-of-life features like dual BIOS, easy BIOS reset, and overclocking support — solid assurances for longevity and tuning flexibility on a B860 platform.

The Gaming Plus WiFi also edges ahead with a 3-year warranty versus the Pro B860-P's 2-year warranty, offering an extra year of coverage that adds modest but real long-term value. Overall, the MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi holds a clear advantage in this group: it delivers wireless connectivity and longer warranty coverage at no sacrifice in form factor or core platform features, making it the stronger all-around choice unless a wired-only build with a tighter budget is the explicit goal.

Memory:

maximum memory amount	256GB	256GB
RAM speed (max)	6400 MHz	6400 MHz
overclocked RAM speed	8600 MHz	8600 MHz
memory slots	4	4
DDR memory version	5	5
memory channels	2	2
Supports ECC memory	✕	✕

Both the MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi and MSI Pro B860-P support up to 256GB of memory, making them equal in terms of maximum memory capacity. The two motherboards also share identical RAM specifications, with both supporting a maximum RAM speed of 6400 MHz and an overclocked RAM speed of 8600 MHz. Additionally, each motherboard is equipped with 4 memory slots, and they both support DDR5 memory with two memory channels.

Neither motherboard supports ECC (Error-Correcting Code) memory, as both are explicitly listed as not having this feature.

In summary, the memory capabilities of the MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi and MSI Pro B860-P are identical across all provided specifications, with no notable differences between the two models in terms of memory support or features.

Ports:

USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-A)	2	2
USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-A)	2	2
USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-C)	0	0
USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-C)	0	0
USB 2.0 ports	4	4
USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 ports	0	0
USB 4 40Gbps ports	1	1
USB 4 20Gbps ports	0	0
Thunderbolt 4 ports	1	1
Thunderbolt 3 ports	0	0
has an HDMI output	✓	✓
DisplayPort outputs	1	1
RJ45 ports	1	1
Has USB Type-C	✓	✓
eSATA ports	0	0
DVI outputs	0	0
has a VGA connector	✕	✕
PS/2 ports	0	0

The MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi and MSI Pro B860-P share most of their port offerings. Both motherboards feature 2 USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-A) ports, 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 (USB-A) ports, and 4 USB 2.0 ports. Each also includes one USB 4 40Gbps port, one HDMI output, one DisplayPort output, and one RJ45 Ethernet port. Additionally, both boards have USB Type-C support, but neither includes USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 or USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports for USB-C, nor do they have eSATA, DVI, or PS/2 ports.

One key difference between the two models is the presence of Thunderbolt 4 ports. Both motherboards are equipped with one Thunderbolt 4 port, but there are no Thunderbolt 3 ports on either product. Neither motherboard includes a VGA connector, and both have similar video output options with HDMI and DisplayPort.

In summary, the port configurations of the MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi and MSI Pro B860-P are nearly identical, with the same number and type of USB, video, and network ports. The inclusion of Thunderbolt 4 on both is a notable feature, but otherwise, their port setups do not differ significantly.

Connectors:

USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (through expansion)	4	4
USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports (through expansion)	1	1
USB 2.0 ports (through expansion)	4	4
SATA 3 connectors	4	4
fan headers	6	6
USB 3.0 ports (through expansion)	4	4
M.2 sockets	3	3
Has TPM connector	✓	✓
U.2 sockets	0	0
Has mSATA connector	✕	✕
SATA 2 connectors	0	0

The MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi and MSI Pro B860-P share identical connector specifications. Both motherboards feature 4 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (through expansion), 1 USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port (through expansion), 4 USB 2.0 ports (through expansion), and 4 USB 3.0 ports (through expansion). They also both offer 4 SATA 3 connectors and 6 fan headers. Additionally, both boards are equipped with 3 M.2 sockets, have a TPM connector, and do not include any U.2 or SATA 2 connectors. Both motherboards also lack an mSATA connector.

Since the specifications match across all provided connector types, there are no differences between the MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi and MSI Pro B860-P in this category.

In summary, the connector configurations of both motherboards are identical, offering the same number and types of ports and connectors without any notable differences.

Expansion slots:

PCIe 4.0 x16 slots	1	1
PCIe 5.0 x16 slots	1	1
PCIe 3.0 x16 slots	0	0
PCIe x1 slots	2	1
PCI slots	0	0
PCIe 2.0 x16 slots	0	0
PCIe x4 slots	0	0
PCIe x8 slots	0	0

The MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi and MSI Pro B860-P motherboards both feature one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot and one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot. Neither motherboard includes any PCIe 3.0 x16, PCIe 2.0 x16, PCIe x4, or PCIe x8 slots, and both lack PCI slots altogether.

The main difference between the two models is in the number of PCIe x1 slots. The MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi offers 2 PCIe x1 slots, while the MSI Pro B860-P provides only 1 PCIe x1 slot.

In summary, the expansion slot configurations of both motherboards are very similar, with the primary distinction being the additional PCIe x1 slot offered by the MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi.

Audio:

audio channels	7.1	7.1
Has S/PDIF Out port	✕	✕
audio connectors	3	3

Both the MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi and MSI Pro B860-P support 7.1 audio channels, providing high-quality audio for a wide range of applications. Neither motherboard includes an S/PDIF Out port, and both feature 3 audio connectors for output options.

In summary, the audio specifications are identical across both models, with no differences in the number of audio channels, connectors, or the inclusion of an S/PDIF Out port.

Both motherboards offer the same audio capabilities, ensuring similar performance in this area.

Storage:

Supports RAID 1	✓	✓
Supports RAID 10 (1+0)	✓	✓
Supports RAID 5	✓	✓
Supports RAID 0	✓	✓
Supports RAID 0+1	✕	✕

Both the MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi and MSI Pro B860-P motherboards support RAID 1, RAID 10 (1+0), and RAID 5 configurations, allowing users to set up various levels of data redundancy and performance. Neither motherboard supports RAID 0+1, which is a combination of RAID 0 and RAID 1.

In summary, the storage features of both motherboards are identical, with both offering support for the same RAID configurations and lacking support for RAID 0+1.

There are no differences in the RAID capabilities of the MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi and MSI Pro B860-P in this category.

Comparison Summary & Verdict

After examining every specification, it is clear that the MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi and the MSI Pro B860-P are closely matched boards that diverge on a focused set of features. The Gaming Plus WiFi stands out with its built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, an extra PCIe x1 slot, and a longer 3-year warranty, making it the stronger choice for enthusiasts who want a feature-complete, wireless-ready gaming or home-office build. The Pro B860-P, on the other hand, delivers the same core memory and storage capabilities in a no-frills package suited for wired workstation or professional environments where wireless connectivity is unnecessary and budget efficiency matters. Both boards are equal in memory support, port selection, expansion, audio, and storage features, so the decision ultimately comes down to whether wireless connectivity and extended warranty coverage justify the likely price difference for your specific use case.

Buy MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi if...

Buy the MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi if you need built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for a wireless-ready build, want an extra PCIe x1 slot for expansion, and value the added peace of mind of a 3-year warranty.

Buy MSI Pro B860-P if...

Buy the MSI Pro B860-P if you are building a wired workstation or professional system where wireless connectivity is not required and a more straightforward, cost-efficient board meets your needs.

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MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi VS MSI Pro B860-P