Motherboard ASROCK B860I Lightning WiFi — Intel B860, LGA 1851, Mini-ITX, DDR5, 2x DIMM, 4x M.2, 2.5Gb LAN, Wi‑Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3

The ASRock B860I Lightning WiFi is a Mini ITX motherboard built on the Intel B860 chipset with an LGA 1851 (Socket V1) for modern Intel processors. It supports up to 128 GB of DDR5 memory across two DIMM slots, integrates Intel Iris Xe graphics, and provides high-speed storage options including PCIe Gen5 M.2 and SATA III. Connectivity features include 2.5 Gb/s Ethernet, Wi‑Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.3, as well as Thunderbolt 4 Type-C for fast data and display connectivity. The Lightning series design emphasizes robust power delivery, advanced cooling with composite VRM heatsink and aluminum heatsinks, and reinforced PCIe slots for heavy graphics cards.

Advantages

The motherboard combines a compact Mini ITX form factor with enthusiast-grade features such as a 10-layer PCB for improved signal stability and power efficiency, DDR5 XMP/EXPO support for straightforward memory overclocking, and ASRock’s patented Memory OC Shield to reduce electromagnetic interference during high-frequency operation. PCIe Gen5 Blazing M.2 support enables future-ready ultra-fast SSDs, while integrated Wi‑Fi 6E and Phantom Gaming 2.5 Gb/s LAN deliver low-latency and high-bandwidth networking. Thermal solutions like the composite VRM heatsink with fan and aluminum heatsinks enhance sustained performance under load.

Suitable for

• Compact gaming PC builds with high-speed networking
• Content creators needing fast storage and stable performance
• Home or small office systems requiring Wi‑Fi 6E and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity

Key specifications

• Form factor: Mini ITX
• Chipset: Intel B860
• Processor socket: LGA 1851 (Socket V1)
• Memory: 2× DDR5 DIMM slots, up to 128 GB, DDR5 XMP & EXPO support
• Storage: PCIe Gen5 M.2 (Blazing M.2), M.2 and SATA III RAID support
• Graphics: Integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics
• Audio: Realtek ALC1220, 7.1 channels
• LAN & Wireless: Phantom Gaming 2.5 Gb/s LAN, Wi‑Fi 6E (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.3
• Rear connectivity: Thunderbolt 4 Type-C (up to 40 Gbps)
• BIOS: UEFI AMI 256 Mbit

How to use

Install the ASRock B860I Lightning WiFi into a Mini ITX compatible chassis, seat a compatible LGA 1851 CPU, and populate up to two DDR5 memory modules following the motherboard manual for slot order. Connect storage devices to the M.2 or SATA III ports and configure RAID if required. Attach power connectors from a compatible PSU, connect front-panel headers and peripherals, then update and configure the UEFI BIOS. To enable higher memory frequencies, load Intel XMP or AMD EXPO profiles if your memory modules support them.

Recommendations

Ensure adequate case airflow and configure the composite VRM fan and system fans for sustained heavy workloads. Use pre-tested XMP/EXPO memory profiles for stable DDR5 overclocking and verify that NVMe SSDs intended to use PCIe Gen5 are compatible to achieve maximum performance.