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MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI vs MSI MAG Z890 TOMAHAWK WIFI

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

all judged against motherboards at a similar price

The MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI and MSI MAG Z890 TOMAHAWK WIFI both score 7.5/10 overall.

The MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI leads on power delivery.

The MSI MAG Z890 TOMAHAWK WIFI leads on connectivity and BIOS and support.

They score the same on platform and features and value.

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

MSI MAG Z890 TOMAHAWK WIFI

MSI MAG Z890 TOMAHAWK WIFI

7.5/10verdict: buy

This is for builders putting a Core Ultra (Series 2) CPU on a Z890 board who want strong connectivity without paying flagship money. It suits people who want 5Gbps LAN, Wi-Fi 7 and Thunderbolt 4 on one ATX board. It is less suited to anyone who wants RGB lighting or onboard power and reset buttons.

Typically about £283.89 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

CriterionWeightMSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFIMSI MAG Z890 TOMAHAWK WIFI
Platform and features25%7/107/10
Connectivity25%8/109/10
Power delivery20%8/106/10
BIOS and support15%6/107/10
Value15%8/108/10
Overall7.5/107.5/10

Specifications

SpecMSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFIMSI MAG Z890 TOMAHAWK WIFI
CPU socket (e.g. AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700)AMD Socket AM5LGA 1851, supports Intel Core Ultra Processors (Series 2)
ChipsetAMD B850Intel Z890
Form factor (ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX, E-ATX)ATXATX, PCB 243.84 x 304.8 mm
Memory: type (DDR4 or DDR5), number of slots, maximum capacity and speedDDR5, 4 DIMM slots, dual channel, up to 256GB, DDR5-8200+ MT/s (OC)4 x DDR5 UDIMM slots, maximum 256GB, 9200+ MT/s (OC) with 1DPC 1R, 6400 (OC) / 4800 (JEDEC) MT/s headline spec, also supports CUDIMM and non-ECC unbuffered memory
M.2 NVMe slots and their PCIe generation3 slots: 1x M.2 Gen5 x4 (CPU-sourced), 2x M.2 Gen4 x44 x M.2 slots: M.2_1 PCIe 5.0 x4 (CPU), M.2_2 PCIe 4.0 x4 (CPU), M.2_3 PCIe 4.0 x4 (chipset), M.2_4 PCIe 4.0 x4 or SATA (chipset); separate Key-E slot for the Wi-Fi module
PCIe slots1x PCIe 5.0 x16, 1x PCIe 4.0 x4, 1x PCIe 3.0 x1PCI_E1 PCIe 5.0 x16 (CPU); PCI_E2 and PCI_E3 PCIe 4.0 x4 each (chipset)
Wired and wireless networking (e.g. 2.5GbE, Wi-Fi 7)Realtek 5G LAN (5Gbps), Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4Intel Killer E5000B 5Gbps LAN; Intel Killer BE1750x Wi-Fi 7 with Bluetooth 5.4
Rear USB ports, including USB-C and USB41x USB 20Gbps Type-C, 4x USB 10Gbps (2 Type-A, 2 Type-C), 4x USB 5Gbps Type-A, 8x USB 2.0; no USB4Rear: 3 x USB 10Gbps Type-A, 4 x USB 5Gbps Type-A, 1 x USB 10Gbps Type-C, 2 x Thunderbolt 4 Type-C (up to 40Gbps); front: 1 x 20Gbps Type-C with USB PD 27W, 2 x 5Gbps Type-A, 4 x USB 2.0 headers

Strengths and weaknesses

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 ›

MSI MAG Z890 TOMAHAWK WIFI

  • + 5Gbps LAN, Wi-Fi 7 and two Thunderbolt 4 ports
  • + Front 20Gbps USB-C header with 27W USB PD
  • + Four M.2 slots, one of them PCIe 5.0
  • − Owners report hot VRMs with no active cooling
  • − No onboard power or reset buttons
  • − No RGB lighting

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who want several PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots for multiple Gen 5 drives.
  • Builders who want RGB lighting on the motherboard.
  • Open-bench or test-rig users who want onboard power and reset buttons.
Read the full MSI MAG Z890 TOMAHAWK WIFI review ›

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