Choosing The Right B560 Motherboard

One of Intel's new Rocket Lake (11th gen) processors' biggest driving forces is official support for PCIe 4.0. We've seen AMD implement PCIe 4.0 into the mainstream with its Ryzen 3000 series processors almost two years ago now, back in the summer of 2019. It took a while for Intel to catch up finally, but PCIe 4.0 after March 30th will be a key element of Intel's desktop platforms going forward into 2021 and beyond.

Not just looking forward to the future of its technologies and designs, Intel has also made its Z590, B560, and H510 backward compatible with existing Comet Lake (10th gen) processors too. This allows users to either use existing chips to upgrade to the 500 series chipsets or pick up a cheaper 10-core Comet Lake processor. However, using Comet Lake with 500-series boards willmean PCIe 3.0 as per Intel's specifications.

The most notable additions toB560 over the previous B460 are in networking. Not only do a number of boards come with a Wi-Fi 6 interface, a lot of B4570 models are 2.5 Gb Ethernet enabled. Over half of the models announced so far include either a Realtek RTL8125 or Intel's own I225-V 2.5 GbE controller. Even in a mid-range chipset such as B560, it's a notable statement of intent and an indicator that Gigabit Ethernet could soon be a thing of the past.

When paired with an 11th generation Rocket Lake processor, on all the B560 boards we've looked at so far, at least one of the M.2 ports will support super-fast PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 drives. The rest of the M.2 slots are all PCIe 3.0, as they come from the chipset, which is limited to PCIe 3.0. Regarding the number of M.2 slots on B560 boards, the maximum number we've seen a B560 model includes is three, but this requires an ATX model, and uses 66% of the chipset PCIe lanes in full speed mode (some boards use x2 links instead).

Regardless of the needs or requirements, functionality, storage support, even in rear panel connectivity, we have a handy table that specifies which model includes what specific feature.

Note: We usually include a list of micro-ATX models in the below list, but given that most B560 models are micro-ATX, we've opted to highlight the ATX and mini-ITX boards. Outside of this, it means that the model is micro-ATX.

Choosing the Right B560 Motherboard
If You Need Then The Options Are Size Price
2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ASRock B560 Steel Legend ATX $130
  ASRock B560M Steel Legend mATX $120
  ASUS ROG Strix B560-F Gaming WIFI ATX -
  ASUS ROG Strix B560-A Gaming WIFI ATX $175
  ASUS ROG Strix B560-G Gaming WIFI mATX -
  ASUS ROG Strix B560-I Gaming WIFI ITX -
  ASUS TUF Gaming B560-Plus WIFI ATX -
  ASUS TUF Gaming B560M-Plus WIFI mATX -
  ASUS TUF Gaming B560M-Plus mATX -
  Biostar B560GTQ mATX -
  GIGABYTE B560 Aorus Pro AX ATX -
  GIGABYTE B560M Aorus Elite mATX -
  GIGABYTE B560M Aorus Pro AX mATX -
  GIGABYTE B560M Aorus Pro mATX -
  MSI MAG B560 Tomahawk Wi-Fi ATX -
  MSI MAG B560 Torpedo ATX -
  MSI MAG B560M Mortar Wi-Fi mATX -
  MSI MAG B560M Mortar mATX -
  MSI MAG B560M Bazooka mATX -
  MSI B560M-A Pro mATX -
  MSI B560M Pro mATX -
 
3 or more M.2 Slots ASRock B560 Steel Legend ATX $130
  ASRock B560 Pro4/ac ATX -
  ASRock B560 Pro4 ATX $110
  GIGABYTE B560 Aorus Pro AX ATX -
 
Intel Wi-Fi 6E MSI MAG B560 Tomahawk Wi-Fi ATX -
  MSI MAG B560M Mortar Wi-Fi mATX -
 
Intel Wi-Fi 6 ASUS ROG Strix B560-F Gaming WIFI ATX -
  ASUS ROG Strix B560-A Gaming WIFI ATX $175
  ASUS ROG Strix B560-G Gaming WIFI mATX -
  ASUS ROG Strix B560-I Gaming WIFI ITX -
  ASUS TUF Gaming B560-Plus WIFI ATX -
  ASUS TUF Gaming B560M-Plus WIFI mATX -
  GIGABYTE B560 Aorus Pro AX ATX -
  GIGABYTE B560M Aorus Pro AX mATX -
 
USB 3.2 G2x2 Type-C ASUS ROG Strix B560-F Gaming WIFI ATX -
  ASUS ROG Strix B560-G Gaming WIFI mATX -
  ASUS ROG Strix B560-I Gaming WIFI ITX -
  Biostar B560GTQ mATX -
  GIGABYTE B560 Aorus Pro AX ATX -
  GIGABYTE B560M Aorus Pro AX mATX -
  GIGABYTE B560M Aorus Pro mATX -
  MSI MAG B560 Tomahawk Wi-Fi ATX -
  MSI MAG B560 Torpedo ATX -
  MSI MAG B560M Mortar Wi-Fi mATX -
  MSI MAG B560M Mortar mATX -
 
USB 3.2 G2 Type-C ASRock B560 Steel Legend ATX $130
  ASUS Prime B560M-A AC mATX -
  ASUS Prime B560M-A mATX -
  ASUS TUF Gaming B560-Plus WIFI ATX -
  ASUS TUF Gaming B560M-Plus WIFI mATX -
  ASUS TUF Gaming B560M-Plus mATX -
  GIGABYTE B560M Aorus Elite mATX -
 
BIOS Flashback Button ASUS ROG Strix B560-F Gaming WIFI ATX -
  ASUS ROG Strix B560-G Gaming WIFI mATX -
 
ATX ASRock B560 Steel Legend ATX $130
  ASRock B560 Pro4/ac ATX -
  ASRock B560 Pro4 ATX $110
  ASUS ROG Strix B560-E Gaming WIFI ATX -
  ASUS ROG Strix B560-F Gaming WIFI ATX -
  ASUS ROG Strix B560-A Gaming WIFI ATX $175
  ASUS Prime B560-Plus ATX $120
  ASUS TUF Gaming B560-Pro WIFI ATX -
  Biostar Racing B560GTQ ATX -
  GIGABYTE B560 Aorus Pro AX ATX -
  MSI MAG B560 Tomahawk Wi-Fi ATX -
  MSI MAG B560 Torpedo ATX -
 
Mini-ITX ASRock B560M-ITX/ac ITX $95
  ASUS ROG Strix B560-I Gaming WIFI ITX -
  MSI MPG B560I Gaming Edge Wi-Fi ITX -

As the B560 chipset is considered budget, the vast majority include one of Realtek's budget-friendly HD audio codecs, such as the ALC897. Only one model so far includes one of Realtek's latest ALC4080 HD audio codec (GIGABYTE), with some of the ASUS ROG models, which is using a Realtek S1220A HD audio codec.

Only a minimal selection of modelscomes with anything better than the ALC897.

B560 Motherboard Audio
Codec Boards
Realtek ALC897 Almost Everything, Except The Following
 
Realtek ALC4080 GIGABYTE B560 Aorus Pro AX
 
Realtek S1220A ASUS ROG Strix B560-F Gaming WIFI
  ASUS ROG Strix B560-A Gaming WIFI
  ASUS ROG Strix B560-G Gaming WIFI
  ASUS ROG Strix B560-I Gaming WIFI
  ASUS TUF Gaming Z590-Plus
 
Realtek ALC1220 Biostar B560GTQ

As we receive updates from vendors with more information, we will endeavor to keep this B560 overview updated and as often as possible.

MSI B560M Pro-E
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  • siggidarius - Monday, March 29, 2021 - link

    With pricing like that for both motherboards and cpus, and good availability Intel is becoming a great value option.
    Personally I don't see why I'd choose AMD cpu in 200-350USD bracket with local prices.
  • ballsystemlord - Monday, March 29, 2021 - link

    "Intel great value option" LOL. How the mighty have fallen.
  • m53 - Monday, March 29, 2021 - link

    @ballsystemlord: Or in other words how AMD starts price gouging and becoming more anti-consumer. How the "value brand" is now too expensive for the average customers.

    (not disagreeing with you. Just showing the other side of the reality.)
  • WaltC - Monday, March 29, 2021 - link

    If it wasn't for AMD you might be in one of these Intel "value" motherboards, only you'd be paying 2x-3x as much for it....like you were about 4 years ago, remember? And there's no question that if it wasn't for AMD you'd be paying *huge sums* for ~14nm++++++++++++++++++++ CPUs Intel is selling now for bargain-basement prices *because* of AMD. Don't you realize that if not for AMD you'd be paying more, though the nose, for inferior components? Have you even checked to see that Z590 motherboards are ~$1k and up and can't even provide system-wide PCIe4 bus coverage? Heck, that's more expensive than the most expensive x570 motherboards. Welcome to the real side of reality....;) Without AMD there would be no competition in these markets at all and Intel would be selling the same--likely worse garbage--at stratospheric prices.
  • laduran - Tuesday, March 30, 2021 - link

    Everything you said is provably false
  • Qasar - Tuesday, March 30, 2021 - link

    you sure about that ? i guess you forgot the wonderful <10% gen on gen performance increases we were getting before Zen was released, and the ever increasing prices for that performance ? or the fact that mainstream was stuck on quad core cpus and you NEEDED to get intel HEDT cpus to get anything more then 4 cores ?
  • RanFodar - Tuesday, March 30, 2021 - link

    Tbf what AMD did to competition back then doesn't mean it's an excuse for them to copy Intel's playbook in the past. They can maintain their value position, but even the lowest Ryzen 5000 SKU is a bit overpriced for consumers here in the Philippines. Maybe Intel needs to thank AMD for being in such a position that is desired for consumers.
  • pablo906 - Sunday, April 4, 2021 - link

    Even the 3000 series? I've seen the 3000 series for pretty good prices around the world, the 5000 is supply constrained and demand outstrips supply so there is no reason to lower the price....That's how markets work
  • jabber - Wednesday, March 31, 2021 - link

    I remember not that long ago an AMD 'budget board' would have HDMI/eSATA/Toslink/6 USB ports (some USB3) and decent audio chip etc. and the Intel budget board would give you just VGA/PS2/ serial, a couple of USB2 and a parallel port instead. Terrible.
  • cxtalxg - Wednesday, May 5, 2021 - link

    Such a dumb argument, you do realize than intel had massive generations jumps from core 2 duo, to intel core 1st gen, then second gen. While amds overpriced phenoms flopped. All these companies are the same, lack of competition means lack of advancement

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