Table of Contents
Today we have one more ASRock motherboard with the B860 chipset. This time, it’s the B860I Lightning WiFi, which is mini ITX-size. The motherboard is fully packed with gaming features, while the lower chipset promises high performance at a lower price. The motherboard supports all the latest Intel processors and high-speed CUDIMM RAM, but you must read our review to find out how much it offers.
Let’s begin with a long list of specifications and features, and I will describe those that are most important or refreshed in the new chipset series.
Specifications and Features of the ASRock Phantom Gaming B860I Lightning WiFi
The Lightning is not the highest ASRock motherboard series, but it’s designed to deliver top performance at a reasonable price. This is evident mainly from the motherboard design, the controllers used, and the additional features. It still has an eye-catching and high-quality design.
The list of key features suggests multiple improvements in the new generation of more affordable motherboards. Below are the key features of the B860I Lightning.
Key Features
- Supports Intel® Core™ Ultra Processors (Series 2) (LGA1851)
- 10+1+1+1+1 Power Phase, 110A SPS for VCore+GT+SA
- 2 x DDR5 DIMMs
Supports Dual Channel, up to 9333+ (OC) - 1 PCIe 5.0 x16
- Graphics Output Options: 1 HDMI, 1 Thunderbolt™ 4 Type-C
- Realtek ALC1220 7.1 CH HD Audio Codec, Nahimic Audio
- 3 SATA3
1 Blazing M.2 (PCIe Gen5x4)
1 Hyper M.2 (PCIe Gen4x4) - 1 Thunderbolt™ 4 Type-C (Rear)
1 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C (Front)
2 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A (Rear)
6 USB 3.2 Gen1 (4 Rear, 2 Front)
3 USB 2.0 (1 Rear, 2 Front) - Realtek 2.5G LAN
- 802.11axe Wi-Fi 6E + Bluetooth
- Supports BIOS Flashback, Memory OC Shield
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 native Thunderbolt 4 support, which supports USB-C devices at up to 40Gbps. This significantly differs from an older generation of Intel chipsets and competitive AMD options.
ASRock Phantom Gaming B860I Lightning 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 – 2 x DDR5 DIMM Slots – Supports DDR5 non-ECC, un-buffered memory up to 9333+(OC)* – Supports Clocked Unbuffered DIMM (CUDIMM) – Max. capacity of system memory: 128GB** – Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) 3.0x * 1DPC 1R Up to 9333+ MHz (OC), 6400 MHz Natively. 1DPC 2R Up to 6800+ MHz (OC), 6400 MHz Natively. **Due to the operating system limitation, the actual memory size may be less than 4GB for the reservation for system usage under Windows® 32-bit OS. For Windows® 64-bit OS with 64-bit CPU, there is no such limitation. |
| 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 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 Phantom Gaming 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 160MHz 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* – 3 x SATA3 6.0 Gb/s Connectors – Supports RAID 0, RAID 1, and RAID 5 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) – 3 x USB 2.0 (1 Rear, 2 Front) * All USB ports support ESD Protection |
| Internal I/O Connectors | – 1 x Thermistor Cable Header – 2 x Addressable LED Headers* – 1 x CPU Fan Connector (4-pin) (Smart Fan Speed Control)** – 1 x Chassis Fan Connector (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 – 1 x 8 pin 12V Power Connector (Hi-Density Power Connector) – 1 x Front Panel Audio Connector – 1 x USB 2.0 Header (Supports 2 USB 2.0 ports) – 1 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Headers (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 5V/3A, 15W LED Strip ** CPU_FAN and CHA_FAN1 support the fan power up to 1A (12W). *** AIO_PUMP supports the fan power up to 3A (36W). 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 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 – 4 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Ports – 1 x USB 2.0 Port – 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 |
| Accessories | – 2 x SATA Data Cables – 2 x ASRock WiFi 2.4/5/6 GHz Antennas – 1 x Thermistor Cable – 2 x Screws for M.2 Sockets |
| Software and UEFI | Software – ASRock Motherboard Utility (Phantom Gaming Tuning) – ASRock Phantom Gaming 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 – 10+1+1+1+1 Power Phase, 110A SPS for VCore with Enlarged Heatsink Armor – Memory OC Shield – Flexible Integrated I/O Shield – 20K Long-lasting Black Caps (high quality and conductive polymer capacitors) Ultrafast Gaming – 2.5G LAN, 802.11axe WiFi 6E Module EZ Update – BIOS Flashback Button – ASRock Auto Driver Installer EZ Troubleshooter – ASRock Post Status Checker |
| Certifications | – FCC, CE – ErP/EuP ready (ErP/EuP ready power supply is required) |
| OS Support | – Microsoft Windows® 11 64-bit |
| Form Factor | – Mini-ITX Form Factor: 6.7-in x 6.7-in, 17.0 cm x 17.0 cm – 10 Layer PCB |
Specifications – Source: ASRock
The B860I Lightning specifications seem a bit better than those of micro ATX motherboards. We have fewer M.2 sockets, but RAM support is better. Everything else gives a similar experience. The motherboard supports all Core Ultra 200 series processors, the same as the most expensive Z890 models. Even though it’s mini ITX size, we don’t feel anything is missing.
The motherboard supports all kinds of DDR5 RAM up to 9333+MT/s. However, Gear 2 mode works up to 8800MT/s and is the fastest option. The B860I Lightning supports the highest RAM frequencies of all B860 motherboards and is also not far from motherboards with the Z890 chipset.
The motherboard has large aluminum heatsinks and a heatpipe connecting the VRM heatsinks. The VRM part also has a small fan to improve cooling, although it doesn’t seem to be required. The fan can be controlled in the BIOS, but it is quiet in automatic settings.
The front M.2 socket, PCIe 5.0 x4, has double-sided heatsinks for the M.2 SSD, while the chipset shares the bottom heatsink. Even though the chipset doesn’t heat up much, it still limits the cooling potential of the heatsink for the M.2 SSD. Additionally, the top heatsink isn’t really large. We could see the same cooling in the ASRock Z890I Nova, where the most demanding PCIe 5.0 x4 SSDs also slightly throttle under load.
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’s equipped with a Thunderbolt 4, USB-C port. It covers most needs, but seeing two fast USB ports would be better.
ASRock Steel Legend uses 12+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 Intel processors.
ASRock Phantom Gaming B860I Lightning 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. 10+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 | 10 Layer PCB The 10 Layer PCB provides stable signal traces and power shapes delivering lower temperature and higher energy efficiency for memory overclocking! Thus, it’s able to support the latest memory modules with most extreme memory performance! |
| 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. ASRock’s exclusive Memory OC Shield is a patented feature engineered to reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI) that could affect memory overclocking. By shielding memory modules from EMI noise and optimizing the layout, the Memory OC Shield enhances stability and reliability during high-frequency operations, enabling users to push their systems to the maximum potential. * 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. Hyper M.2 Gen4 x4 Supports PCI Express 4.0 M.2 SSDs, it is capable of perform twice the speed compared to previous 3rd generation, giving a lightning fast data transferring experience. |
| DIY Friendly Design | Graphics Card Lite Release Equipped with an enlarged latch for easy pressing, simplifying both the installation and removal of graphics cards.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. |
| 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. |
| Phantom Gaming 2.5 Gb/s LAN | The intelligent Phantom Gaming 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. Automatically detects and accelerates game traffic ahead of other network traffic for smoother, stutter-free in-game performance and the competitive edge. |
| 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 Lightning features are standard for many other ASRock models and don’t need an introduction. All new motherboards have improved power design, easy settings, and 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.
The box is relatively small and has two levels – on the top is the motherboard, while under it, are all the accessories and manuals.
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 Phantom Gaming logo, cable stripes, and a quick user’s guide (an extended version of the manual is available on the website).
A Closer Look at the ASRock Phantom Gaming B860I Lightning WiFi
Like all Phantom Gaming products, the B860I Lightning has a dark theme, mainly black, with a colorful I/O cover with the PG logo. The PCB and heatsinks are black. Everything looks high-end and reminds of top ASRock models.
The layout feels optimal for a mini ITX motherboard. Installing M.2 SSDs or large graphics cards is no problem. The motherboard doesn’t have the EZ-Release known from higher models, so removing a large graphics card in a tight ITX case can cause some issues.
As in other B860 models, the back of the motherboard does not have a clear CMOS. However, we can see the BIOS Flashback button next to DisplayPort, HDMI, WiFi antenna headers, 2.5Gbps LAN, 7.1 audio, a single Thunderbolt 4 USB Type-C, and multiple USB ports.
The motherboard has three fan headers, which can be controlled in the BIOS or ASRock software.
The B860I Lightning uses large heatsinks and high-performance thermal pads, but the manufacturer still used a small fan to help with the VRM cooling. Since the motherboard uses the B860 chipset, it’s not dedicated to the most demanding users, but will still satisfy the needs of most gamers or enthusiasts. If we don’t need the CPU overclocking and RAM over 9000MT/s, then the general experience won’t be very far from the Z890I Nova, while we can save some money going with the B860I Lightning.
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 B860I Lightning BIOS is kept in dark colors to match the motherboard design. The motherboard arrived with the 1.12 BIOS version, but before we started tests, there was a 1.13.AS01 BIOS, which we used for the review. Even though it’s a beta version, we haven’t noticed any stability issues. The most significant difference is that the latest BIOS uses a 0x116 microcode, which highly affects the performance in some tests. You will see that in our test results.
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 Phantom Gaming B860I Lightning WiFi
Test System Components | |
| Motherboards | ASRock B860I Lightning WiFi / Core Ultra 7 265K ASRock BB850M Steel Legend 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 B860I Lightning / CU7 265K | 99185 | 90475 | 94345 | 94.8 |
| 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. The new Intel processors still have a problem with memory latency, which affects general game performance. On the other hand, AMD’s memory bandwidth is much higher. The B860I Lightning performs about as well as Z890 motherboards.
It is worth mentioning that Z890 motherboards were tested with the 0x113 or 0x114 microcodes, while B860 was tested with the latest 0x116 version. It affects the performance in some tests. If we used the same microcode, the results would be similar.
| AIDA64 CPU Benchmark – Raw Data | ||||
| Motherboard / CPU | Photo | Zlib | AES | SHA3 |
| ASRock B860I Lightning / CU7 265K | 65844 | 1955.5 | 216358 | 8999 |
| 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 B860I Lightning performs as well as expected. The Zlib tests give us significantly better results due to the new microcode mentioned, while all other tests are the same as those on the Z890 motherboards.
| AIDA64 FPU Benchmark – Raw Data | ||||
| Motherboard / CPU | Julia | Mandel | SinJulia | FP64 RT |
| ASRock B860I Lightning / CU7 265K | 197149 | 102644 | 12638 | 20084 |
| 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 also show improvements on the B860I Lightning side.
| Cinebench R23, POVRay, 7Zip – Raw Data | ||||
| Motherboard / CPU | R23 (S) | R23 (M) | POV-Ray | 7Zip |
| ASRock B860I Lightning / CU7 265K | 2296 | 35998 | 268438 | 158.24 |
| 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 Cinebench R23 single-core, where we can see about 6% better performance than on previously tested Z890 motherboards.
| PCMark 10 Applications – Raw Data | ||||
| Motherboard / CPU | Word | Excel | PowerPoint | Edge |
| ASRock B860I Lightning / CU7 265K | 12101 | 36779 | 17954 | 17789 |
| 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 B860I Lightning also performs well in the PCMark 10 Applications benchmark, achieving the best scores in Word and Edge tests.
Gaming Performance
Gaming benchmarks show slightly worse results than those on Z890 motherboards. As I mentioned earlier in this review, this can be related to worse latency in the new microcode. Most tests still look similar on all Intel 800 series motherboards, and the overall performance is pretty good.
Used processors significantly affect popular games at lower display resolutions, while the motherboard choice doesn’t matter much. The Lightning performs well compared to more expensive models, so I’m sure any gamer will be satisfied.
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 12.5GB/s, which is as high as expected and about as high as that of high Z890 motherboard models.
USB
The B860I Lightning doesn’t support fast USB 3.2 ports, but it is equipped with a Thunderbolt 4 with USB tunneling, so we can use the fastest USB devices with maximum bandwidth, which is not much worse than on the native USB 4 controllers. Our results with a USB SSD are as high as expected.
Network Performance
The B860 Lightning uses Realtek Dragon 2.5Gbps LAN, which performs as expected. Since reaching or passing the maximum throughput is impossible, around 2385Mbps 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 a lower power consumption than on higher series motherboards due to simpler design and lower power components. The CPU and GPU affect the power draw the most, so the motherboard choice doesn’t affect it much.
Overclocking with the ASRock Phantom Gaming B860I Lightning WiFi
Like all B860 motherboards, the B860I Lightning also has a limited CPU overclocking. We can set all cores to the maximum turbo boost values of our processor, so for the Core Ultra 7 265K it will be 5500MHz. However, we can’t set anything higher. We can overclock RAM.
The motherboard supports all kinds of DDR5 UDIMM and CUDIMM up to 9333MT/s. The best performance-wise setting is 8800MT/s Gear 2. We couldn’t set 9000MT/s Gear 2. It’s possible on higher Z890 motherboards like ASRock Taichi series.
The lack of CPU overclocking isn’t a big problem since the new Intel generation doesn’t overclock well. On Z890 motherboards and the Core Ultra 7 265K processor, we could set a frequency of 100MHz higher, which we lose on B860 chipsets. I’m sure many users won’t see it as an issue.
The B860I Lightning performs well without overclocking, delivering outstanding results at a reasonable price.
Conclusion
The B860I Lightning is a very interesting option for all those who want to build a compact gaming PC with the latest Intel processors.
The motherboard performs well, and we had no problems with compatibility or stability during all our tests. There were no problems with overheating and all the listed features worked without issues. The B860I Lightning has a robust power design for the highest processors and other devices.
The motherboard has two ARGB headers but no RGB backlight. We rarely see this in mini ITX motherboards, as using the space for cooling is better. 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.
The chipset limits CPU overclocking, but we had no problems with RAM overclocking. Fast CUDIMM modules are also supported, up to 9333MT/s, so even higher than on some of the Z890 motherboards.
The B860I Lightning costs about $209 in the Newegg online store. At the time of writing this review, it includes a free Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition game. It’s a pretty good deal since the game is worth over $50.
The Phantom Gaming B860I Lightning WiFi is one more well-designed and reasonably-priced ASRock motherboard that receives our recommendation!
Click the stamp for an explanation of what this means.
Related Articles:
- Biostar Z690A Valkyrie (DDR4) Motherboard Review
- ASRock Z890 Taichi OCF Motherboard Review ASRock
- Phantom Gaming Z890I NOVA WiFi Motherboard Review
- Gigabyte Z890 AORUS Master Motherboard Review
- Gigabyte Z790 AORUS Elite AX Motherboard Review
- Gigabyte X870E AORUS PRO ICE Motherboard Review
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