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ASUS TUF GAMING B850-PLUS WIFI vs MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI

Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›

all judged against motherboards at a similar price

The MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI scores 7.5/10 overall, ahead of the ASUS TUF GAMING B850-PLUS WIFI at 7.3/10.

The MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI leads on value.

They score the same on platform and features, connectivity, power delivery and BIOS and support.

ASUS TUF GAMING B850-PLUS WIFI

ASUS TUF GAMING B850-PLUS WIFI

7.3/10verdict: good, not the best

The ASUS TUF GAMING B850-PLUS WIFI is an ATX AM5 board for building a mainstream Ryzen 9000, 8000 or 7000 desktop. It suits buyers who want PCIe 5.0 graphics, Wi-Fi 7, 2.5GbE and a 20Gbps USB-C port on one board. It is less suited to extreme overclockers or anyone who needs several PCIe 5.0 drives.

Typically about £184.90 in the UK when we researched itSearch Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI

MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI

7.5/10verdict: buy

This board is for AM5 builders who want a full-size ATX B850 platform with 80A power stages and 5Gbps networking. It suits people planning a high-end Ryzen chip, including the 9950X3D, which one reviewer says the VRM can handle at stock limits. Buyers who need USB4 or more than one Gen5 NVMe slot should read the limits below first.

Typically about £189.99 in the UK when we researched itSearch Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Scores, criterion by criterion

CriterionWeightASUS TUF GAMING B850-PLUS WIFIMSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI
Platform and features25%7/107/10
Connectivity25%8/108/10
Power delivery20%8/108/10
BIOS and support15%6/106/10
Value15%7/108/10
Overall7.3/107.5/10

Specifications

SpecASUS TUF GAMING B850-PLUS WIFIMSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI
CPU socket (e.g. AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700)AM5; supports AMD Ryzen 9000, 8000 and 7000 seriesAMD Socket AM5
ChipsetAMD B850AMD B850
Form factor (ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX, E-ATX)ATX, 30.5 x 24.4 cmATX
Memory: type (DDR4 or DDR5), number of slots, maximum capacity and speedDDR5, 4 DIMM slots, maximum 256GB, up to 8000+ MT/s overclocked, ECC and non-ECC unbuffered supportDDR5, 4 DIMM slots, dual channel, up to 256GB, DDR5-8200+ MT/s (OC)
M.2 NVMe slots and their PCIe generationThree Key M slots: M.2_1 is 2280 PCIe 5.0 x4 with Ryzen 9000 and 7000 CPUs; M.2_2 is PCIe 4.0 x4; M.2_3 is 2280 PCIe 4.0 x4 sharing bandwidth with the second x16 slot3 slots: 1x M.2 Gen5 x4 (CPU-sourced), 2x M.2 Gen4 x4
PCIe slotsOne PCIe 5.0 x16; one PCIe 4.0 x16 (x8/x4 on 8000 series CPUs, x4 on chipset); two PCIe 4.0 x11x PCIe 5.0 x16, 1x PCIe 4.0 x4, 1x PCIe 3.0 x1
Wired and wireless networking (e.g. 2.5GbE, Wi-Fi 7)Realtek 2.5Gb Ethernet; Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, 2x2) with Bluetooth 5.4Realtek 5G LAN (5Gbps), Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Rear USB ports, including USB-C and USB4Rear (10 ports): one USB 20Gbps Type-C, three USB 10Gbps Type-A, four USB 5Gbps Type-A, two USB 2.0. Front: one USB 10Gbps Type-C, one USB 5Gbps header, two USB 2.0 headers. USB4 only via internal Thunderbolt header1x USB 20Gbps Type-C, 4x USB 10Gbps (2 Type-A, 2 Type-C), 4x USB 5Gbps Type-A, 8x USB 2.0; no USB4

Strengths and weaknesses

ASUS TUF GAMING B850-PLUS WIFI

  • + Wi-Fi 7, 2.5GbE and a rear 20Gbps USB-C port
  • + 14+2+1 80A DrMOS power stages with 8+8 pin power
  • + BIOS FlashBack button plus EZ Flash 3 and CrashFree BIOS 3
  • − Only one M.2 slot runs at PCIe 5.0
  • − USB4 only through an internal Thunderbolt header
  • − Some owners report memory and boot problems

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who want more than one PCIe 5.0 M.2 drive
  • Buyers who need USB4 ports on the rear panel
  • Extreme overclockers pushing heavy voltage and power limits
Read the full ASUS TUF GAMING B850-PLUS WIFI review ›

MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI

  • + 5Gbps LAN and Wi-Fi 7 included
  • + 14+2+1 phase VRM with 80A power stages
  • + Rear Flash BIOS button
  • − No USB4
  • − Only one PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot
  • − Just one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need USB4 for docks or external GPU enclosures
  • Builders planning several PCIe 5.0 NVMe drives
  • Anyone wanting a smaller micro-ATX or mini-ITX board
Read the full MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI review ›

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