MSI B840 Gaming Plus WiFi VS MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi

At first glance, the MSI B840 Gaming Plus WiFi and MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi appear nearly identical in their general profile — and for good reason. Both share the same ATX form factor (304.8 × 243.8 mm), the same AM5 socket for AMD Ryzen compatibility, identical wireless stacks up to Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, and the same set of convenience features: dual BIOS, easy BIOS reset, RGB lighting, and overclocking support. Even the 3-year warranty is the same. For a user scanning the general info tab, these two boards look like twins.

The sole differentiator here is the chipset — B840 on the first board versus B850 on the second. Within AMD's platform hierarchy, the B850 sits one tier above the B840, which in practice typically translates to more PCIe lanes, broader overclocking flexibility for memory and interconnects, and better headroom for future platform features. While the general info group does not expose those downstream effects directly, the chipset designation alone signals that the B850 is the more capable foundation.

Based strictly on the data in this group, the MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi holds a meaningful edge: the higher-tier chipset gives it greater platform potential without sacrificing any of the convenience or connectivity features present on the B840. If all other specs in this category are equal, the chipset difference is the deciding factor here.

The MSI B840 Gaming Plus WiFi and MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi motherboards both support up to 256GB of maximum memory, ensuring ample capacity for high-performance tasks. Both models also support DDR5 memory, with a maximum RAM speed of 5600 MHz. However, the two products differ in their overclocked RAM speeds, with the B840 supporting up to 8000 MHz, while the B850 can reach 8200 MHz, offering a slight advantage in overclocking potential.

Both motherboards feature four memory slots and two memory channels, providing a solid foundation for building a well-balanced system. Additionally, neither of the two models supports ECC memory, ensuring that these motherboards are not optimized for error-correcting code memory, which is typically used in servers and workstations.

In summary, the primary difference between the MSI B840 and MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi in the memory specs lies in the slightly higher overclocked RAM speed of the B850, which can reach 8200 MHz compared to the B840's 8000 MHz. Otherwise, their memory configurations are identical.

The MSI B840 Gaming Plus WiFi and MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi motherboards offer similar port configurations, with some key differences. Both models include one USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-A) port and four USB 2.0 ports. However, the B840 has two USB 3.2 Gen 1 (USB-A) ports, while the B850 has only one. For USB Type-C connectivity, the B840 includes one USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-C) port, whereas the B850 has two USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-C) ports, giving it more flexibility for modern devices.

In terms of video outputs, the B840 offers an HDMI output, while the B850 lacks an HDMI output but includes a DisplayPort output, providing users with different options for connecting monitors. Both models have one RJ45 port for Ethernet connectivity, but the B840 lacks any DisplayPort output while the B850 has this addition. Neither model includes USB 4, Thunderbolt 3, or Thunderbolt 4 ports, and both lack VGA connectors and PS/2 ports.

In summary, the key differences between the two motherboards lie in the USB and video output configurations. The MSI B840 has more USB 3.2 Gen 1 (USB-A) ports, but the MSI B850 offers more USB Type-C ports and a DisplayPort output instead of HDMI.

The MSI B840 Gaming Plus WiFi and MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi motherboards offer similar connector options, with both models featuring 4 SATA 3 connectors, 6 fan headers, and no SATA 2 connectors. Both models also support a TPM connector for security, and neither includes a U.2 or mSATA connector. However, there are some differences in their expansion capabilities. The B840 offers 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, 4 USB 2.0 ports, and 2 USB 3.0 ports through expansion. The B850, on the other hand, provides more expansion options with 4 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, 4 USB 2.0 ports, and 4 USB 3.0 ports through expansion.

Additionally, the B840 includes 2 M.2 sockets, while the B850 provides one more, totaling 3 M.2 sockets. This gives the B850 a slight edge in terms of storage expansion options compared to the B840.

In summary, the MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi offers more expansion possibilities, with additional USB 3.2 Gen 1 and USB 3.0 ports through expansion, as well as an extra M.2 socket. Otherwise, the two models share many similarities in terms of connectors.

The MSI B840 Gaming Plus WiFi and MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi motherboards offer similar PCIe slot configurations, but there are a few differences worth noting. Both models feature one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, but the B850 also includes an additional PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, providing it with a more future-proof expansion option for newer GPUs or other devices that support PCIe 5.0. The B840 does not have any PCIe 5.0 slots, limiting it to PCIe 4.0 for high-speed connections.

In terms of additional PCIe slots, the B840 includes three PCIe x1 slots, while the B850 has two. Neither motherboard includes PCI slots, PCIe 2.0 x16 slots, PCIe x4 slots, or PCIe x8 slots, meaning both models are similarly limited in those categories.

To summarize, the primary difference between the two models in the expansion slots is the additional PCIe 5.0 x16 slot in the MSI B850, which provides an advantage for users looking for the latest PCIe standard. Otherwise, both motherboards share similar slot configurations, with a slight difference in the number of PCIe x1 slots available.

Both the MSI B840 Gaming Plus WiFi and MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi motherboards offer 7.1 audio channels, providing high-quality surround sound for immersive audio experiences. However, there are differences in their additional audio features. The B840 lacks an S/PDIF Out port, while the B850 includes this port, offering a convenient digital audio connection for high-quality sound output.

In terms of audio connectors, the B840 features three audio connectors, while the B850 has two. This means the B840 provides slightly more flexibility for connecting audio devices compared to the B850.

In summary, the MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi offers the added benefit of an S/PDIF Out port, but the B840 provides more audio connectors, making it more suited for users who need additional physical connections.

Both the MSI B840 Gaming Plus WiFi and MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi motherboards support RAID 1 and RAID 0 configurations, allowing users to set up data redundancy or striping for performance. However, neither of the two motherboards supports RAID 10 (1+0), RAID 5, or RAID 0+1, so users seeking those specific RAID levels will need to consider other options.

In summary, the storage capabilities of the B840 and B850 are nearly identical, with both supporting RAID 1 and RAID 0 but lacking support for the other advanced RAID configurations like RAID 10 or RAID 5.

Ultimately, both motherboards provide similar RAID options, offering RAID 1 and RAID 0 for users who want basic storage configurations.