GoKawiilASRock's $149 B860 Challenger Wifi motherboard tested with Intel Core Ultra 270K Plus
Tom's Hardware reviewed ASRock's B860 Challenger Wifi, a $149.99 ATX motherboard built on Intel's budget B860 chipset that supports Arrow Lake and Arrow Lake Refresh CPUs. The board includes eight rear USB ports capped at 5 Gbps, three M.2 slots with one PCIe 5.0, four SATA ports, 2.5 GbE, Wi-Fi 7, basic audio, and a dated BIOS, paired with weaker power delivery than rival boards.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The review suggests budget B860 boards can still deliver solid everyday performance despite modest VRM hardware, which may reassure cost-conscious builders pairing them with higher-end Arrow Lake chips. However, the reviewer notes VRM temperatures ran hotter than on other tested boards, implying case airflow could matter more for sustained workloads on this model.
- ASRock B860 Challenger Wifi costs $149.99 and supports Intel Core Ultra and Core Ultra Series 2 CPUs.
- USB ports are limited to 5 Gbps and power delivery is weaker than competing boards.
- Despite modest VRMs, the board performed average to above average in testing, though it ran hotter and may need good case airflow.
ASRock B860 Challenger Wifi Motherboard — If you're building a budget Intel Arrow Lake system, this board gives you a full ATX layout, Wi-Fi 7, 2.5GbE, and three M.2 slots without breaking the bank. It's a practical pick for anyone wanting solid core features while skipping premium extras like high-speed USB or beefy VRMs.
See ASRock B860 Challenger Wifi Motherboard on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: tomshardware.com — Joe Shields, 2026-10-31
Published there as: “ASRock B860 Challenger Wifi Motherboard Review: Entry-level ATX at a great price, with drawbacks”
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