B560 vs B460 Motherboards : What’s The Difference?
We Compare The Older Intel Compatible B460 Motherboard Against The Newer B560 Version
The B560 motherboard is the latest version of the mid-range Intel-compatible motherboards, which supersedes the previous B460. The new B560 chipset is designed to be fully compatible with the latest Intel Rocket Lake CPUs released in H1 2021, whilst also remaining compatible with the previous generation Comet Lake CPUs.
The older B460 then is not compatible if you’re looking to pick up a new Intel Rocket Lake CPU, so if you’re after a motherboard in this price range you should definitely go B560, but besides this what are the main differences? Read below to find out more!
Besides this we will also be listing some of the best models of each chipset type and where to buy them.
B560 vs B460 Specifications
As indicated in the below table, the specs of B560 and B460 motherboards are similar in that neither generation of motherboard permits CPU overclocking. Besides this though there are a number of variations in terms of PCIe 4.0 support and in RAM overclocking ability.
| B560 | B460 | |
|---|---|---|
| CPU Chipset Uplink | PCIe Gen 4 | |
| CPU Graphics Support | x16 PCIe Gen 4 | |
| Dual Graphics Support? | mostly single x16 PCIe, some models have dual | |
| CPU Storage Support | mostly 1x M.2 PCIe Gen 4 with additional M.2 PCIe Gen 3 | |
| USB Port Support (model dependent) | USB 3.2 Gen 2 | |
| CPU Overclocking Support | No | |
| RAM Overclocking Support | Yes |
The Differences Between B560 And B460 Motherboards
As discussed above, neither the B460 nor the newer B560 chipset boards allow for CPU overclocking, so aren’t suitable for those looking to build a high-end CPU-dependent rig with overclocking capability, be it just for gaming or also workstation tasks. If this is what you’re after and you’re going with an Intel build then the more premium-end Z590 motherboard, with its more powerful Voltage Regulator Module is where you want to be looking. Both the B460 and the B560 are geared more toward mid-range gaming PCs.
PCIe coverage on the newer B560s tends to be more advanced, with all models having at least one x16 PCIe Gen 4 slot for the graphics card as well as most models having at least one M.2 PCIe 4.0 slot for SSDs. B460s by contrast very rarely have any PCIe 4.0 support, mostly being restricted to PCIe Gen 3. B460 boards typically only have USB 3.2 Gen 1 support, with the rare instance of a Gen 2 socket. Most B560s by contrast have at least one USB 3.2 Gen 2 socket.
Ultimately the biggest difference between the two generations of motherboards is the fact that the B560s allow for RAM overclocking above stock speeds, whereas B460s do not. So if you’re keen to squeeze out the most from your computer’s memory, the B560 is definitely the better choice.
ASRock B560 Steel Legend
Form Factor
ATX
PCIe Slot
1x PCIe 4.0 x16
SATA ports
6x
M.2 slots
1x PCIe 4.0, 2x PCIe 3.0
RAM ports
4x DIMM 128GB 4800MHz
USB ports
2x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C, 6x USB 3.2 Gen1
Other ports / sockets
1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x HDMI, 1x PS/2
4800MHz RAM support
Affordable
PS/2 socket
No Wi-Fi
Only one M.2 PCIe 4.0 slot for SSDs
Gray camo aesthetics may not be to everyone’s tastes
ASROCK B460 Phantom Gaming 4
Intended Build
Intel 10th Gen budget Build
Form Factor
ATX
Socket
LGA1200
Chipset
B460
Stripped back design
Gaming-oriented features
Sturdy build construction
Plenty of expansion
Great price
Lower end motherboard that doesn’t offer many premium features
The Best B560 Motherboards
Some of our top picks for B560 motherboards can be found below. For a more full breakdown of the top 5 B560 motherboards we suggest for different budgets and needs, check out our best of article.
ASUS TUF Gaming B560M PLUS
Form Factor
Micro ATX
PCIe Slot
1x PCIe 4.0 x16
SATA ports
6x
M.2 slots
1x PCIe 4.0, 1x PCIe 3.0
RAM ports
4x DIMM 128GB 5000MHz
USB ports
1x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-C, 2x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A, 2x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A, 4x USB 2.0 Type A
MSI MAG B560 TORPEDO ATX
Form Factor
ATX
PCIe Slot
2x PCIe 4.0 x16, 1x PCIe 3.0 x4, 1x PCIe 3.0 x1
SATA ports
6x
M.2 slots
1x PCIe 4.0, 2x PCIe 3.0
RAM ports
4x DIMM 128GB 5066MHz
USB ports
2x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C, 6x USB 3.2 Gen1, 4x USB 2.0
The Best B460 Motherboards
Some of our best picks for B460 motherboards can also be seen listed below. A more detailed list can be found on our Best B460 Motherboard page, where you will get a better idea of which model is for you.
ASUS TUF Gaming B460-PRO WiFi 6
Intended Build
Intel 10th Gen Mid-range Build
Form Factor
ATX
Socket
LGA1200
Chipset
B460
ASUS ROG Strix B460-H Gaming
Intended Build
Intel 10th Gen Mid-range Build
Form Factor
ATX
Socket
LGA1200
Chipset
B460
The Verdict
To conclude then, there isn’t really much reason to go with the older B460 over the B560, as the latter offers improved PCIe technology, the latest generation of USB C support, and also RAM overclocking. The only scenario where you wouldn’t want the above is if the rest of the components in your build are not able to take advantage of any of these features.
That being said, please check out our guide for the best B560 CPUs currently available if you’re thinking of picking one up. If CPU overclocking is your thing, then Z590 is your only option for Intel CPUs of the latest generation.