Motherboard ASRock B860M Lightning WiFi — Intel B860, LGA1851, microATX, DDR5, 4 DIMM, Wi‑Fi 6E, 2.5Gb LAN, Thunderbolt 4

The ASRock B860M Lightning WiFi is a micro ATX motherboard with the Intel B860 chipset and LGA 1851 socket, designed to support Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) processors. It provides four DDR5 DIMM slots supporting up to 256 GB of memory, multiple M.2 and SATA III storage options with RAID support, integrated 2.5 Gb Ethernet and Wi‑Fi 6E for high-speed networking, and a range of modern I/O including Thunderbolt 4 Type‑C.

Advantages

The Lightning series combines a performance-focused layout with enhanced cooling and robust power delivery, including a 2oz copper PCB and a reinforced PCIe 5.0 steel slot. Native support for DDR5 XMP and AMD EXPO memory profiles plus ASRock's Memory OC Shield improve overclocking stability. Thermal features such as a large aluminum M.2 heatsink, an M.2 toolless heatsink release and optimized aluminum heatsinks help maintain sustained performance under load. Connectivity highlights include Wi‑Fi 6E, Thunderbolt 4 Type‑C, Phantom Gaming 2.5 Gb/s LAN and extensive USB options.

Suitable for

• Compact gaming PCs using Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) processors
• Content creation and streaming with high-speed networking needs
• Systems requiring multiple NVMe SSDs (PCIe Gen5 and Gen4)
• Builders who need robust memory overclocking and thermal control

Key specifications

• Chipset: Intel B860; Form factor: micro ATX
• Socket: LGA 1851 (Socket V1) for Intel Core Ultra (Series 2)
• Memory: 4 x DDR5 DIMM, dual channel, up to 8666+ (OC), max 256 GB
• Power design: 12+1+1+1+1 phases with 80A SPS for VCore+GT+SA
• Expansion: 1 x PCIe 5.0 x16; reinforced steel slot
• Storage: 1 Blazing M.2 (PCIe Gen5 x4), 3 Hyper M.2 (PCIe Gen4 x4), 4 x SATA3
• Audio: Realtek ALC1220 7.1 CH HD Audio Codec, Nahimic
• Networking: Killer/Phantom Gaming 2.5 Gb/s LAN, Wi‑Fi 6E (802.11axe) + Bluetooth 5.3
• I/O: Thunderbolt™ 4 Type‑C (rear), 3 x USB 3.2 Gen2, 6 x USB 3.2 Gen1, 6 x USB 2.0
• BIOS: UEFI AMI 256 Mbit; Features: BIOS Flashback, Memory OC Shield

How to use

Install the board into a compatible micro ATX case and mount a supported Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) CPU into the LGA 1851 socket following standard CPU installation procedures. Populate up to four DDR5 modules in the DIMM slots and enable XMP/EXPO profiles in UEFI if using compatible memory to achieve advertised overclocking settings. Fit NVMe M.2 SSDs into the M.2 slots and use the toolless M.2 heatsink release and XXL M.2 heatsink for secure mounting and improved cooling. Connect power supply cables to the 24‑pin ATX and CPU power headers, attach storage and peripherals, then configure networking and audio drivers under your operating system.

Recommendations

For stable overclocking and long-term reliability, use high-quality DDR5 modules that support Intel XMP or AMD EXPO profiles, ensure adequate case airflow around the XXL M.2 heatsink and aluminum heatsinks, and keep BIOS updated to the latest ASRock release for improved compatibility and performance.