Top 5 AMD B450 Motherboards

There are only pocket-size differences between AMD's new budget B450 platform and previous B350 boards, and but as before nosotros are expecting this platform to shine around the $100 mark or below, depending on your needs. With the first AMD B450 motherboards just popping up, truth be told, there aren't that many expert ones to choose from, certainly not nearly as many as nosotros'd like and not every bit many every bit there could be.

Asus and Gigabyte options are somewhat disappointing and then far, Asrock has done a decent job, while MSI has really turned things effectually. We promise these picks will assist narrow down your search for the perfect B450 motherboard.

Best No-Compromise
Best Ultra-Cheap
Best Value All-Rounder
Best Micro ATX
Best Mini-ITX

Best No-Compromise Lath

MSI B450 Gaming Pro Carbon AC

Who makes the ultimate AMD B450 motherboard? That question is very easy respond: the MSI B450 Gaming Pro Carbon. For simply $130, it's a steal. So much information technology might be considered the best AM4 motherboard priced under $200, certainly beneath $170. As a consequence MSI take managed to outdo themselves with this one. It's a better board and a better buy than about all of their X470 models, such as the X470 Gaming Plus, X470 Gaming Pro and even the $180 X470 Gaming Pro Carbon.

The VRM on the X470 Pro Carbon is slightly better, it'southward a 5+two stage VRM while the B450 Pro Carbon packs a 4+2 phase VRM, both have double the components simply no proper doubling mechanism. I'd argue that the cooling on the B450 lath is improve though, it sports a bigger heatsink that isn't intruded upon by a plastic shroud.

It's our opinion that the B450 version is a better buy and not only considering information technology's ~30% cheaper, but because you get Intel dual band Wireless-Air conditioning and Bluetooth 5.0, the but things missing are two SATA ports and a third PCIe x16 slot, both of which you lot're unlikely to miss.

For those of you wondering, the B450 Pro Carbon uses the RT8894A controller and packs a total of 8 loftier-side On Semiconductor 4C029 fets and 8 low-side 4C024 fets for the Vcore VRM. Once again, this is a iv phase vcore VRM with no doubler.

The only trouble with MSI'south B450 and X470 motherboards is their complete lack of 'voltage offset' back up in the BIOS. This ways for now information technology's non possible to fill up apply of Precision Boost Overdrive. Other than that, MSI has developed the ultimate B450 motherboard with their B450 Gaming Pro Carbon.

All-time Ultra-Inexpensive

Asrock B450M-HDV

Currently the most affordable B450 boards are coming in at $lxx, while the cheapest B350 boards are merely $10 less. Right now Asrock, MSI and Gigabyte all offer entry-level boards, Asus does as well but in typical Asus fashion their version costs over 30% more with no justification for the premium.

And so we have the Asrock B450M-HDV, MSI B450M PRO-M2 and Gigabyte B450M DS3H. Since Gigabyte has spent their unabridged budget on chokes they don't demand, we're going to ignore the DS3H, which is a shame equally it does pack 4 DIMM slots, but given their VRM woes I only tin can't affect it. And then we accept the Asrock B450M-HDV which looks much improve and packs a similar quality VRM to that of the 'flagship' Asus and Gigabyte B450 boards, which is embarrassing for Asus and Gigabyte.

The same is also true of the MSI B450M PRO-M2, simply we're going to option the Asrock board because it features a heatsink on the vcore VRM. Other than that the Asrock and MSI boards are very similar, so if you tin't grab ane, the other will practice as an excellent backup.

If given the selection we also prefer Asrock'south UEFI design and feature ready to that of MSI's. In our opinion this is an area where MSI still demand to up their game. Overall a solid entry-level lath from Asrock that will piece of work nicely even with the Ryzen seven 2700X. That said, if yous plan on overclocking, you'll want to spend a little more than and go my best value all-rounder selection, so let's go talk about that...

Best Value All-Rounder

MSI B450 Tomahawk

If information technology'southward possible to pony up an extra $forty we do recommend skipping over the cheaper entry-level boards. We realize information technology's a big jump in toll, merely you do get a significantly higher quality motherboard that volition handle any Ryzen CPU yous throw at it with ease.

The actress investment opens up multiple options and the best examples include the Asrock B450 Gaming K4, MSI B450 Gaming Plus and MSI B450 Tomahawk. The options from Asus and Gigabyte aren't skillful enough to consider in our opinion.

The MSI B450 Tomahawk is a serious standout here, packing an impressive feature set at the current $110 request cost. It's besides a squeamish neutral looking board, black and grey themed with a dash of RGB lighting that will suit all occasions. That said if you can afford it, our no compromise option is simply $xx more and bluntly it's worth every penny.

Even so if y'all're stretching the budget equally it is, and then the Tomahawk is a reasonable compromise. You substantially get everything you'd typically need on a desktop motherboard with the addition of a quality VRM that operates at very safe temperatures, even with an overclocked Ryzen vii processor.

MSI hasn't skimped on the VRM components and they haven't skimped on cooling either, providing big heatsinks on both the Vcore and SoC VRM and the heatsinks aren't covered in tacky looking plastic shrouds. Price to performance the MSI B450 Tomahawk is hands down the best value all-rounder bachelor at the moment.

Best Micro ATX

ASRock B450M Pro 4

Something yous still won't find is a MicroATX X470 motherboard, and then those subsequently a 400-series in this course cistron will be B450 shopping. There are quite a few to cull from and MSI alone has half a dozen options and I really like the await of the B450M Mortar which is available in black or white. In that location are certainly some prissy looking Micro ATX B450 boards from MSI, but I remember Asrock has outdone them hither.

The Asrock B450M Pro4 comes in at just $80 and while it might only pack a three+iii phase VRM, both the Vcore and SoC portions of the VRM characteristic passive cooling, something no other MicroATX B450 board offers. Cooling on the SoC VRM is of import, peculiarly if you program on using a Raven Ridge APU, and crucially if you plan to overclock the integrated Vega GPU.

For the Ryzen five and Ryzen 7 series this is less important, but even and so the Asrock board is all the same amend equally it packs a pair of Thousand.2 slots and ii full length PCIe x16 slots (though the second is only wired for x4 bandwidth). You also get iv DIMM slots, 4 SATA ports and USB Blazon-C. For the cost, the Asrock B450M Pro4 is a cracking good lath and hands down the all-time value MicroATX choice, in fact in many respects it's the all-time MicroATX B450 board.

All-time Mini-ITX

MSI B450I Gaming Plus Air-conditioning

The Mini-ITX course cistron presents us with three major options: the Asrock B450 Gaming ITX/Air-conditioning, MSI B450I Gaming Plus Air-conditioning and Asus ROG Strix B450-I Gaming. The Asus model is a nice looking board but volition ultimately be too expensive for what it is. We conceptualize an asking cost of around $150 and it's actually non that much meliorate than what the competitions offering for much less.

Information technology could be argued that MSI's B450I Gaming Plus AC for $120 is a better lath, sporting a more powerful 3-phase Vcore VRM featuring a doubler for 6-phases. The SoC VRM is weak, so not an ideal APU board, Asus is probably better if you programme on running an APU, only given the toll it doesn't brand sense anyway.

The Asrock B450 Gaming ITX/Air conditioning packs a iii + 2 phase VRM which for some reason Asrock calls an 8-phase VRM. It's not a bad lath only for $10 less the MSI model is ameliorate. Bottom line, the MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC is the obvious option hither and for the price it can't be beat.