MSI B850M Gaming Plus Wi-Fi6E

Manufacturer: MSI

The MSI B850M Gaming Plus Wi-Fi6E is a Micro-ATX motherboard built around the AM5 platform and the B850 chipset. It features RGB lighting, a dual BIOS setup, and an easy CMOS reset mechanism, making it a straightforward option for users who value both aesthetics and hands-on system control. The board measures 243.8 mm × 243.8 mm and ships with a 3-year warranty, along with built-in Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity out of the box.

On the memory side, the board provides four DDR5 slots across two channels, supporting up to 256 GB at a native speed of 5600 MHz or up to 8200 MHz when overclocked. Storage options include two M.2 sockets and four SATA 3 connectors, with RAID 0, 1, and 10 support. The rear panel offers four USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, four USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, an HDMI 2.1 output, one DisplayPort, and a single RJ45 Ethernet jack. Expansion is handled by one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot and two PCIe x1 slots, while the audio subsystem delivers 7.1-channel sound through three onboard connectors.

Pros

Supports Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, covering a wide range of wireless connectivity standards without needing additional adapters
Dual BIOS provides a fallback option if the primary BIOS becomes corrupted or fails during an update
DDR5 memory can be overclocked up to 8200 MHz across four slots, offering meaningful headroom for performance tuning
The rear USB layout includes four USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports and a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, giving a good selection of high-speed connections
RAID 0, 1, and 10 support allows for both performance-oriented and redundancy-focused storage configurations
Comes with a 3-year warranty, which is a longer coverage period than many boards in this category

Cons

Only two M.2 sockets available, which may feel limiting for builds that rely heavily on NVMe storage expansion
No PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, meaning the primary expansion slot is capped at PCIe 4.0 bandwidth
ECC memory is not supported, ruling out use cases that require error-correcting RAM
No S/PDIF output, which removes the option for digital audio passthrough to external receivers or DACs
Lacks USB 4 and Thunderbolt ports entirely, limiting connectivity options for high-bandwidth peripherals

Who is this for?

This board is a solid fit for users building an AM5-based desktop system in a compact Micro-ATX chassis who want a capable wireless-ready platform without relying on add-in cards. The inclusion of Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 makes it well suited for setups where a wired network connection is not practical. Users who plan to push their DDR5 memory beyond stock speeds will appreciate the 8200 MHz overclocking headroom, and the dual BIOS feature adds a layer of reassurance for those who regularly experiment with BIOS updates or settings. The RAID 0, 1, and 10 support also makes it a reasonable choice for home users or small workstation builds that need basic storage redundancy across multiple SATA drives.

Who is this NOT for?

Users who need Thunderbolt or USB 4 connectivity for high-bandwidth external devices such as fast external SSDs or professional docking stations will find this board lacking, as neither standard is present. It is also a poor match for workstation-oriented builds that depend on ECC memory for data integrity, since that capability is absent. Enthusiasts looking to install a next-generation GPU and take full advantage of PCIe 5.0 bandwidth will be constrained by the single PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, and those requiring more than two M.2 drives for NVMe-heavy storage configurations may find the available sockets insufficient.

General info:

CPU socket	AM5
chipset	B850
form factor	Micro-ATX
supports Wi-Fi	✓
Wi-Fi version	Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)
Has Bluetooth	✓
Bluetooth version	5.3
HDMI version	HDMI 2.1
Easy to overclock	✓
has RGB lighting	✓
Easy to reset BIOS	✓
Has dual BIOS	✓
has aptX	✕
CPU sockets	1
Has integrated graphics	✕
warranty period	3 years
height	243.8 mm
width	243.8 mm
Has integrated CPU	✕

This Micro-ATX motherboard uses the AM5 socket and is compatible with the B850 chipset, accommodating a single CPU without an integrated processor or onboard graphics. Wireless connectivity is well covered, with support for Wi-Fi 4 through Wi-Fi 6E alongside Bluetooth 5.3, though aptX audio over Bluetooth is not included. The board features HDMI 2.1 output, RGB lighting, and a dual BIOS configuration, with both easy overclocking and a straightforward CMOS reset option available for added convenience. It measures 243.8 mm × 243.8 mm and comes backed by a 3-year warranty.

Memory:

maximum memory amount	256GB
RAM speed (max)	5600 MHz
overclocked RAM speed	8200 MHz
memory slots	4
DDR memory version	5
memory channels	2
Supports ECC memory	✕

The board supports DDR5 memory across four slots in a dual-channel configuration, with a maximum capacity of 256 GB. Standard RAM speed tops out at 5600 MHz, while overclocking can push that figure up to 8200 MHz. ECC memory is not supported.

Ports:

USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-A)	4
USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-A)	4
USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-C)	1
USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-C)	0
USB 2.0 ports	0
USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 ports	0
USB 4 40Gbps ports	0
USB 4 20Gbps ports	0
Thunderbolt 4 ports	0
Thunderbolt 3 ports	0
has an HDMI output	✓
DisplayPort outputs	1
RJ45 ports	1
Has USB Type-C	✓
eSATA ports	0
DVI outputs	0
has a VGA connector	✕
PS/2 ports	0

The rear panel provides a solid USB lineup, including four USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, four USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, and one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port. There are no USB 2.0, USB 4, Thunderbolt, eSATA, or PS/2 ports present. Video output is handled by an HDMI output and one DisplayPort, while VGA and DVI connections are absent. Network connectivity is provided through a single RJ45 port.

Connectors:

USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (through expansion)	2
USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports (through expansion)	1
USB 2.0 ports (through expansion)	4
SATA 3 connectors	4
fan headers	5
USB 3.0 ports (through expansion)	2
M.2 sockets	2
Has TPM connector	✓
U.2 sockets	0
Has mSATA connector	✕
SATA 2 connectors	0

Internal expansion headers include two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, and four USB 2.0 ports, offering flexible front-panel connectivity options. Storage is served by four SATA 3 connectors and two M.2 sockets, while SATA 2, mSATA, and U.2 connections are not available. The board also includes five fan headers and a TPM connector for platform security.

Expansion slots:

PCIe 4.0 x16 slots	1
PCIe 5.0 x16 slots	0
PCIe 3.0 x16 slots	0
PCIe x1 slots	2
PCI slots	0
PCIe 2.0 x16 slots	0
PCIe x4 slots	0
PCIe x8 slots	0

The board offers one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot as its primary expansion option, suited for a discrete graphics card or similar full-length add-in card. Two PCIe x1 slots are also present for smaller expansion cards. PCIe 5.0 x16, PCIe 3.0 x16, PCIe 2.0 x16, PCIe x4, PCIe x8, and legacy PCI slots are not included.

Audio:

audio channels	7.1
Has S/PDIF Out port	✕
audio connectors	3

The onboard audio supports 7.1-channel sound and is accessible through three analog audio connectors. A S/PDIF output port is not included.

Storage:

Supports RAID 1	✓
Supports RAID 10 (1+0)	✓
Supports RAID 5	✕
Supports RAID 0	✓
Supports RAID 0+1	✕

The board supports RAID 0, RAID 1, and RAID 10 configurations for flexible storage setup and redundancy options. RAID 5 and RAID 0+1 are not supported.

Final Verdict

The MSI B850M Gaming Plus Wi-Fi6E is a competent Micro-ATX motherboard for the AM5 platform that covers the essentials well — integrated Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, dual BIOS, and DDR5 support with meaningful overclocking potential make it a practical choice for mainstream desktop builds. Its 8200 MHz overclocked memory support and solid rear USB selection give it genuine appeal for users who want a wireless-ready, upgradeable system in a compact form factor. That said, the absence of PCIe 5.0, Thunderbolt, USB 4, and ECC memory means it is firmly positioned as a general-purpose consumer board rather than a high-end or workstation solution. For users whose needs align with that profile, it delivers a well-rounded feature set backed by a 3-year warranty.