It's been three years since the AMD AM5 motherboard platform and the 600-series motherboards launched. Since its launch, the platform has seen the launch of several CPUs in the Ryzen 7000, Ryzen 8000, and Ryzen 9000 families. While the 600-series motherboards provide great features & compatibility with newer Zen 5 CPUs, motherboard makers are always looking to enhance user experiences through the latest technologies, so AMD has introduced a new chipset line called the 800-series.
Now, AMD has introduced both X870 and B850 series chipsets for high-end and mainstream AM5 motherboards. Both of these chips provide brand-new designs and brand-new features that are sure to entice new AMD builders and older AM4 users into investing in a new motherboard for their gaming and content creation needs.
We received a load of motherboards from various manufacturers, so let's start by taking a look at these updated designs. For this review, we will be testing MSI's latest AM5 refresh motherboard, which is part of its "MAX" series, the MAG B850 Tomahawk MAX WIFI II.
The AMD AM5 Platform
The AMD AM4 platform has been the longest-running modern-day platform to date, which was first introduced in 2017 & is very much alive and kicking in 2024. The lineup consists of X870E, X870, and the B850 series, with the X870 series aiming at the high-end tier while the B850 covers the mainstream and entry-level tiers.
The AMD B850 chipset offers both Gen5 and Gen4 capabilities, with Gen5 primarily being used for NVMe storage devices and Gen4 for graphics. The motherboard makers have the option to dedicate the Gen5 lanes to a discrete graphics card if they want. The AM5 motherboards based on the B850 chipset will also feature USB 3.2 (20 Gbps) support, so no USB4 like the high-end options. Graphics will be handled in x16 (Gen4) or x8 (Gen5 or Gen4) configurations. The good thing is that B850 motherboards support both memory and CPU overclocking and are targeted at Intel's B760 family, which mostly covers the $100-$200 US range.
AMD Chipset Features and Specifications:
| Wccftech | X870E | X870 | X670E/X670 | B650E/B650 | A620 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CrossfireX/SLI | 2-Way CFX | 2-Way CFX | 2-Way CFX | 2-Way CFX | N/A |
| CPU Lanes (Usable) | 24 Gen 5 (with Ryzen 7000 CPUs & above) | 24 Gen 5 (with Ryzen 7000 CPUs & above) | 24 Gen 5 (with Ryzen 7000 CPUs & above) | 24 Gen 5 (with Ryzen 7000 CPUs & above) 24 Gen 4 for B650 | 24 Gen 4 (with Ryzen 7000 CPUs & above) |
| PCH Lanes (Usable) | 8 Gen4 12 Gen3 | 4 Gen4 8 Gen3 | 12 Gen4 8 Gen3 | 8 Gen4 4 Gen3 | 8 Gen 3 |
| USB4 | Standard | Standard | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| USB 3.1/3.2 Gen2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| USB 3.1/3.2 Gen1 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 6 | 2 |
| USB 2.0 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 |
| SATA 6Gb/s | 8 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 4 |
| DDR5 DIMMs | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| DDR4 DIMMs | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Overclocking Support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A |
| XFR2 Enhanced | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A |
| Precision Boost Overdrive | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A |
| NVMe | Yes (Gen 5.0) | Yes (Gen 5.0) | Yes (Gen 5.0) | Yes (Gen 5.0) | N/A |
| Form Factor | ATX/ITX | ATX/mATX/ITX | ATX/mATX/ITX | ATX/mATX/ITX | mATX/ITX |
The motherboards will feature support for DDR5-5600 MT/s memory speeds natively and over 8000 MT/s transfer rates on some of the high-end motherboards that we will be getting by the July timeframe.
The AMD B850 motherboards will feature the same Promontory 21 die, minus the native USB4 support. They will carry Gen5 GPU support, but Gen5 M.2 support will be optional. The B840 will be the entry-level option within the series with the older Promontory 19 die, which means you will get just Gen4 GPU/SSD support, no CPU overclocking, and only memory overclock support. The B840 motherboards are going to be very affordable in terms of pricing, so that will be competitive against sub-$200 US options from Intel.
AMD will also have the A620/A620A series continuing its role to serve the entry-level segment. There are plans to offer even more price adjustments, making them a viable option for ODMs and system builders to attract more customers.
AMD AM5 Chipset Comparisons:
| Chipset Name | PCIe Lanes Gen (PCH) | USB Support (Max) | Overclocking Support | Graphics Configs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| X870E | Gen5 (GPU & NVMe) | USB4 | CPU+Memory | 1x16, 2x8 |
| X670E | Gen5 (GPU & NVMe) | USB 3.2 (20 Gbps) USB4 (Optional) | CPU+Memory | 1x16, 2x8 |
| X870 | Gen5 (GPU & NVMe) | USB4 | CPU+Memory | 1x16, 2x8 |
| X670 | Gen5 (NVMe) Gen4 (GPU) | USB 3.2 (20 Gbps) USB4 (Optional) | CPU+Memory | 1x16, 2x8 |
| B850 | Gen5 (NVMe / GPU Opt) Gen4 (GPU) | USB 3.2 (20 Gbps) | CPU+Memory | 1x16, 2x8 |
| B650E | Gen5 (NVMe / GPU) | USB 3.2 (20 Gbps) USB4 (Optional) | CPU+Memory | 1x16, 2x8 |
| B650 | Gen5 (NVMe) Gen4 (GPU) | USB 3.2 (20 Gbps) USB4 (Optional) | CPU+Memory | 1x16, 2x8 |
| B840 | Gen3 (NVMe / GPU) | USB 3.2 (10 Gbps) | Memory Only | 1x16 |
| A620 | Gen4 (NVMe / GPU) | USB3.2 (10 Gbps) USB4 (Optional) | Memory Only | 1x16 |
Meet The LGA 1718 Socket - How Long Will This One Last?
As mentioned earlier, AM4's reign is finally over, and the AM5 socket is here now. The new socket moves from a PGA (Pin-Grid-Array) design to an LGA (Land-Grid-Array) layout. The new LGA 1718 socket offers more pin connections to the CPU, allowing for more communication channels with the board itself and enabling support for enhanced features that the new platform has to offer.
As for longevity, AMD has committed to a 2027+ plan for its latest AM5 socket. The AM4 platform is a testament to AMD's support for its consumers, and while the newer 500-series lineup was locked out initially, the company and its partners worked towards extending support for older processors on the newer chipsets and newer CPUs on older motherboards. The AM4 platform continues to be the best seller in the Ryzen lineup, but that would change with the introduction of more budget and feature-rich designs for the AM5 socket, like the 800-series.
Cooler Compatibility With AM5 Socket
The AMD Ryzen 7000/8000/9000 Desktop CPUs will feature a perfect square shape (45x45mm) but will house a very chunky integrated heat spreader or IHS. The CPUs will be the same length, width, and height as the existing Ryzen Desktop CPUs and are sealed across the sides, so applying thermal paste won't fill the interior of the IHS with TIM. That's also why current coolers will be fully compatible with the latest Ryzen CPUs.
The MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk MAX WiFi II motherboard comes in a standard cardboard package. The front features a picture of the motherboard & this is a MAG product that refers to MSI Arsenal Gaming. The packaging also lists down a few features such as the 64 MB BIOS, & support for PCIe 5.0 (GPU / NVMe), DDR5 & Overclocking.
The backside of the package lists the specifications and special features of the motherboard, such as the 14 Duet Rail power system, the EZ M.2 Shield Frozr II SSD heatsinks, EZ PCIe release, Lightning Gen5 slots, Extended VRM Heatsink, OC Engine, and Bluetooth 5.4 + 5G LAN.
Inside the package is another box that contains the accessories and is located right below the box holder for the board itself. You get a Quick Installation Guide, a Cable Sticker sheet, an EZ Wi-Fi Antenna, 3 EZ M.2 Clips II, an EZ M.2 Clip II remover, 1 to 3 EZ Conn-Cable (V2), and a single SATA Cable.
With all the accessories done, it's time to put that box aside and take the motherboard out of its package.
The MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk MAX WIFI II motherboard is a standard ATX offering that measures 243.84 x 304.8 mm. The motherboard carries the standard Tomahawk and MAG series theme with an all-black color scheme.
The MAG Tomahawk series is regarded as one of the best value options for those who are looking for high-end features. These boards may not be the most flashy ones around, but they come with a great set of features and specs, along with strong support for the latest AMD Ryzen CPUs on the market. MSI has gone with a black and silver design, removing the lime green colors that were featured on the previous B850/X870 Tomahawk series due to negative feedback. You can read our review of that motherboard here.
The board uses the LGA 1718 socket to support AMD Ryzen "AM5" processors. The socket works with Ryzen 7000, Ryzen 8000G, and Ryzen 9000 CPUs and will also support future generations of AM5 Ryzen chips that are supported by the platform.
Next to the socket are four DDR5 DIMM slots that can support up to 256 GB of dual-channel memory.
These slots are rated to support XMP profiles up to 8400 MT/s (OC Plus). Each slot is labeled, making it easier to install DIMMs in the proper orientation. DDR5 memory comes with a different latch position, so forcing a DDR4 module into a DDR5 slot will cause permanent damage. Each slot is also combined with a reinforced design to make sure signal integrity remains good while keeping the slots durable for long-term usage. The full QVL list can be found here.
Furthermore, MSI also lists support for CUDIMM memory, but only in Clock Driver bypass mode, which is essentially going to run the CUDIMM as a standard UDIMM. Manual overclocking will be available on CUDIMM modules after a restart, but certain CPUs may fail to boot with this type of memory installed, and MSI is working towards a new BIOS to improve compatibility for CUDIMM & CPUs.
The MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk MAX WIFI II motherboard features a 14+2+1 (VCore/ VccGT/VccAUX) phase Duet Rail power delivery that is controlled by the MP2837 PWM controller and utilizes the MPS2516 MP87670 80A Power Stages.
The VRMs and power delivery solution are scattered around the AM5 socket. The board uses an 8-layer NPG-170D server-grade PCB with 2oz thickened copper.
The VRMs receive ample cooling from the Frozr Thermal solution. These include an extended heat sink, M.2 Shield Frozr, and Enlarged PCH heatsinks.
The CPU is supplied power through an 8+8-pin power connector configuration. This will feed the CPU with up to 300 Watts of power. The AMD Ryzen 9000 CPUs are very power-hungry, with the maximum target power going above 220W for the flagship Ryzen 9 9950X CPU.
Coming to the Frozr heatsink solution, we first have the extended heatsink, which makes use of two aluminum blocks with a series of fins that are stacked on top of each other.
Underneath the VRM heatsink are 7W/mK Thermal pads, which transfer heat from the VRMs to the heatsink.
Expansion slots include three PCI Express x16 (1 x Gen 5.0 x16/8 / 1x Gen 4.0 x4 / 1x Gen 3.0x1) and four M.2 slots. The PCIe 4.0 x4 slot shares bandwidth with the third M.2 Gen4 slot, so when that is enabled, the PCIe slot will operate at x2 mode. If you want to use the full x4 bandwidth of the PCIe slot, the M.2 slot is going to be disabled.
- PCI_E1 Gen PCIe 5.0 supports up to x16 (From CPU)
- PCI_E2 Gen PCIe 3.0 supports up to x1 (From Chipset)
- PCI_E3 Gen PCIe 4.0 supports up to x4 (From Chipset)
The motherboard utilizes a full metallic slot, and the MSI also features its EZ PCIE release mechanism, which provides for a seamless removal of graphics cards. Just push the EZ release button, and you can remove the graphics card with ease.
The motherboard also has a vast array of M.2 slots, all of which are featured under dedicated M.2 Frozr heatsinks.
All of the heatsinks are easy to remove thanks to the EZ M.2 mechanism. You have to push the metal bracket inwards, and the whole panel will pop out. It's also fairly easy to install back as the latches have magnetic locks that secure the panel in place.
The primary M.2 Shield Frozr heatsink is the bigger one and provides better cooling to a Gen5 M.2 SSD. This has the same latching mechanism as the M.2 SSDs and comes with a Tomahawk MAX II logo at the front. Following is the full list of M.2 ports and their details on the MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk WIFI II motherboard:
- M.2_1 Source (From CPU) supports up to PCIe 5.0 x4, supports 22110/2280 devices
- M.2_2 Source (From CPU) supports up to PCIe 5.0 x4, supports 2280/2260 devices
- M.2_3 Source (From Chipset) supports up to PCIe 4.0 x2, supports 2280/2260 devices
- M.2_4 Source (From Chipset) supports up to PCIe 4.0 x4, supports 2280/2260 devices
The B850 PCH is housed beneath a large heatsink with the MAG logo etched over it.
The motherboard has no RGB LEDs on its own but comes with 3 ARGB and 1 RGB LED connectors for users to personalize their PCs using the MSI Mystic RGB software.
Storage options include four SATA III ports rated to operate at 6 GB/s. These can support 4 different storage devices at once. For the front IO, you get 4 USB 2.0 ports, 4 USB 5 Gbps ports, and a single USB Type-C 20Gbps port.
MSI uses a 7.1 CH HD audio design with the latest Realtek ALC4080 CODEC.
There is a large selection of connectors on the motherboard, and one of the highlights is the 8-pin power connector for PCIe Gen5 ports, which should provide additional power when running multi-GPU solutions for AI purposes. This PEG connector can offer up to 150W of power through the PCIe slots and can also increase the maximum excursion rating by 2.5x.
The full list of connectors on the motherboard is listed as follows.
- 1x Power Connector(ATX_PWR)
- 2x Power Connector(CPU_PWR)
- 1x Power Connector(PCIE_PWR 8pin)
- 1x CPU Fan
- 1x Combo Fan (Pump_Sys Fan)
- 6x System Fan
- 1x EZ Conn-header (JAF_2)
- 2x Front Panel (JFP)
- 1x Chassis Intrusion (JCI)
- 1x Front Audio (JAUD)
- 3x Addressable V2 RGB LED connector (JARGB_V2)
- 1x RGB LED connector(JRGB)
- 1x TPM pin header(Support TPM 2.0)
- 2x Direct OC Jumper (JBCLK)
- 4x USB 2.0 ports
- 4x USB 5Gbps Type A ports
- 1x USB 20Gbps Type C ports
MSI is using the latest WIFI 7 Module to power wireless connectivity and Bluetooth 5.4. In terms of Ethernet, there is a single LAN port powered by the 5GbE RTL8126 controller.
The motherboard comes with the following I/O connectors:
- Clear CMOS Button
- USB 10Gbps Type-A
- USB 5Gbps Type-A
- USB 2.0
- 5G LAN
- Wi-Fi / Bluetooth
- Audio Connectors
- Flash BIOS Button
- HDMI™
- USB 10Gbps Type-C
- USB 10Gbps Type-C
- USB 10Gbps Type-A
- Optical S/PDIF-OUT
For testing, I used the Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU, which was sent to us by AMD, on a range of B850 motherboards.
AMD B850-series "AM5" Motherboard Test Platform:
| Processors | AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D |
|---|---|
| Motherboard | MSI B850 Tomahawk MAX WIFI II (7E62v5A12) MSI B850MPOWER (1A11) ASRock B850 Challenger WIFI (3.40) Biostar B850MT-E PRO (B85AQ407.BSS) MSI MAG B850M Mortar WIFI (7E61v1A3) ASRock B850 Steel Legend WIFI (3.20) ASRock B850 PG RIPTIDE WIFI (3.20) ASRock B850 LiveMixer WIFI (3.20) ASRock B850I PG Lightning (3.20) ASRock X870E Taichi (3.08 AGESA 1.2.0.2) |
| Power Supply | FSP Hydro G 1200W PSU |
| Solid State Drive | Crucial T700 2 TB Gen5 SSD |
| Memory | T-Force Delta RGB DDR5-7200 (CL34 2 x 16 GB) |
| Video Cards | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition |
| Cooling Solutions | Arctic Liquid Freezer III 420mm AIO |
| OS | Windows 11 64-bit |
Our test rig includes the Crucial T700 2 TB Gen5 SSD that boots up our main OS. In addition to these, we are running an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition graphics card and an FSP MEGA Ti 1650W PSU. For this specific review, we used the T-Force Delta RGB DDR5-7200 memory kit running at CL34 timings.
All B850 Motherboards Memory Support (Official Rating)
The AMD B850 motherboards are listed with some of the highest-listed DDR5 memory support out of the box. Following is how each of the motherboards we tested stacks up in terms of maximum frequency support:
Max DDR5 Speed Support In MT/s (Higher is Better)
3DMark CPU Profile Benchmark
Instead of producing a single number, the 3DMark CPU Profile shows you how your CPU's performance changes and scales with the number of cores and threads used. The 3DMark CPU Profile has six tests that help you benchmark and compare CPU performance for gaming and other activities.
3DMark CPU Profile (Max Threads) (Higher is Better)
Blender
Blender is a free and open-source 3D creation suite. It supports the entirety of the 3D pipeline—modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing, motion tracking, and even video editing and game creation.
Blender 2.8 (Lower is Better)
Cinebench 2024
Cinebench 2024 utilizes the power of Redshift, Cinema 4D's default rendering engine, to evaluate your computer's CPU and GPU capabilities. Cinebench 2024 is designed to accommodate a broad range of hardware configurations, while it seamlessly supports x86/64 architecture (Intel/AMD) on Windows and macOS.
Cinebench 2024 (Higher is Better)
Cinebench R23
Cinebench is a real-world cross-platform test suite that evaluates your computer’s hardware capabilities. Improvements to Cinebench Release 20 reflect the overall advancements to CPU and rendering technology in recent years, providing a more accurate measurement of Cinema 4D’s ability to take advantage of multiple CPU cores and modern processor features available to the average user.
Cinebench R23 (Higher is Better)
CPU-Z
CPUz is a freeware that gathers information on some of the main devices of your system, such as the Processor name and number, codename, process, package, cache levels, Mainboard, chipset, Memory type, size, timings, and module specifications (SPD), and Real-time measurement of each core's internal frequency, memory frequency.
CPU-z (Higher is Better)
Geekbench 6
Geekbench 6 is a cross-platform benchmark that measures your system's performance with the press of a button.
Geekbench 6 (Higher is Better)
HandBrake
HandBrake is a tool for converting video from nearly any format to a selection of modern, widely supported codecs.
Handbrake (Higher is Better)
PCMark 10
PCMark 10 is a complete PC benchmarking solution for Windows 10. It includes several tests that combine individual workloads covering storage, computation, image and video manipulation, web browsing, and gaming. Specifically designed for the full range of PC hardware from netbooks and tablets to notebooks and desktops, PCMark 10 offers complete Windows PC performance testing for home and business use.
PCMark 10 (Higher is Better)
POV-Ray
The POV-Ray package includes detailed instructions on using the ray tracer and creating scenes. Many stunning scenes are included with POV-Ray, so you can start creating images immediately when you get the package.
POV-Ray 3.7 (Higher is Better)
SuperPI
Super PI is used by many overclockers to test the performance and stability of their computers. In the overclocking community, the standard program provides a benchmark for enthusiasts to compare “world record” pi calculation times and demonstrate their overclocking abilities. The program can also be used to test the stability of a certain overclock speed.
SuperPi 32M (Lower is Better)
WinRAR
WinRAR is a powerful archive manager. It can back up your data and reduce the size of email attachments, decompress RAR, ZIP, and other files downloaded from the Internet, and create new archives in RAR and ZIP file formats.
Winrar (Lower is Better)
V-Ray Render Benchmark
V-Ray Benchmark is a free, standalone application to test how fast your system renders. Three custom-built test scenes are also included to put each V-Ray 6 render engine through its paces.
V-Ray 6 (Higher is Better)
Battlefield V
Battlefield V brings back the action of the World War 2 shooter genre. Using the latest Frostbite tech, the game does a good job of looking gorgeous in all ways possible. From the open-world environments to the intense and gun-blazing action, this multiplayer and single-player FPS title is one of the best-looking Battlefield titles to date. The game was tested at max settings at 1440p.
Battlefield V (2K)
Battlefield V (2K) PBO+CO
DOOM Eternal
DOOM Eternal brings hell to Earth with the Vulkan-powered idTech 7. We test this game using the Ultra Nightmare Preset and follow our in-game benchmarking to stay as consistent as possible.
DOOM (2K)
DOOM (2K) PBO+CO
Counter-Strike 2
Counter-Strike 2 is the latest addition to Valve's CS series with a complete visual overhaul, bringing the FPS to a new generation of gamers.
Counter-Strike 2 (2K)
Counter-Strike 2 (2K) PBO+CO
Metro Exodus
Metro Exodus continues the journey of Artyom through the nuclear wasteland of Russia and its surroundings. This time, you are set over the Metro, going through various regions and different environments. The game is one of the premier titles to feature NVIDIA’s RTX technology and does well in showcasing the ray-tracing effects in all corners. The game was tested at Ultra settings with RTX settings turned off at 1440p.
Metro Exodus (2K)
Metro Exodus (2K) PBO+CO
Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 is an action role-playing video game developed by CD Projekt Red and published by CD Projekt. The story takes place in Night City, an open world set in the Cyberpunk universe. Players assume the first-person perspective of a customizable mercenary known as V, who can acquire skills in hacking and machinery with options for melee and ranged combat. The game uses CD Projekt Red's in-house Red Engine, which is one of the most visually breathtaking and also one of the most graphics-intensive engines designed to date.
Cyberpunk 2077 (2K)
Cyberpunk 2077 (2K) PBO+CO
The AMD Ryzen 9000 CPUs come in the same two or three chiplet configurations as the Ryzen 7000 series, with one or two of which are the aforementioned AMD Zen 4 CCDs fabricated on the 4nm process node. Then we have the larger die around the center, the IOD, based on a 6nm process node. The AMD Ryzen 9000 CCD measures a die size of 70.6 mm2 and features a total of 8.6 billion transistors per CCD. The IOD has a die size of 122 m2 and features 3.4 billion transistors.
Scattered around the package are several SMDs (capacitors/resistors) that usually sit under the package substrate if we consider Intel's CPUs. AMD is instead featuring them on the top layer, and as such, they had to design a new kind of IHS, which is internally referred to as the Octopus.
Power Consumption (Stock System) Stress Test
Power Consumption (Stock) Gaming Test
AMD's Ryzen 9000 Desktop CPUs utilize a brand new Zen 5 core architecture that is built on the 4nm process node; as such, these chips are designed to be extremely efficient. The chips feature gold-plated IHS for efficient thermal transfer.
Temperatures (Stock)
Temperatures (Stress PBO+CO) Cinebench Test
AMD's Ryzen CPUs, especially the cost-effective X3D options, are currently selling like hotcakes. This huge demand has led motherboard makers to offer new, cost-optimized, and feature-rich options based on the X870 chipset since that is the most popular choice for mainstream builders. MSI has also upgraded its AM5 lineup to meet the growing demand for new motherboards and new feature sets, and is rolling out the "MAX" and "EVO" series. These boards continue to build upon existing designs with an improved set of features. Today, we tested and took a deeper look at the MAG B850 Tomahawk MAX WIFI II, extending the great mainstream feature-set of the Tomahawk series.
The MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk MAX WIFI II retains mostly the same specifications as the previous B850 Tomahawk design. Some minor changes include the new OC Engine, which adds an external BCLK chipset for enhanced overclocking support, a new PinSafe Design on the backside of the PCB, and a bigger 64MB BIOS. Another change is the slightly modified power delivery, which is the same amount at 14+2+1 VRMs but with different controllers, leading to slightly better operation. There is also an updated color scheme, which is now all-black with a few silver hints, a major uplift over the lime green colors used on the last offering.
- 4x USB 2.0 (Rear)
- 4x USB 2.0 (Front)
- 1x USB 5Gbps Type A (Rear)
- 4x USB 5Gbps Type A (Front)
- 2x USB 10Gbps Type A (Rear)
- 3x USB 10Gbps Type C (Rear)
- 1x USB 20Gbps Type C (Front)
Besides that, the motherboard has an ample array of IO capabilities with three full-length PCIe slots, including a Gen5 x16 design with EZ PCIe release, four M.2 slots, including two Gen5x4 with EZ M.2 release design, 19 USB ports, and 5GbE LAN with WIFI 7 & BT 5.4 support.
Following are our Pros/Cons for the MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk MAX WIFI II motherboard:
- +Solid Performance & Features at a solid price
- +Good VRM design with a decent cooling solution
- +256 GB Memory Support with up to 8400 MT/s
- +Great Color scheme with a black and silver theme
- +Dual Gen5 M.2 slots + 1 PCIe Gen5 x16 slot
- +All M.2 slots are Frozr cooled
- +EZ Release design for PCIe & M.2 adds user-friendliness
- +5GbE + WIFI7 + BT 5.4 combo for networking (wired+wireless)
- +21 USB ports, including dual USB4
- +BCLK OC Engine is a step up for mainstream overclockers
- +64 MB Large BIOS paves the way for future Ryzen firmware updates
- - No Debug LED
- -Just one M.2 slot with EZ release mechanism
We find the B850 Tomahawk to be much closer to its higher-end X870 sibling. Versus the last B850 Tomahawk, it features higher, faster memory support (8400 MT/s vs 8200 MT/s), better heatsinks on the VRMs, all M.2 slots covered by heatsinks, and the new OC Engine & 64 MB BIOS features. At a sub-$250 US price range, the MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk MAX WIFI II is easily going to be a great option for budget builders.
Contents
About the author: A Software Engineer by training and a PC enthusiast by passion, Hassan Mujtaba serves as Wccftech's Senior Editor for hardware section. With years of experience in the industry, he specializes in deep-dive technical analysis of next-generation CPU and GPU architectures, motherboards, and cooling solutions. His work involves not only breaking news on upcoming technologies but also extensive hands-on reviews and benchmarking.
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