B860 is the mainstream chipset for Intel's Core Ultra 200S (Arrow Lake) processors on the LGA1851 socket. It arrived in early 2025, a few months after Z890, and it is the chipset most LGA1851 builds should start with: it runs every Core Ultra 200S chip at full stock speed and supports XMP memory profiles, but it does not overclock the CPU. Current prices are on the B860 deals page.
Cheapest B860 boards right now
All 63 B860 motherboards, with price drops and price history
Amazon Warehouse offers on B860 boards
What B860 is and who it is for
Intel's 800-series has three consumer chipsets. Z890 is the enthusiast part, H810 is the basic one, and B860 sits between them. It succeeds B760 in the line-up, although the two are not interchangeable: B760 is an LGA1700 chipset for 12th to 14th generation Core, while B860 takes Core Ultra 200S only.
B860 suits anyone building around a Core Ultra 5 or Core Ultra 7 who does not plan to overclock the processor. That is most people. A chip run at Intel's stock settings performs the same on a sound B860 board as on a Z890 board, because the chipset has no bearing on processor speed. What you give up is CPU overclocking, some chipset connectivity and, usually, the premium extras that board makers keep for their Z-series models.
Key specifications
| Feature | B860 |
|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1851 |
| Processors | Intel Core Ultra 200S (Arrow Lake) |
| Memory | DDR5 only, dual channel |
| CPU overclocking | No |
| Memory overclocking (XMP) | Yes |
| PCIe from the CPU | PCIe 5.0 for graphics and for M.2 storage, as wired by the board |
| PCIe from the chipset | PCIe 4.0, fewer lanes than Z890 |
| Launched | Early 2025 |
Compatible CPUs and memory
All Core Ultra 200S desktop processors work in a B860 board, including the unlocked K-series models, which simply run at their stock settings. A B860 board will normally start a Core Ultra 200S chip out of the box, but a processor released after the board was made can need a newer BIOS, so check the CPU support list. It is good practice to install the latest BIOS when you build in any case, and BIOS updates and CPU compatibility shows how.
LGA1851 is DDR5 only, so there are no DDR4 versions of B860 boards to watch for, which is one thing LGA1700 buyers had to check and you do not. B860 supports memory overclocking, so an XMP kit will run at its rated speed provided the board and processor can manage it. Most boards have four memory slots; mini-ITX and some budget micro-ATX models have two. If you are moving from a DDR4 system, DDR4 vs DDR5 motherboards explains what changes.
PCIe: CPU lanes and chipset lanes
The processor supplies the fast lanes. Core Ultra 200S chips provide PCIe 5.0 x16 for the graphics slot and separate PCIe 5.0 lanes for an M.2 SSD, and B860 lets board makers use both. Many B860 boards therefore have one PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot, but it is not guaranteed: the speed of each slot is the board maker's decision, and a budget model may wire one at PCIe 4.0 to save cost. Check the listing rather than assuming. For most builds the difference is small, as PCIe 5.0 motherboards: do you need it? explains.
The chipset's own lanes are PCIe 4.0 and there are fewer of them than on Z890. In practice that shows up as fewer M.2 slots, fewer expansion slots or fewer fast USB ports, depending on how the board maker spends them.
How B860 compares with its neighbours
| Z890 | B860 | H810 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU overclocking | Yes | No | No |
| Memory overclocking | Yes | Yes | No |
| Memory slots | Usually four | Usually four | Typically two |
| Chipset PCIe | 4.0, most lanes | 4.0, fewer lanes | 4.0, fewest lanes |
| Typical use | Overclocking, heavy connectivity | Mainstream gaming and work builds | Office and basic home PCs |
| Launched | Late 2024 | Early 2025 | Early 2025 |
Step up to Z890 if you want to overclock a K-series chip or need more M.2 slots and ports than any B860 board offers. Step down to H810 only for a simple PC where two memory slots and no XMP are acceptable.
What to check on the listing
- Form factor. B860 boards are mostly ATX and micro-ATX, with a few mini-ITX models.
- M.2 slots. How many there are, and whether the first runs at PCIe 5.0 or 4.0.
- WiFi. Boards are often sold in WiFi and non-WiFi versions with near-identical names. Motherboard WiFi explained covers the standards.
- Power delivery. Budget B860 boards have modest VRMs. That is fine for a Core Ultra 5, but check reviews before pairing one with a Core Ultra 9. See motherboard VRM explained.
- Rear ports. Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 appear on some B860 boards and not others.
Buying advice
Intel has not promised further processor generations for LGA1851, so buy a B860 board for the chip you are fitting now, not for a future upgrade. If you want a platform with a longer stated life, weigh it against AM5 in AMD vs Intel motherboards; if you are choosing between Intel's two recent sockets, see LGA1851 vs LGA1700.
An open-box B860 board can be a sound saving, but LGA sockets have delicate pins, so inspect the socket as soon as it arrives using the used motherboard checklist. Then compare the B860 deal list with the Warehouse offers and recent price drops.
Questions people ask
Can you overclock on B860?
You can overclock memory, including running XMP profiles, but not the processor. CPU overclocking on LGA1851 needs a Z890 board and a K-series chip.
Does B860 support PCIe 5.0?
The chipset allows PCIe 5.0 from the processor for the graphics slot and an M.2 slot, and many boards provide both. Slot speeds are the board maker's choice, though, and a budget model may wire one at PCIe 4.0, so check the specification of the exact board.
Will a Core Ultra 9 K-series processor work in a B860 board?
Yes, at stock settings. Check the board's CPU support list and its power delivery first, because entry-level boards are designed around lower-power chips.
Can I reuse DDR4 memory with a B860 board?
No. LGA1851 boards are DDR5 only. If keeping DDR4 matters, look at DDR4 versions of B760 boards on LGA1700 instead.