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ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi vs MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi: Comparison
ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi vs MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi m.2 slots compared
The gap that matters here is m.2 slots: ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi 3 against MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi 2, which puts ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi 33% ahead. Oldest cpu family supported is not the same on both, Core Ultra Series 2 on the ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi versus Ryzen 7000 on the MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi.
Who each one is for
The ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi is the one to take for budget micro-ATX Intel builds on Core Ultra Series 2, though it is not the pick for anyone who wants Wi-Fi 7 instead of Wi-Fi 6E and overclockers who need more than a 10+1+1+1+1 phase VRM. It is equally the pick for builders who want a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot without Z890 pricing. The MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi suits Micro-ATX cases where a full ATX board won't fit, though it is the wrong buy for any sustained overclocking beyond stock Ryzen clocks. It also earns its place with budget compact AM5 builds that don't need more than two M.2 slots. It is not the one for builds that want PCIe 5.0 storage or a third M.2 slot.
Where the two are identical
Where they agree, they agree completely, memory slots, max memory, form factor, board width and wi-fi onboard included, so the decision does not turn on any of those. They match on 9 further specifications as well.
Frequently asked questions
Do the ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi and MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi differ on chipset?
Yes. Chipset reads B860 on the ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi versus B650 on the MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi.
Is the ECC Memory Support the same on the ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi and MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi?
It is. Both are listed at None, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Platform
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- Intel
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- AMD
Model Number
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- B860M Pro RS WiFi
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- PRO B650M-A WIFI
Socket
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- Intel Core Ultra Processors (Series 2)
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- AMD Ryzen 9000 / 8000 / 7000 series
Form Factor
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- Micro-ATX
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- Micro-ATX
Chipset
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- B860
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- B650
Newest CPU Family Supported
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- Core Ultra Series 2
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- Ryzen 9000
Memory Type
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 4x DDR5 DIMM (CUDIMM), up to 256GB, up to 8666+ MT/s (OC)
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- 4x DDR5 DIMM, up to 256GB, up to 7200+ MHz (OC)
Oldest CPU Family Supported
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- Core Ultra Series 2
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- Ryzen 7000
Memory Slots
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 4
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- 4
Max Memory
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 256 GB
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- 256 GB
Board Width
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 244 mm
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- 244 mm
M.2 Slots
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 3Best
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- 2-33%
PCIe 5.0 Support
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- Yes
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- No
Wi-Fi Onboard
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- Yes
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- Yes
Max Rated Memory Speed
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 8666 MT/sBest
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- 7200 MT/s
ECC Memory Support
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- None
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- None
M.2 Slots Onboard
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 3
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- 2
M.2 PCIe 4.0 Slots
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 2
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- 2
M.2 CPU Attached Slots
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 1
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- 2
SATA Ports
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 4
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- 4
PCIe x16 Slots
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 1
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- 2
Primary Graphics Slot Gen
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- PCIe 5.0
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- PCIe 4.0
Rear USB 10Gbps Ports
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 0
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- 4
Rear USB 5Gbps Ports
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 3
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- 4
Rear USB 2.0 Ports
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 2
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- 0
Front USB-C Header Speed
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 5Gbps
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- 10GbpsBest
Fan and Pump Headers
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 6
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- 5
ARGB Headers
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 3
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- 2
Vcore Power Stages
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 10
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- 8
EPS 12V Configuration
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 8-pin plus 4-pin
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- 8-pin plus 4-pin
BIOS Flashback
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- Yes
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- Yes
Max Ethernet Speed
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 2.5 Gbps
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- 2.5 Gbps
Ethernet Port Count
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 1
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- 1
Wi-Fi Standard
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- Wi-Fi 6E
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth Version
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 5.3
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- 5.3
Audio Codec
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- Realtek ALC897, Nahimic enhancement
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- Realtek ALC897, 7.1-channel
Expansion
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- PCIe 5.0 x16 + PCIe 4.0 x4
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- 2x PCIe x16 physical: PCIe 4.0 x16 (CPU) and PCIe 4.0 x4 (chipset), plus 1x PCIe 3.0 x1
Connectivity
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 4x SATA3
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- Rear 4x USB 10Gbps Type-A, HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4
Networking
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 2.5G LAN (Realtek), Wi-Fi 6E
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- Realtek 8125BG 2.5G LAN, AMD Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
Special Features
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 3x M.2 (1x Gen5 Blazing, 2x Gen4 Hyper)
- MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi
- 2x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4
Which one should you pick?
Choose ASRock B860M Pro RS 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 2).
Choose MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi | MSI PRO B650M-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.