GIGABYTE B860M AORUS Elite WIFI6E
GIGABYTE B860M AORUS Elite WIFI6E Specifications Review
GIGABYTE B860M AORUS Elite WIFI6E by GIGABYTE is a Micro-ATX form factor motherboard based on the mid-range B860M chipset and LGA 1851 socket, providing a balanced set of features and connectivity. It is designed to support DDR5 memory, with 4 slots, a maximum capacity of 256 GB, and an overclocking speed of up to 9200 MHz.
VRM Quality
The GIGABYTE B860M AORUS Elite WIFI6E comes with an entry-level VRM setup, delivering 60 A across 12 phases. Works best with CPUs in the ~65–105 W TDP range. Can technically run higher-TDP processors at stock, but will likely experience thermal throttling under sustained heavy loads. Suited for budget gaming, office PCs, and home builds without heavy CPU demands.
See the VRM Appropriate CPU Specification Table at the bottom of this page for recommended CPU options.
Expansion and Storage Overview
The GIGABYTE B860M AORUS Elite WIFI6E offers a well-equipped expansion and storage configuration with PCIe 5.0 support, meaning it uses PCI Express 5.0, the newest standard offering extremely high bandwidth for next-generation graphics cards and ultra-fast NVMe storage. It also includes 2 x16 slots . These PCIe slots are used to connect expansion cards — with the x16 slots typically reserved for graphics cards, while x8, x4, and x1 slots are used for devices like capture cards, sound cards, or network adapters.
For storage, this motherboard provides 3 M.2 slots (All M.2 slots support PCIe x4/x2 modes.) and 4 SATA ports. M.2 slots are high-speed connectors for modern NVMe SSDs, which are much faster than older storage, while SATA ports are used for traditional hard drives and 2.5-inch SSDs. Together, they allow you to mix fast primary storage with larger, more affordable drives for bulk data.
Connectivity Overview
This motherboard offers solid and reliable connectivity features, including wireless networking with the Wi-Fi 6E standard, and wired Realtek® 2.5GbE LAN chip (2.5 Gbps/1 Gbps/100 Mbps) ethernet supporting speeds up to 2500 Gbps. Bluetooth 5.3 is available for wireless accessories. It also provides a good selection of modern USB ports to cover most connectivity needs. For exact USB specifications, please see the detailed table.
For video output, this motherboard includes HDMI version 2.1 , DisplayPort version 2.1 , USB-C DisplayPort . These video outputs are intended for integrated graphics and will only function if your CPU includes integrated GPU capabilities.
Audio Quality
The motherboard includes a standard audio chipset (Realtek® ALC892/ALC897) that covers basic needs for casual listening. While adequate for everyday use with mainstream headphones or desktop speakers, discerning users may want to add a USB DAC or sound card for improved fidelity, especially for music production or high-end headphones. Additional features include optical S/PDIF output for clean digital audio.
Overall Quality and Value
GIGABYTE B860M AORUS Elite WIFI6E is a dependable choice with a respectable overall quality score of 61.80. It provides all the essential features and stable performance expected in a mainstream system, covering typical use cases without unnecessary extras.
This motherboard offers an impressive 69.1% performance-to-price ratio, delivering excellent value by combining strong performance with reasonable cost, making it a smart choice for budget-conscious buyers who don’t want to sacrifice quality.
General Information
| Manufacturer | GIGABYTE |
|---|---|
| Motherboard Name | GIGABYTE B860M AORUS Elite WIFI6E |
| Current Price Amazon | $170 |
| Amazon Price Updated | 9 hours, 8 minutes ago. |
| Motherboard Available | True |
| Chipset / Socket | B860M / LGA 1851 |
| Form Factor | Micro-ATX |
VRM Configuration
| CPU Power Phases (Amps) | 12 (60 A) |
|---|---|
| Power Design | 12+1+2 |
Memory Information
| Type / Slots | DDR5 / 4 slots |
|---|---|
| Max Capacity / Max OC | 256 GB / 9200 MHz |
PCIe Slot Configuration
| Supported Version | PCIe 5.0 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slot Size | Physical Slots | Gen5 | Gen4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| x16 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Storage Configuration
| M.2 Slot Count | 3 slots |
|---|---|
| M.2 Supported Lengths | 2280, 2580, 22110, 25110 |
| M.2 PCIe Modes | All M.2 slots support PCIe x4/x2 modes. |
| SATA Ports | 4 |
Onboard Audio Features
| Audio Chipset | Realtek® ALC892/ALC897 |
|---|---|
| Analog Audio Jacks | 2 jacks |
| Optical S/PDIF Output | ✔️ Present |
| Spatial/Surround Audio | ✔️ Rear Output Supports Spatial Audio |
Motherboard Display Outputs
| HDMI Output | HDMI - Version 2.1 (Max: 4096x2160@60 Hz) |
|---|---|
| DisplayPort Output | DisplayPort - Version 2.1 (Max: 3840x2160@144 Hz) |
| DP over USB-C | DisplayPort over USB-C - Version 2.1 (Max: 3840x2160@144 Hz) |
USB and Thunderbolt Connectivity
Rear USB Ports
| USB 2.0 Type-A (480 Mbps) | 4 |
|---|---|
| USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A (5 Gbps) | 4 |
| USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (10 Gbps) | 2 |
| USB4 / Thunderbolt Type-C (40 Gbps) | 1 |
Front USB Ports
| USB 2.0 Type-A (480 Mbps) | 4 |
|---|---|
| USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A (5 Gbps) | 2 |
| USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (10 Gbps) | 1 |
Internal USB Headers
| USB 2.0 Header (480 Mbps) | 4 |
|---|---|
| USB 3.2 Gen 1 Header (5 Gbps) | 2 |
| USB 3.2 Gen 2 Header (10 Gbps) | 1 |
Networking Information
| Ethernet | Chipset: Realtek® 2.5GbE LAN chip (2.5 Gbps/1 Gbps/100 Mbps) LAN Ports: 1 |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi |
Version: Wi-Fi 6E Bandwidth: 160MHz Frequency Bands: 2.4/5/6 GHz Antenna Connectors: 2 |
| Bluetooth |
Version: 5.3 |
Button Features
| Buttons |
Q-Flash Plus Start Button Reset Button |
|---|
Quality & Features
Additional Information
| RAM | Supports ECC Un-buffered DIMM 1Rx8/2Rx8 memory modules, which operate in non-ECC mode. Also supports non-ECC Un-buffered DIMM 1Rx8/2Rx8/1Rx16 memory modules. The CPU and memory configuration may affect the supported memory types, data rate (speed), and number of DRAM modules, please refer to the manufacturer's website for more information. |
|---|---|
| Display | The main HDMI port supports HDCP 2.3. There is an additional front HDMI 1.4 port supporting a maximum resolution of 1920x1080@30 Hz. The USB Type-C port is a USB4 port. Supports up to quad-display simultaneously. Graphics specifications may vary depending on CPU support. |
| Expansion | The primary PCIEX16 slot supports PCIe 5.0 and runs at x16. The second physical x16 slot (PCIEX4) supports PCIe 4.0 but runs at x4 speed. The PCIEX16 slot can only support a graphics card or an NVMe SSD. If only one graphics card is to be installed, it must be in the PCIEX16 slot. |
| Storage |
M.2 Slot Details:
|
| Audio | High Definition Audio. Supports 2/4/5.1/7.1-channel. You can change the functionality of an audio jack using the audio software. To configure 7.1-channel audio, access the audio software for audio settings. |
| Networking | Two possible Wi-Fi modules depending on PCB revision: Intel® Wi-Fi 6E AX211 (rev. 1.0) or Realtek® Wi-Fi 6E RTL8852CE (rev. 1.1). Actual data rate may vary depending on environment and equipment. |
| Buttons | The board includes a power button, a reset button, a reset jumper, and a Clear CMOS jumper. |
| Dimensions | 24.4cm x 24.4cm |
Note: The specifications and descriptions above are extracted by AI to present the official manufacturer data in a clearer and more natural way for easier understanding. However, this AI-processed information may contain inaccuracies. Please verify all details by consulting the official manufacturer's information provided below.
GIGABYTE B860M AORUS Elite WIFI6E Compared to Motherboards with Similar Performance and Features
Motherboard Quality & Features per Price Table
| Motherboard (Desc) | Price (Desc) | Overall_Q (Desc) | VRM_Q (Desc) | Chipset (Desc) | Exp_Str (Desc) | Connect (Desc) | Audio (Desc) | Q&F/Price (Desc) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
$190
|
↓
-5.0%
|
64.6%
|
41.0%
|
77.0%
|
56.0%
|
68.0%
|
81.0%
|
64.6%
|
|
|
$160
|
0.0%
|
63.8%
|
37.0%
|
80.0%
|
79.0%
|
80.0%
|
43.0%
|
75.8%
|
|
|
$200
|
0.0%
|
63.2%
|
37.0%
|
75.0%
|
104.0%
|
60.0%
|
40.0%
|
60.0%
|
|
|
$202
|
↑
2.6%
|
62.2%
|
50.0%
|
72.0%
|
72.0%
|
71.0%
|
46.0%
|
58.4%
|
|
|
$170
|
0.0%
|
61.8%
|
37.0%
|
73.0%
|
78.0%
|
73.0%
|
48.0%
|
69.1%
|
|
|
$190❗
|
0.0%
|
61.6%
|
41.0%
|
73.0%
|
76.0%
|
75.0%
|
43.0%
|
61.6%
|
|
|
$160
|
0.0%
|
60.6%
|
31.0%
|
73.0%
|
94.0%
|
65.0%
|
40.0%
|
72.0%
|
|
|
$160
|
↓
-27.3%
|
60.4%
|
37.0%
|
80.0%
|
66.0%
|
76.0%
|
43.0%
|
71.7%
|
|
|
$350
|
0.0%
|
59.2%
|
40.0%
|
97.0%
|
53.0%
|
63.0%
|
43.0%
|
32.1%
|
Motherboard Comparison and Detail Specifications Table
| Specification | Perf Chart | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price |
$190
|
↓
-5.0%
|
$160
|
0.0%
|
$200
|
0.0%
|
$202
|
↑
2.6%
|
$170
|
0.0%
|
$190❗
|
0.0%
|
$160
|
0.0%
|
$160
|
↓
-27.3%
|
$350
|
0.0%
|
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| Manufacturer | ASUS | MSI | MSI | ASUS | GIGABYTE | Gigabyte | GIGABYTE | MSI | GIGABYTE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chip/Socket | B860-I / LGA 1851 | B860 / LGA 1851 | B860 / LGA 1851 | B860M / LGA 1851 | B860M / LGA 1851 | B860 / LGA 1851 | B860 / LGA 1851 | B860M / LGA 1851 | Z890I / LGA 1851 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Form | Mini-ITX | Standard-ATX | Standard-ATX | Micro-ATX | Micro-ATX | Standard-ATX | Standard-ATX | Micro-ATX | Mini-ITX | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CPU Phases | 10 (80 A) | 12 (60 A) | 12 (60 A) | 12 (80 A) | 12 (60 A) | 14 (60 A) | 12 (50 A) | 12 (60 A) | 8 (105 A) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PWR Design | 10(80A)+1(80A)+2(80A)+1(80A) | 12+1+1+1 | 12+1+1+1 | 12(80A) + 1(80A) + 2(80A) + 1(80A) | 12+1+2 | 14+1+2 | 12+1+2 | 12+1+1+1 | 8+1+2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mem Slots | 2 / DDR5 | 4 / DDR5 | 4 / DDR5 | 4 / DDR5 | 4 / DDR5 | 4 / DDR5 | 4 / DDR5 | 4 / DDR5 | 2 / DDR5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Max Mem | 128 GB / 9066 MHz | 256 GB / 9200 MHz | 256 GB / 8800 MHz | 256 GB / 8800 MHz | 256 GB / 9200 MHz | 256 GB / 9200 MHz | 256 GB / 9066 MHz | 256 GB / 9200 MHz | 128 GB / 9200 MHz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PCIe | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PCIe Slots | 1x16 Gen5 | 1x16 Gen5 | 1x16 Gen4 | 1x1 Gen4 | 1x16 Gen5 | 3x16 Gen4 | 1x16 Gen5 | 1x4 Gen4 | 1x16 Gen5 | 1x16 Gen4 | 1x16 Gen5 | 1x16 Gen5 | 2x16 Gen4 | 1x16 Gen5 | 1x4 Gen4 | 1x16 Gen5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M.2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SATA | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Audio | Realtek ALC1220P | Realtek® ALC897 Codec | Realtek® ALC897 Codec | Realtek 7.1 Surround Sound Hi… | Realtek® ALC892/ALC897 | Realtek® Audio CODEC | Realtek® Audio CODEC | Realtek® ALC897 Codec | Realtek® Audio CODEC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| S/PDIF | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HDMI | ✔️ (2.1) | ✔️ (2.1) | ✔️ (2.1) | ✔️ (2.1) | ✔️ (2.1) | ✔️ (2.1) | ✔️ (2.1) | ✔️ (2.1) | ✔️ (2.1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DP | ✔️ (1.4) | ✔️ (1.4) | ✔️ (1.4) | ✔️ (1.4) | ✔️ (2.1) | ✔️ (2.1) | ✔️ (2.1) | ✔️ (1.4) | ✔️ (2.1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LAN | 1 x Intel® 2.5Gb Ethernet (1 ports) | Intel® Killer™ E5000 5Gb… (1 ports) | Realtek® 8126 5Gbps LAN (1 ports) | 1 x Realtek 2.5Gb Ethern… (1 ports) | Realtek® 2.5GbE LAN chip… (1 ports) | Realtek® 2.5GbE LAN chip… (1 ports) | Realtek® 2.5GbE LAN chip… (1 ports) | Intel® Killer™ E5000 5Gb… (1 ports) | Realtek® 2.5GbE LAN chip… (1 ports) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 | ❌ | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BT | v5.4 | v5.4 | ❌ | v5.4 | v5.3 | v5.4 | v5.3 | v5.4 | v5.4 | Rear USB |
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| USB Headers |
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VRM Appropriate CPU Specification Table
| CPU | Price | App_Performance | Game_Performance | TDP/Max | C/SC/T | L2/L3 Cache | Base/Boost | Code Name | GPU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
$0
|
0.0%
|
52.1%
|
74.9%
|
65 W / 121 W | 14 / 8 / 14 | 3072.0 kB / 24.0 MB | 3.50 GHz / 5.10 GHz | Arrow Lake-S | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU | |
|
$346
|
0.0%
|
49.2%
|
74.2%
|
65 W / 121 W | 14 / 8 / 14 | 3072.0 kB / 24.0 MB | 3.40 GHz / 5.00 GHz | Arrow Lake-S | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU | |
|
$179
|
0.0%
|
43.4%
|
72.6%
|
65 W / 121 W | 10 / 4 / 10 | 3072.0 kB / 20.0 MB | 3.30 GHz / 4.90 GHz | Arrow Lake-S | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU | |
|
$165
|
↑
0.1%
|
43.4%
|
72.6%
|
65 W / 121 W | 10 / 4 / 10 | 3072.0 kB / 20.0 MB | 3.30 GHz / 4.90 GHz | Arrow Lake-S | None |
Official Manufacturer Data
Memory:
4 x DDR5 DIMM sockets supporting up to 256 GB (64 GB single DIMM capacity) of system memory
Dual channel memory architecture
Support for ECC Un-buffered DIMM 1Rx8/2Rx8 memory modules (operate in non-ECC mode)
Support for non-ECC Un-buffered DIMM 1Rx8/2Rx8/1Rx16 memory modules
Support for Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) memory modules(The CPU and memory configuration may affect the supported memory types, data rate (speed), and number of DRAM modules, please refer to "Memory Support List" on GIGABYTE's website for more information.)
Graphics:
- 1 x USB4® USB Type-C® port, supporting USB4 and DisplayPort video outputs and a maximum resolution of 3840x2160@144 Hz
* Support for DisplayPort 2.1 version.
- 1 x DisplayPort, supporting a maximum resolution of 3840x2160@144 Hz
* Support for DisplayPort 2.1 version.
- 1 x HDMI port, supporting a maximum resolution of 4096x2160@60 Hz
* Support for HDMI 2.1 version and HDCP 2.3.
- 1 x front HDMI port, supporting a maximum resolution of 1920x1080@30 Hz
* Support for HDMI 1.4 version.(Graphics specifications may vary depending on CPU support.)
Support for up to quad-display at the same time
Storage:
- 1 x M.2 connector (Socket 3, M key, type 2280 PCIe 5.0 x4/x2 SSD support)(M2A_CPU)
Chipset:
- 1 x M.2 connector (Socket 3, M key, type 2580/2280 PCIe 4.0 x4/x2 SSD support) (M2Q_SB)
- 1 x M.2 connector (Socket 3, M key, type 25110/22110/2580/2280 PCIe 4.0x4/x2 SSD support) (M2N_SB)
- 4 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors
RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, and RAID 10 support for SATA storage devices
Expansion Slots:
- 1 x PCI Express x16 slot, supporting PCIe 5.0 and running at x16 (PCIEX16)
* The PCIEX16 slot can only support a graphics card or an NVMe SSD. If only one graphics card is to be installed, be sure to install it in the PCIEX16 slot.
Chipset:
- 1 x PCI Express x16 slot, supporting PCIe 4.0 and running at x4 (PCIEX4)
USB:
- 1 x USB4® USB Type-C® port on the back panel
Chipset:
- 1 x USB Type-C® port with USB 3.2 Gen 2 support, available through the internal USB header
- 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports (red) on the back panel
- 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports available through the internal USB header
Chipset+USB 3.2 Gen 1 Hub:
- 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports on the back panel
Chipset+2 USB 2.0 Hubs:
- 8 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports (4 ports on the back panel, 4 ports available through the internal USB headers)
Internal I/O:
2 x 8-pin ATX 12V power connectors
1 x CPU fan header
1 x CPU fan/water cooling pump header
3 x system fan headers
1 x system fan/water cooling pump header
3 x addressable RGB Gen2 LED strip headers
1 x RGB LED strip header
3 x M.2 Socket 3 connectors
4 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors
1 x front panel header
1 x front panel audio header
1 x USB Type-C® header, with USB 3.2 Gen 2 support
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 header
2 x USB 2.0/1.1 headers
2 x Thunderbolt™ add-in card connectors
1 x Trusted Platform Module header (For the GC-TPM2.0 SPI/GC-TPM2.0 SPI 2.0/GC-TPM2.0 SPI V2 module only)
1 x HDMI port*
1 x power button
1 x reset button
1 x Q-Flash Plus button
1 x reset jumper
1 x Clear CMOS jumper
* Actual support may vary by CPU.
Back Panel I/O:
4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports
1 x DisplayPort*
1 x USB4® USB Type-C® port (DisplayPort*)
1 x HDMI port*
1 x RJ-45 port
2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports (red)
2 x antenna connectors (2T2R)
2 x audio jacks
1 x optical S/PDIF Out connector
* Actual support may vary by CPU.
WiFi:
- WIFI a, b, g, n, ac, ax, supporting 2.4/5/6 GHz carrier frequency bands
- BLUETOOTH 5.3
- Support for 11ax 160MHz wireless standard
Realtek® Wi-Fi 6E RTL8852CE (PCB rev. 1.1)
- WIFI a, b, g, n, ac, ax, supporting 2.4/5/6 GHz carrier frequency bands
- BLUETOOTH 5.3
- Support for 11ax 160MHz wireless standard
(Actual data rate may vary depending on environment and equipment.)
Audio:
High Definition Audio
2/4/5.1/7.1-channel
* You can change the functionality of an audio jack using the audio software. To configure 7.1-channel audio, access the audio software for audio settings.
Support for S/PDIF Out
Special Features:
* Available applications in GCC may vary by motherboard model. Supported functions of each application may also vary depending on motherboard specifications.
Support for Q-Flash
Support for Q-Flash Plus
Support for Smart Backup
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