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MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI vs TUF GAMING B650-PLUS 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 TUF GAMING B650-PLUS WIFI at 6.3/10.

The MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI leads on platform and features, connectivity, power delivery, BIOS and support 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 itCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

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

TUF GAMING B650-PLUS WIFI

TUF GAMING B650-PLUS WIFI

6.3/10verdict: good, not the best

This is an ATX AM5 board for builders who want a B650 platform with PCIe 5.0 NVMe, three M.2 slots and 2.5GbE. It suits Ryzen 7000, 8000 and 9000 builds that need a good spread of rear ports and a front USB-C header. Buyers who want Wi-Fi 7, rear USB4 or a PCIe 5.0 graphics slot need to look elsewhere.

Typically about £127.99 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at 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 WIFITUF GAMING B650-PLUS WIFI
Platform and features25%7/106/10
Connectivity25%8/107/10
Power delivery20%8/106/10
BIOS and support15%6/105/10
Value15%8/107/10
Overall7.5/106.3/10

Specifications

SpecMSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFITUF GAMING B650-PLUS WIFI
SocketAMD Socket AM5AM5 (supports Ryzen 9000, 8000 and 7000 series desktop processors)
ChipsetAMD B850AMD B650
Form factorATXATX, 30.5 x 24.4 cm
MemoryDDR5, 4 DIMM slots, dual channel, up to 256GB, DDR5-8200+ MT/s (OC)DDR5, 4 DIMM slots, speeds 4800 to 7600+ (OC), ECC and non-ECC unbuffered, EXPO; spec page lists 256GB maximum, user manual lists 128GB
M.2 slots3 slots: 1x M.2 Gen5 x4 (CPU-sourced), 2x M.2 Gen4 x4Three M.2 Key M slots (2242/2260/2280; M.2_2 also 22110). M.2_1 PCIe 5.0 x4 and M.2_2 PCIe 4.0 x4 with Ryzen 9000/7000; M.2_3 PCIe 4.0 x4 from chipset, sharing bandwidth with the second x16 slot. Four SATA 6Gb/s ports.
PCIe slots1x PCIe 5.0 x16, 1x PCIe 4.0 x4, 1x PCIe 3.0 x1With Ryzen 9000/7000: one PCIe 4.0/3.0 x16 slot. With Ryzen 8000: one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot (x8/x4). From B650 chipset: one PCIe 4.0/3.0 x16 slot (x4 mode) and two PCIe 4.0/3.0 x1 slots.
NetworkingRealtek 5G LAN (5Gbps), Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4Realtek 2.5Gb Ethernet with TUF LANGuard; 2x2 Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with Bluetooth 5.2; no Wi-Fi 7
Rear USB1x USB 20Gbps Type-C, 4x USB 10Gbps (2 Type-A, 2 Type-C), 4x USB 5Gbps Type-A, 8x USB 2.0; no USB4Rear: 8 ports (1 USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C, 3 USB 3.2 Gen 2 including 1 Type-C, 4 USB 2.0 Type-A); no rear USB4. Front: 1 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C plus USB 3.2 Gen 1 and 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 ›

TUF GAMING B650-PLUS WIFI

  • + PCIe 5.0 x4 M.2 slot plus two more M.2 slots
  • + Rear USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C and 2.5GbE
  • + Owners praise its value and rear I/O
  • − Wi-Fi 6 only, with no Wi-Fi 7
  • − Four of eight rear USB ports are USB 2.0
  • − One reviewer found BIOS and RGB setup bothersome

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who want Wi-Fi 7 or rear USB4
  • Builders who want a PCIe 5.0 graphics slot
  • People who need many fast rear USB ports
Read the full TUF GAMING B650-PLUS WIFI review ›

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