MSI Pro B660M-A DDR5 Intel Motherboard

Product Description

The MSI Pro B660M-A DDR5 motherboard is designed to deliver high performance, stability, and excellent connectivity for a variety of professional and enthusiast workloads. It is part of MSI’s Pro series and supports Intel’s 12th Gen Core processors, offering support for the latest memory technologies, including DDR5 RAM. Here’s an overview of its features and specifications:

Key Features:

1. CPU Support:
   • Supports 12th Gen Intel® Core™ processors (i9, i7, i5) as well as Intel® Pentium® Gold and Intel® Celeron® processors, all with the LGA 1700 socket.
   • Optimized for Core Boost technology, which provides a premium layout and digital power design to deliver more cores with better precision and performance.
2. Memory Support:
   • Supports DDR5 memory, providing up to 128GB capacity through 4 DIMM slots.
   • Memory speeds up to 4800 MHz (native) with overclocking support (4800+ MHz). The board supports XMP profiles for easy overclocking of compatible memory.
   • Provides dual-channel mode, supporting non-ECC, un-buffered memory.
3. Core Boost Technology:
   • Core Boost technology optimizes the power delivery to the CPU, ensuring efficient performance even when handling multi-core workloads or high-performance tasks.
4. PCIe 4.0 Support:
   • Features PCIe 4.0 x16 slot (from the CPU), providing high-speed graphics card support, perfect for gaming or professional workloads.
   • Lightning Gen4 x4 M.2 slots for blazing-fast storage options.
   • M.2 Shield Frozr to prevent thermal throttling in high-speed M.2 SSDs.
5. Thermal Solutions:
   • Premium thermal pads with a 7W/mK rating and additional thermal pads for choke cooling.
   • The M.2 Shield Frozr heatsink helps to cool down M.2 drives, ensuring peak performance without thermal throttling.
6. Networking:
   • Equipped with a Realtek RTL8125BG 2.5Gbps LAN for stable and high-speed wired network connectivity, ideal for gamers, streamers, and professionals.
   • Supports Intel® Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), providing a wireless network speed of up to 2.4Gbps on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands.
   • Bluetooth 5.2 support for connecting a wide range of wireless peripherals.
7. Audio Boost:
   • Includes Realtek® ALC897 codec for 7.1-channel high-definition audio, delivering studio-grade sound for gaming, music, and content creation.
8. Storage and RAID Support:
   • 2x M.2 slots (Key M) for fast storage devices:
     • M2_1 supports PCIe 4.0 x4 (from CPU).
     • M2_2 supports PCIe 4.0 x4 and SATA 6Gb/s (from B660 chipset).
   • 4x SATA 6Gb/s ports for additional storage devices.
   • Supports Intel® Optane™ Memory and Intel® Smart Response Technology for better overall system responsiveness and storage management.
   • Supports RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 10 for SATA storage devices.
9. USB Connectivity:
   • 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) Type-A ports on the back panel for high-speed external device connectivity.
   • 3x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps) Type-A ports (2 on the back, 1 via internal connector).
   • 6x USB 2.0 ports (4 via internal connectors and 2 on the back panel).
10. Internal Connectors:
    • 1x 24-pin ATX main power connector and 1x 8-pin ATX 12V power connector for stable power delivery.
    • 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C port and 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A connector (supports 2 additional 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports).
    • 2x USB 2.0 connectors for additional ports.
    • 1x 4-pin CPU fan connector, 1x 4-pin water-pump fan connector, and 2x 4-pin system fan connectors for flexible cooling options.
11. Display Outputs:
    • 2x HDMI 2.1 (with HDR) supporting resolutions up to 4K 60Hz.
    • 2x DisplayPort 1.4 supporting 4K 60Hz with HBR3 for high-quality visual output.
    • Available only on CPUs with integrated graphics.
12. Multi-GPU Support:
    • AMD CrossFire™ support for multi-GPU setups, allowing you to combine multiple GPUs for enhanced graphical performance.
13. LED Features:
    • 1x 4-pin RGB LED connector and 2x 3-pin Rainbow LED connectors for customizable lighting.
    • 4x EZ Debug LEDs to help diagnose system issues during boot.
14. Security:
    • TPM Module connector for added security features like BitLocker encryption and secure boot.
15. Form Factor and Warranty:
    • Micro-ATX form factor (9.6″ x 9.6″).
    • 3-year warranty for peace of mind.

Specifications Overview:

• CPU: Supports 12th Gen Intel® Core™ processors (LGA1700 socket).
• Chipset: Intel® B660 Chipset.
• Memory:
  • 4x DDR5 slots, up to 128GB capacity.
  • Memory speeds: 2133/2666/3200 MHz (by JEDEC & POR) and up to 4800+ MHz (OC).
  • Supports Intel® XMP for memory overclocking.
• Expansion Slots:
  • 2x PCIe 4.0 x16 slots (PCI_E1 from CPU, PCI_E3 from chipset).
  • 1x PCIe 3.0 x1 slot.
• Storage:
  • 4x SATA 6Gb/s ports (from chipset).
  • 2x M.2 slots (Key M, PCIe 4.0 x4 from CPU and chipset).
  • Supports RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 10 for SATA devices.
• LAN:
  • Realtek RTL8125BG 2.5Gbps LAN controller.
• Wi-Fi & Bluetooth:
  • Intel® Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2.
• Audio:
  • Realtek® ALC897 codec, supporting 7.1-channel HD Audio.
• USB Ports:
  • 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) Type-A.
  • 3x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps) Type-A and 1x Type-C.
  • 6x USB 2.0.
• Form Factor:
  • Micro-ATX (9.6″ x 9.6″).

Conclusion:

The MSI Pro B660M-A DDR5 motherboard offers a great balance between high-performance features and connectivity options, making it an ideal choice for users looking to build a 12th Gen Intel® Core-based system with DDR5 memory support. With robust thermal solutions, fast storage options, excellent networking capabilities, and enhanced audio features, this motherboard is suitable for both professional and personal use, including gaming, content creation, and productivity tasks. Its comprehensive connectivity options, along with 2.5Gbps LAN and Intel® Wi-Fi 6, ensure a fast, stable, and responsive user experience.