Expert’s Rating
Pros
- Great set of options for the $260 value
- Three M.2 slots, 20Gb/s USB, PCIe Gen 4
- Good networking and audio choices
- Stealth design appears to be like nice, plus Integrated I/O protect and screwless M.2
Cons
- Would be nice to see M.2 slot covers on all areas
- Price means some limitations (no PCIe Gen 5) don’t take full benefit of AM5
Our Verdict
It’s good to see a feature-rich choice, that’s trendy as well, at a extra reasonably priced value vary. Not each gamer and content material creator wants the bells and whistles—and premium value!—of higher-end motherboards. The MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi has the chops (pun meant).
Price When Reviewed
239.99
Best Prices Today: MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi
$239.99
$239.99
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AMD’s Ryzen 7000 CPUs carry with them next-generation efficiency and options. Higher platform pricing is an unlucky aspect impact—however is there a strategy to have your next-gen motherboard cake and eat it too?
For your consideration: the MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk, which goals to meet 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 eager to benefit from the brand new goodies in AMD’s AM5 platform, whereas saving a couple of dollars, the Tomahawk B650 might 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. While 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 completely with AMD’s Ryzen 7000 CPUs, and it additionally brings to the desk a lot of the good things like DDR5. The B650 chipset differs from B650E and X670E—the “extreme” 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, reminiscent of three onboard M.2 slots. (Granted, you’ll see some parity with the extra fundamental X670 motherboards with out the “E,” such because the Asus X670-P Prime.)
In the actual world, these theoretical variations between X670E and B650 typically don’t present themselves until you’re actually pushing your system.
The unboxing expertise is fundamental, as you’d anticipate 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 type issue
- Supports AMD AM5 Ryzen 7000 CPUs
- 14+2+1 Phase 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 Light
- 6 SATA 6Gb/s ports
- 8 PWM fan headers
- BIOS Flashback button
- Preinstalled I/O protect
- Realtek 7.1 ALC 4080 Audio
- MSRP $259.99
Thiago Trevisan / Foundry
MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi: Features
With it’s $259 MSRP, the Tomahawk’s function set has a lot of the good things. For networking, you’ll have each Wi-Fi 6E, together with 2.5GbE LAN—identical to on rather 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 enough. With three onboard M.2 slots, you’ll have greater than sufficient pace and house for gaming. This can also be a present for content material creators who don’t want greater than that and may subsequently avoid wasting critical bucks! (There are six SATA ports right here as properly for exhausting drives.)
DDR5 is right here, and whereas which will add to the platform prices, costs have been steadily happening as extra kits can be found available on the market.
Ryzen 7000 CPUs provide you with an built-in iGPU—which is nice for diagnosing points without having a discreet GPU. You’ll get each HDMI and DisplayPort within the again. Together with BIOS Flashback, and the EZ debug LEDs, you might have the useful instruments that rather more costly motherboards additionally provide (albeit in a extra fundamental trend—no fancy debug show right here).
MSI provides us M.2 slots which are “screwless,” plus an built-in I/O protect—making the construct expertise significantly better! We’re glad to see these options work their approach into extra reasonably priced motherboards.
Audio can also be properly represented, with the Realteck 4080 codec, and a great providing of inputs/outputs on the again together with optical S/PDIF.
I/O can also be properly represented within the rear—with an considerable 10 USB ports. USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 kind C with 20Gb/s can also be right here, for these needing one of many quickest ports obtainable. You received’t discover USB4 with 40Gb/s, however that’s not anticipated at this value vary.
MSI additionally provides us M.2 slots which are “screwless,” plus an built-in I/O protect—making the construct expertise significantly better! We are glad to see these options work their approach into much more reasonably priced motherboards.
With surprisingly few compromises, the MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk delivers on a lot of the options of rather more costly choices—leaving little or no on the desk. Only these extra hardcore players or content material creators who want extra PCIe Gen 5 lanes, M.2 slots, quicker 10GbE, or extra substantial cooling may have extra—however you’ll additionally should 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.
Starting on the prime: The I/O protect space and VRMs are stealth and provides the motherboard a high-end look. The proper aspect, for its half, is naked—at this value level there’s not a whole lot of “armor” on faucet.
Making our strategy to the Tomahawk’s decrease areas, we’re greeted with a pleasant M.2 “Frozr” Shield excessive slot in addition to in the direction of the underside. This helps maintain 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 value class. Besides the easy “Tomahawk” lettering above the slots, the general look is minimal, however tasteful.
Thiago Trevisan / Foundry
Overall, there’s sufficient right here for it to be very enticing, 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 would like.
The built-in I/O protect sports activities USB ports that color-coded by pace. Well finished!
MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi: Performance, Software, and BIOS
The MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk has a 14+2+1 energy stage and six-layer PCB. While this appears to be like 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 can, and it might deal with it tremendous 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 protect 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 fulfill your wants. You get to benefit from next-gen efficiency with the DDR5 reminiscence assist.
Even the USB ports are loads 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, reminiscent of for the CPU and RAM settings. We suggest no less than setting the “Expo” RAM profiles with a view to benefit from your DDR5 equipment’s efficiency. Ryzen 7000 also can profit from some “Eco mode”-style tinkering if you happen to’re up for it, decreasing warmth and energy draw whereas sustaining most efficiency. (Check out our Ryzen 7000 Eco Mode tips here.)
Automatic overclocking reminiscent of AMD’s Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO) are discovered right here together with with MSI’s personal settings—however control your CPU temperatures as they will shortly 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 in all probability a great factor because it’s a brand new platform and there are sure to be fixes and refinements over time.
MSI Center is a software program choice for many who favor to remain out of the BIOS. Here you may regulate your fan curves, create RGB results, and monitor system-critical info. You also can examine for driver and software program updates! Motherboard firms have been working to simplify these software program options. While they’re nonetheless not good, it’s value a search for some features. Otherwise, the BIOS or separate bespoke software program can handle your settings.
Should you purchase the MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi?
With a price ticket of $259.99, it’s not a price range providing—however nonetheless rather more reasonably priced. Many AM5 motherboards are properly over $300, and right here’s the kicker: The MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk provides you a lot of the similar options as its extra pricey opponents!
It has competent networking, USB and M.2 choices, plus DDR5. It might even run the Ryzen 9 7950X if you happen to needed that.
Sure, it’s possible you’ll not get 10GbE networking, or USB4, and even RGB “armor” plates. Those are premium choices that include a premium value.
For players and content material creators who know their wants and may do with no 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 to be like fairly snazzy!