The Intel B560 Motherboard Overview: 30+ Budget Models Starting from $75
by Gavin Bonshor on March 29, 2021 7:00 AM ESTASRock B560M Pro4/ac & B560M Pro4
Up next in our overview is a pair of modest micro-ATX models from ASRock, the B560M Pro4/ac, and the B560M Pro4. The only difference between the two models is the ac variant includes an 802.11ac Wi-Fi 5 CNVi. Everything else is built to the same specification and design, including a black and grey patterned PCB, silver heatsinks, as well as an advertised 8-phase power delivery with 50 A power chokes. ASRock does include a small section of RGB LEDs in the bottom-right hand corner of the board.
The ASRock B560M Pro4/ac pictured above
Both the ASRock B560M Pro4/ac and B560M Pro4 include a smaller micro-ATX sized PCB, with two full-length PCIe slots with the top slot operating at PCIe 4.0 x16, and the second slot locked down to PCIe 3.0 x4. ASRock also includes one PCIe 3.0 x1 slot, with the B560M Pro4/ac using an Intel-based Wi-Fi 5 CNVi. In regards to memory support, there are four slots with supported speeds of up to DDR4-4800 and a maximum capacity of up to 128 GB. Storage options consist of dual PCIe M.2 slots with one operating at PCIe 4.0 x4, and the other including support for both PCIe 3.0 x4 and SATA drives. ASRock also includes six SATA ports with two of these featuring straight-angled connectors and four with right-angled connectors, with RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays supported.
The ASRock B560M Pro4/ac rear panel
On the rear panel, both models include four USB 3.2 G1 Type-A and two USB 2.0 ports, with a single HDMI video output and three 3.5 mm audio jacks controlled by a Realtek ALC897 HD audio codec. The B560M Pro4/ac includes a pair of antenna connectors for an unspecified Intel 802.11ac Wi-Fi 5 CNVi, with both models including a single Intel I219-V Gigabit Ethernet controller and a PS/2 combo port.
ASRock has set an MSRP of $105for the ASRock B560M Pro4/ac, although the ASRock B560M Pro4 (without Wi-Fi) is slightly cheaper with an MSRP of $100.
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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 falseQasar - 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 workjabber - 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