Introduction<\/h2>\n
Today, we now have the MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI<\/a> within the office to try.\u00a0 This motherboard is an element of MSI\u2019s MAG (MSI Arsenal Gaming) series, which sits as MSI\u2019s offering for more budget-conscious offerings.\u00a0 Together with this, MSI has also released an X870E TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI to enrich the B850 variant we now have today, which we are going to have a look at in a future review.<\/p>\n With the B850 TOMAHAWK coming in at $229, it is unquestionably geared toward the more budget-conscious DIY\u2019ers today.\u00a0 At this price point, MSI has three (3) total M.2 slots for NVME drives, all of which have M.2 Sheild FROZR \u2018s, together with 4 (4) SATA ports for lots of storage options.\u00a0 Despite the fact that that is on the lower end of MSI\u2019s price range, it has the features to let it punch above its weight class.<\/p>\n MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI AM5 ATX Motherboard<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI AM5 ATX Motherboard<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n As will be expected with the MAG series, there just isn’t a complete lot included within the box for extras.\u00a0 The items most probably to truly be used are the EZ WIFI Antenna (with no prolonged stand that we sometimes have included), an EZ Front Panel connector (For quick connection of front panel headers), a 1 to three EZ Conn-Cable for RGB lighting, a spare EZ M.2 Clip II, and an EZ M.2 Clip II Remover tool.\u00a0 <\/p>\n After this, there may be the usual quick installation guide, European Union Regulatory Notice, in addition to a page of cable stickers to help with cable management or to fancy up your case.\u00a0 Finally, there may be the \u201cShout Out\u201d pamphlet to remind you to register your motherboard and to depart a review.<\/p>\n With the brand new generation of MAG TOMAHAWK offerings, MSI has modified the design from predominantly black with white accents to black with green for the accents, which matches the identical refresh done when the Intel Z890 offerings were released.\u00a0 As we now have come to expect with most full-size motherboards, there are the usual 4 (4) DDR5 memory slots, three (3) M.2 slots, and 4 (4) total SATA ports for storage and memory options.\u00a0 Beyond this, MSI has gone with a FROZR II style heat sink for the first M.2 slot, and the remaining two (2) have a normal FROZR cooler.<\/p>\n MSI has gone with a 14+2+1 VRM power design on the MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI<\/a>.\u00a0 With this, there may be an 80Amp Smart Power Stage, which should find a way to maintain up for normal operation with Performance Boost Overdrive (PBO) enabled.\u00a0 The FROZR cooling just isn’t just on the M.2 drives; it is usually incorporated within the VRM cooling with prolonged Heatsinks on all the facility elements, in addition to an oversized heatsink on the B850 chipset.\u00a0 All of this allowed for full PBO operation for us during testing, nonetheless we are usually not certain this power system will hold as much as higher-end overclocking, even with the OC Engine MSI has included onboard.<\/p>\n Much like all B850 motherboards we now have had within the office thus far, the MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI<\/a> can only utilize Non-ECC, Un-buffered, DDR5 memory, with a maximum capability of 64 GB per slot (with a complete of 256 GB).\u00a0 Assuming your memory is up for the duty, you’ll find a way to push speeds of as much as 8,200 MT\/s, or higher, when using a single memory slot\/stick, which is among the highest speeds we now have seen on the B850 platform.\u00a0 Unfortunately, we’re unable to totally test the speed as our Patriot kit is barely able to as much as 6,200 MT\/s, which had no issues being met with each the A2 and B2 slots occupied.<\/p>\n There are a complete of three (3) M.2 slots on the MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI<\/a>, with only the M.2_1 being Gen5 speeds from the CPU, which is standard for a motherboard on this tier.\u00a0 The remaining two (2) slots are Gen 4 speeds, with only the M.2_3 slot being provided from the chipset.\u00a0 While there are only three (3) total slots, the upside is that irrespective of the mixture of M.2 drives, USB ports used, or PCIe slots used, they may run at their respective speed generation.\u00a0 <\/p>\n As we touched on earlier, MSI has provided cooling for all three of those slots, with the M.2_1 having the EZ M.2 Shield Frozr II tool-less solution, and M.2_2 & M.2_3 sharing the more standard M.2 Shield Frozr, which requires removal of two small screws to access the slots.\u00a0 Overall, the cooling is adequate on the 2 Gen4 slots, and should have no issues assuming your M.2 drives are single-sided.\u00a0 The Gen5 slot, M.2_1, just isn’t as robust as we now have seen in other motherboards from MSI, nonetheless it should still find a way to work for many drives that wouldn’t have integrated heat sinks from the manufacturer.\u00a0 Beyond the M.2 slots, there are a complete of 4 (4) SATA 6 GB\/s ports that will be present in the standard location beside the chipset.<\/p>\n The MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAW<\/a>K WIFI has three (3) total PCIe slots, with the first being the lone Gen5 x16 slot from the CPU, while the center slot is able to Gen4 x4 operation, and the bottom-most slot is a Gen 3 x1 slot.\u00a0 Even with this being a more budget focused motherboard, MSI has added just a few features to the expansion slots which are greatly appreciated, with the Steel Armor II system on the highest most slot for added strength with more modern GPU\u2019s, in addition to their EZ PCIe Release system for making removal so simple as pressing a button positioned on the underside right of the DDR5 slots.\u00a0 <\/p>\n These are each features we regularly see on mid-to-higher range offerings, which is way appreciated on this motherboard.\u00a0 The last item we would like to attract attention to with the expansion is the PCIE_PWR1 plug, which you’ll see at the underside of the motherboard. That is an 8-pin power connector intended solely for adding supplemental power to all three (3) of the PCIe slots, and so as to add stability to any higher power GPUs, or NPU\u2019s, that a user might install.\u00a0<\/p>\n I\/O on the MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI<\/a> is a mixed bag, with a complete of 17 USB ports available, 10 of which will be found on the rear I\/O panel.\u00a0 Of those, there are two (2) Type-C connectors, a 10Gbps and a 20 Gbps, 4 (4) Type-A ports split evenly between 5Gbps and 10Gbps, and eventually 4 (4) USB 2.0 slots.\u00a0 This implies the remaining seven (7) USB ports consist of 1 (1) Type-C 10Gbps port, two (2) Type-A 5Gbps, and 4 (4) USB 2.0 ports.<\/p>\n Beyond the USB ports, the rear I\/O panel has an HDMI port for video out, a 5G LAN Port from a Realtek 8126VG chip, WIFI ports for WIFI 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, a Flash CMOS Button in addition to a Clear CMOS button, and eventually, there may be an S\/PDIF Out plug alongside the MIC-IN and Line Out plugs.\u00a0 This audio supports as much as 7.1 Channel surround sound from the Realtek ALC4080 Codec.<\/p>\n For cooling connection, there are a complete of eight (8) 4-pin fan connectors with 4 (4) within the upper right corner of the motherboard, and 4 (4) in the underside center.\u00a0 Of those, there may be one (1) port intended for the CPU cooler fan, one (1) able to as much as 3 Amp power delivery for pump power, and the remaining six (6) are intended for system fan operation.\u00a0 <\/p>\n After this, there may be the MSI exclusive \u201cEZ CONN. \u2013 JAF_2\u201d connector, which is a proprietary connector MSI has included for quick connection of MSI liquid coolers and fans, allowing for a single connection to work for the facility and RGB control.\u00a0 On the subject of RGB control, the JAF_2 connector just isn’t the one option, as there are three (3) total Addressable V2 connectors (JARGB_V2), together with a single RGB LED connector (JRGB). \u00a0All of those will be controlled with MSI\u2019s Mystic Light software of their Hub, which can even allow use of Ambient Link to tie in other RGB\u2019s positioned in your space.<\/p>\n As we now have seen with all current generation UEFI BIOS\u2019s from MSI, the MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI<\/a> utilizes the \u201cClick BIOS X\u201d, one among the more favored implementations we now have seen.\u00a0 Since we now have already passed through the Click BIOS X intimately in multiple reviews previously, we’re going to focus on just a few features and invite you to dig into the gallery below.<\/p>\n Once you enter the UEFI for the primary time, you’re prompted to pick a Precision Boost Override (PBO) setting of either \u201cAuto\u201d or \u201cEnabled\u201d, which looks as if it\u2019s the identical option, nonetheless it just isn’t.\u00a0 Select \u201c Once you might have decided, you’re greeted with the usual \u201cEZ Mode\u201d screen, providing you with quick access to regulate XMP memory speed settings, a fast overview of system statuses, and quick access to either M-Flash for BIOS upgrades or the Hardware Monitor for adjusting fan\/pump speeds.\u00a0 You’re also able to try the BIOS Log up top to see what changes have been made within the session; this can even show up before you save changes and exit the UEFI as well.<\/p>\n When within the Advanced tab up top, accessed with the \u201cF7\u201d key or just by clicking it, you should have access to all of the deeper system settings and standing information.\u00a0 The primary tab gives the user information on the storage devices connected, in addition to the BIOS version and construct date.\u00a0 <\/p>\n When diving into the Advanced tab, there are alternatives for every thing from the PCIe Subsystem Settings to Integrated GPU, to USB and wake-up event settings, to even the primary location of AMD Overclocking options.\u00a0 Overclocking can either be accessed here for more of the \u201cnitty gritty\u201d settings, or just navigating to the Overclocking tab will give quick access to probably the most adjusted settings (note that this can not have every setting here).\u00a0 For more information on what settings will be adjusted, take a have a look at the gallery below.<\/p>\n As with all of our recent 2025 reviews, we shall be using our recent performance section.\u00a0 You will see images of all of our testing leads to the gallery, while the next paragraphs summarize what we experienced.\u00a0 As with our 2025 AMD reviews, in 2026, we shall be using our Ryzen 9 7900X CPU for all of our performance benchmarks.<\/p>\n Our first test is the storage test, and as we mentioned above, with this review, we now have done something barely different from what we typically do.\u00a0 We still are using our MSI SPATIUM M570 PRO FROZR (originally reviewed at the top of 2023) as our primary drive, and our ADATA LEGEND 970 2TB NVME SSE within the second Gen5 slot, and for this review we now have added a further drive, a SK Hynix Platinum P41 1TB drive, with the goal of pushing the CPU and chipset so far as we will.\u00a0 <\/p>\n During testing, the M570 got here in at 12,370 MB\/s read and 11,651 MB\/s write, the LEGEND 970 got here in at 7,452 MB\/s read and seven,014 MB\/s write.\u00a0 The P41 1TB drive clocks in at 7,118 MB\/s read and 6,525 MB\/s write, just barely behind the faster Gen5 drive in the opposite Gen4 slot.\u00a0 All of those speeds are about what we’d expect.<\/p>\n The subsequent test is our memory testing using AIDA64\u2019s Cache & Memory Benchmark. The MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI<\/a> was in a position to achieve a read speed of 73,785 MB\/s, a write speed of 77,156MB\/s, and a duplicate speed of 67,403 MB\/s.\u00a0 These speeds are throughout where we expect them on the B850, with the write speed beating among the X870E motherboards we now have had within the office.<\/p>\n Our synthetic benchmark tests are up next, with 3DMark, PCMark, Cinebench (R23 and 2024), V-Ray, Blender, and eventually GeekBench6.\u00a0 3DMark is available in with a rating of 13,142 for max threads within the CPU Profile test, and a CPU rating of 20,591 for Night Raid, with a complete rating of 10,508 (Includes full system).\u00a0 PCMark is available in with a complete rating of seven,003, which continues the trend we saw with the MSI MEG X870E ACE of a lower rating than anticipated with this CPU.\u00a0 After this, Cinebench R23 clocks in at 29,565 points on the Multi-Core, and a couple of,031 points on the Single-Core test, and 2024 is available in with 1,650 points and 122 points respectively, each Cinebench results bring us back to where we expect to be with our testing, and truly exceed the recently reviewed MEG X870E ACE from MSI.\u00a0<\/p>\n With V-Ray, we had a final rating of 31,344, which is true at what we expect with this setup.\u00a0 Blender is available in at 209 for the Monster test, 157 for junkshop, and 113 for classroom, again right consistent with expectations.\u00a0 Our final synthetic benchmark is Geekbench, where we hit a Multi-Core rating of 18,567 and a Single-Core rating of three,081, which is inline with what we expect, if not barely ahead.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The last testing we accomplished on the MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI<\/a> is the VRM temperature test.\u00a0 For this test, we run the Cinebench 2023 Multi-Core test for at least quarter-hour to totally stress the system.\u00a0 On the 15-minute mark, we take a screenshot and record the temperatures as reported by probably the most current version of HWiNFO 64, in addition to a manual temperature reading with a Handheld Infrared thermometer.\u00a0 All testing occurs at an ambient temperature of roughly 75\u00b0F (24\u00b0C).<\/p>\n Cooling for the MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI<\/a> is beefed up in comparison with among the B850 motherboards we now have seen.\u00a0 Our handheld thermometer read a extreme temperature of 44.7\u00b0C, while HWiNFO gave us a maximum MOSFET temperature of 58.0\u00b0F, and a chipset temperature of 47.4\u00b0C.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI<\/a> could also be on the lower end of MSI\u2019s range of enthusiast motherboards; nonetheless, its performance is available in on the upper end.\u00a0 It’s in a position to compete with motherboards within the MEG and MPG range, and at a lovely price.\u00a0 Cooling was greater than adequate, as was the 14+2+1 power delivery, at the least at \u201cstock\u201d PBO settings.<\/p>\n![\"Newegg.com\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.thefpsreview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Banner-Image_MSI-MAG_B850-TOMAHAWK-WIFI.webp\")
<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nPackaging and Contents<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\nMSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI Features<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\nPower Delivery<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\nMemory and Storage<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/a><\/figure>\nExpansion<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\nI\/O<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\nUEFI<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n
\u201cEnabled\u201d if you wish to guarantee it’s enabled, when you want the BIOS \/ System to choose when to show it on, then \u201cAuto\u201d is the selection for you.\u00a0 <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\nMotherboard Performance<\/h2>\n
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\nVRM Temperature<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nConclusion<\/h2>\n
Installation and Use<\/h2>\n