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ASRock is back with the B860, lower motherboards designed for Intel Arrow Lake processors. These are lower, but still well-equipped gaming series, just not as rich as motherboards with the Z890 chipset. As a result, we get interesting options at a much lower price, which should be well-balanced for most gamers and users who mix work with entertainment.
In this review, we will present the B860M Steel Legend WiFi, a micro ATX model, which promises high performance and modern features at a reasonable price.
Let’s begin with a long list of specifications and features, and I will describe the most important ones in the new chipset series.
Specifications and Features of the ASRock B860M Steel Legend WiFi
The B860M Steel Legend is a lower, more budget-friendly model for the latest Intel Core Ultra 200 processors, but it’s still better equipped than basic options on the market. It’s still not at the same level as high Z890 motherboards, but the essential features are not so much different.
Like other Steel Legend products, the overall design is light-themed – primarily white and silver with black connectors.
The list of key features suggests multiple improvements in the new generation of more affordable motherboards.
Key Features
- Supports Intel® Core™ Ultra Processors (Series 2) (LGA1851)
- 12+1+1+1+1 Power Phase, 80A SPS for VCore+GT+SA
- 4 x DDR5 DIMMs
Supports Dual Channel, up to 8666+ (OC) - 1 PCIe 5.0 x16
- Graphics Output Options: 1 HDMI, 1 DisplayPort, 1 Thunderbolt™ 4 Type-C
- Realtek ALC1220 7.1 CH HD Audio Codec, Nahimic Audio
- 4 SATA3
1 Blazing M.2 (PCIe Gen5x4)
3 Hyper M.2 (PCIe Gen4x4) - 1 Thunderbolt™ 4 Type-C (Rear)
3 USB 3.2 Gen2 (2 Rear, 1 Front Type-C)
6 USB 3.2 Gen1 (4 Rear, 2 Front)
6 USB 2.0 (2 Rear, 4 Front) - Realtek 2.5G LAN
- 802.11axe Wi-Fi 6E + Bluetooth
- Supports BIOS Flashback, M.2 Bottom Heatsink
Intel 800 Series Chipset Features
The B860 chipset is in the middle regarding features of the Z890 and H810. As usual with the lower chipsets, we can count on fewer PCIe lanes, so fewer PCIe slots or M.2 sockets. The B860 still gives us as many as most users need, with a full speed PCIe 5.0 x16 slot and M.2 PCIe 5.0 x4 socket.
We won’t find many fast USB ports or other top-series controllers, as they would raise the price. However, the B860 has a native Thunderbolt 4 controller, which supports USB-C devices at up to 40Gbps. This significantly differs from an older generation of Intel chipsets and competitive AMD options.
ASRock B860M Steel Legend WiFi Specifications
| CPU Support | – Supports Intel® Core™ Ultra Processors (Series 2) (LGA1851) – Supports Intel® Hybrid Technology – Supports Intel® Turbo Boost Max 3.0 Technology – Supports Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost (TVB) – Supports Intel® Adaptive Boost Technology (ABT) – Integrated NPU for dedicated AI acceleration |
| Chipset | – Intel® B860 |
| Memory | – Dual Channel DDR5 Memory Technology – 4 x DDR5 DIMM Slots – Supports DDR5 non-ECC, un-buffered memory up to 8666+(OC)* – Supports Clocked Unbuffered DIMM (CUDIMM) – Max. capacity of system memory: 256GB – Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) 3.0x * 1DPC 1R Up to 8666+ MHz (OC), 5600 MHz Natively. 1DPC 2R Up to 6800+ MHz (OC), 5600 MHz Natively. 2DPC 1R Up to 6533+ MHz (OC), 4800 MHz Natively. 2DPC 2R Up to 5600+ MHz (OC), 4400 MHz Natively. |
| Onboard Graphics | – Intel® Xe LPG Graphics Architecture – 1 x HDMI 2.1 TMDS/FRL 8G Compatible, supports HDR, HDCP 2.3 and max. resolution up to 4K 120Hz – 1 x DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC (compressed), supports HDCP 2.3 and max. resolution up to 8K 60Hz / 5K 120Hz – 1 x Intel® Thunderbolt™ 4, supports HDCP 2.3 and max. resolution up to 8K 60Hz / 5K 120Hz** * Intel® UHD Graphics Built-in Visuals and the VGA outputs can be supported only with processors which are GPU integrated. ** Supports two 4K displays or one 8K display Only the CPU’s embedded graphics can be displayed through Thunderbolt™ ports. If you want to display to a Thunderbolt™ monitor, please use CPU models with embedded graphics. |
| Audio | – 7.1 CH HD Audio with Content Protection (Realtek ALC1220 Audio Codec) – Impedance Sensing on Rear Out port – Individual PCB Layers for R/L Audio Channel – Nahimic Audio |
| LAN | – 2.5 Gigabit LAN 10/100/1000/2500 Mb/s – Dragon RTL8125BG – Supports Dragon 2.5G LAN Software – Smart Auto Adjust Bandwidth Control – Visual User Friendly UI – Visual Network Usage Statistics – Optimized Default Setting for Game, Browser, and Streaming Modes – User Customized Priority Control |
| Wireless Communications Module | – 802.11axe Wi-Fi 6E Module – Supports IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/axe – Supports Dual-Band 2×2 with extended 6GHz band* support – 2 antennas to support 2 (Transmit) x 2 (Receive) diversity technology – Supports Bluetooth 5.3 – Supports MU-MIMO *The Wi-Fi 6E module is supported by Microsoft Windows® 11 only. There is no driver available for Windows® 10. The availability of the 6GHz band will depend on the different regulation status of each country and region. It will be activated (for supported countries) through Windows® Update and software updates once available. A 6GHz compatible router is required for 6E functionality. |
| Expansion Slots | CPU: – 1 x PCIe 5.0 x16 Slot (PCIE1), supports x16 mode* Chipset: – 1 x M.2 Socket (Key E), supports type 2230 WiFi/BT PCIe WiFi module and Intel® CNVio/CNVio2 (Integrated WiFi/BT) * Supports NVMe SSD as boot disks |
| Storage Interface | CPU: – 1 x Blazing M.2 Socket (M2_1, Key M), supports type 2280 PCIe Gen5x4 (128 Gb/s) mode* Chipset: – 1 x Hyper M.2 Socket (M2_2, Key M), supports type 2280 PCIe Gen4x4 (64 Gb/s) mode* – 1 x Hyper M.2 Socket (M2_3, Key M), supports type 2280 PCIe Gen4x4 (64 Gb/s) mode* – 1 x Hyper M.2 Socket (M2_4, Key M), supports type 2280 PCIe Gen4x4 (64 Gb/s) mode* – 4 x SATA3 6.0 Gb/s Connectors – Supports RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5 and RAID 10 for SATA storage devices * Supports Intel® Volume Management Device (VMD) Supports NVMe SSD as boot disks |
| USB | CPU: – 1 x Thunderbolt™ 4 Type-C (Rear) Chipset: – 1 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C (Front) – 2 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A (Rear) – 6 x USB 3.2 Gen1 (4 Rear, 2 Front) – 6 x USB 2.0 (2 Rear, 4 Front) * All USB ports support ESD Protection |
| Internal I/O Connectors | – 1 x Thermistor Cable Header – 1 x SPI TPM Header – 1 x Power LED and Speaker Header – 1 x RGB LED Header* – 3 x Addressable LED Headers** – 2 x CPU Fan Connector (4-pin) (Smart Fan Speed Control)*** – 4 x Chassis Fan Connectors (4-pin) (Smart Fan Speed Control)*** – 1 x AIO Pump Fan Connector (4-pin) (Smart Fan Speed Control)*** – 1 x 24 pin ATX Power Connector – 2 x 8 pin 12V Power Connectors (Hi-Density Power Connector) – 1 x Front Panel Audio Connector – 2 x USB 2.0 Headers (Support 4 USB 2.0 ports) – 1 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Header (Supports 2 USB 3.2 Gen1 ports) – 1 x Front Panel Type C USB 3.2 Gen2 Header (10 Gb/s) * Supports in total up to 12V/3A, 36W LED Strip ** Support in total up to 5V/3A, 15W LED Strip *** CPU_FAN1 supports the fan power up to 1A (12W). CPU_FAN2, CHA_FAN1~4 and AIO_PUMP support the fan power up to 3A (36W). CPU_FAN2, CHA_FAN1~4 and AIO_PUMP can auto detect if 3-pin or 4-pin fan is in use. |
| Back Panel Connectors | – 2 x Antenna Ports – 1 x HDMI Port – 1 x DisplayPort 1.4 – 1 x Optical SPDIF Out Port – 1 x Thunderbolt™ 4 Type-C Port (40 Gb/s for USB4 protocol; 40Gb/s for Thunderbolt™ protocol)* – 2 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A Ports (10 Gb/s) – 4 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Ports** – 2 x USB 2.0 Ports – 1 x RJ-45 LAN Port – 1 x BIOS Flashback Button – 1 x Line Out Jack (Gold Audio Jack) – 1 x Microphone Input Jack (Gold Audio Jack) * Supports USB PD 3.0 up to 5V@3A (15W) charging ** USB32_34 support Ultra USB Power. |
| H/W Monitoring | Voltage detection Temperature detection Fan speed detection Water cooling flow rate detection Fan fail warning Fan speed control * Whether the fan (pump) speed control function is supported will depend on the fan (pump) you install.Noise detection |
| Software and UEFI | Software – ASRock Motherboard Utility (A-Tuning) – ASRock Dragon 2.5G LAN Software – ASRock Polychrome SYNC* UEFI – ASRock EZ Mode – ASRock Full HD UEFI – ASRock My Favorites in UEFI – ASRock Auto Driver Installer – ASRock Instant Flash *These utilities can be downloaded from ASRock Live Update & APP Shop. |
| Unique Features | Superb Productivity – PCIe Gen5 (Graphics, M.2) – Dual Channel DDR5 – Thunderbolt™ 4 Type-C Port (40 Gb/s) Rock-Solid Durability – 12+1+1+1+1 Power Phase, 80A SPS for VCore+GT+SA with Enlarged Heatsink Armor – Flexible Integrated I/O Shield – 20K Long-lasting Black Caps (high quality and conductive polymer capacitors) Ultrafast Connectivity – 2.5G LAN, 802.11axe WiFi 6E Module EZ Update – BIOS Flashback Button – ASRock Auto Driver Installer EZ Troubleshooter – ASRock Post Status Checker |
| Accessories | – 2 x SATA Data Cables – 2 x ASRock WiFi 2.4/5/6 GHz Antennas – 1 x Thermistor Cable – 1 x Screw for M.2 Socket |
| Certifications | – FCC, CE – ErP/EuP ready (ErP/EuP ready power supply is required) |
| OS Support | – Microsoft Windows® 11 64-bit |
| Form Factor | – Micro ATX Form Factor: 9.6-in x 9.6-in, 24.4 cm x 24.4 cm – 2oz Copper PCB |
Specifications – Source: ASRock
The specifications seem well-balanced for gamers and all other home users. We get a fast M.2 socket and a fast graphics card slot, both PCIe 5.0 standards. Additionally, we get three more PCIe 4.0 M.2 sockets. Most users won’t ever use more than two M.2 SSDs, and additional PCIe cards are rare in modern computers, so the lack of more slots or sockets doesn’t feel like a serious disadvantage.
The B860 Steel Legend supports all Core Ultra 200 series processors. Since it’s the first generation of processors for this socket, we also expect that the next generation series will be supported with a BIOS update. It’s expected, but we don’t know what Intel will do.
The power design is good enough to support the highest models without issues, while CPU overclocking is not available on the B860 chipset, so we won’t need higher voltages. We had no problems with overheating or lack of stability during extended tests. The chipset is a lower-power solution and doesn’t heat up much. The chipset heatsink is very small, which suggests a low-power design.
The motherboard supports all kinds of DDR5 RAM up to 8666MT/s. However, if we wish to use a faster RAM series, we should use two memory modules. In our tests, we couldn’t stabilize more than 8400MT/s Gear 2, so this is what you should expect from this motherboard. The B860M Steel Legend looks nearly identical to the B860M Lightning, but the small differences make the Lightning series run at two higher memory ratios. It can be the Memory OC Shield, which helps to stabilize the signals between RAM and CPU, or maybe something more. Looking at the PCB itself, the Steel Legend lacks only the mentioned Memory OC Shield.
The motherboard has quite large aluminum heatsinks. Only one of the M.2 sockets doesn’t have additional cooling. On the other hand, the PCIe 5.0 M.2 socket has a heatsink for both sides of the SSD. There is no active cooling, but the motherboard has no temperature problems.
We wish to see a newer audio codec, as Realtek ALC1220 has existed for several years. On the other hand, competitive brands use it for their top models, so seeing it in a mid-shelf product is still not bad, especially when the overall audio design is improved with individual PCB layers and separated capacitors.
The motherboard doesn’t have fast USB 3.2 ports, although it has a single Thunderbolt 4 port, which runs with USB devices up to 40Gbps. It covers the needs of most users.
ASRock Steel Legend uses 12+1+1+1+1 power phases, improved power design, and 20K caps, which are listed as one of the top features of all new ASRock motherboards. The overall power design is more than enough for most users, and as I have already mentioned, it shouldn’t cause any issues with all available Core Ultra 200 series processors.
ASRock B860M Steel Legend WiFi Features
| Optimized VRM Design | Exclusive 20K Cap with 1000uF Capacitance The upgraded 20K Black capacitor not only extends the lifespan to 20,000 hours but also increases the capacitance value from 560uF to 1000uF, bringing several benefits: ●Higher Capacitance: Greater charge storage for better support under high loads. 12+1+1+1+1 Power Phase Design Featuring sturdy components and completely smooth power delivery to the CPU. Plus, it offers unmatched overclocking capabilities and enhanced performance with the lowest temperature for advanced gamers as well. SPS (Smart Power Stage) Dr.MOS design features the latest SPS (Smart Power Stage) technology. It’s optimized for monitoring current and temperature of each phase, thus delivering smoother and neater power to the CPU with enhanced performance and OC capability. Hi-Density Power Connector CPU overclocking requires higher current. ASRock Hi-Density Power Connectors are designed to withstand higher currents compared to traditional CPU and ATX power connectors, providing a more stable system and reducing the risk of fire during heavy overclocking. |
| Premium PCB Solution | 2oz Copper PCB |
| DDR5 XMP & EXPO Support | Derived from the “built for stable and reliable” designing concept, ASRock does not compromise on any details. This motherboards is built with high quality materials, enthusiasts are able to enjoy the boost of DDR5 memory overclocking performance by enabling the pre-tested profiles. Make sure the memory modules are Intel® XMP/AMD EXPO™ capable and overclocking can be made so affordable, satisfying and absolutely no sweat at all. * There are certain risks involved with memory overclocking and may affect your system’s stability. Please realize that overclocking should be done at your own risk and expense. EXPO/XMP profile support may vary by different system configuration, memory modules and motherboard models. Please refer to Memory QVL for the completed support list. |
| High Speed M.2 Solution | PCIe Gen5 Blazing M.2 The Blazing M.2 accommodates the latest PCI Express 5.0 standard, performing twice the bandwidth compared to the previous generation. With a breathtaking 128Gb/s transfer speed, it is ready to unleash the full potential of future ultrafast SSDs. |
| DIY Friendly Design | M.2 Heatsink Tolless Design Besides the M.2 SSD toolless design on the motherboard, ASRock up a notch by introducing this industry first M.2 heatsink quick release mechanism on the motherboard. The user friendly toolless design helps installing M.2 SSD super easy & simple. M.2 Bottom Heatsink The M.2 bottom heatsink is able to dissipate heat of the M.2 SSD efficiently through the motherboard PCB, maximize performance while maintaining system stability. |
| Enlarged M.2 Heatsink | XXL M.2 Heatsink The extra large aluminum alloy M.2 heatsink effectively improves heat dissipation to keep those high speed M.2 SSDs as cool as possible, it is able to give better stability while maintaining top performance. Anti-Drop Screw Tired of dropping screws or screws missing inside chassis? |
| Intelligent Cooling Design |
The first thing that catches the eye is the optimized Aluminum Heatsink Design. Heatsinks are crucial for efficient heat dissipation, especially during heavy workloads like gaming or productivity tasks. Motherboard that built with heatsinks can effectively manage thermal performance, hence ensure system stability and durability effortlessly.
ASRock fan headers automatically detect whether fans are running in DC or PWM mode, allowing users to fine-tune the fan curve and achieve quieter operation. ① CPU Fan Connector ② AIO Pump Fan Connector ③ Chassis Fan Connectors Thermistor Header The thermistor cable and thermistor header provide an additional source for temperature monitoring, offering customized thermal management solutions based on workload. Thermal management settings can be easily configured via Fan-Tastic Tuning or UEFI. Fan-Tastic Tuning ASRock A-Tuning Fan-Tastic Tuning function enables users to auto-detect the minimum duty of each fan with a single click. Users can also easily adjust the fan curve via the visualized UI interface, meeting their system’s cooling performance and noise reduction requirements. |
| Wi-Fi 6E 802.11axe | WiFi 6E technology has extended to the whole new 6GHz spectrum band, providing more WiFi capability and giving an even better and faster internet traffic. In addition to deliver higher speeds, the WiFi 6E also enhances the lower latency and supports service levels that are equivalent to 5G networks. |
| Thunderbolt™ 4 Type-C | Thunderbolt™ 4 technology brings speed and versatility to the most advanced USB Type-C, offering a fast and simple level of connection for work or home. It enables lightning-fast data transfer up to 40Gbps and connects external monitors, Thunderbolt™, and USB devices with a single Thunderbolt 4 cable. |
| Dragon 2.5 Gb/s LAN | The intelligent 2.5Gb/s LAN platform is built for maximum networking performance for the demanding requirements of home networking, content creators, online gamers and high-quality streaming media. Boost networking performance up to 2.5X the bandwidth compared to the standard gigabit Ethernet, you’ll enjoy the faster and uncompromised connectivity experience for gaming, file transfers and backups. |
| More than USB Transfer Speed | Provides stable power and better sound experience! Ultra USB Power provides 5V power transformed from +12V power rail, whose voltage drop will be much lower than the +5V from the PSU under heavy loading, and prevents noise from other devices or RGB LED. |
| High Definition Sound Effects | Nahimic Audio Whether you are using headphones, a headset, external or internal speakers, via USB, WiFi, analog output or even HDMI, Nahimic Audio offers you the most engaging listening experience, vibrant and rich with details. Enhance Communication Quality The Powerful algorithms to ensure the best noise-free conversation, giving a constant vocal level no matter the distance from your mic. The Nahimic audio engine dynamically clear the sound and remove interference noise and lower the voice variation. Result is a better comprehension and less fatigue. ●Static Noise Suppression ●Echo Cancellation ●Lateral Sound Cancellation ●Voice Stabilizer Ultimate Gaming Experience ●Sound Tracker ●Works on any devices! |
| POLYCHROME RGB | This motherboard features onboard RGB headers and addressable RGB headers that allow motherboard to be connected to compatible LED devices such as strip, CPU fans, coolers, chassis and so on. Users may also synchronize RGB LED devices across the Polychrome RGB Sync-certified accessories to create their own unique lighting effects. *The addressable RGB LED header supports WS2812B addressable RGB LED strip (5V/Data/GND), with a maximum power rating of 3A (5V), a max of 80 LEDs and length within 2 meters. *The RGB LED header supports standard 5050 RGB LED strip (12V/G/R/B), with a maximum power rating of 3A (12V) and length within 2 meters. |
| SignalRGB | SignalRGB unifies your RGB devices, offering seamless customization, game-reactive effects, macro automation, and system monitoring. The official partnership empowers ASRock motherboards with advanced lighting control, enhances compatibility with a diverse range of RGB devices, and provides greater customization flexibility. |
| EZ Setting | Auto Driver Installer No need to worry about lack of disk drive! Asrock preinstall LAN driver to ensure that you are able to install all drivers needed in an easier way than using SCD. step1 : Install Auto Driver Installerstep2 : Update drivers neededstep3 : Done! BIOS Flashback Get the most convenient BIOS flashing with just a simple click. Users can easily achieve the latest BIOS support with a USB and power supply, No CPU, RAM or other components required. Flexible Integrated I/O Shield Unlike most so called pre-mounted I/O shield that is only decorated with fancy color schemes. We reserve more tolerance space and allow IO shield is adjustable when installing, thus fitting chassis perfectly without any mechanical issue. |
The list of Key Features is also available on ASRock’s website.
Most Steel Legend features are standard for many other ASRock models and don’t need an introduction. All new motherboards have improved power design, easy settings, BIOS flashback, and are DIY friendly. Even if we don’t have a higher budget, we can count on getting many above-standard features with modern ASRock motherboards.
Retail Packaging and Accessories
The motherboard arrived in a retail package. The package design and contents are the same as in stores.
Everything we need for the installation is inside the box, including WiFi antennas, M.2 screws, SATA data cables, thermal sensor cable, a sticker/badge with the ASRock logo, and a quick user’s guide (an extended version of the manual is available on the website).
A Closer Look at the ASRock B860M Steel Legend WiFi
The B860M Steel Legend has a bright design. The PCB is white, while the heatsinks are silver. It resembles the B850M Steel Legend but has a different CPU support.
It could have white or silver slots and connectors to match better white PC builds. Some users may decide on competitive options only because of this slight difference.
The layout feels optimal for a modern micro ATX motherboard. Installing M.2 SSDs or large graphics cards is no problem. The motherboard doesn’t have the EZ-Release known from higher models, but it could be helpful. At least ASRock decided to design the M.2 heatsink so that we can push the slot release easily.
I wish to see the clear CMOS button on the motherboard’s back, but it’s unavailable on most motherboards nowadays. On the back, we can find the BIOS Flashback button next to DisplayPort, HDMI, WiFi antenna headers, 2.5Gbps LAN, 7.1 audio, TB4/USB-C and multiple USB ports.
The motherboard has seven fan headers, which can be controlled in the BIOS or ASRock software.
The B860M Steel Legend uses large heatsinks and high-performance thermal pads, so it handles everything without fans. Even though the motherboard has a good design and uses high-quality components, it’s not designed for the most demanding users. The chipset additionally limits overclocking, so for overclockers and computer enthusiasts, I recommend Z890 series motherboards. Those searching for a balanced option for daily work and gaming should still be satisfied with the B860 series. The B860M Steel Legend is clearly set for high performance and stability but has limited features that may raise the price.
Below are additional close-ups of the motherboard ICs. There are no surprises. However, it’s worth mentioning that the controller set looks pretty good for a mid-series motherboard.
UEFI BIOS and Software
BIOS/UEFI
The new motherboard series BIOS/UEFI is similar to the last generation, and it’s still user-friendly. The B860M Steel Legend BIOS is kept in bright colors to match the motherboard design. The motherboard arrived with the 1.12 BIOS version, but before we started tests, there was a 1.18.AS01 BIOS, which we used for the review. Even though it’s a beta version, we haven’t noticed any stability issues. The main difference is the microcode as the 1.12 uses 0x113, while the 1.18 uses 0x116. Because of that, we can also see differences between motherboards released recently and a few weeks ago.
The BIOS has two modes: an easy mode for all those who are okay with basic settings and an advanced mode for those who like to adjust everything or need specific settings for their work.
Easy Mode
Advanced Mode – Main
Advanced Mode – OC Tweaker
Advanced Mode – Advanced
Tool
H/W Monitor
Security
Boot
Exit
ASRock Software
ASRock adds its software, which includes RGB adjustment, fan control, overclocking and diagnostic options, and software/firmware updates. We wish to see it as one application, but sadly, it’s only available for three separate applications.
The RGB worked with the most popular brands, like G.Skill and Kingston. The less popular Acer Predator also worked fine.
Fan control works without issues and can be easily managed by the software.
Most overclocking options, like the CPU ratio, won’t require a PC’s restart, which is rare in other motherboard brands.
With the new series of motherboards, ASRock also introduced SignalRGB. It’s an illumination control software that works with the most popular device brands, including PCs, monitors, and other peripherals.
If we don’t want to browse the web or the ASRock website, the Live Update & App Shop application will find software and updates compatible with our motherboard.
Test Setup and Performance of the ASRock B860M Steel Legend WiFi
Test System Components | |
| Motherboards | ASRock B860M Steel Legend WiFi / Core Ultra 7 265K ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi / Ryzen 9 7950X ASRock Z890 Taichi OCF / Core Ultra 7 265K ASRock X870E Taichi / Ryzen 9 7950X ASRock X870 Riptide / Ryzen 9 7950X Biostar X870E Valkyrie / Ryzen 7950X Gigabyte Z890 AORUS Master / Core Ultra 7 265K Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master / Ryzen 9 7950X ASUS Crosshair X670E Gene / Ryzen 9 7950X Gigabyte X570 Ultra / Ryzen 9 5900X MSI Z790 Ace MAX / Core i9 14900K |
| CPUs | AMD Ryzen 9 7950X AMD Ryzen 9 5900X Intel Core Ultra 7 265K Intel Core i9 14900K |
| CPU Cooler | Arctic Cooling Freezer III 280 RGB |
| Memory | DDR5: Kingston Renegade RGB 2x48GB@DDR5-6400 CL32@XMP / Hynix M-die DDR4: Acer Predator 2x8GB DDR4-3600 CL14@XMP / Samsung B-die |
| SSD | Acer Predator GM7000 2TB NVMe SSD (OS + Applications), Crucial T705 2TB NVMe SSD for CrystalDiskMark |
| Power Supply | FSP Hydro PTM Pro 1200W 80+ Platinum PSU |
| Video Card | Colorful RTX4080 Advanced OC 16GB |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Pro x64 |
CPU and Memory Performance
| AIDA64 Cache and Memory Benchmark – Raw Data | ||||
| Motherboard / CPU | Read | Write | Copy | Latency |
| ASRock B860M Steel Legend / CU7 265K | 99119 | 90486 | 94505 | 95.1 |
| ASRock B850M Steel Legend / R9 7950X | 78124 | 79987 | 70898 | 85.2 |
| ASRock Z890 Taichi OCF / CU7 265K | 101054 | 94556 | 99164 | 80.1 |
| AORUS Z890 Master / CU7 265K | 100031 | 94112 | 98060 | 82.5 |
| ASRock X870E Taichi / R9 7950X | 82461 | 86879 | 76242 | 72.4 |
| ASRock X870 Riptide / R9 7950X | 81124 | 86045 | 75879 | 74.9 |
| Biostar X870E Valkyrie / R9 7950X | 79984 | 84872 | 73884 | 76.4 |
| AORUS B650E Master / R9 7950X | 88054 | 93948 | 80708 | 60.1 |
| CROSSHAIR X670E GENE / R9 7950X | 88328 | 92486 | 80924 | 64.2 |
| AORUS X570 Ultra / R9 5900X | 54136 | 53259 | 48805 | 60.2 |
| MSI Z790 Ace MAX / i9 14900K | 101373 | 100357 | 101427 | 65.2 |
All motherboards were tested with the same Kingston FURY Renegade 6400MT/s CL32 memory kit equipped with the most common Hynix M-die chips. Due to the microcode, there are significant differences between B860 and Z890 motherboards. The Z890 motherboards were tested earlier, while the latest 0x116 microcode has been available for about two weeks. If we use the same microcode, all B860 and Z890 motherboards are supposed to have results that are close to each other.
Even though the memory bandwidth is pretty good, the new Intel generation still has problems with latency, which is around 95ns for the test setup. It’s a typical result regardless of the motherboard brand or series.
| AIDA64 CPU Benchmark – Raw Data | ||||
| Motherboard / CPU | Photo | Zlib | AES | SHA3 |
| ASRock B860M Steel Legend / CU7 265K | 66901 | 1951.2 | 218415 | 9182 |
| ASRock B850M Steel Legend / R9 7950X | 53126 | 2491.4 | 384156 | 11102 |
| ASRock Z890 Taichi OCF / CU7 265K | 65524 | 1990.1 | 218158 | 9062 |
| AORUS Z890 Master / CU7 265K | 65436 | 1980.2 | 218166 | 9050 |
| ASRock X870E Taichi / R9 7950X | 52971 | 2485.6 | 386248 | 11246 |
| ASRock X870 Riptide / R9 7950X | 53244 | 2474.6 | 383448 | 11245 |
| Biostar X870E Valkyrie / R9 7950X | 52789 | 2452.8 | 381877 | 11098 |
| AORUS B650E Master / R9 7950X | 54247 | 2458.5 | 384373 | 11136 |
| CROSSHAIR X670E GENE / R9 7950X | 53242 | 2471.2 | 383479 | 10805 |
| AORUS X570 Ultra / R9 5900X | 20822 | 1342.9 | 210463 | 5296 |
| MSI Z790 Ace MAX / i9 14900K | 65661 | 2344.8 | 286739 | 8265 |
AIDA64 CPU tests show that the B860M Steel Legend with the latest BIOS is even faster than Z890 motherboards.
| AIDA64 FPU Benchmark – Raw Data | ||||
| Motherboard / CPU | Julia | Mandel | SinJulia | FP64 RT |
| ASRock B860M Steel Legend / CU7 265K | 201558 | 107314 | 12744 | 21716 |
| ASRock B850M Steel Legend / R9 7950X | 246897 | 130245 | 33532 | 34014 |
| ASRock Z890 Taichi OCF / CU7 265K | 178912 | 84074 | 12847 | 15824 |
| AORUS Z890 Master / CU7 265K | 178901 | 84019 | 12742 | 15782 |
| ASRock X870E Taichi / R9 7950X | 258724 | 138487 | 33758 | 34278 |
| ASRock X870 Riptide / R9 7950X | 256846 | 139112 | 33688 | 34316 |
| Biostar X870E Valkyrie / R9 7950X | 257112 | 137184 | 33512 | 34088 |
| AORUS B650E Master / R9 7950X | 263030 | 139873 | 33643 | 34141 |
| CROSSHAIR X670E GENE / R9 7950X | 256027 | 130170 | 33257 | 33775 |
| AORUS X570 Ultra / R9 5900X | 155039 | 85157 | 19566 | 12843 |
| MSI Z790 Ace MAX / i9 14900K | 168473 | 84124 | 19493 | 18234 |
Our AIDA64 FPU tests performed on the B860M Steel Legend also give us better results than on previously tested Z890 motherboards. As I mentioned, the results shouldn’t be far from each other if we used the same microcode version on all those motherboards. It still confirms that the B860M Steel Legend performs well.
| Cinebench R23, POVRay, 7Zip – Raw Data | ||||
| Motherboard / CPU | R23 (S) | R23 (M) | POV-Ray | 7Zip |
| ASRock B860M Steel Legend / CU7 265K | 2298 | 35864 | 270328 | 154.22 |
| ASRock B850M Steel Legend / R9 7950X | 1989 | 38002 | 271648 | 202.629 |
| ASRock Z890 Taichi OCF / CU7 265K | 2174 | 35768 | 276842 | 158.224 |
| AORUS Z890 Master / CU7 265K | 2175 | 35758 | 276523 | 156.752 |
| ASRock X870E Taichi / R9 7950X | 2016 | 38852 | 282146 | 216.48 |
| ASRock X870 Riptide / R9 7950X | 1989 | 38684 | 274164 | 214.45 |
| Biostar X870E Valkyrie / R9 7950X | 1948 | 38142 | 271879 | 212.12 |
| AORUS B650E Master / R9 7950X | 2004 | 38384 | 267130.4 | 202.382 |
| CROSSHAIR X670E GENE / R9 7950X | 2002 | 38340 | 279272.7 | 219.22 |
| AORUS X570 Ultra / R9 5900X | 1598 | 20983 | 288281.5 | 117.115 |
| MSI Z790 Ace MAX / i9 14900K | 2179 | 36600 | 228088.1 | 213.144 |
The results of additional tests show barely any differences, except for the Cinebench R23 single-core test, which shows an improvement of around 6% compared to earlier tested Z890 motherboards.
| PCMark 10 Applications – Raw Data | ||||
| Motherboard / CPU | Word | Excel | PowerPoint | Edge |
| ASRock B860M Steel Legend / CU7 265K | 11063 | 35643 | 17480 | 17475 |
| ASRock B850M Steel Legend / R9 7950X | 10561 | 33140 | 17293 | 16118 |
| ASRock Z890 Taichi OCF / CU7 265K | 8516 | 36568 | 15987 | 15918 |
| AORUS Z890 Master / CU7 265K | 8460 | 36427 | 15846 | 15942 |
| ASRock X870E Taichi / R9 7950X | 11046 | 37816 | 17422 | 16312 |
| ASRock X870 Riptide / R9 7950X | 10848 | 37289 | 17404 | 16112 |
| Biostar X870E Valkyrie / R9 7950X | 10546 | 37384 | 17189 | 16080 |
| AORUS B650E Master / R9 7950X | 10924 | 37694 | 17398 | 16197 |
| CROSSHAIR X670E GENE / R9 7950X | 10914 | 37712 | 17402 | 16194 |
| AORUS X570 Ultra / R9 5900X | 11180 | 31685 | 17908 | 12932 |
| MSI Z790 Ace MAX / i9 14900K | 9618 | 38017 | 18412 | 16357 |
The B860M Steel Legend also performs well in the PCMark 10 Applications benchmark. This is especially evident in the Word test, which gives an over 24% better score.
Gaming Performance
Gaming benchmarks show similar results on all Intel B860 and Z890 motherboards. There are some exceptions, like Far Cry 6, where the B860M Steel Legend gained a few FPS lower result than the Z890 motherboards.
Used processors significantly affect popular games at lower display resolutions, while the motherboard choice doesn’t matter much. The Steel Legend performs well compared to much more expensive models. As we can see, the BIOS also affects performance, and Intel still hasn’t fixed all the performance issues. We expect the upcoming updates to bring the final improvements.
Storage Performance
M.2 SSD
The M.2 performance has been tested using the Crucial T705 2TB NVMe PCIe 5.0 x4 SSD. The maximum bandwidth is around 12.6GB/s, which is as high as expected and about as high as that of high Z890 motherboard models.
USB
The B860M Steel Legend has a Thunderbolt 4 port with tunneling, so we can use a USB SSD to check its speed. Our results are about as high as those on other motherboards with Thunderbolt 4. If we used a faster SSD, the result would probably be better. It still confirms that the port works well.
Network Performance
The B860M Steel Legend uses Realtek Dragon 2.5Gbps LAN, which performs as expected. Since reaching or passing the maximum throughput is impossible, around 2394Mbps looks like an excellent result. We also had no problems with the connection stability during longer work.
The motherboard also has a WiFi 6E module, which performs without issues. However, our test environment couldn’t test it right because of the area’s thick walls and many networks. We could still keep low access time and about 950Mbps bandwidth on a 1Gbps internet connection.
Power Consumption
Our power consumption tests suggest this motherboard uses slightly less power than Z890. This is mainly because it has fewer controllers and a simpler chipset design. The CPU and GPU are affecting the power draw the most.
Overclocking with the ASRock B860M Steel Legend WiFi
The chipset limits the ASRock B860M Steel Legend’s overclocking. Intel decided to lock CPU overclocking while still letting us overclock RAM.
The motherboard had no problems with Gear 2 mode up to 8400MT/s and Gear 4 up to 8733MT/s. We couldn’t make it work at 8800MT/s, but 8400MT/s Gear 2 is not much slower in games and all other applications, so it shouldn’t be a problem for most users. Those who expect the best results should pick one of the Z890 motherboards, and the best is if they have two memory slots, which overclock significantly better.
The B860M Steel Legend performs well without overclocking, so it’s not a problem if we can’t set a higher CPU frequency. We can still manage CPU ratios up to the maximum processor’s ratio, which in the case of our Core Ultra 7 265K is x55, or 5500MHz. Most voltage and memory timing options are the same as on higher series motherboards, so we still have plenty of settings if we wish to adjust anything.
Conclusion
The B860M Steel Legend is about the same motherboard as the previously tested B850M Steel Legend, but this time, it supports the latest Intel processors. Both motherboards are the same, with one difference, which is important for some users—the B860M Steel Legend supports Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4 devices.
The motherboard has multiple RGB headers and a backlight under the M.2 heatsink. This is enough for most users, although some would probably like an additional backlight for the I/O cover. ASRock motherboards are fully compatible with most RGB devices, such as fans, LED strips, water cooling components, RAM modules, etc. There was no problem with the compatibility of our devices.
We had no problems with compatibility or stability of any devices. All tests passed without issues, which proves that the motherboard is well-designed and prepared for end users. This is very important as we have recently seen that many products of various brands have design flaws.
The CPU overclocking is not available, but we can still overclock RAM. We had no problems with memory kits between 6400MT/s and 8400MT/s. Everything that matches the specifications should work.
The B860M Steel Legend costs about $179.99 in the Amazon online store. This price is lower than some competitive micro ATX motherboards with the B860 chipset, so we can say it’s pretty low overall for what we get. It’s also about the same as the B850M Steel Legend WiFi for AMD processors, so either way we pick, it should cost us about as much.
The ASRock B860M Steel Legend WiFi is an inexpensive high-quality motherboard that has received our recommendation!
Click the stamp for an explanation of what this means.
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