Just above the RAM slots are the first three (of eight) four-pin fan headers. Each header supports both PWM- and DC-controlled devices, with the output varying. The system fans are the lowest at 1A/12W; CPU_FAN1 is next at 2A/24W; and the PUMP-SYS1 header (defaults to PWM mode) is the highest at 3A/24W. This is plenty of power for most cooling systems. If you’re pushing the limits, be sure to connect the supplemental PCIe (6-pin) power to ensure the board can safely output all that juice at the same time.
Working our way down the right edge, we find another fan header and the first 3-pin ARGB header. MSI Control Center and the Mystic Light application control the integrated RGBs and those attached to the headers. Next is the EZ-debug LEDs (VGA, Boot, RAM, CPU) that light up during the POST process if there’s an issue, the 24-pin ATX power for the board, and the combo JAF_2 header that combines fan, USB, and RGB into one connector (EZ Conn-cable v2 included).
Power delivery on the B850 Tomahawk Max Wifi II consists of 17 total phases, with 14 dedicated to Vcore. Power heads from the 8-pin EPS connector(s) in the top-left corner, then to a Monolithic Power Systems MPS 2515 controller. From there, it moves to the 14 MPS2515 80A SPS MOSFETs. It’s a capable solution that will handle anything you throw at it, including the Ryzen 9 9950X or the purported Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 .
On the bottom half of the board, and hidden under a metal shroud labeled Audio Boost 5 on the left side, is the audio section. This board uses the mid-range Realtek ALC4080 codec, which is nice to see on a budget board. Often, companies will go last-gen or even down to the base ALC897 codec. You won’t find any fancy DAC/AMPs here, but the audio solution is sufficient for the vast majority of users.
In the middle are three full-length PCIe slots for graphics and expansion. The top slot, primarily for graphics cards, uses the EZ PCIe release button, connects through the CPU, and runs at PCIe 5.0 x16. The middle slot (PCI_E2) runs at a slower PCIe 3.0 x1, while the bottom slot PCI_E3 supports up to PCIe 4.0 x4. Note PCI_E3 will run at x2 speed when installing a device in M2_3. You can switch the slot to x4 in the BIOS, but this disables M2_3, so be aware if you plan on using the bottom slot.
Among the slots are four M.2 sockets (the original Tomahawk had three). The top two sockets, M.2_1/2, source their bandwidth from the CPU and run at up to PCIe 5.0 x4 (128 Gbps). M.2_1 supports larger 110mm modules, while M.2_2 supports 80mm. M.2_3/4 receive their bandwidth from the chipset, with M.2_3 running PCIe 4.0 x2 (32 Gbps) and the other the full PCIe 4.0 x4 (64 Gbps) supporting 80mm devices.
Past the one-touch plate heatsinks and on the right edge, we run into the front-panel USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20 Gbps – your fastest port on the board) connector, followed by four SATA ports and two 19-pin USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) connectors—standard fare, and the same configuration as the more expensive X870E Carbon Max, and X870E Ace Max we recently reviewed. We also included images of several chips used on the board. MSI uses mainly Realtek (audio), Genesys Logic (USB), Monolithic Power Systems (MOSFETs), and PWM controller ICs.
(Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) Along the bottom are several headers, ranging from the front panel to fans and supplemental PCIe power, and more. From left to right, we’ve listed them below. A couple items worth mentioning are the supplemental PCIe power connector for additional board power, so the board can actually output everything it’s rated for, and the 2-pin Direct OC jumper (connect a simple button to raise/lower BLCK manually).
The rear IO on the Tomahawk Max Wifi II offers plenty of connectivity out back, including 10 total USB ports. Starting on the left, we see the convenient Clear CMOS and BIOS Flashback buttons, while to the right is the HDMI output for use with an iGPU. Along the bottom are three USB Type-C ports, all 10 Gbps. There are two USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) Type-A ports, a single 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) port, and four USB 2.0 (480 Mbps) ports. There’s enough by number, but some may find the speeds lacking. Next, we spy the Realtek 5 GbE port, the EZ-connect Wi-Fi antenna, and the audio stack with two 3.5mm ports (line-out mic-in) and the SPDIF Out.
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Current page: MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk Wifi II Features and Specifications
Key considerations
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Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/motherboards/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/motherboards/msi-mag-b850-tomahawk-max-wifi-ii-motherboard-review#main
- https://www.tomshardware.com
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Informational only. No financial advice. Do your own research.