Asus TUF Gaming B850M-E Wi-Fi VS MSI B850 Gaming Plus Wi-Fi PZ

The Asus TUF Gaming B850M-E Wi-Fi and MSI B850 Gaming Plus Wi-Fi PZ share several common features, but there are also a few notable differences. Both motherboards use the AM5 CPU socket and B850 chipset, and both support Wi-Fi 4, Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 6, and Wi-Fi 6E. The MSI board stands out by also supporting the newer Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), which the Asus board does not. Both motherboards also feature Bluetooth, but the Asus model has Bluetooth 5.3, while the MSI version includes Bluetooth 5.4. Both models come with RGB lighting and support overclocking, but only the Asus model has dual BIOS, whereas the MSI board does not. Additionally, the Asus motherboard lacks an easy BIOS reset function, while the MSI model does provide this feature.

In terms of form factor, the Asus TUF Gaming B850M-E Wi-Fi is a Micro-ATX motherboard, measuring 244 mm by 244 mm, while the MSI B850 Gaming Plus Wi-Fi PZ is an ATX board with a larger footprint of 243.8 mm in height and 304.8 mm in width. Both products have a 3-year warranty period. Neither motherboard offers integrated graphics or an integrated CPU. Both products also support a single CPU socket and have no aptX support.

While both motherboards have similar specifications in many areas, the key differences lie in the Wi-Fi versions, Bluetooth versions, BIOS features, and form factor. The MSI board has the advantage of Wi-Fi 7 and a slightly newer Bluetooth version, but the Asus model provides dual BIOS and lacks the easy BIOS reset feature found in the MSI board.

The Asus TUF Gaming B850M-E Wi-Fi and MSI B850 Gaming Plus Wi-Fi PZ are quite similar in terms of memory specifications. Both motherboards support a maximum memory capacity of 256GB, with 4 memory slots and dual-channel memory architecture. They also both use DDR5 memory, so their memory versions align perfectly.

However, there is a slight difference in the supported overclocked RAM speed. The Asus board supports up to 8000 MHz, while the MSI board can go slightly higher at 8200 MHz. Neither board supports ECC memory, which is consistent across both models.

Overall, the memory capabilities are quite similar between the two, with the MSI board offering a slight edge in terms of overclocked RAM speed. Both boards are well-suited for high-performance setups, with a maximum of 256GB of memory and solid support for DDR5 modules.

The Asus TUF Gaming B850M-E Wi-Fi and MSI B850 Gaming Plus Wi-Fi PZ offer a variety of ports, but there are some differences in the specifics. Both motherboards provide USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-A), with the Asus board having 1 and the MSI board having 1 as well. The Asus motherboard also offers 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 (USB-A) ports, while the MSI board has only 1. In terms of USB Type-C, the Asus model provides 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, while the MSI board offers 2 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports. Both models have no USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 or Thunderbolt ports.

When it comes to older USB versions, the Asus board does not include any USB 2.0 ports, whereas the MSI board offers 4 USB 2.0 ports. Both motherboards have 1 RJ45 port for Ethernet, and neither has Thunderbolt 3 or 4 ports. The Asus board includes 2 DisplayPort outputs, while the MSI board has just 1 DisplayPort output. The Asus model features an HDMI output, but the MSI model lacks an HDMI output. Both motherboards do not have VGA connectors or eSATA ports, but only the Asus motherboard includes a PS/2 port for legacy peripherals.

In summary, the Asus TUF Gaming B850M-E Wi-Fi has more USB 2.0 ports and a PS/2 port, as well as an HDMI output and 2 DisplayPorts. The MSI B850 Gaming Plus Wi-Fi PZ offers more USB Type-C ports and a single DisplayPort, but lacks HDMI and PS/2 connectivity.

The Asus TUF Gaming B850M-E Wi-Fi and MSI B850 Gaming Plus Wi-Fi PZ both offer a range of connectors for expansion, but there are a few differences. Both motherboards provide 4 SATA 3 connectors, 3 M.2 sockets, and 4 USB 2.0 ports through expansion. However, the Asus board supports 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 and 2 USB 3.0 ports through expansion, while the MSI board provides 4 USB 3.2 Gen 1 and 4 USB 3.0 ports through expansion.

The Asus motherboard includes 4 fan headers, whereas the MSI board offers 6 fan headers, providing slightly more flexibility for cooling setups. A notable difference is that the Asus model does not include a TPM connector, while the MSI board does. Both motherboards lack U.2 and mSATA connectors, and neither has SATA 2 connectors.

In summary, the MSI B850 Gaming Plus Wi-Fi PZ has more USB ports through expansion, more fan headers, and includes a TPM connector, whereas the Asus TUF Gaming B850M-E Wi-Fi offers fewer expansion ports and lacks the TPM connector.

The Asus TUF Gaming B850M-E Wi-Fi and MSI B850 Gaming Plus Wi-Fi PZ both offer a variety of expansion slots, but there are some differences in configuration. Both motherboards provide 1 PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, but the Asus model has only 1 PCIe x1 slot, while the MSI board includes 2 PCIe x1 slots. The MSI motherboard also provides 1 PCIe x4 slot, which is not available on the Asus board. Neither motherboard includes PCI slots, PCIe 2.0 x16 slots, or PCIe x8 slots.

In summary, the MSI B850 Gaming Plus Wi-Fi PZ offers more flexibility in expansion with additional PCIe x1 and PCIe x4 slots compared to the Asus TUF Gaming B850M-E Wi-Fi, which has only a single PCIe x1 slot.

Both the Asus TUF Gaming B850M-E Wi-Fi and MSI B850 Gaming Plus Wi-Fi PZ offer 7.1 audio channels, ensuring high-quality surround sound support. However, there are differences in additional audio features. The Asus motherboard does not have an S/PDIF Out port, while the MSI model includes one. When it comes to audio connectors, the Asus board has 3, whereas the MSI board provides 2 audio connectors.

In summary, the Asus TUF Gaming B850M-E Wi-Fi offers slightly more audio connectors, while the MSI B850 Gaming Plus Wi-Fi PZ adds the benefit of an S/PDIF Out port.

Both the Asus TUF Gaming B850M-E Wi-Fi and MSI B850 Gaming Plus Wi-Fi PZ support a range of RAID configurations. Both motherboards are capable of supporting RAID 1, RAID 10 (1+0), RAID 5, and RAID 0, allowing for flexible storage setups. Neither motherboard supports RAID 0+1, as both are listed as not having this feature.

Overall, the storage capabilities in terms of RAID configurations are identical between the two products, with both supporting the same set of RAID levels and excluding RAID 0+1.