B660 vs Z690 Motherboards: A Complete Comparison to Help You Decide

Overview of B660 and Z690 Chipsets

The B660 and Z690 chipsets were launched alongside Intel‘s 12th generation Alder Lake desktop processors in early 2022. While outwardly similar, they serve different needs and users.

B660 motherboards offer a more affordable option focused on mainstream users who want good connectivity and features without breaking the bank. B660 boards work well for general purpose office machines, multimedia rigs, and even mid-range gaming builds.

In contrast, Z690 motherboards cater to enthusiasts, power users and high-end gamers. They offer advanced overclocking capabilities, robust power delivery for top-end CPUs, abundant connectivity and premium features. However, they cost significantly more than B660 boards.

Understanding the strengths of each chipset will help determine which platform better matches your budget, priorities and use case. This guide offers a detailed comparison on every aspect influencing your purchase decision.

B660 vs Z690 Specs Comparison

Let‘s first look at the hardware specifications of both chipsets:

As we can see, while CPU support is identical, Z690 pulls ahead in premium features. Next, let‘s analyze each area of differentiation in detail:

Overclocking Support

One of the main reasons enthusiasts choose Z690 boards is robust overclocking capabilities for the CPU and memory. You can tune settings to operate your components beyond stock speeds to extract additional performance.

B660 motherboards officially do not support CPU overclocking. Memory overclocking may work to an extent but is not guaranteed. If you wish to overclock high-end unlocked "K"-series CPUs, Z690 is the only option.

However, many mainstream users don‘t require extensive tweaking. Stock speeds are often good enough for gaming and productivity tasks.

PCIe Lanes and Connectivity

The Z690 chipset offers 28 total PCIe 4.0 lanes – 16 reserved for graphics with x8/x8 for dual GPUs, and 12 flexible lanes to connect peripherals like SSDs. This high bandwidth allows you to configure multiple fast NVMe drives and other add-in cards without bottlenecks.

In comparison, B660 only exposes 12 PCIe 4.0 lanes from the CPU. While sufficient for most, your expansion capabilities are restricted versus Z690, especially for content creation workloads.

USB Ports

Z690 motherboards typically offer up to 14 rear USB ports, a combination of USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20Gbps), Gen 2 (10Gbps), Gen 1 (5Gbps) and USB 2.0. With more Hubs and controllers, you get abundant high-speed connectivity for peripherals.

The B660 chipset includes 12 USB ports, mostly Gen 2 and Gen 1, which is decent enough for most peripherals you‘d realistically connect.

DMI Lanes and RAID Support

DMI (Direct Media Interface) 4.0 is the primary data channel between the CPU and chipset carrying multiple protocols like PCIe and USB. At x8 lanes, Z690 offers double the bidirectional bandwidth for traffic between CPU and PCH compared to B660‘s x4 DMI.

Both chipsets integrate SATA controllers with RAID capabilities, However, only Z690 supports advanced RAID modes using PCIe NVMe drives. This allows blazing fast redundant array configs not possible on B660.

For typical users these aspects may not matter much. But they contribute to the overall technical superiority of the Z690 chipset.

Performance Comparison

When coupled with an equally capable high-end CPU like the Core i9-12900K, the Z690 platform unlocks more performance potential versus B660:

• Higher multi-core boost clocks possible when overclocking the CPU.
• Faster memory speeds and lower latencies with overclocked DDR5.
• Higher bandwidth for GPUs and NVMe SSDs with 20 PCIe lanes.
• More capable VRMs to feed up to 340W power to the top CPUs.

Comparatively for the B660 chipset:

• CPU runs at stock speeds since overclocking is not supported.
• Official DDR4 3200 MT/s and DDR5 4800 MT/s memory speeds.
• 12 PCIe lanes still sufficient for most graphics cards and SSDs.
• VRMs rated for at most 125W CPUs such as the i7-12700K or below.

As a result, an equivalent Z690 build can achieve ~10% higher gaming FPS, better benchmark scores, faster content creation workflows leveraging CPU and memory overclocks.

However, if you utilize a mainstream mid-range CPU such as the i5-12400, both B660 and Z690 will offer similar real-world performance since such CPUs cannot be overclocked anyway.

Gaming Performance

To quantify the above, here‘s a summary of some average gaming FPS numbers across resolutions when using an RTX 3080 graphics card:

<tr>
   <td>1440p </td>
  <td>121 FPS</td>
  <td>129 FPS</td> 
  <td>140 FPS</td>
</tr>

 <tr>
   <td>4K</td>
  <td>64 FPS</td>
  <td>69 FPS</td>
  <td>75 FPS</td> 
</tr>

Platform >	B660 + i5-12600K	Z690 + i5-12600K	Z690 + i9-12900K OC
1080p	155 FPS	168 FPS	185 FPS

We see at lower resolutions, a CPU/memory overclock on an already powerful config gives a 15-20% uptift. So enthusiasts trying to max out frame rates will benefit.

But at 4K, the difference shrinks to 15% or less since graphics cards become the bottleneck. For casual gamers playing at 4K or 1440p, both B660 and Z690 offer satisfactory experiences.

Prices and Value Comparison

The biggest tradeoff between these two chipsets is cost versus capabilities:

Z690 motherboards span a wide spectrum – from $250 entry-level models to $700 flagship boards packing every premium feature. On average expect to spend $350 and upwards for a decent Z690 motherboard with good VRMs and connectivity.

In contrast, B660 motherboards are purposely designed for affordability. The most basic models start from $125 while high-quality boards land around $200. This segment is aimed squarely at budget-conscious system builders.

No doubt Z690 boards cost nearly double for the additional overclocking support, PCIe lanes and superior power delivery. Whether or not those extras justify the price tags depend on your specific needs.

If chasing peak benchmarks or frame rates is vital, the added 20% headroom on Z690 makes sense for enthusiasts. Others who just want a solid gaming PC without pursuing overclocking records can save plenty opting for B660 instead.

Our Recommendations

Based on the above analysis, here is our guidance on choosing between Z690 and B660 motherboards:

For High-end Gaming Rigs and Workstations

If building a top-tier gaming PC using Intel‘s best i7 or i9 CPUs that you intend to overclock, no question selecting a premium Z690 motherboard is recommended to extract full performance.

Models like the MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi offer a robust power delivery subsystem, efficient cooling, and cutting-edge DDR5 memory support to handle overclocked configs. Thunderbolt 4, WiFi 6E and 10GbE LAN add future-proofing.

For Mid-range Gaming Builds

The mid-range i5 and i7 12th gen processors offer tremendous multi-threaded grunt for both gaming and content creation. Paired with a B660 motherboard like the MSI Pro B660M-A WIFI DDR4, you can assemble a very capable 1080p or 1440p gaming rig more affordably.

While lacking CPU overclocking, theseboards still support fast memory configs. And features like M.2 Gen 4 storage, 2.5 Gbit LAN, WiFi 6 and plenty of USB 3.2 ports check all boxes for responsive gameplay.

Entry-level Budget Builds

At the lowest end, the Intel i3 processors like the 12400F retain high per-core speed perfect for e-sports titles. Couple with with a no-frills MSI Pro B660M-E DDR4 costing just $140.

You miss out on bells and whistles but this combination delivers reliable 60+ FPS gaming, quick system responsiveness and ample connectivity for the price. Perfect for first-time PC gamers or kids.

So in summary – choose Z690 for max performance, or B660 for the best blend of gaming prowess and value. Either way with 12th Gen Intel you are assured solid experiences. Let your budget dictate!

Frequently Asked Questions

The Best B660 and Z690 Motherboards

Here are some specific motherboard recommendations if you‘ve decided between B660 or Z690 chipsets:

B660 Motherboards:

• Gigabyte B660 Gaming X DDR4
• MSI MAG Mortar B660M WiFi DDR4
• ASUS ROG Strix B660-I Gaming WiFi
• ASRock B660 Steel Legend
• MSI Pro B660M-A WIFI DDR4

Z690 Motherboards:

• MSI MEG Z690 Unify
• Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Elite AX DDR4
• ASRock Z690 Taichi
• ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero
• MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi

These deliver the best blend of high-end VRMs, connectivity and premium features within their respective price ranges. Be sure to match with an appropriate Intel Alder Lake CPU as per recommended specs.

Bottom Line

While the Z690 impresses with cutting edge functionality for power users, don‘t underestimate the capability of B660 motherboards either. Equipped with 12th Gen Intel processors, both platforms offer tremendous gaming experiences and application performance at their respective price points.

Figure out your exact hardware requirements and usage model before deciding. Overclocking fanatics will get their money‘s worth from premium Z690 boards. But even mid-range B660 models excel at fast 1080p gaming while keeping things affordable.

I hope this detailed side-by-side analysis gives clarity in picking the motherboard that best matches your budget and needs. Building an outstanding Intel-based gaming PC is now possible for all budgets thanks to these two capable chipsets!