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ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi vs MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi: Comparison
ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi vs MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi chipset compared
The first real difference is chipset: ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi B850 against MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi B860. Oldest cpu family supported is not the same on both, Ryzen 7000 on the ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi versus Core Ultra Series 2 on the MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi. They differ on ecc memory support too, Unbuffered ECC on the ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi versus None on the MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi.
Which should you buy, ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi or MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi?
Buy the ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi for compact micro-ATX builds that don't need heavy overclocking headroom, though it is not built for overclockers who need more than an 8+2+1 phase VRM and builds that want Wi-Fi 7 instead of Wi-Fi 6E. The same goes for budget AM5 builds that still want a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot. The MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi is the one to take 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 the pick 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, m.2 slots, m.2 slots onboard and form factor included, so the decision does not turn on any of those. They match on 11 further specifications as well.
Frequently asked questions
Do the ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi and MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi differ on socket?
Yes. Socket reads AMD Ryzen 9000 / 8000 / 7000 series on the ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi versus Intel Core Ultra Processors on the MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi.
Is the Board Width the same on the ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi and MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi?
It is. Both are listed at 244 mm, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Platform
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- AMD
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- Intel
Model Number
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- B850M Pro-A WiFi
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- PRO B860M-A WIFI
Socket
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- AMD Ryzen 9000 / 8000 / 7000 series
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- Intel Core Ultra Processors (Series 2)
Form Factor
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- Micro-ATX
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- Micro-ATX
Chipset
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- B850
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- B860
Newest CPU Family Supported
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- Ryzen 9000
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- Core Ultra Series 2
Memory Type
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- 4x DDR5 DIMM, up to 256GB, up to 8000+ MT/s (OC)
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 4x DDR5 UDIMM, up to 256GB, up to 8800+ MT/s (OC)
Oldest CPU Family Supported
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- Ryzen 7000
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- Core Ultra Series 2
Memory Slots
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- 4
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 4
Max Memory
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- 256 GB
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 256 GB
Board Width
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- 244 mm
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 244 mm
M.2 Slots
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- 3
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 3
PCIe 5.0 Support
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- Yes
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- Yes
Wi-Fi Onboard
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- Yes
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- Yes
Max Rated Memory Speed
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- 8000 MT/s
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 8800 MT/sBest
ECC Memory Support
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- Unbuffered ECC
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- None
M.2 Slots Onboard
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- 3
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 3
M.2 PCIe 5.0 Slots
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- 1
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 1
M.2 PCIe 4.0 Slots
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- 2
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 2
M.2 CPU Attached Slots
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- 2
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 1
SATA Ports
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- 4
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 4
PCIe x16 Slots
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- 1
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 4
Primary Graphics Slot Gen
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- PCIe 5.0
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- PCIe 5.0
Rear USB4 or TB Ports
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- 0
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 1
Rear USB 10Gbps Ports
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- 2
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 1
Rear USB 5Gbps Ports
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- 2
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 3
Rear USB 2.0 Ports
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- 4
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 2
Front USB-C Header Speed
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- 5Gbps
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 10GbpsBest
Fan and Pump Headers
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- 5
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 5
ARGB Headers
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- 3
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 2
Vcore Power Stages
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- 8
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 12
EPS 12V Configuration
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- 8-pin plus 4-pin
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 8-pin plus 4-pin
Max Ethernet Speed
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- 2.5 Gbps
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 5 GbpsBest
Ethernet Port Count
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- 1
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 1
Wi-Fi Standard
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- Wi-Fi 6E
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- Wi-Fi 7
Bluetooth Version
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- 5.2
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 5.4
Audio Codec
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- Realtek ALC897, 7.1-channel
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- Realtek ALC897, 7.1-channel
Expansion
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- PCIe 5.0 x16 + PCIe 4.0 x4
- 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 B850M Pro-A WiFi
- SATA3, USB 3.2
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- Rear Thunderbolt 4 40Gbps Type-C, HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4
Networking
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- 2.5G LAN, Wi-Fi 6E
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- Realtek 8126 5Gbps LAN, Intel Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Special Features
- ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi
- 3x M.2 (1x Gen5 Blazing, 2x Gen4 Hyper)
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 3x M.2 (1x Gen5, 2x Gen4)
Which one should you pick?
Choose ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi 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 B850M Pro-A WiFi | MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | View on Amazon | |
| 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.