The MSI MAG B760M Mortar is a Micro ATX board that hails from the funds facet of the tracks. Folks wanting into the B760 chipset are restricted in options in comparison with the costlier Z790 platform with all of the bells and whistles, however you may nonetheless put collectively a quick and purposeful system on a funds. You possibly can’t overclock the processor with most B760 boards (you want a board with a BCLK generator), however you may with reminiscence. Priced at $189.99, you get full twelfth and Thirteenth-generation Intel processor help, a PCIe 5.0 slot, two M.2 sockets, built-in Wi-Fi 6E and a pair of.5 GbE networking, and the funds Realtek audio codec all below $200.
The black-on-silver look is a pleasant distinction, if a bit mundane, however it’s par for the sort of motherboard. It lacks built-in RGB LEDs (Gigabyte and ASRock comparables do) however does have headers so as to add your personal. Whereas it might not look the a part of a high-end motherboard, you get some good options, together with one PCIe 5.0 x4 slot, succesful energy supply, and a 20 Gbps Sort-C port on the rear IO panel. It has what you could get you up and operating, however few extras.
Efficiency on our B760M Mortar is much like the opposite B760-based boards we’ve checked out. The place a number of the examined boards restrict the ability (and subsequently efficiency), our MSI, surprisingly, doesn’t use the Intel limits. As an alternative, anyceiling is in place because of the board thermally throttling our processor because it runs too sizzling in a number of the closely multi-threaded and longer-running benchmarks. It does properly in gaming and calmly threaded functions, although, with outcomes across the common. If you happen to intend to make use of this board with a flagship-class processor and push closely threaded workloads, reducing the voltage is finest to forestall the CPU from thermal throttling.
Under, we’ll dig into the small print of the board and see whether or not the cheap worth level makes a spot on our finest motherboards record. Earlier than we get into the small print, listed below are the detailed specs from the MSI web site.
Specs: MSI MAG B760M Mortar Wi-Fi
Socket | LGA1700 |
Chipset | B760 |
Type Issue | Micro ATX |
Voltage Regulator | 14 Part (12x 75A Dr. MOS MOSFETs for Vcore) |
Video Ports | (1) DisplayPort |
(1) HDMI (v2.1) | |
USB Ports | (1) USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20 Gbps) Sort-C |
(3) USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) Sort-C | |
(4) USB 2.0 (480 Mbps) | |
Community Jacks | (1) 2.5 GbE |
Audio Jacks | (5) Analog + SPDIF |
Different Ports/Jack | ✗ |
PCIe x16 | (1) v5.0 (x16) |
(1) v4.0 (x4) | |
PCIe x8 | ✗ |
PCIe x4 | ✗ |
PCIe x1 | (1) v3.0 (x1) |
CrossFire/SLI | AMD Multi-GPU help |
DIMM Slots | (4) DDR5 7000+(OC), 192GB Capability |
• 1DPC 1R Max pace as much as 7000+ MHz | |
• 1DPC 2R Max pace as much as 6600+ MHz | |
• 2DPC 1R Max pace as much as 6400+ MHz | |
• 2DPC 2R Max pace as much as 5600+ MHz | |
M.2 Sockets | (1) PCIe 4.0 x4 (64 Gbps) / PCIe (as much as 80mm) |
(1) PCIe 4.0 x4 (64 Gbps) / PCIe + SATA (as much as 80mm) | |
SATA Ports | (4) SATA3 6 Gbps (Helps RAID 0/1/5/10) |
USB Headers | (1) USB v3.2 Gen 2, Sort-C (10 Gbps) |
(1) USB v3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) | |
(2) USB v2.0 (480 Mbps) | |
Fan/Pump Headers | (6) 4-Pin (CPU, Pump, System Fan) |
RGB Headers | (2) aRGB (3-pin) |
(1) RGB (4-pin) | |
Diagnostics Panel | (1) EZ Debug LEDs |
Inner Button/Change | ✗ |
SATA Controllers | ✗ |
Ethernet Controller(s) | (1) Realtek RTL8125BG (2.5 GbE) |
Wi-Fi / Bluetooth | Intel Wi-Fi 6E (2×2 ax, MU-MIMO, 2.4/5/6 GHz, 160 MHz, BT 5.3) |
USB Controllers | ✗ |
HD Audio Codec | Realtek ALC897 |
DDL/DTS | ✗ / ✗ |
Guarantee | 3 Years |
Contained in the Field of the MSI MAG B760M Mortar Wi-Fi
Contained in the packaging, MSI contains a few equipment to get you began. Since that is from the funds facet, you solely get the fundamentals.
- Fast Set up information
- SATA Knowledge Cable
- EZ M.2 clip, M.2 screw/standoff
- Wi-Fi antenna
- Cable stickers
Design of the B760M Mortar Wi-Fi
The all-black board with silver heatsinks is constructed on a 6-layer PCB. The silver heatsinks sport the army theme we’re used to seeing on the Mortar and Tomahawk strains. There’s some branding on the highest VRM heatsink and the chipset; in any other case, it’s a easy design. You will should look elsewhere when you’re in search of built-in RGB lighting. Nonetheless, it does have a few headers so as to add your personal.
Specializing in the highest half of our board, we run into the massive VRM heatsink that reaches over and covers the ugly IO bits. The heatsink is grooved with MSI branding and different black and grey design components, identical to the opposite heatsinks on the board. Between the VRM heatsink are two 8-pin EPS connectors (one required) to energy the CPU.
To the best of the socket space, we run into 4 DRAM slots with a single locking mechanism on high. MSI lists help as much as DDR5-7000+(OC) with one DPC (DIMM Per Channel) and about par for the platform. Our DDR5-6000 equipment (2x16GB) labored with out difficulty in our testing. The Teamgroup DDR5-7200 equipment didn’t wish to work, however it’s over what the board says it might do, in order that was to be anticipated. Follow RAM below the listed spec to make sure compatibility.
Simply above the socket on the left is the primary 3-pin ARGB header. A second ARGB header and a 4-pin RGB header are on the board’s backside edge. You management the connected RGB units by way of the MSI Heart Utility and the Mystic Mild applet, which labored properly in our restricted fiddling.
Above the DRAM slots in the best nook are two 4-pin fan headers (six complete). Every header helps PWM and DC-type followers/pumps. The CPU_FAN1 and SYS_FAN1-4 headers output as much as 2A/24W whereas the PUMP_FAN1 3A/36W. You possibly can simply piggyback a few followers on these headers if wanted; simply ensure to not overload them. Fan management is dealt with by way of the BIOS and in addition labored properly utilizing the preset curves or a customized setting.
Persevering with down the sting, the subsequent characteristic is the EZ-Debug LEDs, the place 4 LEDs (labeled CPU, DRAM, Boot, and VFA) gentle up through the POST course of. If there’s a difficulty, the LED for the problematic part stays lit, providing you with a basic thought of the place the difficulty is. Under is a 24-pin ATX header to energy the board, a entrance panel USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) Sort-C port, and a entrance panel USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) header.
Energy supply on the B760M Mortar can deal with our flagship-class processor at inventory speeds (keep in mind, this platform doesn’t overclock the processor) with out difficulty. From the 8-pin EPS connector(s), energy strikes to a Renesas RAA229132 PWM controller after which onto 12x 75A Renesas RAA220075R0 DrMOS MOSFETs devoted to Vcore. The 900A obtainable to the processor isn’t quite a bit, however nonetheless sufficient for our Intel Core i9-13900K.
On the underside half of the board, beginning on the left facet, we see the funds Realtek ALC897 codec together with the acquainted audio separation line (separates the audio from the remainder of the board) and some devoted audio caps. Audiophiles will definitely be left wanting higher, however many customers will discover the built-in resolution ample. If not, there are spare PCIe slots so as to add your sound card.
Talking of slots, the B760M comes with two full-length slots and one x1 slot. The highest slot is strengthened, attaches by way of the CPU, and runs as much as PCIe 5.0 x16 speeds. The underside full-length slot connects by way of the chipset and runs at PCIe 4.0 x4. The small center slot additionally connects through the chipset however runs at PCIe 3.0 x1 speeds.
Combined in among the many slots are the 2 M.2 sockets. The highest socket, M.2_1, situated below a skinny heatsink, connects by way of the processor and runs at PCIe 4.0 x4 (64 Gbps) speeds. The second socket, M.2_2 (no heatsink), connects by way of the chipset and runs at PCIe 4.0 x4 speeds. M.2_2 helps PCIe and SATA-based modules, a pleasant value-add for customers at this worth level. Not everybody can afford smoking quick, costlier, PCIe-based M.2 modules. Each sockets deal with as much as 80 mm units. Final, we run into two (of 4) SATA3 6 Gbps ports alongside the best edge. If you wish to RAID these, the board helps RAID0/1/5/10 modes by way of the SATA ports (not listed for M.2).
Throughout the underside are a number of uncovered headers. You’ll discover further USB ports, RGB headers, and energy/reset buttons. Under is a whole record from left to proper.
- Entrance panel audio
- 3-pin RGB header
- (2) System Fan headers
- Thunderbolt header
- 4-pin ARGB header
- (2) USB 2.0 headers
- (2) SATA3 6 Gbps ports
- TPM header
- System panel
On the preinstalled rear IO, the B760M Ace makes use of a grey background with black labels on the entire ports. You’ll discover the MSI MAG branding again right here; in any other case, ports and labels dominate the actual property. There are eight USB ports in complete: one 20 Gbps Sort-C, three USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) ports, and 4 USB 2.0 (480 Mbps) ports. Video outputs encompass DisplayPort and HDMI ports. The two.5 GbE port and Wi-Fi antenna connections additionally take up house together with the 5-plug analog plus SPDIF audio stack.
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