ASUS Prime B560M-A Motherboard: LGA 1200 micro ATX features and specs

The ASUS Prime B560M-A is a micro ATX motherboard for Intel's 10th and 11th Generation Core processors, which use the LGA 1200 socket. It aims at everyday PCs and DIY builds, with PCIe 4.0, two M.2 slots and a mix of video outputs. This page explains what the main specs mean.

Socket and processor support

LGA 1200 is the socket for Intel's 10th and 11th Gen desktop chips. ASUS says the board is designed to get the most from 11th Gen processors. PCIe 4.0 support in particular generally depends on using an 11th Gen CPU, so check the board's specification page for what each generation enables, and whether a BIOS update is needed for your chip.

PCIe 4.0 and storage

PCIe 4.0 doubles the per-lane bandwidth of PCIe 3.0. It matters mainly for fast NVMe SSDs and recent graphics cards, though many everyday tasks will not show a visible difference. The board has two M.2 slots, with a flexible M.2 heatsink listed to help keep a drive cool. Which slots run at which speeds is a detail to confirm in the manual.

Power delivery and cooling

ASUS lists 8 power stages, alloy chokes and durable capacitors for stable power delivery. In general, the voltage regulator module (VRM) converts power for the processor, and a board with a heatsinked VRM is better suited to sustained loads. The listing also mentions a VRM heatsink, a PCH heatsink, hybrid fan headers and Fan Xpert 2plus for fan control.

Memory

ASUS says its OptiMem trace layout lets memory kits run at higher frequencies with lower voltages and supports memory overclocking up to 5000 MHz. Overclocking results depend on the memory kit and the processor, so treat the figure as a ceiling rather than a promise.

Connectivity

• Intel 1 Gb Ethernet.
• Rear USB 3.2 Gen 2 in both Type-A and Type-C.
• DisplayPort and dual HDMI outputs, for processors with built-in graphics.
• An M.2 Key E slot for adding a Wi-Fi card.
• Aura Sync RGB for lighting control.

The Wi-Fi slot is empty, so wireless needs a separate compatible card.

Size

The board is micro ATX, which is smaller than a full ATX board and fits micro ATX and ATX cases. It has fewer expansion slots, which suits compact builds but leaves less room for several add-in cards.

Who it suits

It suits people building a compact desktop around an Intel 10th or 11th Gen processor, as well as upgraders who want PCIe 4.0 storage and modern ports.

What to check before you buy

• Processor: confirm it is LGA 1200 and supported, including BIOS requirements.
• Case: check it accepts micro ATX.
• Memory: match the memory type and speed to the supported list.
• Storage: check how the two M.2 slots share lanes with SATA ports.
• Wi-Fi: buy a Key E card if you need wireless.
• Display: check that your monitor works with the DisplayPort and HDMI outputs.

The short version

• A micro ATX board for Intel LGA 1200 (10th and 11th Gen), model PRIME B560M-A.
• PCIe 4.0, two M.2 slots and 8 power stages.
• Intel 1 Gb Ethernet, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A and Type-C, DisplayPort and dual HDMI.
• M.2 Key E slot for a Wi-Fi card; Aura Sync RGB.

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