MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi evaluation: Proper motherboard for the worth!

Finest Costs Right this moment: MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi

£221.58

AMD’s Ryzen 7000 CPUs deliver with them next-generation efficiency and options. Larger platform pricing is an unlucky aspect impact—however is there a approach to have your next-gen motherboard cake and eat it too?

In your consideration: the MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk, which goals to satisfy that efficiency promise with out breaking the financial institution. With an MSRP of $259.99, is that this sufficient to assist alleviate a few of the prices related to AM5?

We’ll go over the specs, and discuss concerning the board’s options, efficiency chops, and design attributes. For these desirous to make the most of the brand new goodies in AMD’s AM5 platform, whereas saving a couple of dollars, the Tomahawk B650 may match the invoice.

MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi: The Specs

Thiago Trevisan / Foundry

The MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk blends the favored Tomahawk sequence with B650. Whereas the worth has gone as much as $259.99 MSRP from the B550, it’s nonetheless among the many extra reasonably priced AM5 motherboards.

This ATX motherboard will work solely with AMD’s Ryzen 7000 CPUs, and it additionally brings to the desk many of the great things like DDR5. The B650 chipset differs from B650E and X670E—the “excessive” variants—primarily by having much less theoretical USB and SATA ports, and no PCIe Gen 5. You’ll nonetheless have loads of PCIe Gen 4 right here, equivalent to three onboard M.2 slots. (Granted, you’ll see some parity with the extra primary X670 motherboards with out the “E,” such because the Asus X670-P Prime.)

In the true world, these theoretical variations between X670E and B650 typically don’t present themselves except you’re actually pushing your system.

The unboxing expertise is primary, as you’d count on for $259. You do get Wi-Fi and a Wi-Fi antenna, some stickers, EZ M.2 clips, and the same old SATA cables.

• ATX kind issue
• Helps AMD AM5 Ryzen 7000 CPUs
• 14+2+1 Part Design with six-layer PCB
• DDR5 RAM, twin channel as much as 4 DIMMs (as much as 128Gb)
• 3x onboard M.2 slots (PCIe Gen 4)
• 2x PCIe 16x slot (PCIe Gen 4, 16x/4x)
• HDMI and DisplayPort out
• 10 USB ports on again (together with 20Gb/s)
• Realtek 2.5GbE LAN
• AMD Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2
• RGB headers for Mystic Gentle
• 6 SATA 6Gb/s ports
• 8 PWM fan headers
• BIOS Flashback button
• Preinstalled I/O defend
• Realtek 7.1 ALC 4080 Audio
• MSRP $259.99

Thiago Trevisan / Foundry

MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi: Options

With it’s $259 MSRP, the Tomahawk’s function set has many of the great things. For networking, you’ll have each Wi-Fi 6E, together with 2.5GbE LAN—similar to on far more costly motherboards.

On the I/O aspect, you’ll be lacking PCIe Gen 5, however since there isn’t a lot {hardware} to even saturate these ports but, PCIe Gen 4 is greater than ample. With three onboard M.2 slots, you’ll have greater than sufficient velocity and area for gaming. That is additionally a present for content material creators who don’t want greater than that and might due to this fact avoid wasting critical bucks! (There are six SATA ports right here as properly for laborious drives.)

DDR5 is right here, and whereas which will add to the platform prices, costs have been steadily taking place as extra kits can be found in the marketplace.

Ryzen 7000 CPUs provide you with an built-in iGPU—which is nice for diagnosing points while not having a discreet GPU. You’ll get each HDMI and DisplayPort within the again. Along with BIOS Flashback, and the EZ debug LEDs, you’ve the helpful instruments that rather more costly motherboards additionally provide (albeit in a extra primary trend—no fancy debug show right here).

Audio can also be properly represented, with the Realteck 4080 codec, and providing of inputs/outputs on the again together with optical S/PDIF.

I/O can also be properly represented within the rear—with an ample 10 USB ports. USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 sort C with 20Gb/s can also be right here, for these needing one of many quickest ports accessible. You gained’t discover USB4 with 40Gb/s, however that’s not anticipated at this worth vary.

MSI additionally provides us M.2 slots which can be “screwless,” plus an built-in I/O defend—making the construct expertise a lot better! We’re glad to see these options work their method into much more reasonably priced motherboards.

With surprisingly few compromises, the MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk delivers on many of the options of far more costly choices—leaving little or no on the desk. Solely these extra hardcore players or content material creators who want extra PCIe Gen 5 lanes, M.2 slots, sooner 10GbE, or extra substantial cooling might have extra—however you’ll additionally need to pay extra.

Thiago Trevisan / Foundry

MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi: Design

The MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk sports activities a decidedly streamlined design—nothing frivolous right here! The largely blacked-out, easy aesthetic is sort of impactful, and can slot in with nearly any construct.

Beginning on the prime: The I/O defend space and VRMs are stealth and provides the motherboard a high-end look. The precise aspect, for its half, is naked—at this worth level there’s not loads of “armor” on faucet.

Making our approach to the Tomahawk’s decrease areas, we’re greeted with a pleasant M.2 “Frozr” Defend excessive slot in addition to in the direction of the underside. This helps preserve your drives cool—and it’s a disgrace the function wasn’t utilized to the final uncovered M.2 slot as properly. The screwless M.2 slots themselves are a pleasant design alternative at this worth class. Moreover the easy “Tomahawk” lettering above the slots, the general look is minimal, however tasteful.

Thiago Trevisan / Foundry

Total, there’s sufficient right here for it to be very engaging, and the areas that don’t have a lot occurring will probably be blocked by giant GPU coolers anyway. There are not any native RGB results, however you do get RGB headers for including no matter you want.

The built-in I/O defend sports activities USB ports that color-coded by velocity. Nicely carried out!

MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi: Efficiency, Software program, and BIOS

The MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk has a 14+2+1 energy stage and six-layer PCB. Whereas this appears much less spectacular on paper in comparison with higher-end motherboards, it’s greater than sufficient. You wouldn’t essentially pair a Ryzen 9 7950X with this board—however you would, and it could deal with it effective with out going loopy. For its $259 MSRP, this motherboard makes extra sense with the Ryzen 5 7600X or Ryzen 7 7700X—an ideal complement.

The I/O defend space and VRM heatsinks are substantial sufficient for nearly something, and the M.2 slots’ “Frozr” cooling amor provides confidence (although we want it was on all M.S slots).

You’re lacking out on PCIe Gen 5 efficiency, however PCIe Gen 4 is greater than sufficient to satisfy your wants. You get to make the most of next-gen efficiency with the DDR5 reminiscence help.

Even the USB ports are lots quick, with 20Gb/s speeds—which is just beat by the 40Gb/s discovered on just a few choose premium motherboards.

The MSI BIOS is simple to make use of, with loads of tweaking choices, equivalent to for the CPU and RAM settings. We advocate at the very least setting the “Expo” RAM profiles with the intention to make the most of your DDR5 equipment’s efficiency. Ryzen 7000 also can profit from some “Eco mode”-style tinkering in the event you’re up for it, lowering warmth and energy draw whereas sustaining most efficiency. (Take a look at our Ryzen 7000 Eco Mode ideas right here.)

Automated overclocking equivalent to AMD’s Precision Increase Overdrive (PBO) are discovered right here together with with MSI’s personal settings—however regulate your CPU temperatures as they will rapidly get sizzling! (Ryzen 7000 is extra more likely to be restricted by your CPU cooler, than the motherboard itself!)

For AM5 B650 motherboards, frequent BIOS updates are most likely factor because it’s a brand new platform and there are sure to be fixes and refinements over time.

MSI Heart is a software program possibility for individuals who choose to remain out of the BIOS. Right here you possibly can alter your fan curves, create RGB results, and monitor system-critical data. You may as well verify for driver and software program updates! Motherboard firms have been working to simplify these software program options. Whereas they’re nonetheless not good, it’s value a search for some features. In any other case, the BIOS or separate bespoke software program can handle your settings.

Must you purchase the MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi?

With a price ticket of $259.99, it’s not a price range providing—however nonetheless far more reasonably priced. Many AM5 motherboards are properly over $300, and right here’s the kicker: The MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk provides you many of the similar options as its extra expensive rivals!

It has competent networking, USB and M.2 choices, plus DDR5. It may even run the Ryzen 9 7950X in the event you needed that.

Certain, you could not get 10GbE networking, or USB4, and even RGB “armor” plates. These are premium choices that include a premium worth.

For players and content material creators who know their wants and might do and not using a few bleeding-edge facilities, you’ll be rewarded with a wholesome assortment of specs and first rate pricing. Plus, we predict its stealth and minimalist design appears fairly snazzy!