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MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI

~£189.99typical UK price when we researched it
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MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI review

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

by SudoPicks Research · editor Paul HR · published 25 Oct 2026 · updated 25 Oct 2026

MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI
7.5out of 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.

joint 1st of 16 motherboards we've reviewed
~£189.99typical UK price when we researched itSearch Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)Or look for a used one on eBay UK ›

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New to motherboards? What they are and what to look for

The motherboard is the main circuit board of a desktop PC. Every other part plugs into it: the processor, memory, graphics card, SSDs and the cables to the case.

Do you need a motherboard? Only if you're building or upgrading a desktop. Choose it after the processor, because the two must use the same socket.

What to look for

  • The socket that matches your processor (AM5, AM4, LGA1851 or LGA1700)
  • The size your case takes: ATX, Micro-ATX or Mini-ITX
  • Enough M.2 slots, USB ports and built-in Wi-Fi or 2.5GbE if you want them

Unsure about a word? Jargon explained

How the 7.5 adds up

Our motherboards rubric
  • 7Platform and features25% of score
  • 8Connectivity25% of score
  • 8Power delivery20% of score
  • 6BIOS and support15% of score
  • 8Value15% of score

Against the 16 motherboards we've reviewed

bar = the range of all 16 · dot = this one · better →

  • Overall score 7.5/10joint 1st of 16
  • Price £189.998th cheapest
  • Value for money Better value than most5th best of 15

Support and features

Power draw108W idle, 383W under load (measured by owners or reviewers, source)
Software updatesNo end date announced; not found in the sources checked

Compatibility

LinuxNot confirmed. No MSI or vendor Linux support was found, and the one non-MAX Linux report describes a rear mic jack that works on Windows but not Linux. source

Pros and cons

+ pros

  • 5Gbps LAN and Wi-Fi 7 included
  • 14+2+1 phase VRM with 80A power stages
  • Rear Flash BIOS button

− cons

  • No USB4
  • Only one PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot
  • Just one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot

Price history

Price history appears here once we have tracked this product for a few days.

The full review

Where it fits

The MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI is a full-size ATX board for AM5 on the B850 chipset. It targets builders who want a Ryzen desktop with three M.2 slots, Wi-Fi 7 and a 14+2+1 phase power design. It also has a Flash BIOS button on the rear I/O panel.

Platform and storage7/10

The board has one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot for graphics, one PCIe 4.0 x4 slot and one PCIe 3.0 x1 slot. With that mix, it suits a single GPU plus one or two add-in cards, such as a capture card or a network card.

Storage comes from three M.2 slots. One is Gen5 x4 and is fed by the CPU. The other two are Gen4 x4. A Gen5 NVMe drive can sit in the first slot while two Gen4 drives cover bulk storage. Only one slot runs at Gen5 speed, so anyone planning several Gen5 drives will run out quickly.

Memory support is DDR5 across four DIMM slots in dual channel, up to 256GB. MSI lists speeds up to DDR5-8200+ MT/s with overclocking. Four slots and a 256GB ceiling suit workstation-style builds, such as running several VMs or large compile jobs, alongside gaming.

Connectivity8/10

The wired port is a Realtek 5Gbps LAN. Wireless is Wi-Fi 7 with Bluetooth 5.4. Both are on the board, so you do not need to add a network card or a wireless card for either.

The USB list is long. There is one 20Gbps USB-C port, four 10Gbps ports (two Type-A, two Type-C), four 5Gbps Type-A ports and eight USB 2.0 connections. That covers fast external SSDs, a dock and a pile of peripherals. The 20Gbps port is the fastest on the board, and MSI's specification lists no USB4. If you need USB4 for a dock or an external GPU enclosure, this board will not provide it.

Power delivery8/10

MSI uses a 14+2+1 phase design with MPS MP87670 80A power stages. Two 8-pin EPS connectors feed it. With 80A stages and dual 8-pin inputs, the hardware points to a board aimed at high-core-count Ryzen chips.

One reviewer states the VRM can handle a Ryzen 9 9950X3D at its stock power limit of about 183W PPT. That is a reviewer's statement, not the result of a throttling test on this exact board, so treat it as a guide rather than a guarantee.

BIOS and support6/10

The rear I/O panel has a Flash BIOS button. The BIOS chip is 64MB. Those are the two firmware-related details MSI lists for the board.

Value8/10

The board lists Wi-Fi 7, 5Gbps LAN, three M.2 slots, a 20Gbps USB-C port and the 14+2+1 phase VRM. FPS Review calls it one of the best values it has seen for an AM5 board. Check the current price shown on this page against that view, since the board's appeal rests on how much of that feature list you will use.

Verdict

This is a full-size B850 ATX board with fast networking, plenty of USB and a Flash BIOS button. It suits a build around a powerful Ryzen chip where those features matter. Its limits are clear: no USB4, one Gen5 M.2 slot and one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot. If those limits do not affect your plans, the 5Gbps LAN, Wi-Fi 7 and 14+2+1 phase VRM are the main reasons to consider it.

Who should skip it
  • 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
Full specifications
CPU socket (e.g. AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700)AMD Socket AM5
ChipsetAMD B850
Form factor (ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX, E-ATX)ATX
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)
M.2 NVMe slots and their PCIe generation3 slots: 1x M.2 Gen5 x4 (CPU-sourced), 2x M.2 Gen4 x4
PCIe slots1x 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 5G LAN (5Gbps), Wi-Fi 7, 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 USB4
Sources

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