The AMD 800 series chipset family consists of four references including the B850. Normally more accessible than the X870 (E), it is supposed to give rise to mid-range motherboards at reasonable prices. MSI offers another approach with its MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI II.
Announced at €291, the beauty wants to appear in a Premium segment. MSI is taking risks because at such a price we find the first X870 models. Additionally, the Tomahawk family of motherboards has been around for a while and is an offering for the low-budget platform segment.
GinjFo therefore wanted to know if this bet is won with a powerful AM5 motherboard? Â Is it a platform armed and designed to meet the needs of players? In use, does it offer the performance necessary to make the most of its graphics card and gaming processor? Is its equipment up to today’s standards? Do its mechanics, its power system or even its cooling solutions allow overclocking?
We equipped it with a Ryzen 9 9950X3D and a GeForce RTX 4090 as well as 2 x 16 GB of DDR5-6000 CL28.
MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI II
As its name suggests, this MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI II is not really new. It is an evolution of the MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI. MSI has reworked several important points without proposing a revolution. We find richer M.2 storage, a 64 MB BIOS ROM and an OC Engine chip for BCLK overclocking.
Its technical sheet reveals a platform equipped with four M.2 ports including two wired in PCIe 5.0, four SATA ports, a 5 GbE wired network or even Wi-Fi 7 wireless. MSI also takes care of DIY fans with several quick fixing systems and deploys some AI features.
The card comes in a box with a fairly sober design. Its name dominates, accompanied by a reminder of the chipset used as well as support for AMD’s Ryzen 9000 series. At the back, we find the list of her assets while offering a photo revealing her dress. The bundle consists of the minimum with a single SATA cable, three EZ M.2 IIs, an EZ M.2 Clip II plastic key (for easy board mounting), an EZ Wi-Fi antenna and an EZ Conn Y-cable (V2).
Like its packaging box, its dress is intended to be discreet through dark colors like black and gray. The socket is surrounded by two imposing aluminum radiators responsible for cooling the VRMs that they cover. Note that they do not communicate with each other. Clearly, they are independent and no heat pipe is involved.
Power is provided by two 8-pin EPS connectors (for the processor), a 20+4-pin ATX and an additional PCIe (for the OC) placed on the bottom.
The four memory slots are each equipped with a double locking mechanism to secure the RAM. The card supports a maximum of 256 GB, up to DDR5-8400 (OC mode) and CUDIMM.
In our case, our Trident Z5 Neo 2 x 26 GB DDR5-6000 CL28 kit was recognized without problem.
The card offers three PCIe slots in x16 format and strangely the middle one does not have a card locking system. The first accommodates the graphics card. With a Ryzen 9000 series or a Ryzen 7000 series, it runs in PCIe 5.0 x16 versus PCIe 4.0 x8 with a Ryzen 8700, 8600 and 8400 or even in PCIe 4.0 x4 with a Ryzen 8500 or 8300 series. The one in the center works in PCIe 3.0 x1 while the last one is wired in PCIe 4.0 x4. The latter two are managed by the chipset. Â The PCI_E3 slot operates in x2 mode when a device is installed in the M2_3 slot.
On the storage side, we find four SATA ports and four M.2 slots. In detail, the first (closest to the socket) is controlled by the processor.
It accepts NVMe SSDs in 22110 or 2280 formats compared to 2280 or 2260 for the second. In both cases we have a PCIe 5.0 x4 interface with a Ryzen 9000 or 7000 series and PCIe 4.0 x4 with a Ryzen 8000 series or for the second PCIe 4.0 x2 only with a Ryzen 8500 or 8300 series.
The next two support NVMe 2280 or 2260 SSDs in PCIe 4.0 x2 mode for the penultimate and PCIe 4.0 x4 for the last.
On the cooling side, all M2 ports are accompanied by a heatsink, however for the first (near the socket) the most advanced model. It benefits from a quick fixing system. The other two use screws. On this subject, we also have a quick release system on the first PCIe 5.0 X16 port using a press button. To return to the radiators of the M.2 ports, in all cases Thermal Pads are present to facilitate heat transfer to the dissipation zones.
The wired network works through a Realtek 8126VB 5G chip and the wireless takes the form of Wi-Fi 7 via a module installed in the M.2 slot (Key-E). It supports MU-MIMO TX/RX, 2.4GHz/ 5GHz/ 6GHz (320MHz) (support for 802.11 a/ b/ g/ n/ ac/ ax/ be) as well as Bluetooth 5.4.
The rear connectors include CLEAR CMOS and Flash BIOS buttons, two 10Gbps USB Type A ports (red), one 5Gbps USB Type A port, four USB 2.0 Type A ports, antenna connectors, audio jacks, three 10Gbs USB Type C ports, an HDMI video output and an Optical S/PDIF-OUT connector. Added to this on the card is a 20 Gb/s USB Type-C port (B850 chipset), four 5 Gb/s USB ports and four additional USB 2.0 ports if necessary.
The board also features a chassis intrusion connector, a TPM module connector, and an EZ Conn V2 (JAF_2) connector in addition to Clear CMOS jumpers, secure boot, and OC for BCLK frequency. For the latter, they are aimed at overclocking enthusiasts so that they can adjust the CPU base frequency (BCLK). It is therefore possible to connect instantaneous switches to these jumpers to manually adjust the BCLK frequency in real time while the system is running.
MSI has also provided small visual aids for editing fans if the platform does not start correctly. The 4 EZ Debug VGA, Boot, RAM and CPU LEDs light up during the POST process if there is a problem. We also have an EZ Memory detection LED. Finally, the board is capable of driving RGB peripherals using a 4-pin connector and 3 3-pin LED A-RAINBOW V2 (ARGB Gen2) connectors.
The card is also capable of managing the cooling of the processor and the case using several fan connectors. We find:
- Un CPU_FAN (2A, 24W)
- Un PUMP_SYS (3A, 36W)
- Et des SYS_FAN de 1 Ã 6 (1A,12 W).
So there’s plenty to do with a lot of power. Regarding power, the card is armed with 17 phases in total, 14 of which are dedicated to Vcore.
Finally the audio part is entrusted to a mid-range Realtek ALC4080 codec without high-end DAC/AMP. It is an audio solution of sufficient quality for the vast majority of users.
The BIOS
The MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI II benefits from MSI’s latest BIOS interface. Displayed in high definition, it offers a modern and intuitive rendering. MSI has worked in depth on the organization of information in order to simplify the settings and make them more accessible, particularly for less experienced users.
This desire is felt in EZ Mode, which brings together all the essential functions to quickly configure your system. In just a few clicks, it is possible to activate the memory profile, manage the boot order, run a check of the SSD and memory, while monitoring the processor temperature. The whole constitutes a practical and reassuring basis, particularly in the context of a first assembly. We also have access to features such as Game Boost, PBO, and many more
The BIOS also includes a fully customizable Favorite function, which allows you to add the most used parameters for instant access. In the same spirit, the search tool makes it easier to locate a specific option in the menus and avoids having to go through the entire BIOS to find the desired setting.
Finally, ventilation management is complete and advanced, with the possibility of creating your own curves via a clear and intuitive graphical interface. MSI also had the good idea of adding a function summarizing all the modifications made to the BIOS during a session.
Test protocol.
Configuration
- Processor: Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Watercooling : MasterLiquid 360 Atmos,
- Mémoire: G.Skill Trident Z5 DDR5-6000 CL28 2 x 16 Go,
- Graphics card: GeForce RTX 4090
- Storage unit: SSD Samsung 990 Pro 1 To
- Power supply: C1500 from NZXT.
The operating system is Windows 11 25H2 (64-bit). We carried out a battery of synthetic benchmarks and performance measurements under different software. Here is a summary of the applications used.
Benchmarks théoriques.
- PCMark 10,
- Procyon Office Productivity,
- CrystalDiskMark,
- Â AIDA64extreme,
Electricity consumption is taken using a wattmeter. They correspond to the overall demand of the platform. We also tested several video games in 1080p Full Option without Ray Tracing and without DLSS.
The titles are:
- Far Cry 6,
- Shadow Of The Tomb Raider,
- Horizon : Zero Dawn,
- Metro Exodus
- Cyberpunk 2077.
In this file we work with performance indices taking as a reference the results obtained with the TUF Gaming B850-BTF WIFI. It therefore has an index of 100.
Environmental performance
Electric consumption.
Electricity consumption is measured directly at the socket. This is the energy demand of the entire platform including the processor, graphics card, storage, cooling system and power supply.
Depending on the load level, the consumption of our platform is between 102 and 761 Watts. If under load we find a demand close to that of the TUF Gaming B850-BTF WIFI, at idle the results are less good with 13 additional Watts. The first consumption item is the graphics card followed by the processor.
Note that given these assessments, choosing your diet carefully is important. It must be accompanied by high efficiency to minimize energy waste.
Operating costs and carbon footprint
Our working basis is daily use of 6 hours per day, 365 days per year with a rate of 19.52 cents including tax per kWh billed.
The EDF indicator, in grams of CO2 equivalent for the production of 1 kWh, is set at 9.46 grams (period from July 2024 to July 2025).
It is synonymous with the rate of greenhouse gas emissions induced by the production of the electricity consumed.
With its energy balance, we have an annual operating cost of between €44 and €326 for a carbon footprint of between 2.1 and 15.8 kg of CO2 equivalent.
Cooling.
The card is armed with several heat sinks in particular around the socket (VRM), the chipset and the different M.2 slots.
After 10 minutes of intensive tests (CPU + GPU + RAM + M.2 SSD), the results reveal good performance on the Chipset and VRM side with controlled temperatures. On the other hand, on the M.2 SSD side, our tests with a PCIe 5.0 x4 unit show limited heat dissipation with °C which accumulates quickly. Thermal Trottling protection was quickly activated, resulting in a loss of performance of the SSD with significantly reduced speeds. The current radiator is not large and structured enough to meet the needs of a latest generation PCIe 5.0 x4 SSD. With a PCIe 4.0 x4 unit, the results are a little better but we also fell victim to Thermal Throttling. Its activation only takes a little longer.
Performance gaming
We took the performance of the TUF Gaming B850-BTF WIFI as a reference. It therefore has an index of 100 in the graph below. All motherboards are equipped with the same components including a Ryzen 9 9950X3D and a GeForce RTX 4090. The tests were carried out at 1080p or 1920 x 1080 pixels with maximum graphics options. There is no Ray Tracing or DLSS.
Across all of our titles, the MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI II is positioned ahead of ASRock’s B850 Pro RS WIFI but without hindering Asus’ solution. The latter area with a 3% lead.
Here are now the different framerates that we noted (number of images per second). In Full HD and Full Option, our configuration ensures very high performance with our games. It’s perfect, there’s nothing to complain about.
Interface performance
With the right storage units, the speeds are there, particularly on the M.2 NVMe PCIe 5.0 x4 SSD side. Sequential read throughput increases to 12.1 GB/s and 6.9 GB/s with the PCIe 4.0 x4 SSD while our Gigabyte external SSD is capable of reaching. Unfortunately there is no USB 3.2 Gen2x2 port on the rear connector side. It’s a shame because this interface allows you to exceed the 2 GB/s bar for reading and writing with a compatible Flash storage unit. SATA 6 Gb/s is correctly used while USB 2.0 struggles to provide 43 MB/s maximum.
Overall and office performance
Here are the scores obtained with the PCMark 10 and Procyon benchmarks. They carry out different tests to evaluate the overall performance of a PC in different situations such as office automation, creation or even production. Scores and indices reflect the performance of the entire platform and not just the motherboard. In all three cases we use the same components including a Ryzen 9 9950X3D and a GeForce RTX 4090.
Once again the TUF Gaming B850-BTF WIFI is taken as a reference (index 100). The B850 Pro RS WIFI is just behind with an index of 97.8% while the MSI platform is positioned at 96.4%, a difference of 3.6% across all tests.
In pure maintenance office automation, the ranking is tighter. If the TUF Gaming B850-BTF WIFI retains its first place, the MAG B850 is very close at 99.5% while the B850 Pro RS WiFi is down 2%.
Details of each benchmark.
Conclusion
Performance
equipment / bundle
Service / Price
TOP but a steep price
In the end, this MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI II leaves a contrasting, but serious impression. The motherboard ticks many boxes in the premium segment with a solid technical sheet, modern connectivity, Wi-Fi 7, a 5 GbE network, four M.2 ports including two in PCIe 5.0, as well as care taken in assembly and DIY uses. MSI adds as a bonus some welcome developments compared to the first version, such as an OC Engine chip which opens the door to more advanced settings or even a 64 MB BIOS. The whole thing inspires confidence to build a high-end AM5 configuration geared towards gaming, even muscular for the most demanding users. However, everything is not perfect. The pricing positioning clearly raises questions. At €291, this B850 leaves the comfort zone usually associated with the Tomahawk range and flirts dangerously with the first X870 motherboards. At this price level, the buyer expects an uncompromising proposition, which makes MSI’s choices more exposed to criticism. We can also regret a fairly classic VRM cooling approach, with two imposing but independent radiators, without a heat pipe to reinforce the whole. It also suffers from the PCIe 5.0 x4 SSD side. The bundle, for its part, remains minimalist for a model that targets a premium segment. Clearly, this MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI II is a complete, rich and well-thought-out motherboard, capable of supporting a muscular configuration without blushing. Its performance and equipment clearly work in its favor. On the other hand, its main opponent is not another B850, but its own price.
