Asus ROG Strix X870E-H Gaming Wi-Fi7 VS MSI B850 MLG Edition

The Asus ROG Strix X870E-H Gaming Wi-Fi7 and MSI B850 MLG Edition share several key similarities in their general specifications. Both motherboards feature an AM5 CPU socket, support Wi-Fi 4, Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E, and Wi-Fi 7, and include Bluetooth 5.4. They also both offer HDMI 2.1 support and come in an ATX form factor, with similar height and width dimensions: 244 mm height and 305 mm width for the Asus, compared to 243.8 mm height and 304.8 mm width for the MSI.

In terms of design, both motherboards are easy to overclock and easy to reset the BIOS. However, the Asus model does not include RGB lighting, while the MSI motherboard features RGB lighting. Neither product offers dual BIOS or aptX support, and both have a warranty period of 3 years.

One key difference between the two is that the Asus ROG Strix X870E-H Gaming Wi-Fi7 includes support for integrated graphics, while the MSI B850 MLG Edition does not. Additionally, the Asus board does not have an integrated CPU, which is the same as the MSI model. Finally, while both have a single CPU socket, the Asus model does not offer dual BIOS, while the MSI model also lacks this feature.

The Asus ROG Strix X870E-H Gaming Wi-Fi7 and MSI B850 MLG Edition both support a maximum memory amount of 256GB, offering ample space for high-performance setups. They also share the same number of memory slots, with each motherboard providing 4 slots, and both motherboards are compatible with DDR5 memory and operate with 2 memory channels.

When it comes to memory speed, the two motherboards differ slightly. The Asus ROG Strix X870E-H Gaming Wi-Fi7 supports an overclocked RAM speed of 8000 MHz, while the MSI B850 MLG Edition offers a slightly higher overclocked RAM speed of 8400 MHz.

Neither product supports ECC memory, which is important for those seeking error-correction capabilities in their memory configuration. Overall, both motherboards are quite similar in their memory specifications, with the primary difference being the overclocked RAM speed, where the MSI B850 MLG Edition provides a slight edge over the Asus model.

The Asus ROG Strix X870E-H Gaming Wi-Fi7 and MSI B850 MLG Edition differ in their USB and port offerings. Both motherboards feature a variety of USB ports, with the Asus model providing more USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-A) ports (3) compared to the MSI model's 2. The Asus board also has 6 USB 3.2 Gen 1 (USB-A) ports, while the MSI board has 4. When it comes to USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-C), the Asus has 1 port, while the MSI offers 3.

Both motherboards have USB 2.0 ports, but the Asus offers 2, while the MSI provides 4. The Asus ROG Strix X870E-H Gaming Wi-Fi7 stands out with 2 USB 4 40Gbps ports and 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports, while the MSI B850 MLG Edition does not include USB 4 or Thunderbolt ports at all.

Both boards offer an HDMI output and a single RJ45 port for Ethernet connectivity. Neither has DisplayPort outputs, DVI outputs, VGA connectors, or PS/2 ports. They both include USB Type-C support, but the MSI board provides more USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-C) ports. The Asus model has more overall USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-A) ports, and also includes the higher-speed USB 4 and Thunderbolt 4 ports.

The Asus ROG Strix X870E-H Gaming Wi-Fi7 and MSI B850 MLG Edition are quite similar in terms of their connectors, with both offering 4 SATA 3 connectors and 4 USB 2.0 ports through expansion. The Asus model provides 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (through expansion), whereas the MSI board offers 4, giving it a slight advantage in that area. Both boards also provide 2 USB 3.0 ports (through expansion), and neither includes SATA 2 connectors.

The fan headers differ slightly, with the Asus ROG Strix X870E-H Gaming Wi-Fi7 having 7, while the MSI B850 MLG Edition offers 8. Both motherboards support 4 M.2 sockets, and neither has U.2 sockets or mSATA connectors. A key difference is that the MSI board includes a TPM connector, while the Asus model does not.

Overall, the two motherboards are quite similar in most areas, but the MSI board has more USB ports through expansion, one additional fan header, and the inclusion of a TPM connector, which the Asus model lacks.

The Asus ROG Strix X870E-H Gaming Wi-Fi7 and MSI B850 MLG Edition differ in their expansion slot configurations. The Asus board features 1 PCIe 4.0 x16 slot and 1 PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, while the MSI board has 1 PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, but lacks a PCIe 4.0 x16 slot. The MSI model also includes 1 PCIe x1 slot, which the Asus board does not offer.

Both motherboards have no PCI slots, PCIe 2.0 x16 slots, or PCIe x8 slots, and neither supports PCIe 3.0 x16 slots. The Asus ROG Strix X870E-H Gaming Wi-Fi7 stands out for having a PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, which the MSI B850 MLG Edition lacks.

In summary, while both motherboards feature a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, the Asus model provides a more versatile setup with the additional PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, while the MSI model includes a PCIe x1 slot, which the Asus lacks.

The Asus ROG Strix X870E-H Gaming Wi-Fi7 and MSI B850 MLG Edition are identical in terms of their audio specifications. Both motherboards feature a Signal-to-Noise ratio (DAC) of 120 dB, providing high-quality audio output. They also both support 7.1 audio channels for immersive sound experiences.

Additionally, both models have an S/PDIF Out port for digital audio output and offer 2 audio connectors for further flexibility in connecting audio devices.

Overall, the audio capabilities of the Asus and MSI motherboards are identical, with no differences in terms of signal quality, audio channels, or available connectors.

The Asus ROG Strix X870E-H Gaming Wi-Fi7 and MSI B850 MLG Edition offer the same set of storage options in terms of RAID support. Both motherboards support RAID 1 (mirroring) and RAID 10 (1+0, striped mirrors), providing redundancy and performance benefits. They also both support RAID 0 (striping) for performance-focused setups.

Neither motherboard supports RAID 5 (striped parity) or RAID 0+1 (a combination of RAID 0 and RAID 1). Therefore, their RAID capabilities are identical, offering a range of options suited for various performance and redundancy needs.

In conclusion, both the Asus and MSI motherboards provide the same RAID support, with no differences between them in this category.