{"product_id":"msi-b860m-gaming-plus-wifi-motherboard-ddr5-pcie-5-0-wifi-7","title":"MSI B860M Gaming Plus WiFi Motherboard - DDR5, PCIe 5.0, WiFi 7","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review of the MSI B860M Gaming Plus WiFi motherboard the bottom line is simple: this mATX board is aimed at gamers and content creators who want the latest Intel Core Ultra Series 2 support, fast DDR5 memory and cutting-edge expansion in a compact package. The single biggest reason to buy is its combination of a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot for modern GPUs, a high-speed M.2 Gen5 slot with thermal shielding, and robust power delivery that together let a small build run high-performance Intel CPUs reliably under sustained load.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCPU Support:\u003c\/strong\u003e A 12 Duet Rail Power System (P-PAK) VRM with Core Boost architecture provides stable power for Intel Core Ultra Processors (Series 2), helping maintain performance under heavy CPU loads.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMemory Performance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Four DDR5 DIMM SMT slots enable aggressive memory overclocking up to and beyond 8800+ MT\/s (OC) for improved bandwidth in gaming and creative workloads.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNextGen GPU Ready:\u003c\/strong\u003e The PCIe 5.0 x16 SMT slot with Steel Armor supports the latest graphics cards and higher bandwidth GPUs for future upgradeability.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHigh-Speed Storage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Triple M.2 connectors include one M.2 Gen5 x4 128Gbps slot with EZ M.2 Shield Frozr II to reduce thermal throttling for NVMe Gen5 drives.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCooling and Durability:\u003c\/strong\u003e FROZR GUARD features 7W\/mK MOSFET thermal pads, extra choke pads and an extended heatsink plus a chipset heatsink for improved passive cooling.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eConnectivity:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full-speed WiFi 7 with Bluetooth 5.4 and Intel Killer 5G LAN plus rear Thunderbolt 4 Type-C output and 7.1 HD Audio provide modern networking and peripheral options.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis motherboard is best for gamers and creators building a compact mATX rig who want up-to-date platform features like support for Intel Core Ultra Series 2, PCIe 5.0 GPU compatibility and Gen5 NVMe storage. It suits users who plan to overclock memory and expect solid passive cooling and a strong VRM for sustained multi-core workloads.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBuyers who need many PCIe expansion cards, legacy features, or an ITX-sized footprint should look elsewhere; this board is focused on a balance of modern performance and mATX expandability rather than maximum slot count or the smallest possible system size.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRobust 12 Duet Rail VRM and Core Boost help keep Intel Core Ultra processors stable during heavy loads.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSupport for DDR5 8800+ MT\/s (OC) and a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot future-proof the system for high-bandwidth GPU and memory upgrades.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTriple M.2 including a Gen5 slot with Shield Frozr II reduces thermal throttling for fast NVMe drives.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eModern connectivity with WiFi 7, Intel Killer 5G LAN and Thunderbolt 4 Type-C covers networking and high-speed peripherals.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAs an mATX board it has limited PCIe slot count compared with full ATX designs, which may restrict multi-card expansion.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eForm Factor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003emATX\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCPU Socket\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLGA 1851 for Intel Core Ultra Processors (Series 2)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMemory\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4 x DDR5 DIMM SMT slots, up to 8800+ MT\/s (OC)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePCIe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1 x PCIe 5.0 x16 SMT slot with Steel Armor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eM.2 Slots\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1 x Gen5 x4 (128Gbps) + 1 x Gen4 x4 (64Gbps) + 1 x Gen4 x2 (32Gbps)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNetworking\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWiFi 7 module with Bluetooth 5.4 and Intel Killer 5G LAN\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAudio \/ Ports\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7.1 HD Audio with Audio Boost, rear Thunderbolt 4 Type-C output\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe MSI B860M Gaming Plus WiFi is a strong choice for compact gaming and creator builds that demand modern features and reliable power delivery. It pairs forward-looking slots and storage options with effective cooling and networking, offering solid value for users who want PCIe 5.0 and Gen5 NVMe readiness in an mATX board without stepping up to full ATX.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes this board support the latest Intel Core Ultra Series 2 CPUs?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, it is designed for Intel Core Ultra Processors (Series 2) on LGA 1851 and features a 12 Duet Rail VRM to power those CPUs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I install a Gen5 NVMe drive and prevent throttling?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, the board includes an M.2 Gen5 x4 slot with EZ M.2 Shield Frozr II to help reduce thermal throttling of high-speed NVMe drives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs WiFi included and what networking is available?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt ships with a full-speed WiFi 7 module, Bluetooth 5.4, and Intel Killer 5G LAN for wired networking.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"msi","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48192490537179,"sku":"B0DRWH2CG2","price":197.36,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/81XcK6JtyYL._AC_SL1500.jpg?v=1770308860","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/msi-b860m-gaming-plus-wifi-motherboard-ddr5-pcie-5-0-wifi-7","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}