MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi

Manufacturer: MSI

The MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi is an ATX form factor motherboard built around the B860 chipset and LGA 1851 socket, targeting users who want a capable platform for Intel's current-generation processors. It includes Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) alongside Bluetooth 5.4 for wireless connectivity, and features RGB lighting, dual BIOS, and an easy CMOS reset button for added convenience during setup and maintenance.

On the memory side, the board offers four DDR5 slots across two channels, supporting speeds up to 6400 MHz natively and up to 8600 MHz with overclocking, with a maximum capacity of 256 GB. Expansion options include one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, and two PCIe x1 slots, complemented by three M.2 sockets and four SATA 3 connectors. The rear I/O provides a USB 4 40Gbps port, a Thunderbolt 4 port, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, HDMI 2.1, a DisplayPort output, and a single RJ45 ethernet jack, while 7.1-channel audio is handled through three analog connectors.

Pros

Supports Wi-Fi 7 alongside the full range of older Wi-Fi standards, providing broad wireless compatibility
Dual BIOS adds a layer of protection against failed firmware updates or corrupted BIOS files
Includes both a USB 4 40Gbps port and a Thunderbolt 4 port on the rear I/O for high-speed device connectivity
DDR5 memory can be overclocked up to 8600 MHz, with four slots accommodating up to 256 GB total
Three M.2 sockets alongside four SATA 3 connectors offer flexible storage configuration options
RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 support allows for a variety of storage redundancy and performance setups

Cons

No USB-C ports among the rear USB 3.2 Gen 2 outputs, limiting high-speed Type-C connectivity to the USB 4 and Thunderbolt 4 ports
ECC memory is not supported, ruling out error-correcting RAM configurations
Only three analog audio connectors are present and there is no S/PDIF Out port, restricting digital audio output options
No integrated graphics support means a discrete GPU is always required for display output

Who is this for?

This motherboard is well suited to users building a modern desktop system around Intel's current-generation LGA 1851 platform who want a feature-rich ATX board without moving to the highest-tier chipset. The inclusion of Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 makes it a strong fit for setups where a wired network connection is not practical. With a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, three M.2 sockets, and support for DDR5 memory up to 8600 MHz via overclocking, it also suits users who want enthusiast-level storage and memory performance in a mainstream platform. The dual BIOS, easy CMOS reset, and overclocking support make it a reasonable choice for builders who enjoy tinkering with their system configuration.

Who is this NOT for?

Users who require ECC memory support for workstation or data-integrity-sensitive tasks will find this board unsuitable, as that feature is absent. It is also a poor fit for those who need digital audio output via S/PDIF or a wide selection of rear USB-C ports, given the limited analog-only audio setup and the absence of USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C outputs on the back panel. Additionally, anyone working in a small form factor build will find the ATX dimensions incompatible with compact cases.

General info:

CPU socket	LGA 1851
chipset	B860
form factor	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), Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
Has Bluetooth	✓
Bluetooth version	5.4
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	243.8 mm
width	304.8 mm
Has integrated CPU	✕

The MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi uses an LGA 1851 socket paired with the B860 chipset and comes in the standard ATX form factor, measuring 304.8 mm wide and 243.8 mm tall. It supports a full range of wireless standards through its built-in Wi-Fi, spanning Wi-Fi 4 through Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), and includes Bluetooth 5.4, though aptX is not supported. The board features dual BIOS, an easy CMOS reset, RGB lighting, and overclocking support, while video output is handled via an HDMI 2.1 connector. There is no integrated graphics or integrated CPU on this board, and it carries a 3-year warranty.

Memory:

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

This board supports DDR5 memory across four slots in a dual-channel configuration, with a maximum capacity of 256 GB. Native RAM speeds reach up to 6400 MHz, and with overclocking enabled that ceiling rises to 8600 MHz. ECC memory is not supported.

Ports:

USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-A)	2
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	4
USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 ports	0
USB 4 40Gbps ports	1
USB 4 20Gbps ports	0
Thunderbolt 4 ports	1
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	0

The rear I/O includes a USB 4 40Gbps port and a Thunderbolt 4 port, both of which use Type-C connectors, alongside two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports and two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports. Four additional USB 2.0 ports round out the USB selection, while there are no USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, USB 4 20Gbps, or Thunderbolt 3 ports present. Display output is covered by an HDMI output and one DisplayPort, with no DVI or VGA connectors included. Networking is handled by a single RJ45 port, and there are no eSATA or PS/2 ports on this board.

Connectors:

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

For internal expansion, the board provides four USB 3.2 Gen 1 headers, one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 header, and four USB 2.0 headers, along with four USB 3.0 ports accessible through expansion. Storage connectivity includes three M.2 sockets and four SATA 3 connectors, while SATA 2, U.2, and mSATA are not available. Cooling is supported by six fan headers, and a TPM connector is present for security module use.

Expansion slots:

PCIe 4.0 x16 slots	1
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 offers two full-length PCIe x16 slots: one PCIe 5.0 x16 and one PCIe 4.0 x16, complemented by two PCIe x1 slots for smaller add-in cards. There are no PCIe 2.0, PCIe 3.0, PCIe x4, PCIe x8, or legacy PCI slots present.

Audio:

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

Audio output extends to 7.1 channels, delivered through three analog audio connectors on the rear I/O. There is no S/PDIF Out port on this board.

Storage:

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

The board supports RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, and RAID 10 (1+0) configurations, covering a broad range of storage setups for both performance and redundancy needs. RAID 0+1 is not supported.

Final Verdict

The MSI B860 Gaming Plus WiFi delivers a well-rounded ATX platform for the LGA 1851 socket, bringing together a strong mix of connectivity and storage flexibility that suits a wide range of mainstream to enthusiast desktop builds. Its Wi-Fi 7 support, PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, and DDR5 overclocking headroom up to 8600 MHz give it a forward-looking character, while practical additions like dual BIOS and Thunderbolt 4 round out the feature set meaningfully. Builders who do not require ECC memory, extensive rear USB-C options, or digital audio output will find little standing in the way of a capable, well-connected system.