The B760 chipset and 13th-generation Raptor Lake processors from Intel are scheduled for release in the first half of 2023. The chips will compete with one another to be the most excellent processors, and they will provide consumers with a lower-priced entry point into Intel's Raptor Lake family.
Intel's Z790 chipset was released alongside the company's Core i9-13900K, Core i7-13700K, and Core i5-13600K Raptor Lake K-series processors. In contrast, the B760 chipset does not have any extra frills but provides users with all they need. Chinese media Expreview(opens in new tab) has somehow gotten its hands on the potential specifications for the B760 chipset. The data appears to be reliable, but you should still proceed with caution.
In contrast to AMD, which permits overclocking across its full array of chipsets, Intel initially only supports processor overclocking on the Z790 chipset. After the release of Alder Lake, certain manufacturers started allowing BCLK overclocking on chips that were not part of the K series on some B660 motherboards. The MAG B760M Mortar Max WiFi could mark the return of the function to B760. Supposedly linking the B760 chipset to the Raptor Lake CPU is a PCIe 4.0 x4 DMI interface. The B660 chipset's interface is identical to that of its predecessor. The Z790 and the previous-generation Z690 chipsets both boast an x8 interface, so this is a significant step down. The B760 chipset is an improvement over the B660 chipset since it contains four more PCIe 4.0 lanes. However, certain PCIe 3.0 lanes were supposedly removed from Intel's chips. In comparison to the B660 chipset, which provides eight PCIe 3.0 lanes, the B760 only delivers four, as shown in the following table from Expreview.
Intel B760 Chipset Specifications*
| Z790 | H770 | Z690 | B760 | B660 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMI 4.0 channel | x8 | x8 | x8 | x4 | x4 |
| PCIe 4.0 | 20 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 6 |
| PCIe 3.0 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 4 | 8 |
| USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20 Gbps) | 5 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) | 10 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 4 |
| USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) | 10 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 6 |
| USB 2.0 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 12 |
| SATA 3.0 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 4 |
*Specifications are unconfirmed.
It appears that the B760 chipset has the same selection of connecting options as the B660 chipset. Two USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20 Gbps) ports, four USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps), and six USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) ports are the most that can be supported (5 Gbps). There is a maximum of 12 USB 2.0 ports.
The B760 chipset can support up to four SATA 3.0 drives, which is half as much as the Z790 chipset. This should not be too much of a problem, though, because most of the better SSDs (and thus the motherboards that support them) use the PCIe interface. Fans of storage space might consider the Z790 or H770 chipset, which each have up to eight SATA 3.0 connectors.
MSI B760 Motherboard Pricing
| Motherboard | Pricing | B660 Version | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MPG B760I Edge WiFi DDR4 | $209 | N/A | N/A |
| MAG B760 Tomahawk WiFi | $229 | $219 | 5% |
| MAG B760 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4 | $219 | $209 | 5% |
| MAG B760M Mortar Max WiFi | $229 | N/A | N/A |
| MAG B760M Mortar Max WiFi DDR4 | $219 | N/A | N/A |
| MAG B760M Mortar WiFi | $199 | $209 | 5% |
| MAG B760M Mortar WiFi DDR4 | $189 | $199 | 5% |
| MAG B760M Mortar | $189 | $199 | 5% |
| MAG B760M Mortar DDR4 | $179 | $189 | 6% |
| Pro B760-P WiFi DDR4 | $179 | N/A | N/A |
| Pro B760M-A WiFi DDR4 | $169 | $169 | 0% |
*Pricing is unconfirmed.
Hardware leaker chi11eddog has published a list of MSI B760 motherboard prices. MSI looks to be working on a balanced mix of DDR4 and DDR5 motherboards so that customers can choose the former if they do not want to spend in pricey DDR5 memory kits. MSI's B760 motherboards are only $10 more expensive than their B660 counterparts. So it equates to a 5% price rise, give or take. The prices range between $179 and $229. The issue is that many Z690 motherboards in that price range offer more functionality and connectivity than B760 motherboards. Remember that Raptor Lake is backwards compatible with Intel 600-series motherboards after a simple firmware upgrade.
The MSI Pro B760-P WiFi DDR4 could retail for $179. In instance, the MSI Pro Z690-P DDR4 costs $172.99 right now (opens in new tab). Even if you do not want to overclock your processor, it is less expensive and has more functions. There are also cases, like as the Pro B760-P WiFi DDR4, where the prior version Z690 motherboards provide greater value. However, shops have already begun to phase out Intel 600-series motherboards.
Intel B760 To be affordable, Z690 Could be Better Value
