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Gigabyte B860M Gaming WiFi6 specifications and in-depth review

Gigabyte B860M Gaming WiFi6

Manufacturer: Gigabyte

The Gigabyte B860M Gaming WiFi6 is a Micro-ATX motherboard designed around Intel's LGA 1851 platform and B860 chipset, targeting users who want a compact yet capable foundation for a modern desktop build. It measures 244 mm by 225 mm, making it well-suited for smaller chassis without sacrificing core functionality. The board includes dual BIOS for added firmware resilience, ships with built-in Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.3, and carries a three-year warranty from Gigabyte.

Memory support reaches up to 128 GB of DDR5 across two slots, with a standard rated speed of 6400 MHz and an overclocked ceiling of 9066 MHz. Expansion is handled by one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot and one PCIe x4 slot, while storage connectivity includes two M.2 sockets and four SATA 3 connectors with full RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 support. The rear I/O provides three USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, three USB 2.0 ports, HDMI 2.1, one DisplayPort output, and a single RJ45 Ethernet port, complemented by 7.1-channel audio across three connectors.

Pros
  • Dual BIOS provides a backup firmware option, reducing the risk of a failed update bricking the board
  • Built-in Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with Bluetooth 5.3 eliminates the need for separate wireless adapters
  • DDR5 memory support with overclocked speeds up to 9066 MHz offers substantial headroom for memory-intensive workloads
  • A PCIe 5.0 x16 slot ensures compatibility with the latest generation of discrete cards
  • Full RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 support gives meaningful flexibility for storage redundancy and configuration
  • Three-year warranty period provides a reasonable coverage window
Cons
  • Only two memory slots limits future upgrade paths compared to boards with four slots
  • No USB Type-C ports on the rear I/O panel restricts connectivity for newer peripherals
  • Absence of USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports means rear-panel USB throughput is capped at Gen 1 speeds
  • ECC memory is not supported, ruling out error-correcting memory configurations
  • No S/PDIF Out port limits digital audio output options for home theater or external DAC setups
  • BIOS reset requires a non-trivial process as there is no dedicated clear CMOS button
Who is this for?

This board is a solid fit for users building a compact Intel LGA 1851 desktop who want capable wireless connectivity out of the box, thanks to its integrated Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3. The Micro-ATX form factor suits smaller mid-tower or compact ATX cases, making it practical for space-conscious builds without sacrificing the presence of a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot for a current-generation discrete card. It also suits users who value storage flexibility, as the support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 alongside two M.2 sockets and four SATA 3 connectors makes it a reasonable choice for multi-drive configurations in a home workstation or media server context.

Who is this NOT for?

Users who rely on a large number of USB peripherals or require high-speed USB connectivity may find this board limiting, as there are no USB Type-C or USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports on the rear I/O panel. The board is also a poor match for workstation or professional computing scenarios that demand ECC memory support, as this capability is absent. Additionally, enthusiasts planning a heavily expandable multi-card build will find the slot count restrictive, and those who need digital audio output via S/PDIF for external DACs or home theater receivers will need to look elsewhere.

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)
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 225 mm
width 244 mm
Has integrated CPU ✕

The Gigabyte B860M Gaming WiFi6 is built around the LGA 1851 socket and B860 chipset, housed in a Micro-ATX form factor measuring 244 mm by 225 mm, making it a compact option for the Intel platform. It supports Wi-Fi across three generations — Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), and Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) — alongside Bluetooth 5.3, though aptX is not included. The board features HDMI 2.1 output, supports easy overclocking, and comes equipped with dual BIOS for firmware redundancy, while RGB lighting and a dedicated BIOS reset button are absent. There is a single CPU socket, no integrated CPU or graphics, and the board carries a three-year warranty.

Memory:

maximum memory amount 128GB
RAM speed (max) 6400 MHz
overclocked RAM speed 9066 MHz
memory slots 2
DDR memory version 5
memory channels 2
Supports ECC memory ✕

This board supports DDR5 memory across two slots in a dual-channel configuration, with a maximum capacity of 128 GB. The standard rated speed tops out at 6400 MHz, while overclocking can push that figure up to 9066 MHz for users looking to extract additional memory bandwidth. ECC memory is not supported.

Ports:

USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-A) 0
USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-A) 3
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 1
RJ45 ports 1
Has USB Type-C ✕
eSATA ports 0
DVI outputs 0
has a VGA connector ✕
PS/2 ports 1

The rear I/O panel provides three USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports and three USB 2.0 ports for peripheral connectivity, while USB Type-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2, USB 4, Thunderbolt 3, and Thunderbolt 4 are all absent. Display output is handled by one HDMI port and one DisplayPort output, with no DVI or VGA connectors present. Networking is covered by a single RJ45 port, and a PS/2 port is also included, though eSATA is not available.

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

Internal connectivity includes two M.2 sockets and four SATA 3 connectors for storage, while SATA 2 and U.2 sockets are not present, nor is an mSATA connector. USB expansion headers allow for two additional USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports and two USB 3.0 ports, along with four USB 2.0 ports through further expansion. The board also provides four fan headers for cooling management and includes a TPM connector for security module support.

Expansion slots:

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

The board offers a total of two expansion slots: one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot as the primary option for discrete cards, and one PCIe x4 slot for additional expansion needs. There are no PCIe x1, x8, PCIe 2.0, PCIe 3.0, PCIe 4.0, or legacy PCI slots present.

Audio:

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

The board delivers 7.1-channel audio output through three analog audio 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 (1+0) configurations for flexible storage setup and data redundancy options, while RAID 0+1 is not supported.

Final Verdict

The Gigabyte B860M Gaming WiFi6 is a competent Micro-ATX board for users building around Intel's LGA 1851 platform who want a compact, wireless-ready system without sacrificing modern storage and expansion capabilities. Its PCIe 5.0 x16 slot combined with DDR5 support and overclocking headroom up to 9066 MHz ensures the platform remains relevant as component generations advance, while built-in Wi-Fi 6 and dual BIOS add practical day-to-day convenience and firmware resilience. The rear I/O connectivity is modest by current standards, and the two-slot memory layout places a ceiling on future upgrades, but for a mainstream desktop build where compactness and core functionality take priority over maximum expandability, this board covers the essentials with few notable gaps.

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