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ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi vs MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi: Comparison
ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi vs MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi: the networking difference
The first real difference is networking: ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi 2.5G LAN , Wi-Fi 6E against MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi Realtek 8126 5Gbps LAN, Intel Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4. They differ on fan and pump headers too, 6 on the ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi versus 5 on the MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi. There is a split on argb headers as well, 3 on the ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi versus 2 on the MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi.
ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi vs MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi: which one fits your build
The ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi suits budget micro-ATX Intel builds on Core Ultra Series 2, though it is the wrong buy 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 also earns its place with builders who want a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot without Z890 pricing. 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.
What ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi and MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi have in common
Where they agree, they agree completely, chipset, socket, memory slots, max memory and m.2 slots included, so the decision does not turn on any of those. They match on 19 further specifications as well.
Frequently asked questions
Do the ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi and MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi differ on memory type?
Yes. Memory Type reads 4x DDR5 DIMM , up to 256GB, up to... on the ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi versus 4x DDR5 UDIMM, up to 256GB, up to 8800+... on the MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi.
Is the M.2 Slots Onboard the same on the ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi and MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi?
It is. Both are listed at 3, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Platform
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- Intel
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- Intel
Model Number
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- B860M Pro RS WiFi
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- PRO B860M-A WIFI
Socket
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- Intel Core Ultra Processors (Series 2)
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- Intel Core Ultra Processors (Series 2)
Form Factor
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- Micro-ATX
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- Micro-ATX
Chipset
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- B860
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- B860
Newest CPU Family Supported
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- Core Ultra Series 2
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- Core Ultra Series 2
Memory Type
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 4x DDR5 DIMM (CUDIMM), up to 256GB, up to 8666+ 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 B860M Pro RS WiFi
- Core Ultra Series 2
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- Core Ultra Series 2
Memory Slots
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 4
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 4
Max Memory
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 256 GB
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 256 GB
Board Width
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 244 mm
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 244 mm
M.2 Slots
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 3
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 3
PCIe 5.0 Support
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- Yes
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- Yes
Wi-Fi Onboard
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- Yes
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- Yes
Max Rated Memory Speed
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 8666 MT/s
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 8800 MT/sBest
CUDIMM Support
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- Yes
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- Yes
ECC Memory Support
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- None
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- None
M.2 Slots Onboard
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 3
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 3
M.2 PCIe 5.0 Slots
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 1
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 1
M.2 PCIe 4.0 Slots
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 2
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 2
M.2 CPU Attached Slots
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 1
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 1
SATA Ports
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 4
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 4
PCIe x16 Slots
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 1
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 4
Primary Graphics Slot Gen
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- PCIe 5.0
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- PCIe 5.0
Rear USB4 or TB Ports
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 0
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 1
Rear USB 10Gbps Ports
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 0
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 1
Rear USB 5Gbps Ports
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 3
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 3
Rear USB 2.0 Ports
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 2
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 2
Front USB-C Header Speed
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 5Gbps
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 10GbpsBest
Fan and Pump Headers
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 6
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 5
ARGB Headers
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 3
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 2
Vcore Power Stages
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 10
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 12
EPS 12V Configuration
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 8-pin plus 4-pin
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 8-pin plus 4-pin
Max Ethernet Speed
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 2.5 Gbps
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 5 GbpsBest
Ethernet Port Count
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 1
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 1
Wi-Fi Standard
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- Wi-Fi 6E
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- Wi-Fi 7
Bluetooth Version
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 5.3
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- 5.4
Audio Codec
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- Realtek ALC897, Nahimic enhancement
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- Realtek ALC897, 7.1-channel
Expansion
- ASRock B860M Pro RS 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 B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 4x SATA3
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- Rear Thunderbolt 4 40Gbps Type-C, HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4
Networking
- ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi
- 2.5G LAN (Realtek), Wi-Fi 6E
- MSI PRO B860M-A WiFi
- Realtek 8126 5Gbps LAN, Intel Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Special Features
- ASRock B860M Pro RS 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 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 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 B860M Pro RS 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.