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Gigabyte B860M Eagle Plus WiFi6E specifications and in-depth review

Gigabyte B860M Eagle Plus WiFi6E

Manufacturer: Gigabyte

The Gigabyte B860M Eagle Plus WiFi6E is a Micro-ATX motherboard built around Intel's LGA 1851 socket and the B860 chipset, targeting users who want a compact yet capable platform for current-generation processors. It includes Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.3 onboard, alongside dual BIOS support and a three-year warranty, making it a well-rounded option for standard desktop builds where size and connectivity matter.

On the memory side, the board accommodates up to 256GB of DDR5 RAM across four slots in dual-channel configuration, with standard speeds reaching 6400 MHz and overclocked profiles extending to 9066 MHz. Expansion is handled by a single PCIe 5.0 x16 slot and two PCIe x1 slots, while storage options include two M.2 sockets, four SATA 3 connectors, and full RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 support. The rear panel offers HDMI 2.1 output alongside two DisplayPort outputs, and the board delivers 7.1-channel audio through three connectors.

Pros
  • Supports Wi-Fi 6E alongside Wi-Fi 4, 5, and 6, covering a wide range of wireless standards
  • Dual BIOS provides a fallback in case of a failed BIOS update or corruption
  • DDR5 memory support with four slots and a maximum capacity of 256GB offers substantial headroom for memory-intensive workloads
  • Overclocked RAM speeds can reach up to 9066 MHz, useful for users who want to push memory performance beyond stock settings
  • RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 support gives meaningful flexibility for storage array configurations
  • Three-year warranty provides a solid coverage period for a motherboard
Cons
  • No USB-C ports on the rear panel limits connectivity for modern peripherals and devices
  • Only two M.2 sockets may feel restrictive for builds requiring multiple NVMe drives
  • No S/PDIF Out port reduces options for users who need digital audio output to external receivers
  • Clear CMOS functionality is not available directly from the rear panel, making BIOS recovery slightly less convenient
  • No RGB lighting, which may be a drawback for users building in cases designed around visual customization
Who is this for?

This board is well-suited to users building a compact desktop system around Intel's current-generation LGA 1851 platform who want modern connectivity without sacrificing too much desk space. The Micro-ATX form factor makes it a practical choice for smaller cases, while Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 cover users who prefer wireless over a wired network setup. Those looking to configure storage arrays will appreciate the built-in support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10, and memory enthusiasts will find the DDR5 overclocking headroom — reaching up to 9066 MHz — useful for squeezing out additional performance in latency-sensitive workloads.

Who is this NOT for?

Users who rely on USB-C connectivity for modern peripherals, external displays, or high-speed data transfers will find this board limiting, as it offers no USB-C ports on the rear panel whatsoever. It is also a poor fit for content creators or power users who need multiple high-speed NVMe drives, given that only two M.2 sockets are available. Additionally, anyone requiring digital audio output via S/PDIF, or those who want a visually customizable build with RGB integration, will find that neither feature is present on this board.

General info:

CPU socket LGA 1851
chipset B860
form factor Micro-ATX
supports Wi-Fi ✓
Wi-Fi version Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)
Has Bluetooth ✓
Bluetooth version 5.3
HDMI version HDMI 2.1
Easy to overclock ✓
has RGB lighting ✕
Easy to reset BIOS ✕
Has dual BIOS ✓
has aptX ✕
CPU sockets 1
Has integrated graphics ✕
warranty period 3 years
height 244 mm
width 244 mm
Has integrated CPU ✕

The Gigabyte B860M Eagle Plus WiFi6E uses an LGA 1851 socket paired with the B860 chipset and comes in a Micro-ATX form factor measuring 244 × 244 mm, making it suited for compact builds. It supports Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) — covering Wi-Fi 4, 5, 6, and 6E standards — alongside Bluetooth 5.3, though aptX is not included. The board features dual BIOS and an HDMI 2.1 output, and it supports easy overclocking; however, it does not include RGB lighting, a clear CMOS button, integrated graphics, or an integrated CPU. It carries a three-year warranty and is built around a single CPU socket configuration.

Memory:

maximum memory amount 256GB
RAM speed (max) 6400 MHz
overclocked RAM speed 9066 MHz
memory slots 4
DDR memory version 5
memory channels 2
Supports ECC memory ✕

This motherboard supports DDR5 memory across four slots in a dual-channel configuration, with a maximum capacity of 256GB. Standard RAM speeds reach up to 6400 MHz, while overclocked profiles can push that figure to 9066 MHz. ECC memory is not supported.

Ports:

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

The rear panel provides a total of six USB ports: one USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-A), two USB 3.2 Gen 1 (USB-A), and three USB 2.0 ports; there are no USB-C, USB 4, Thunderbolt 3, or Thunderbolt 4 ports present. Display output consists of one HDMI and two DisplayPort connectors, while DVI and VGA outputs are absent. Networking is handled by a single RJ45 port, and the board also retains one PS/2 port for legacy peripheral support; eSATA is not included.

Connectors:

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

For storage, the board offers two M.2 sockets and four SATA 3 connectors, with no SATA 2, mSATA, or U.2 sockets available. Internal expansion headers include two USB 3.2 Gen 1 connectors, two additional USB 3.0 connectors, and four USB 2.0 connectors for front-panel or bracket use. Cooling is supported through four fan headers, and a TPM connector is also present for security module integration.

Expansion slots:

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

The board's expansion layout is straightforward, centered around a single PCIe 5.0 x16 slot for the primary add-in card, complemented by two PCIe x1 slots for smaller peripherals. There are no PCIe 2.0, 3.0, or 4.0 x16 slots, and no PCIe x4, x8, or legacy PCI slots are present.

Audio:

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

The board supports 7.1-channel audio output through three analog connectors on the rear panel. An S/PDIF Out port is not included.

Storage:

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

The board supports RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 configurations for flexible storage array setups, whether the priority is performance, redundancy, or a combination of both. RAID 0+1 is not supported.

Final Verdict

The Gigabyte B860M Eagle Plus WiFi6E is a capable Micro-ATX motherboard that delivers a well-rounded feature set for users building on Intel's LGA 1851 platform within a compact footprint. Its Wi-Fi 6E support combined with DDR5 memory overclocking up to 9066 MHz positions it as a genuinely modern platform, and the inclusion of dual BIOS, RAID support, and a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot adds meaningful reliability and future-readiness to the package. The absence of USB-C rear ports and the limited M.2 socket count do narrow its appeal for more demanding configurations, but for users whose needs align with its feature set, it represents a solid and practical choice within the current Intel ecosystem.

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