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MSI Pro B860M C EX Review | 107 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£140
  • Avg. price in US: ~$150
  • CPU socket: LGA 1851
  • Chipset: Intel B860
  • Form factor: microATX

MSI Pro B860M C EX review. Compare 107 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among motherboards and if it is worth buying.

6.6

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the motherboard's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best motherboards on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

6.6

Technical Score

10.0%

?

User score

Good
6.6

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the motherboard's technical performance, covering key areas such as power delivery, CPU and memory support, expansion, storage, connectivity, cooling, BIOS features, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

19.0%

8.0

Memory

16.0%

7.2

Platform & Features

16.0%

6.2

Storage

15.0%

7.3

Network

13.0%

3.9

Ports & USB

8.0%

6.6

Expansion

8.0%

6.0

Power & Cooling

5.0%

5.4

Audio

Good
?

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the motherboard.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a motherboard performs in real-world builds and how reliable it is in terms of stability, BIOS usability, connectivity, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

?

User reviews

30.0%

?

Popularity

  • 8.5
    Gaming

    Score components:

    28.0%

    8.2

    VRM phases

    22.0%

    5.5

    N. of M.2 sockets

    18.0%

    10

    LAN speed

    17.0%

    10

    Maximum RAM speed

    15.0%

    10

    N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots

  • No image
No image

Best prices in UK

    N/A~ £140

Best rankings

?

Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The MSI PRO B860M-C EX is a commercial-oriented Micro-ATX motherboard designed for Intel Core Ultra Processors (Series 2) on the LGA 1851 socket. It features two DDR5 memory slots supporting up to 128GB and overclocked speeds exceeding 9066+ MT/s, alongside a high-speed PCIe 5.0 x16 slot and Lightning Gen 5 x4 M.2 storage. Main pros include its versatile legacy and modern connectivity—offering HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, USB-C with DP-Alt, DVI-D, and VGA—as well as 2.5G LAN and user-friendly EZ PCIe Clip II for easy hardware removal. Potential cons include a limited number of memory slots (two instead of the standard four) and a lack of integrated Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, which may require additional expansion cards for wireless connectivity.

Technical Specifications of MSI Pro B860M C EX

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the motherboard's technical performance, covering key areas such as power delivery, CPU and memory support, expansion, storage, connectivity, cooling, BIOS features, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

19.0%

?

Memory

16.0%

?

Platform & Features

16.0%

?

Storage

15.0%

?

Network

13.0%

?

Ports & USB

8.0%

?

Expansion

8.0%

?

Power & Cooling

5.0%

?

Audio

6.6
MSI Pro B860M C EX has a technical score of 6.56 points, which is higher than that of 54.3% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the motherboard.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a motherboard performs in real-world builds and how reliable it is in terms of stability, BIOS usability, connectivity, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

0.0

User reviews

30.0%

1.0

Popularity

?
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you prefer a motherboard that has already been bought and reviewed by many other users.
1.0
MSI Pro B860M C EX has a popularity of 1 points, which is lower than 77.9% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the motherboard's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a motherboard that offers a strong balance of features, performance, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

6.6

Overall score

40.0%

9.8

Price

7.5
MSI Pro B860M C EX has a quality-to-price ratio of 7.5 points, which is higher than 54% of products in this category.
Brand name
What it is: The brand that makes the motherboard.
When it matters: When you have a brand preference for support, BIOS, or build quality.

Importance: MEDIUM

MSI
CPU socket
What it is: The socket type the motherboard is built to support.
When it matters: When you need the motherboard to match a specific CPU.

Importance: HIGH

LGA 1851
MSI Pro B860M C EX uses the LGA 1851 CPU socket, which is more advanced than that of 77.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 8.1% of motherboards.
CPU platform

Importance: MEDIUM

Intel
Chipset
What it is: The chipset that defines the motherboard platform and many of its features.
When it matters: When you compare platform features, connectivity, and CPU support.

Importance: HIGH

Intel B860
MSI Pro B860M C EX uses the Intel B860 chipset, which is more advanced than that of 85.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 3.4% of motherboards.
Form factor
What it is: The physical size standard of the motherboard, such as ATX or Micro-ATX.
When it matters: When you need the board to fit a specific case size.

Importance: HIGH

microATX
MSI Pro B860M C EX has the microATX form factor, which is less versatile than that of 52.2% of motherboards and equal to that of 32.4% of motherboards.
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DDR memory version
What it is: The RAM generation the motherboard supports, such as DDR4 or DDR5.
When it matters: When you need the board to match a certain memory platform.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: DDR5

DDR5
MSI Pro B860M C EX uses DDR5 memory, which is newer than that of 64.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 35.3% of motherboards.
Memory slots
What it is: The number of RAM slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more room for future memory upgrades.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=4

4
MSI Pro B860M C EX has 4 Memory slots, which is more than 21.5% of motherboards and equal to 72.5% of motherboards.
Maximum memory capacity
What it is: The largest total amount of RAM the motherboard supports.
When it matters: When you plan a build with very high memory capacity.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=128 GB

128 GB
MSI Pro B860M C EX supports up to 128 GB of memory, which is more than 40.4% of motherboards and equal to 32.1% of motherboards.
Memory channels
What it is: The memory channel configuration supported by the motherboard platform.
When it matters: When memory bandwidth matters for your build.

Importance: MEDIUM

2
MSI Pro B860M C EX supports 2 memory channels, which is more than 0.2% of motherboards and equal to 92.5% of motherboards.
Maximum RAM speed
What it is: The highest officially supported memory speed for the motherboard.
When it matters: When you choose RAM and want to know the supported speed ceiling.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=6400 MT/s

9,066 MT/s
MSI Pro B860M C EX supports memory speeds up to 9066 MT/s, which is higher than that of 96.4% of motherboards and equal to that of 1.3% of motherboards.
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N. of M.2 sockets
What it is: The number of M.2 slots available on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want room for more NVMe or M.2 drives.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=3

2
MSI Pro B860M C EX has 2 M.2 sockets, which is more than 30.8% of motherboards and equal to 34.6% of motherboards.
M.2 slot interface per slot
What it is: The storage or PCIe interface available for each M.2 slot on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want to check which drives each M.2 slot can use.

Importance: HIGH

1x PCIe 5.0 x4, 1x PCIe 4.0 x4
MSI Pro B860M C EX offers 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 1x PCIe 4.0x4 for M.2 slot interfaces, which is faster than that of 80.1% of motherboards and equal to that of 2.8% of motherboards.
N. of SATA 3 connectors
What it is: The number of SATA 6Gb/s connectors on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you plan to connect multiple SATA drives.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=6

4
MSI Pro B860M C EX has 4 SATA 3 connectors, which is more than 5.6% of motherboards and equal to 46.3% of motherboards.
Supported RAID levels
What it is: The RAID modes officially supported by the motherboard storage platform.
When it matters: When you plan to use multiple drives in a RAID setup.

Importance: MEDIUM

0/1/5/10
MSI Pro B860M C EX supports RAID levels 0/1/5/10, which is broader than 31.8% of motherboards and equal to 68.2% of motherboards.
SATA only
NVMe RAID support
What it is: Shows whether the board supports RAID configurations that use NVMe SSDs.
When it matters: When you plan to use multiple NVMe drives in RAID.

Importance: LOW

no
MSI Pro B860M C EX does not support NVMe RAID. 59.8% of motherboards support this feature.
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N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 5.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want the newest high-bandwidth expansion slots.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

1
MSI Pro B860M C EX has 1 PCIe 5.0x16 slots, which is more than 68.6% of motherboards and equal to 26.6% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 4.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 4.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more room for modern expansion cards.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
MSI Pro B860M C EX has 0 PCIe 4.0x16 slots, which is equal to 55.6% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 3.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 3.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you need more full-length expansion slots.

Importance: MEDIUM

0
MSI Pro B860M C EX has 0 PCIe 3.0x16 slots, which is fewer than 59.5% of motherboards and equal to 40.5% of motherboards.
PCIe slot electrical configuration
What it is: The actual lane wiring used by the motherboard PCIe slots.
When it matters: When you need to know how much bandwidth each slot really gets.

Importance: HIGH

?
PCIe bifurcation support
What it is: Shows whether the board can split PCIe lanes across multiple devices from one slot or link.
When it matters: When you plan multi-SSD adapters or more advanced expansion setups.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
MSI Pro B860M C EX supports PCIe bifurcation. 39.1% of motherboards support this feature.
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Total USB ports (rear I/O)
What it is: The total number of rear USB ports available on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you use many USB devices directly from the back of the PC.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=8

6
MSI Pro B860M C EX has 6 USB ports (rear I/O), which is fewer than 64.2% of motherboards and equal to 32.9% of motherboards.
Total USB ports (including headers)
What it is: The total number of USB ports supported when rear ports and internal headers are counted together.
When it matters: When you want to know the board's full USB expansion potential.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=14

15
MSI Pro B860M C EX has 15 USB ports (including headers), which is more than 48.3% of motherboards and equal to 13.5% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (rear I/O)
What it is: The total number of rear USB-C ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more USB-C devices connected without adapters.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=1

1
MSI Pro B860M C EX has 1 USB-C ports (rear I/O), which is more than 35.4% of motherboards and equal to 48.8% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (including headers)
What it is: The total number of USB-C ports supported when rear ports and internal headers are counted together.
When it matters: When you want more USB-C connectivity across the whole build.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=2

2
MSI Pro B860M C EX has 2 USB-C ports (including headers), which is more than 51.8% of motherboards and equal to 32.8% of motherboards.
N. of USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C)
What it is: The number of rear USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want very fast USB-C connectivity on the rear I/O.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
MSI Pro B860M C EX has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C), which is equal to 81.6% of motherboards.
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LAN speed
What it is: The maximum wired Ethernet speed supported by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want faster wired networking.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 2.5GbE

2.5 Gbps
MSI Pro B860M C EX supports LAN speeds up to 2.5 Gbps, which is higher than that of 49.2% of motherboards and equal to that of 41.5% of motherboards.
LAN controller
What it is: The model of onboard Ethernet controller used by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you compare networking hardware quality and features.

Importance: MEDIUM

?
N. of RJ45 ports
What it is: The number of wired Ethernet ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you need one or more wired network connections.

Importance: LOW

1
MSI Pro B860M C EX has 1 RJ45 ports, which is equal to 85.6% of motherboards.
Wi-Fi connectivity
What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes onboard Wi-Fi hardware instead of requiring a separate adapter.
When it matters: When you want wireless networking without adding an extra card.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
MSI Pro B860M C EX does not support Wi-Fi connectivity. 49.1% of motherboards support this feature.
Wi-Fi version
What it is: The supported Wi-Fi generation, such as Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7.
When it matters: When you care about wireless speed and router compatibility.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)

N/A
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Audio codec
What it is: The onboard audio codec used by the motherboard.
When it matters: When sound quality from the built-in audio matters to you.

Importance: MEDIUM

Realtek ALC897
MSI Pro B860M C EX uses the Realtek ALC897 audio codec, which is less advanced than that of 50.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 29.3% of motherboards.
Audio channels
What it is: The audio channel configuration supported by the onboard sound solution.
When it matters: When you want surround sound from the motherboard audio outputs.

Importance: LOW

Good value: 7.1

7.1
MSI Pro B860M C EX offers 7.1 audio channels, which is more than 4.9% of motherboards and equal to 95.1% of motherboards.
Audio SNR
What it is: The signal-to-noise ratio of the onboard audio solution.
When it matters: When you care about cleaner onboard audio output.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=120 dB

91 dB
MSI Pro B860M C EX has an audio SNR of 91 dB, which is lower than that of 94.5% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.1% of motherboards.
Headphone amp support
What it is: Shows whether the onboard audio path includes dedicated headphone amplification for harder-to-drive headsets.
When it matters: When you use harder-to-drive headphones from the onboard audio.

Importance: LOW

no
MSI Pro B860M C EX does not support a headphone amp. 63% of motherboards support this feature.
N. of 3.5mm audio jacks
What it is: The number of rear 3.5mm audio jacks on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more analog audio connection options.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=5

3
MSI Pro B860M C EX has 3 3.5mm audio jacks, which is fewer than 50.3% of motherboards and equal to 38.2% of motherboards.
Show more
VRM phases
What it is: The number of power-delivery phases used by the motherboard VRM.
When it matters: When you care about CPU power delivery and overclocking headroom.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=12

16+1+2
MSI Pro B860M C EX has 16+1+2 VRM phases, which is more than 88.9% of motherboards and equal to 1.4% of motherboards.
N. of CPU power connectors
What it is: The number of CPU power connectors on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you care about power delivery for higher-end CPUs.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=2

1
MSI Pro B860M C EX has 1 CPU power connectors, which is equal to 54.5% of motherboards.
N. of fan headers
What it is: The number of headers available for case or CPU fans.
When it matters: When your build uses several fans.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=6

3
MSI Pro B860M C EX has 3 fan headers, which is fewer than 76.7% of motherboards and equal to 15% of motherboards.
Pump header
What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes a dedicated header designed for a liquid-cooling pump.
When it matters: When you build with an AIO or custom liquid cooling loop.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
MSI Pro B860M C EX has a pump header. 23.1% of motherboards include this feature.
Pump header max current
What it is: The maximum current the dedicated pump header can supply.
When it matters: When you want to make sure the pump header can power your cooling setup.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=2 A

?
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MSI Pro B860M C EX vs the average motherboard

  • Newer CPU socket
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has newer CPU socket than the average motherboard (LGA 1,851 vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 CPU socket.
    What it is: The socket type the motherboard is built to support.
    When it matters: When you need the motherboard to match a specific CPU.

    Importance: HIGH

    MSI Pro B860M C EX has newer CPU socket than the average motherboard (LGA 1,851 vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 CPU socket.LGA 1851 vs LGA 1151
  • Newer DDR memory generation
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has newer DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR5 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
    What it is: The RAM generation the motherboard supports, such as DDR4 or DDR5.
    When it matters: When you need the board to match a certain memory platform.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: DDR5

    MSI Pro B860M C EX has newer DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR5 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.DDR5 vs DDR4
  • 1 more PCIe 5.0x16 slots
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has more PCIe 5.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slot/s.
    What it is: The number of PCIe 5.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want the newest high-bandwidth expansion slots.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=1

    MSI Pro B860M C EX has more PCIe 5.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slot/s.1 vs 0
  • More VRM phases
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has more VRM phases than the average motherboard (16+1+2 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
    What it is: The number of power-delivery phases used by the motherboard VRM.
    When it matters: When you care about CPU power delivery and overclocking headroom.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=12

    MSI Pro B860M C EX has more VRM phases than the average motherboard (16+1+2 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.16+1+2 vs 10
  • 97.1% higher maximum RAM speed
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has a higher maximum RAM speed than the average motherboard (9,066 MT/s vs 4,600 MT/s). The average motherboard supports RAM speed of 4,600 MT/s.
    What it is: The highest officially supported memory speed for the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you choose RAM and want to know the supported speed ceiling.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=6400 MT/s

    MSI Pro B860M C EX has a higher maximum RAM speed than the average motherboard (9,066 MT/s vs 4,600 MT/s). The average motherboard supports RAM speed of 4,600 MT/s.9066 MT/s vs 4600 MT/s
  • 1 more PCI slots
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has more PCI slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCI slot/s.
    What it is: The number of legacy PCI slots on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you need compatibility with older expansion cards.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI Pro B860M C EX has more PCI slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCI slot/s.1 vs 0
  • Includes dual BIOS
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has dual BIOS, while the average motherboard does not. 22.4% of motherboards include dual BIOS.
    What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes two BIOS chips for redundancy or recovery.
    When it matters: When BIOS safety and recovery matter to you.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI Pro B860M C EX has dual BIOS, while the average motherboard does not. 22.4% of motherboards include dual BIOS.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C ports
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has more USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C port/s.
    What it is: The number of rear USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C ports on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want faster rear USB-C connectivity.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=1

    MSI Pro B860M C EX has more USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C port/s.1 vs 0
  • Newer CPU socket
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has newer CPU socket than the average motherboard (LGA 1,851 vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 CPU socket.
  • Includes dual BIOS
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has dual BIOS, while the average motherboard does not. 22.4% of motherboards include dual BIOS.
  • 4 years newer release date
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has a newer release date than the average motherboard (2,025 vs 2,021). The average motherboard was released in 2,021.
  • Newer DDR memory generation
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has newer DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR5 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
  • 97.1% higher maximum RAM speed
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has a higher maximum RAM speed than the average motherboard (9,066 MT/s vs 4,600 MT/s). The average motherboard supports RAM speed of 4,600 MT/s.
  • 78.4% higher overclocked RAM speed
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has a higher overclocked RAM speed than the average motherboard (8,800 MT/s vs 4,933 MT/s). The average motherboard supports overclocked RAM speed of 4,933 MT/s.
  • 1 more PCIe 5.0x16 slots
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has more PCIe 5.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slot/s.
  • 1 more PCI slots
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has more PCI slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCI slot/s.
  • 1 more PCIe x1 slots
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has more PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C ports
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has more USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C port/s.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2 headers
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has more USB 3.2 Gen2 headers than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2 header/s.
  • 2 more USB 3.2 Gen1 ports
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has more USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (6 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 port/s.
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has more DVI outputs than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 DVI outputs.
  • Includes VGA connector
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has a VGA connector, while the average motherboard does not. 22% of motherboards include a VGA connector.
  • 1 more total USB-C connections
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has more total USB-C connections than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 total USB-C connections.
  • More VRM phases
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has more VRM phases than the average motherboard (16+1+2 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
  • 61 mm shorter
    MSI Pro B860M C EX is shorter than the average motherboard (244 mm vs 305 mm). The average motherboard height is 305 mm.

Total
Platform & Features
Memory
Expansion
Ports & USB
Power & Cooling
  • No BIOS flashback support
    MSI Pro B860M C EX does not support BIOS flashback, while the average motherboard does. 50.8% of motherboards support BIOS flashback.
  • Not suitable for gaming
    MSI Pro B860M C EX is not suitable for gaming, while the average motherboard is. 86.3% of motherboards are suitable for gaming.
    business/productivity-focused
  • No automatic overclocking
    MSI Pro B860M C EX does not support automatic overclocking, while the average motherboard does. 74% of motherboards support automatic overclocking.
    memory auto-OC only
  • Less versatile form factor
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has less versatile form factor than the average motherboard (microATX vs ATX). The average motherboard comes in ATX form factor.
  • No NVMe RAID support
    MSI Pro B860M C EX does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • Slower M.2 slot interfaces
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (1x PCIe 5.0x4, 1x PCIe 4.0x4 vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4). The average motherboard uses 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4 M.2 slot interfaces.
  • 1 fewer PCIe 3.0x16 slots
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has fewer PCIe 3.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe 3.0x16 slot/s.
  • 2 fewer rear USB ports
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has fewer rear USB ports than the average motherboard (6 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.
  • No Wi-Fi antenna included
    MSI Pro B860M C EX does not include a Wi-Fi antenna, while the average motherboard does. 51.1% of motherboards include a Wi-Fi antenna.
  • 24 dB lower audio SNR
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has a lower audio SNR than the average motherboard (91 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.
  • No headphone amp support
    MSI Pro B860M C EX does not support a headphone amp, while the average motherboard does. 63% of motherboards support a headphone amp.
  • More basic audio codec
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has more basic audio codec than the average motherboard (Realtek ALC897 vs Realtek ALC898). The average motherboard uses Realtek ALC898 audio codec.
  • 2 fewer 3.5mm audio jacks
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has fewer 3.5mm audio jacks than the average motherboard (3 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 3.5mm audio jacks.
  • No optical S/PDIF out
    MSI Pro B860M C EX does not have optical S/PDIF out, while the average motherboard does. 55.7% of motherboards include optical S/PDIF out.
  • 2 fewer ARGB headers
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has fewer ARGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 ARGB header/s.
  • 2 fewer fan headers
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has fewer fan headers than the average motherboard (3 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 fan header/s.
  • No onboard RGB lighting
    MSI Pro B860M C EX does not have onboard RGB lighting, while the average motherboard does. 50.3% of motherboards include onboard RGB lighting.
  • 1 fewer RGB headers
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has fewer RGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RGB header/s.
  • No NVMe RAID support
    MSI Pro B860M C EX does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
    What it is: Shows whether the board supports RAID configurations that use NVMe SSDs.
    When it matters: When you plan to use multiple NVMe drives in RAID.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI Pro B860M C EX does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • 2 fewer rear USB ports
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has fewer rear USB ports than the average motherboard (6 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.
    What it is: The total number of rear USB ports available on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you use many USB devices directly from the back of the PC.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=8

    MSI Pro B860M C EX has fewer rear USB ports than the average motherboard (6 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.6 vs 8
  • No BIOS flashback support
    MSI Pro B860M C EX does not support BIOS flashback, while the average motherboard does. 50.8% of motherboards support BIOS flashback.
    What it is: Shows whether the motherboard can update BIOS without needing a fully installed or supported CPU to boot first.
    When it matters: When you may need to update BIOS before the system can boot.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    MSI Pro B860M C EX does not support BIOS flashback, while the average motherboard does. 50.8% of motherboards support BIOS flashback.
  • No Wi-Fi antenna included
    MSI Pro B860M C EX does not include a Wi-Fi antenna, while the average motherboard does. 51.1% of motherboards include a Wi-Fi antenna.
    What it is: Shows whether the external Wi-Fi antenna is included with the motherboard package.
    When it matters: When the board has Wi-Fi and you want it ready to use right away.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI Pro B860M C EX does not include a Wi-Fi antenna, while the average motherboard does. 51.1% of motherboards include a Wi-Fi antenna.
  • 24 dB lower audio SNR
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has a lower audio SNR than the average motherboard (91 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.
    What it is: The signal-to-noise ratio of the onboard audio solution.
    When it matters: When you care about cleaner onboard audio output.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=120 dB

    MSI Pro B860M C EX has a lower audio SNR than the average motherboard (91 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.91 dB vs 115 dB
  • Not suitable for gaming
    MSI Pro B860M C EX is not suitable for gaming, while the average motherboard is. 86.3% of motherboards are suitable for gaming.
    business/productivity-focused
    What it is: An overall indication of whether the motherboard is well equipped for gaming builds.
    When it matters: When you want features that suit a gaming-oriented PC.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    MSI Pro B860M C EX is not suitable for gaming, while the average motherboard is. 86.3% of motherboards are suitable for gaming.
  • 2 fewer ARGB headers
    MSI Pro B860M C EX has fewer ARGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 ARGB header/s.
    What it is: The number of 3-pin addressable RGB headers available on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want to connect more ARGB lighting devices.

    Importance: LOW

    Good value: >=2

    MSI Pro B860M C EX has fewer ARGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 ARGB header/s.0 vs 2
  • No headphone amp support
    MSI Pro B860M C EX does not support a headphone amp, while the average motherboard does. 63% of motherboards support a headphone amp.
    What it is: Shows whether the onboard audio path includes dedicated headphone amplification for harder-to-drive headsets.
    When it matters: When you use harder-to-drive headphones from the onboard audio.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI Pro B860M C EX does not support a headphone amp, while the average motherboard does. 63% of motherboards support a headphone amp.
Total
Overall
Platform & Features
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Audio
Power & Cooling

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Third-party reviews

What customers like about MSI Pro B860M C EX?

  • Supports latest Intel Core Ultra Processors (Series 2) on the LGA 1851 socket
  • High-speed memory support with DDR5 overclocking capabilities up to 8800 MHz
  • Future-proof connectivity including PCIe 5.0 x16 slots and Lightning Gen 5 M.2 support
  • Diverse output options including USB Type-C (DP-Alt), HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort, DVI, and D-SUB
  • Reliable networking with 2.5G LAN for stable professional and multimedia use
  • Convenient DIY features like the EZ PCIe Clip II for easy graphics card removal
  • Robust build quality featuring a corrosive-resistant stainless steel IO shield and solid pin power connectors

What customers dislike about MSI Pro B860M C EX?

  • Lacks integrated RGB lighting, which may not appeal to users seeking a 'gaming' aesthetic
  • Limited expansion slots with only two memory slots and fewer fan headers compared to higher-tier models like the B860-P
  • Sideways-facing SATA and USB 3.0 ports can make cable management difficult in certain cases
  • Some users reported difficulty reading front panel connector designations on the board
  • Reported RAM compatibility issues with specific 8GB DDR5 modules on early BIOS versions

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