ASUS TUF GAMING B860-PLUS WIFI motherboard review: balancing on the edge

During CES 2025, Intel officially announced the expansion of the Arrow Lake-S line of desktop processors, as well as the appearance of Intel B860/H810 chipsets and corresponding motherboards based on them. The more affordable models are obviously more interesting to users who do not pursue top-of-the-line solutions but rely on platforms with a good price/performance/functionality balance. Today we are reviewing the ASUS TUF GAMING B860-PLUS WIFI motherboard. What are the features of models based on Intel B860?

Package contents

The board is offered in a medium-sized cardboard box.

The package is generally unremarkable: a short paper assembly manual, a booster antenna for the Wi-Fi module, two SATA interface cables, several rubber pads for M.2, and one metal stand with a screw. As a bonus, there is a set of branded stickers with the TUF logo.

In our case, the board was "delivered" as part of an already assembled system developed by Artline. Later on, we will elaborate on the features of this platform.

Design and layout

We're dealing with a full-size ATX model with typical dimensions for this form factor - 305×244 mm. You can't expect any bold color experiments with TUF series devices. The combination of a black printed circuit board and dark radiators with connectors is a win-win. Visually, the only thing that diversifies the "picture" is an accented gray chipset cooler and a decorative fragment on the casing in the area of the interface panel.

The ASUS TUF GAMING B860-PLUS WIFI uses a 6-layer PCB, which is a fairly typical option for this class of devices. For top models based on Intel Z890, an 8-layer textolite platform is usually used, but for boards that are not intended for overclocking, this is already an excessive cost.

The ASUS TUF GAMING B860-PLUS WIFI power supply has a 16-phase circuit (12+1+2+1). The circuit uses DrMOS assemblies designed for an operating current of up to 80A. Coolers are usually provided for power elements. As expected for a high-end model, one of the radiators has enlarged dimensions and additionally serves as a cover, covering the interface panel area.

Two 8-pin EPS12V connectors are used to connect additional power.

ASUS TUF GAMING B860-PLUS WIFI is equipped with four slots for RAM modules. It is worth reminding you that LGA1851 processors work exclusively with DDR5, so there is no need to clarify the RAM standard. In terms of speeds, support for modules up to DDR5-8666+ is declared. Arrow Lake-S chips generally work well with high-frequency slots, including CUDIMM (Clocked Unbuffered DIMM).

Intel B860 boards allow you to experiment with overclocking RAM, so the recommended DDR4-6400 is actually just a starting point for this platform.

Among the interesting options is the declared support for 64 GB modules and the ability to use four such strips simultaneously. So the total RAM capacity can potentially be up to 256 GB. Of course, we won't be talking about record-breaking operating frequencies here, but it's a good option if capacity is a priority. The announcement of support for 64GB modules by ASUS boards based on Intel 800 chipsets was made recently, so the existing list of validated kits so far includes only 4x48GB kits.

ASUS TUF GAMING B860-PLUS WIFI offers three slots for additional expansion cards. The main full-size PCI-E x16 complies with the PCI-E 5.0 standard and always works in x16 mode.

Intel's B860 chipset doesn't allow for the separation of PCI Express processor lines, so there are no alternative modes. The PCI-E 5.0 interface will probably be used at least for the top GeForce RTX 50 graphics cards from NVIDIA, at least for the top models of this line. So the presence of PCI-E 5.0 x16 will finally get at least some practical benefit.

As usual, the PCI-E x16 main connector is reinforced with a metal casing to increase the mechanical strength of the connector.

In addition, an additional plastic PCIe Slot Q-Release lever bracket is provided for the slot, which simplifies the uninstallation of the installed video card.

Returning to the equipment, we note the presence of one compact PCI-E 4.0 x1. The second full-size PCI-E x16 slot is served by the Intel B860 and offers PCI-E 4.0 x4 in the nominal version. However, when using PCI-E x1, the slot will work in x2 mode. Here you can already feel the limitations of the chipset in terms of the number of PCI-E lines, which are also used for other subsystems of the platform.

ASUS TUF GAMING B860-PLUS WIFI has three M.2 storage slots. The Intel B860 chipset allows you to use additional PCI-E 5.0 processor lines to connect SSDs. So, just like with the top-of-the-line Intel Z890 cards, you won't have to sacrifice any PCI-E x16 bandwidth when using the fastest drives.

The M.2_1 port (PCI-E 5.0 x4) for high-performance drives is located above the PCI-E x16 slot. An additional cooler is provided for SSDs. Two more M.2 connectors are hidden under a long radiator plate.

M.2_2 allows the use of 2280/22110 form factor models, while M.2_3, in addition to the classic 2280, is also designed to connect smaller SSDs (2260/2242).

All ports allow the use of M.2 drives with PCI Express interface. For all cases, there is a screwless SSD mount (M.2 Q-Latch), but a screwdriver is no longer required to fix the coolers. This time, you'll also need it to attach the heatsink to a high-speed SSD in the M.2_1 port.

The board also has four 6Gb/s SATA ports for connecting the appropriate devices. This is the number of SATA channels offered by the Intel B860, so we can say that in this context the board unleashes the potential of the chipset.

ASUS TUF GAMING B860-PLUS WIFI has a good set of options for organizing a cooling system. There are seven 4-pin connectors (DC/PWM) on the PCB. Two of them, which are nominally allocated for the CPU cooler, share a common control channel, the rest are independent. All connectors, including the CPU pump connector, are designed for a current of up to 1 A.

The board's decorative embellishments include a compact "pixelated" TUF logo that is illuminated on the back of the PCB. If you need more illumination, the owner can count on three connectors for connecting ARGB Gen2 ribbons. Please note that we are talking about addressable models with 5 V power supply, while the basic version does not provide for connecting simple "garlands" on 5050 cells.

In the context of backlighting, we are undoubtedly talking about the ability to connect not only strips, but also other devices equipped with ARGB backlighting. For example, case fans, or "propellers" of the processor cooling system. Aura Sync provides for the possibility of general synchronization of existing illumination.

Among the useful options is an internal USB 3.2 Gen 2 connector (up to 10 Gb/s), which allows you to "revive" the USB Type-C port, if one is provided on the case wall.

The sound subsystem of the board is isolated in a separate segment, and the codec is hidden under an additional shielding cover. Several specialized capacitors are used in the circuit. The sounding is neat, with bright "highs" and clear, though sometimes a little "dull" basses. In general, there are no special complaints to the sound, and it will satisfy any average user, who does not plan to create a Hi-Fi music system on the basis of a PC.

The network capabilities of ASUS TUF GAMING B860-PLUS WIFI are complemented by a tri-band (2.4/5/6 GHz) MediaTek MT7925 controller that provides support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. A 2.5 Gbps Ethernet controller from Realtek is used for the wired network.

The board's interface panel comes with a plug in the box, so you don't have to pre-attach it to the chassis when assembling the system. As for the set of ports. The only Type-C port complies with the USB 3.2 Gen2x2 specification with a bandwidth of 20 GB/s, and also supports image transfer (DP Alt). In the USB Type-A format, there are two USB 3.2 Gen2 ports (10 GB/s), three USB 3.2 Gen1 ports (5 GB/s) and a pair of USB 2.0 ports (480 MB/s). There is also an Ethernet socket, and full-size DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.1 are provided for connecting screens. Both support 4K@60Hz.

We immediately note the presence of the BIOS Flashback button to activate the mechanism of offline BIOS flashing from a flash drive. The port to which you need to connect the flash drive in this case is separately highlighted on the panel.

We also pay attention to the Q-Antenna connectors for the Wi-Fi module amplifying antenna, which do not require threaded fixation. There are five audio jacks and an optical S/PDIF jack for connecting speakers.

As you can see, the board doesn't offer Thunderbolt 4 (40Gb/s) ports. Despite the fact that the corresponding controller is implemented in Arrow Lake-S processors, physical TB4 ports are likely to be found only on boards with Intel Z890 or the most equipped models with Intel B860.

Test bench configuration

• Motherboard: ASUS TUF GAMING B860-PLUS WIFI
• Processor: Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF (6P+8E; 4.2/5.2 GHz + 3.6/4.6 GHz)
• Memory: Kingston Fury Renegade RGB DDR5-8400 2×24 GB (KF584CU40RSAK2-48)
• Video card: ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER 12GB GDDR6X OC Edition (ROG-STRIX-RTX4070S-12G-GAMING)
• Drive: Kingston NV3 2TB (SNV3S/2000G)
• PSU: ASUS TUF Gaming 750W 80+ Bronze (TUF-GAMING-750B)
• Body: ASUS TUF Gaming GT302 ARGB

As we initially mentioned, we used an already assembled system from Artline to test the ASUS TUF GAMING B860-PLUS WIFI motherboard. The PC has quite an interesting setup, so let's briefly go through its key components.

So, the system used the well-known Core Ultra 5 245KF processor (6P+8E; 4.2/5.2 GHz + 3.6/4.6 GHz). Even though boards based on the Intel B860 chipset do not allow overclocking the processor, a configuration with such a chip makes practical sense. First, why not?

The top-of-the-line Arrow Lake-S work perfectly well in normal mode, and the presence of an unlocked multiplier is only a potential opportunity for independent frequency experiments, not a prerequisite. Secondly, a chip with a standard TDP of 125W and MTP (Maximum Turbo Power) of 159W will be even more revealing when testing the board's capabilities.

To cool the processor, we used the ASUS TUF Gaming LC II 360 ARGB liquid system, which we have also previously dealt with.

The PC was equipped with an interesting set of RAM - Kingston Fury Renegade RGB DDR5-8400 2×24 GB (KF584CU40RSAK2-48). You may have already guessed that this is a newfangled CUDIMM (Clocked Unbuffered DIMM) with an internal oscillator, which allows for better stability when operating at higher frequencies. It is very ambitious to have DDR5-8400 in the "base", so let's check how such a kit will work on a non-overclocked board with Intel B860 chipset. The kit is expensive (~20,000 UAH), but at least it's interesting for an experiment.

A GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER series graphics card is a typical choice for a mid-top gaming system. The ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER 12GB GDDR6X OC Edition (ROG-STRIX-RTX4070S-12G-GAMING) is probably not the most affordable option in the series, but the quiet cooling system...

A 2TB drive is a must-have for a gaming PC of this class. Performance is not so important, so even the relatively affordable Kingston NV3 is appropriate here.

A 750W power supply is quite enough for this configuration, so ASUS TUF Gaming 750W 80+ Bronze (TUF-GAMING-750B) looks organic in a PC.

The system is assembled in the ASUS TUF Gaming GT302 ARGB chassis with good airflow and even support for the BTF concept, which allows you to move to a new level of neatness in system design.

In operation

We evaluated the overall performance of Core Ultra 5 245K in more detail when we first met this processor, comparing the results with those of Ryzen 7 9700X. The TUF GAMING Z890-PLUS WiFi board based on the top-of-the-line Intel Z890 chipset was used as a test platform.

Having already conducted similar tests on ASUS TUF GAMING B860-PLUS WiFi, we actually got very close results with a difference within the measurement error.

At maximum load in Cinebench with multi-threaded rendering, the productive processor cores ran at 5000 MHz for a long time, the energy-efficient ones at 4600 MHz. The supply voltage is 1.13 W. The power consumption of the chip in such conditions was about 145 W. The SRO did an excellent job of cooling, keeping the CPU temperature at 60-63C.

Temperature monitoring of VRM elements is not provided in this case, at least the corresponding sensors are not registered in AIDA64, as well as in the firmware and even in the board BIOS. According to the measurements of the non-contact pyrometer, the temperature on the surface of the radiator blocks on the VRM assemblies did not exceed 35C during the CPU load.

The chipset temperature is also not displayed in the BIOS and Armory Crate application. According to AIDA64, the chip warmed up to 33-34C. According to the specification on the manufacturer's website, the Intel B860 has a TDP of 6W, so a medium-sized radiator is enough to maintain acceptable operating temperatures.

RAM

During testing we were especially interested in the board's ability to work with high-speed RAM kits, so the presence of CUDIMM modules with DDR5-8400 operating mode in the assembly is a good opportunity to investigate this issue.

Initially, according to JEDEC, the modules already have a DDR4-6400 mode (56-52-52-103; 1.1 V), which is automatically set before using XMP. The maximum speed profile is implemented by DDR5-8400 (40-52-52-132; 1.45 V). So, only by using the XMP profile, the modules are accelerated almost to the maximum values declared by the board manufacturer.

In DDR5-8400 mode, we observe transfers at the level of 94-105 GB/s and a total memory latency of 87.7 ns.

Performance and power consumption in games

Core Ultra 5 245KF unleashes the potential of the GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER graphics card without any problems, allowing you to get very good performance in Full HD mode and quite decent in 1440p.

"Only" 12 GB of memory is certainly no longer an advantage of the GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER, but it is usually enough to get comfortable fps in heavy projects, even with some additional settings.

Under gaming load, the average level of total PC power consumption depended on the specific project and ranged from 300-400 watts.