ASROCK B860I WiFi ITX LGA1851 Motherboard

ASROCK B860I WiFi ITX LGA1851 is a compact Mini ITX motherboard aimed at mid-range to high-end configurations with the latest Intel Core Ultra processors. Despite its small form factor, the board offers a serious set of features – from a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot for a graphics card to Blazing M.2 PCIe Gen5x4 storage. The built-in Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5G LAN give you the freedom of where and how to use the machine – from a compact gaming build to a stylish HTPC. The combination of DDR5 support and rich USB options makes this board quite flexible for modern systems.

What you get

With an LGA 1851 socket and support for Intel Core Ultra processors, this board is ready for the current generation of Intel CPUs without compromising on form factor. The two slots for DDR5 memory with speeds up to 8933MHz+ (OC) allow for very fast RAM, which helps both gaming and productivity. For storage, you have a Blazing M.2 PCIe Gen5x4 slot directly to the CPU for the fastest NVMe drives and an additional Hyper M.2 PCIe Gen4x4 to the chipset, plus 4 x SATA3 for classic SSD/HDD. The network connectivity is top-notch – 2.5G LAN for low latency and stability, complemented by Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 for peripherals and wireless freedom. Audio is handled by Realtek ALC897 7.1-Channel, so for gaming and multimedia, you are covered directly from the motherboard.

• Socket LGA 1851 with support for Intel Core Ultra processors, so you can step onto Intel's latest platform.
• Compact Mini ITX form factor, suitable for small cases and SFF builds without sacrificing key features.
• Two slots for DDR5 memory with speeds up to 8933MHz+ (OC) and dual-channel mode for high bandwidth and fast system response.
• One PCIe 5.0 x16 slot for a graphics card, ensuring future compatibility and maximum bandwidth for modern GPUs.
• 1 x Blazing M.2 PCIe Gen5x4 and 1 x Hyper M.2 PCIe Gen4x4 slots for NVMe SSDs, plus 4 x SATA3 6.0 Gb/s, so you can combine super-fast NVMe and bulk storage.
• Built-in Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, saving you separate cards and providing modern wireless standards in the compact build.
• Dragon RTL8125BG 2.5 Gigabit LAN (up to 2.5Gb/s) for lower ping and higher speed compared to standard gigabit LAN.
• Rich selection of USB: rear USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C, front USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C, as well as Gen2/Gen1/USB 2.0 ports for modern and older devices.
• Realtek ALC897 7.1-Channel HD Audio for quality sound without the need for a separate sound card for mainstream scenarios.

Who it is suitable for

This motherboard is ideal if you want a compact yet serious gaming or productivity build based on Intel Core Ultra – an SFF case with a powerful graphics card and fast NVMe Gen5 drive. It is also suitable for a living room PC or office machine with an emphasis on fast connectivity and plenty of USB. It is not the optimal choice if you need many RAM slots or numerous PCIe expansion cards – the focus here is on small size and modern standards.

The combination of LGA 1851, PCIe 5.0 x16, Gen5 M.2, Wi-Fi 6E, and 2.5G LAN in a Mini ITX format makes ASROCK B860I WiFi a very sensible base for a compact yet up-to-date Intel system. If you are after a small form factor without cutting important features, this motherboard goes straight onto the consideration list.