AMD processors confidently lead the popularity ratings of chips for desktop PCs. Recently, the company has dominated the segment of enthusiasts who prefer to independently assemble their systems. So it is easy to guess which motherboards are of maximum interest. Despite the fact that the AM4 platform is still in considerable demand, especially in the niche of affordable solutions, more demanding users have long preferred Socket AM5. Today we have the MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI motherboard for review - a model of a recognizable series, aimed at rational buyers who need modern equipment, but at a reasonable price. Usually these are mutually exclusive definitions. Is the mission impossible?
| Model name | MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WiFi |
| Processors | Ryzen 7000/8000/9000 |
| Connector | Socket AM5 |
| Form factor | ATX, 305×244 mm |
| Chipset | AMD X850 |
| Memory | 4×DIMM DDR5, up to DDR5-8400+; 256 GB max. |
| Expansion slots | 1×PCI-E 5.0 x16 (x16); 1×PCI-E 4.0 x16 (x4); 1×PCI-E 3.0 x16 (x1) |
| Storage devices | 1×M.2 PCI-E 5.0 x4; 1×M.2 PCI-E 5.0 x4; 1×M.2 PCI-E 4.0 x2; 1×M.2 PCI-E 4.0 x4; 4×SATA 6 Gb/c |
| Chain | 1×5 GbE LAN (Realtek 8126-CG); 1×Wi-Fi 7 (Qualcomm FastConnect 7800) |
| Interface panel elements | 3×USB 3.2 Gen2 (Type-C); 2×USB 3.2 Gen2 (Type-A); 1×USB 3.2 Gen1 (Type-A); 4×USB 2.0 (Type-A); 1×HDMI 2.1; RJ-45; 2x Wi-Fi antenna; 2x audio; S/PDIF; Flash BIOS and Clear CMOS buttons |
| Fans | 8×4 pins (PWM/DC) |
| Sound | Realtek ALC4080 codec |
| Estimated price | 12,300 UAH (~$295) |
Package contents
The board comes in a medium-sized cardboard box with a simple, laconic design. The model name is printed in large font on the front panel, which will certainly make it easier to identify on the shelf.
The delivery set is somewhat expanded. In addition to the board, it includes a short paper installation manual (detailed - on the manufacturer's website), additional racks (EZ M.2 Clips II) for screwless mounting of drives and a key (EZ M.2 Clip Remover) for their installation. The manufacturer also offers one SATA cable, an external amplifier antenna EZ Wi-Fi Antenna for the wireless module, a 1 to 3 EZ Con Cable adapter for fans with ARGB lighting, as well as a useful extension cable to simplify the connection of controls (EZ Front Panel Cable). The complete set of stickers contains stickers with the logo of the gaming series and paired designations for marking cables.
Design and layout
As for the external design of the MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK Max WIFI, restraint of decorations prevails here. Black PCB base with matte finish, black radiators and system connectors. Bright contrast is added by the MAG line logos and the TOMAHAWK MAX signature on the M.2 cooler.
Externally, the board closely resembles the older MSI MAG X870 TOMAHAWK WiFi, which we reviewed earlier. In addition to the visual similarity, it is worth noting that the AMD B850 board also uses an 8-layer PCB - a good option that is not always found in mid-range models.
The board corresponds to the ATX format with classic dimensions - 305 × 244 mm. The model is ready to work with any processors for Socket AM5 - Ryzen 9000/8000/7000 series.
MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI received a fairly powerful power unit, identical to that of the older model. And this is a 17-phase scheme (14+2+1) with MP87670 power assemblies (up to 80A), controlled by the Monolithic Power Systems MP2857 controller. Surely the model will work without problems with top 16-core chips.
For cooling, a design with two coolers is provided, which is typical for the middle-top class. One of them has significantly increased dimensions and covers the area next to the interface panel. The resulting "dome" performs both a decorative function and significantly increases the heat dissipation area, improving the cooling of the power elements.
A pair of 8-pin EPS12V connectors are provided for connecting additional power.
The board offers four DIMM slots for RAM modules. The developers claim support for speed kits up to DDR5-8400+. Of course, this applies to cases using a pair of peer-to-peer boards with Ryzen 7000/9000 series processors. MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI can work with 64 GB modules, so the total RAM capacity can be 256 GB. By the way, among the validated kits listed on the manufacturer's website, DDR5-8400 kits are listed specifically when tested with Ryzen 9xxx.
The general layout also resembles that of the older model on AMD X870. The board has three full-size PCI-E x16 expansion slots. The main PCI_E1 connector, separated by metal "armor", complies with the PCI-E 5.0 standard and always works in PCI-E 5.0 X16 mode (Ryzen 7000/9000), using PCI-E processor lines. For motherboards on the AMD B850 chipset, support for the PCI-E 5.0 standard for the video card is not mandatory, but an optional feature that developers implement at their own discretion. Since the MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI obviously belongs to the cohort of expensive models on the corresponding chipset, the developers did not save on the appropriate wiring, allowing you to potentially use all the advantages of the new interface.
When using Ryzen 8700/ 8600/ 8400 processors, the main slot will comply with the PCI-E 4.0 x8 specification, and if the system has Ryzen 8500/ 8300 with a limited number of PCI Express lanes, it will comply with PCI-E 4.0 x4.
During the review of the older model, we already paid attention to the specific capabilities of the second full-size PCI_E2. Despite the dimensions, the slot complies with the PCI-E 3.0 x1 specification. Yes, there is no mistake. This is really a port for peripherals, which is enough for a relatively small bandwidth (up to 1 Gb/s). It can be a sound card, a network controller, or something similar.
The lower full-size PCI_E3 slot, like the previous one, is serviced by the chipset and offers PCI-E 4.0 x4 capabilities. However, it should be noted that it shares PCI-E lines with one of the M.2 ports. If necessary, the links can be divided in the proportion of x2+x2, or all four PCI_E3 lines are allocated to the slot, and the corresponding M.2 is disabled.
To increase the power supply of PCI-E ports, the board has an additional 8-pin PCIE_PWR1 connector.
MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI has four ports for M.2 drives, for which additional coolers are provided. M.2_1 allows you to use SSDs of format 22110/2280 with the PCI-E 5.0 x4 interface. The radiator has increased dimensions and screwless fastening, although a more massive design would not hurt for the highest-speed models, which heat up significantly under high load. Cooling from the back of the SSD in this case is not provided.
The second M.2_2 port also uses processor resources and offers support for the PCI-E 5.0 x4 interface. As for cooling, it is a shared block that is also used for M.2_3. The latter is serviced by the chipset and offers PCI-E 4.0 x2. We have already mentioned that this port uses PCI-E lanes together with PCI_E3. So it is more of a backup port in case other M.2 are already occupied by SSDs. In general, the PCI-E 4.0 x2 port has a bandwidth of up to 4 GB/s, so this will not be such a significant limiter for most cases.
The lower M.2_4 also uses the AMD B850 chipset modes, providing a PCI-E 4.0 x4 channel. It also has a separate cooler. The M2_2/3/4 ports allow you to install 2280/2260 format drives, and it is assumed that all SSDs will be connected via the PCI Express interface. M.2 models with SATA are not supported.
It should also be noted that all drives feature screwless mounting. You can use EZ M.2 Clips II or plastic latches.
As for the ability to use SATA drives, the board has four SATA 6 Gb/s ports. Considering that only one SATA cable is included with the board, it is obvious that the priority is on more modern M.2 PCI-E devices.
The AMD B850 chipset uses a fairly large cooler, the profile configuration is simple, but the dimensions will certainly improve the temperature regime of the chip.
If we talk about the possibilities of organizing the cooling of the system in general, then the MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI offers a lot of options. The board initially offers eight 4-pin connectors for connecting fans, as well as the proprietary EZ Conn for assemblies with USB-controlled lighting.
The idea of increasing the power of the connectors for the processor cooler (up to 24 W) and the liquid system pump (up to 36 W) seems quite justified, allowing the use of cooling systems of almost any configuration. For case fans, a typical specification is sufficient - 12 V, 1 A (12 W).
MSI once pioneered the idea of express monitoring of system parameters during boot. So a set of diagnostic LEDs has become a virtually mandatory element of even entry-level motherboards. Therefore, the presence of EZ Debug LED on MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI is quite expected. However, the board no longer has a segment LED indicator with error codes, which is equipped with TOMAHAWK on X870. Four LEDs can signal the presence of certain problems with the processor, memory, video card or boot drive.
There are no additional controls like Power/Reset buttons on the board. These are more of an option for enthusiast models that are more likely to end up on an open stand.
Along with the SATA ports, we note the presence of an internal USB Type-C, which allows you to display the corresponding port on the case panel, if the design of the latter allows it. Interestingly, in this case, the developers offer a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 interface with a bandwidth of up to 20 Gb/s. Typically, on mid-range boards, internal ports are limited to USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gb/s).
However, to fully exploit the capabilities of the interface, the USB Type-C port on the case must also support the USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 standard, otherwise bandwidth limitations will apply.
The audio subsystem uses a Realtek ALC4080 encoder, the circuit uses specialized capacitors, and the audio path area has additional insulation on the PCB.
The sound is generally well balanced, but the bass could be more and a little clearer. The high frequencies sound bright, but quite soft, the sharpness is felt only in individual tracks and quite weakly.
The name MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI suggests that the board is equipped with a wireless controller. Initially, the Qualcomm FastConnect 7800 with support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 is used here. The module is tri-band (2.4/5/6 GHz) and supports a 320 MHz bandwidth, so the data transfer rate can be up to 5.8 Gb/s.
The developers also pay attention to the fact that the complete amplifier antenna has magnetization for stable holding on the case lid.
To connect to a wired network, a Realtek RTL8126VB (5G Ethernet) controller is used.
The interface panel has a fixed metal cover with markings of the corresponding connectors. As for the composition itself, there are three USB Type-C ports (USB 3.2 Gen2, 10 Gb/s), a pair of USB Type-A with the same specification, one USB 3.1 Gen1 (5 Gb/s), and four USB 2.0 (480 Mb/s).
When using processors with integrated graphics, you can output the signal to the screen using the available HDMI 2.1 port. The panel also has an Ethernet socket and two connectors for connecting an external antenna for the wireless module. A new trend is the presence of only two 3.5 mm audio jacks for speakers. Multi-channel sets are increasingly becoming a rather niche solution. If necessary, you can use the optical S/PDIF output.
Despite the fact that the board does not belong to the series of devices for demanding enthusiasts, the presence of a separate button for clearing CMOS memory is a rule of good taste, which allows you to avoid the not very pleasant procedure of searching for and closing the corresponding contacts on the board. Another button for activating Flash BIOS allows you to update the firmware from a USB drive in semi-autonomous mode.
There are few surface mount components on the back of the PCB. We note the careful isolation of the audio path and the screw fastening of all elements of the cooling system.
Test bench configuration
- Processor: Ryzen 7 9700X (8/16; 3.8/5.5 GHz)
- Motherboard: MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI
- CPU Cooling: MSI MAG CORELIQUID I360
- RAM: Kingston FURY Renegade DDR5-7200 2x16 GB (KF572C38RWK2-32)
- Graphics card: MSI GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER 16G GAMING SLIM STALKER 2 Edition
- Drive: Kingston KC3000 1 TB (SKC3000S/1024G)
In operation
We used the Ryzen 7 9700X processor to test the motherboard. Yes, this is frankly not the model that will make the MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI seriously "strain".
However, an 8-core 16-thread chip is currently a universal option for both a fairly powerful gaming system and a work system for computing tasks.
In general, we already know the capabilities of the Ryzen 7 9700X quite well. During control tests, we used the chip in a mode with an increased TDP of up to 105 W. In fact, this is also the standard mode, which is officially confirmed by AMD.
The test once again confirms that the Ryzen 7 9700X is a fairly versatile chip for the Socket AM5 platform. The Zen 5 architecture allows for good overall IPC and single-core performance. While in the increased TDP mode, the processor shows good results during multi-threaded load.
For example, during the Cinebench R23 scene rendering process, all processor cores operated at 5200–5250 MHz at a supply voltage of 1.232 V. Under such conditions, the chip warmed up to 83 C. At the same time, the actual CPU power consumption was about 142 W.
As for the performance of the motherboard itself, under the specified load, the power assemblies heated up to 53C, while the temperature of the chipset chip rose to 47C. MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI generally offers a normal temperature regime, and the VRM power is enough to work with more powerful processors.
For the Ryzen 7 9700X and Ryzen 5 9600X processors, motherboard manufacturers have simplified the procedure for switching between 65 W and 105 W TDP modes as much as possible. To do this, you just need to change one parameter in the BIOS settings and confirm your choice. Which is what we did on the eve of testing to put more strain on the processor power stabilization system on the motherboard and, of course, get better CPU results.
However, if you are interested in a more economical processor operation mode, a simple manipulation in the BIOS allows you to return to the original settings.
In this case, under multi-threaded load, all processor cores were accelerated to 4550 MHz, and the supply voltage was only 1.01 V. And this is a fairly significant difference in both frequency (~700 MHz) and voltage.
At the same time, the Ryzen 7 9700X literally "cooled down". The liquid cooling system kept the CPU temperature at 53–58C, and the chip itself consumed about 88 W of energy (CPU PPT/CPU Package Power). Under such conditions, the power supply assemblies of the processor power stabilizer on the motherboard heated up to only 40C, and the chipset chip – to 37C.
What are the consequences for performance? Of course, if we focus specifically on the indicators in applications with multi-threaded load, they are significant. For example, in the same Cinebench R23 test, the CPU (Multi Core) result after switching to "TDP 65 W" decreased from 23,276 points to 20,504. We have a minus of ~14% to performance. Is this an adequate payment for reducing the chip's power consumption by 61% and heating by ~30C? Here everyone will decide for themselves, depending on their own needs and priorities.
In the current situation, we note that the processor performance in single-threaded mode has not actually changed – 2217 vs. 2219 points. The increase in TDP primarily concerns the increase in operating frequencies when all computing units are loaded, as for the acceleration of one or two cores, even in the case of the 65 W mode, the processor automatically increases their frequency to 5300+ MHz.
Ryzen 7 9700X gaming performance: 65W vs. 105W TDP
Taking this opportunity, we decided to check how switching between 65W and 105W modes would affect the platform's gaming performance in the case of the Ryzen 7 9700X. To increase the load on the processor, the tests were conducted in 1920x1080 resolution mode.
As practical experiments showed, the difference in the obtained fps indicators was insignificant, remaining within the measurement error. Even "heavy" projects still do not load 8-core 16-thread processors at 100%, so even in the "65 W" mode, the Ryzen 7 9700X reveals the potential of the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER.
CPU overclocking
For overclocking experiments, we initially used the 105W TDP mode, further increasing the multiplier, and getting 5400 MHz on all compute cores under high load. These are typical overclocking values for 8-core chips on Zen 5.
Processor manufacturers are already initially using a significant part of the available frequency potential, so even in the case of the Ryzen 7 9700X, additional overclocking does not bring dramatic changes in performance.
In the same Cinebench R23 test with multi-threaded scene rendering, additional overclocking increases the resulting CPU Multi Core score from 23,276 (105 W) to 24,316 points, i.e. by 4.5%. How did this affect the power consumption and heating of the processor, as well as the thermal regime of the board?
First, we see stable operation of all CPU cores at 5400 MHz. The supply voltage automatically increased to 1.245 V. At the same time, the processor temperature also increased - to 91-94C, and the chip's power consumption increased to 161 W. At the same time, the additional overclocking remained almost unnoticed MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI. At least the heating of the VRM elements under load remained at the same level - 53C.
RAM
When testing the board, we used a fairly fast DDR5-7200 (38-44-44-105) RAM kit.
Using proprietary Memory Try It! technology, we managed to achieve stable operation of the kit in DDR5-8200 mode (40-46-46-122). Transfers did not change, but the overall latency of the memory subsystem decreased slightly.
