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ASRock B650M Pro RS vs MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi: Comparison
ASRock B650M Pro RS vs MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi chipset compared
Chipset is the dividing line, ASRock B650M Pro RS B650 against MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi B860. There is a split on oldest cpu family supported as well, Ryzen 7000 on the ASRock B650M Pro RS versus Core Ultra Series 2 on the MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi. Wi-fi onboard is not the same on both, No on the ASRock B650M Pro RS versus Yes on the MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi.
Which should you buy, ASRock B650M Pro RS or MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi?
The ASRock B650M Pro RS suits the most affordable current-generation AM5 builds, though it is the wrong buy for anyone who wants Wi-Fi included out of the box and builds that want a PCIe 5.0 x16 GPU slot. It also earns its place with builders who don't need a PCIe 5.0 GPU slot or built-in WiFi. Buy the MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi for compact micro-ATX Intel builds that want 5Gbps LAN and budget builders who don't need a full ATX layout, though it is not built for builds that want more than three M.2 slots and enthusiasts who want a stronger VRM than entry PRO-series boards.
Where the two are identical
Where they agree, they agree completely, memory slots, max memory, max memory capacity, m.2 slots and m.2 slots onboard included, so the decision does not turn on any of those. They match on 7 further specifications as well.
Frequently asked questions
Do the ASRock B650M Pro RS and MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi differ on socket?
Yes. Socket reads AMD Ryzen 9000 / 8000 / 7000 series on the ASRock B650M Pro RS versus Intel Core Ultra Processors on the MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi.
Is the Form Factor the same on the ASRock B650M Pro RS and MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi?
It is. Both are listed at Micro-ATX, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Platform
- ASRock B650M Pro RS
- AMD
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- Intel
Model Number
- ASRock B650M Pro RS
- B650M Pro RS
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- PRO B860M-A WIFI
Socket
- ASRock B650M Pro RS
- AMD Ryzen 9000 / 8000 / 7000 series
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- Intel Core Ultra Processors (Series 2)
Form Factor
- ASRock B650M Pro RS
- Micro-ATX
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- Micro-ATX
Chipset
- ASRock B650M Pro RS
- B650
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- B860
Newest CPU Family Supported
- ASRock B650M Pro RS
- Ryzen 9000
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- Core Ultra Series 2
Memory Type
- ASRock B650M Pro RS
- 4x DDR5 DIMM, up to 256GB, dual-channel, DDR5-7200+ (OC), XMP/EXPO
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 4x DDR5 UDIMM, up to 256GB, up to 8800+ MT/s (OC)
Oldest CPU Family Supported
- ASRock B650M Pro RS
- Ryzen 7000
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- Core Ultra Series 2
Memory Slots
- ASRock B650M Pro RS
- 4
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 4
Max Memory
- ASRock B650M Pro RS
- 256 GB
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 256 GB
Board Width
- ASRock B650M Pro RS
- 244 mm
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 244 mm
M.2 Slots
- ASRock B650M Pro RS
- 3
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 3
PCIe 5.0 Support
- ASRock B650M Pro RS
- Yes
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- Yes
Wi-Fi Onboard
- ASRock B650M Pro RS
- No
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- Yes
Max Memory Capacity
- ASRock B650M Pro RS
- 256 GB
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 256 GB
Max Rated Memory Speed
- ASRock B650M Pro RS
- 7200 MT/s
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 8800 MT/sBest
ECC Memory Support
- ASRock B650M Pro RS
- Unbuffered ECC
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- None
M.2 Slots Onboard
- ASRock B650M Pro RS
- 3
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 3
M.2 PCIe 5.0 Slots
- ASRock B650M Pro RS
- 1
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 1
M.2 PCIe 4.0 Slots
- ASRock B650M Pro RS
- 2
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 2
SATA Ports
- ASRock B650M Pro RS
- 4
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 4
PCIe x16 Slots
- ASRock B650M Pro RS
- 2
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 4
Primary Graphics Slot Gen
- ASRock B650M Pro RS
- PCIe 4.0
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- PCIe 5.0
Rear USB 10Gbps Ports
- ASRock B650M Pro RS
- 2
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 1
Rear USB 5Gbps Ports
- ASRock B650M Pro RS
- 2
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 3
Rear USB 2.0 Ports
- ASRock B650M Pro RS
- 4
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 2
Vcore Power Stages
- ASRock B650M Pro RS
- 8
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 12
EPS 12V Configuration
- ASRock B650M Pro RS
- One 8-pin
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 8-pin plus 4-pin
Max Ethernet Speed
- ASRock B650M Pro RS
- 2.5 Gbps
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 5 GbpsBest
Ethernet Port Count
- ASRock B650M Pro RS
- 1
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 1
Wi-Fi Standard
- ASRock B650M Pro RS
- None
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- Wi-Fi 7
Audio Codec
- ASRock B650M Pro RS
- Realtek ALC897, Nahimic enhancement
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- Realtek ALC897, 7.1-channel
Expansion
- ASRock B650M Pro RS
- 1x PCIe 4.0 x16, 1x PCIe 3.0 x16 (x4 mode); 1x M.2 PCIe 5.0 x4, 1x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4, 1x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x2; 4x SATA III; 1x M.2 Key-E (Wi-Fi optional)
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 4x PCIe x16 physical: PCIe 5.0 x16 (CPU), PCIe 4.0 x4 and 2x PCIe 4.0 x1 (chipset)
Connectivity
- ASRock B650M Pro RS
- 1x Rear USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C (10Gbps), 1x Rear USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A (10Gbps), 2x Rear USB 3.2 Gen1 (5Gbps), 4x Rear USB 2.0; M.2 Key E for optional WiFi module
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- Rear Thunderbolt 4 40Gbps Type-C, HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4
Networking
- ASRock B650M Pro RS
- Realtek RTL8125BG 2.5G LAN (WiFi optional via M.2 Key E)
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- Realtek 8126 5Gbps LAN, Intel Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Special Features
- ASRock B650M Pro RS
- 3x M.2 (1x Gen5, 1x Gen4, 1x Gen4 x2)
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 3x M.2 (1x Gen5, 2x Gen4)
Which one should you pick?
Choose ASRock B650M Pro RS if you want the higher memory slots (4 vs 4), the higher max memory (256 GB vs 256 GB) and the higher M.2 slots (3 vs 3).
Choose MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | ASRock B650M Pro RS | MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi |
|---|---|---|
| Newegg | View on Newegg |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.