MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi
MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi Specifications Review
MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi by MSI is a Standard-ATX form factor motherboard based on the mid-range B850 chipset and AM5 socket, providing a balanced set of features and connectivity. It is designed to support DDR5 memory, with 4 slots, a maximum capacity of 256 GB, and an overclocking speed of up to 8200 MHz.
VRM Quality
The MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi comes with an entry-level VRM setup, delivering 60 A across 12 phases. Works best with CPUs in the ~65–105 W TDP range. Can technically run higher-TDP processors at stock, but will likely experience thermal throttling under sustained heavy loads. Suited for budget gaming, office PCs, and home builds without heavy CPU demands.
See the VRM Appropriate CPU Specification Table at the bottom of this page for recommended CPU options.
Expansion and Storage Overview
The MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi offers a well-equipped expansion and storage configuration with PCIe 5.0 support, meaning it uses PCI Express 5.0, the newest standard offering extremely high bandwidth for next-generation graphics cards and ultra-fast NVMe storage. It also includes 4 x16 slots . These PCIe slots are used to connect expansion cards — with the x16 slots typically reserved for graphics cards, while x8, x4, and x1 slots are used for devices like capture cards, sound cards, or network adapters.
For storage, this motherboard provides 3 M.2 slots and 4 SATA ports. M.2 slots are high-speed connectors for modern NVMe SSDs, which are much faster than older storage, while SATA ports are used for traditional hard drives and 2.5-inch SSDs. Together, they allow you to mix fast primary storage with larger, more affordable drives for bulk data.
Connectivity Overview
This motherboard includes basic to moderate connectivity options, such as wireless networking with the Wi-Fi 7 standard, and wired Realtek® 8126VB 5G LAN ethernet supporting speeds up to 5000 Gbps. Bluetooth 5.4 support is included for common wireless devices. USB ports are adequate for everyday devices, and more details are available in the specs table.
For video output, this motherboard includes DisplayPort version 1.2 . These video outputs are intended for integrated graphics and will only function if your CPU includes integrated GPU capabilities.
Audio Quality
The motherboard includes a standard audio chipset (Realtek® ALC897) that covers basic needs for casual listening. While adequate for everyday use with mainstream headphones or desktop speakers, discerning users may want to add a USB DAC or sound card for improved fidelity, especially for music production or high-end headphones. Additional features include optical S/PDIF output for clean digital audio.
Overall Quality and Value
MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi is a dependable choice with a respectable overall quality score of 63.00. It provides all the essential features and stable performance expected in a mainstream system, covering typical use cases without unnecessary extras.
This motherboard offers an impressive 70.4% performance-to-price ratio, delivering excellent value by combining strong performance with reasonable cost, making it a smart choice for budget-conscious buyers who don’t want to sacrifice quality.
General Information
| Manufacturer | MSI |
|---|---|
| Motherboard Name | MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi |
| Current Price Amazon | $170 |
| Amazon Price Updated | 8 hours, 51 minutes ago. |
| Motherboard Available | True |
| Chipset / Socket | B850 / AM5 |
| Form Factor | Standard-ATX |
VRM Configuration
| CPU Power Phases (Amps) | 12 (60 A) |
|---|---|
| Power Design | 12+2+1 |
Memory Information
| Type / Slots | DDR5 / 4 slots |
|---|---|
| Max Capacity / Max OC | 256 GB / 8200 MHz |
PCIe Slot Configuration
| Supported Version | PCIe 5.0 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slot Size | Physical Slots | Gen5 | Gen4 | Gen3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| x16 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Storage Configuration
| M.2 Slot Count | 3 slots |
|---|---|
| M.2 Supported Lengths | 22110, 2280, 2260 |
| SATA Ports | 4 |
Onboard Audio Features
| Audio Chipset | Realtek® ALC897 |
|---|---|
| Optical S/PDIF Output | ✔️ Present |
Motherboard Display Outputs
| DisplayPort Output | DisplayPort - Version 1.2 (Max: 4K 60Hz) |
|---|
USB and Thunderbolt Connectivity
Rear USB Ports
| USB 2.0 Type-A (480 Mbps) | 4 |
|---|---|
| USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A (5 Gbps) | 1 |
| USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (10 Gbps) | 1 |
| USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (10 Gbps) | 2 |
Internal USB Headers
| USB 2.0 Header (480 Mbps) | 4 |
|---|---|
| USB 3.2 Gen 1 Header (5 Gbps) | 5 |
Networking Information
| Ethernet | Chipset: Realtek® 8126VB 5G LAN LAN Ports: 1 |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi |
Version: Wi-Fi 7 Bandwidth: 320MHz Frequency Bands: 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz |
| Bluetooth |
Version: 5.4 |
Button Features
| Buttons |
BIOS Flashback Clear CMOS |
|---|
Quality & Features
Additional Information
| RAM | Supports AMD POR Speed, JEDEC Speed, and AMD EXPO™ for memory overclocking. Supports Un-buffered memory. Supports CUDIMM, Clock Driver bypass mode only. Ryzen™ 9000 Series Processors max overclocking frequencies: 1DPC 1R up to 8200+ MT/s, 1DPC 2R up to 6400+ MT/s, 2DPC 1R up to 6400+ MT/s, 2DPC 2R up to 6000+ MT/s. |
|---|---|
| Display | Available only on processors featuring integrated graphics. Graphics specifications may vary depending on the CPU installed. |
| Expansion | PCI_E1 Gen PCIe 5.0 supports up to x16 (From CPU). PCI_E2 Gen PCIe 3.0 supports up to x1 (From Chipset). PCI_E3 Gen PCIe 4.0 supports up to x4 (From Chipset). PCI_E4 Gen PCIe 3.0 supports up to x1 (From Chipset). PCI_E1 slot supports PCIe 5.0 x16 (For Ryzen™ 9000/ 7000 Series processors), supports PCIe 4.0 x8 (For Ryzen™ 8700/ 8600/ 8400 Series processors), and supports PCIe 4.0 x4 (For Ryzen™ 8500/ 8300 Series processor). PCI_E2, PCI_E3 & PCI_E4 share the bandwidth, PCI_E3 slot will run at x2 speed when installing devices in the PCI_E2 or PCI_E4 slot. |
| Storage |
M.2 Slot Details:
|
| Audio | 7.1-Channel High Definition Audio |
| Networking | The Wireless module is pre-installed in the M.2 (Key-E) slot. Supports MU-MIMO TX/RX, up to 5.8Gbps. Supports MLO, 4KQAM. 6GHz band support may depend on every country’s regulations and Wi-Fi 7 will be ready in Windows 11 version 24H2. The Bluetooth version may be updated, please refer to the Wi-Fi chipset vendor’s website for details. Bluetooth 5.4 will be ready in Windows 11 version 24H2. |
| Buttons | The motherboard features a Clear CMOS Button and a Flash BIOS Button on the rear I/O panel. It also includes internal headers for Front Panel (JFP), Chassis Intrusion (JCI), and a Tuning Controller connector (JDASH). |
| Dimensions | 30.5 cm x 24.4 cm |
Note: The specifications and descriptions above are extracted by AI to present the official manufacturer data in a clearer and more natural way for easier understanding. However, this AI-processed information may contain inaccuracies. Please verify all details by consulting the official manufacturer's information provided below.
MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi Compared to Motherboards with Similar Performance and Features
Motherboard Quality & Features per Price Table
| Motherboard (Desc) | Price (Desc) | Overall_Q (Desc) | VRM_Q (Desc) | Chipset (Desc) | Exp_Str (Desc) | Connect (Desc) | Audio (Desc) | Q&F/Price (Desc) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
$355❗
|
↑
6.6%
|
64.0%
|
32.0%
|
94.0%
|
82.0%
|
72.0%
|
40.0%
|
34.2%
|
|
|
$215
|
↓
-4.4%
|
63.8%
|
40.0%
|
79.0%
|
54.0%
|
61.0%
|
85.0%
|
56.3%
|
|
|
$170
|
↑
17.9%
|
63.8%
|
38.0%
|
78.0%
|
100.0%
|
55.0%
|
48.0%
|
71.3%
|
|
|
$200
|
0.0%
|
63.4%
|
24.0%
|
74.0%
|
67.0%
|
71.0%
|
81.0%
|
60.2%
|
|
|
$170
|
0.0%
|
63.0%
|
37.0%
|
81.0%
|
84.0%
|
70.0%
|
43.0%
|
70.4%
|
|
|
$170
|
0.0%
|
62.6%
|
37.0%
|
81.0%
|
84.0%
|
68.0%
|
43.0%
|
70.0%
|
|
|
$260
|
0.0%
|
62.6%
|
34.0%
|
81.0%
|
44.0%
|
66.0%
|
88.0%
|
45.7%
|
|
|
$250
|
↑
13.6%
|
62.6%
|
37.0%
|
81.0%
|
84.0%
|
68.0%
|
43.0%
|
47.6%
|
|
|
$180
|
0.0%
|
62.4%
|
51.0%
|
78.0%
|
44.0%
|
55.0%
|
84.0%
|
65.9%
|
Motherboard Comparison and Detail Specifications Table
| Specification | Perf Chart | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price |
$355❗
|
↑
6.6%
|
$215
|
↓
-4.4%
|
$170
|
↑
17.9%
|
$200
|
0.0%
|
$170
|
0.0%
|
$170
|
0.0%
|
$260
|
0.0%
|
$250
|
↑
13.6%
|
$180
|
0.0%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manufacturer | ASUS | GIGABYTE | ASUS | GIGABYTE | MSI | MSI | MSI | MSI | ASRock | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chip/Socket | AMD B850 Chipset / AM5 | B650I / AM5 | B650 / AM5 | B650 / AM5 | B850 / AM5 | B850-P / AM5 | B850I / AM5 | B850 / AM5 | B850I / AM5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Form | Micro-ATX | Mini-ITX | Standard-ATX | Standard-ATX | Standard-ATX | Standard-ATX | Mini-ITX | Standard-ATX | Mini-ITX | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CPU Phases | 8 (80 A) | 8 (105 A) | 12 (60 A) | 8 (60 A) | 12 (60 A) | 12 (60 A) | 8 (90 A) | 12 (60 A) | 10 (110 A) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PWR Design | 8 + 2 + 1 | 8+2+1 | 12+2+2 | 8+2+1 | 12+2+1 | 12+2+1 | 8+2 + 1 | 12+2+1 | 10+1+1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mem Slots | 4 / DDR5 | 2 / DDR5 | 4 / DDR5 | 4 / DDR5 | 4 / DDR5 | 4 / DDR5 | 2 / DDR5 | 4 / DDR5 | 2 / DDR5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Max Mem | 256 GB / 8000 MHz | 128 GB / 7200 MHz | 128 GB / 7600 MHz | 256 GB / 8000 MHz | 256 GB / 8200 MHz | 256 GB / 8200 MHz | 128 GB / 10000 MHz | 256 GB / 8200 MHz | 128 GB / 8200 MHz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PCIe | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PCIe Slots | 1x16 Gen5 | 2x16 Gen4 | 1x16 Gen4 | 3x16 Gen4 | 2x1 Gen4 | 1x16 Gen4 | 1x16 Gen5 | 1x16 Gen4 | 2x16 Gen3 | 1x16 Gen5 | 1x16 Gen4 | 2x16 Gen3 | 1x16 Gen5 | 1x16 Gen5 | 1x16 Gen4 | 2x16 Gen3 | 1x16 Gen5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M.2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SATA | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Audio | Realtek 7.1 Surround Sound Hi… | Realtek® ALC4080 CODEC | Realtek® ALC892/ALC897 | Realtek® ALC1220-VB CODEC | Realtek® ALC897 | Realtek® ALC897 | Realtek® ALC4080 Codec | Realtek® ALC897 | Realtek ALC1220 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| S/PDIF | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HDMI | ✔️ (2.1) | ✔️ (2.1) | ✔️ (2.1) | ✔️ (2.1) | ❌ | ✔️ (2.1) | ✔️ (2.1) | ❌ | ✔️ (2.1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DP | ✔️ (1.4) | ✔️ (1.4) | ✔️ (1.4) | ❌ | ✔️ (1.2) | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ (1.2) | ❌ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LAN | 1 x Realtek 10Gb Etherne… (3 ports) | Realtek® 2.5GbE LAN chip… (1 ports) | Realtek 2.5Gb Ethernet (1 ports) | Intel® 2.5GbE LAN chip (… (1 ports) | Realtek® 8126VB 5G LAN (1 ports) | Realtek® 8126VB 5G LAN (1 ports) | Realtek® 8126 5G LAN (1 ports) | Realtek® 8126VB 5G LAN (1 ports) | 2.5 Gigabit LAN (1 ports) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wi-Fi | ❌ | Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 6E | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BT | ❌ | v5.3 | v5.2 | v5.2 | v5.4 | v5.4 | v5.4 | v5.4 | v5.2 | Rear USB |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USB Headers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
❌ |
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Front USB |
|
❌ |
|
❌ |
❌ |
|
|
|
|
VRM Appropriate CPU Specification Table
| CPU | Price | App_Performance | Game_Performance | TDP/Max | C/SC/T | L2/L3 Cache | Base/Boost | Code Name | GPU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
$316
|
↓
0.0%
|
63.0%
|
76.4%
|
65 W / 88 W | 12 / 0 / 24 | 1024.0 kB / 64.0 MB | 3.70 GHz / 5.40 GHz | Raphael | Radeon Graphics | |
|
$0
|
0.0%
|
51.9%
|
80.9%
|
65 W / 88 W | 8 / 0 / 16 | 1024.0 kB / 32.0 MB | 3.80 GHz / 5.50 GHz | Granite Ridge | None | |
|
$303
|
0.0%
|
51.9%
|
80.9%
|
65 W / 88 W | 8 / 0 / 16 | 1024.0 kB / 32.0 MB | 3.80 GHz / 5.50 GHz | Granite Ridge | Radeon Graphics | |
|
$190
|
↓
-32.1%
|
47.8%
|
78.1%
|
65 W / 88 W | 8 / 0 / 16 | 1024.0 kB / 32.0 MB | 3.80 GHz / 5.30 GHz | Raphael | Radeon Graphics | |
|
$266
|
0.0%
|
45.2%
|
63.7%
|
65 W / 61 W | 8 / 0 / 16 | 1024.0 kB / 16.0 MB | 4.20 GHz / 5.10 GHz | Phoenix | Radeon 780M | |
|
$180
|
↓
-14.3%
|
45.1%
|
63.5%
|
65 W / 61 W | 8 / 0 / 16 | 1024.0 kB / 16.0 MB | 4.10 GHz / 5.00 GHz | Phoenix | None | |
|
$185
|
0.0%
|
43.7%
|
80.4%
|
65 W / 88 W | 6 / 0 / 12 | 1024.0 kB / 32.0 MB | 3.90 GHz / 5.40 GHz | Granite Ridge | Radeon Graphics | |
|
$0
|
0.0%
|
41.0%
|
77.9%
|
65 W / 88 W | 6 / 0 / 12 | 1024.0 kB / 32.0 MB | 3.80 GHz / 5.00 GHz | Granite Ridge | None | |
|
$240
|
0.0%
|
38.8%
|
86.0%
|
65 W / 88 W | 6 / 0 / 12 | 1024.0 kB / 96.0 MB | 4.10 GHz / 4.70 GHz | Raphael | Radeon Graphics | |
|
$169
|
↓
-0.6%
|
38.2%
|
75.3%
|
65 W / 88 W | 6 / 0 / 12 | 1024.0 kB / 32.0 MB | 3.80 GHz / 5.10 GHz | Raphael | Radeon Graphics | |
|
$103❗
|
0.0%
|
37.8%
|
74.1%
|
65 W / 88 W | 6 / 0 / 12 | 1024.0 kB / 32.0 MB | 3.70 GHz / 5.00 GHz | Raphael | None | |
|
$188
|
0.0%
|
35.8%
|
63.7%
|
65 W / 61 W | 6 / 0 / 12 | 1024.0 kB / 16.0 MB | 4.30 GHz / 5.00 GHz | Phoenix | Radeon 760M | |
|
$0
|
0.0%
|
34.9%
|
73.1%
|
65 W / 88 W | 6 / 0 / 12 | 1024.0 kB / 32.0 MB | 3.70 GHz / 4.70 GHz | Raphael | None | |
|
$149
|
0.0%
|
34.7%
|
62.3%
|
65 W / 61 W | 6 / 0 / 12 | 1024.0 kB / 16.0 MB | 4.20 GHz / 4.70 GHz | Phoenix | None | |
|
$149
|
0.0%
|
31.3%
|
57.3%
|
65 W / 61 W | 6 / 0 / 12 | 1024.0 kB / 16.0 MB | 3.50 GHz / 5.00 GHz | Phoenix2 | Radeon 740M |
Official Manufacturer Data
Memory:
Memory Support DDR5 8200 - 5600 (OC) MT/s / 5600 - 4800 (JEDEC) MT/s
Ryzen™ 9000 Series Processors max. overclocking frequency:
• 1DPC 1R Max speed up to 8200+ MT/s
• 1DPC 2R Max speed up to 6400+ MT/s
• 2DPC 1R Max speed up to 6400+ MT/s
• 2DPC 2R Max speed up to 6000+ MT/s
Supports AMD POR Speed and JEDEC Speed
Supports Memory Overclocking and AMD EXPOTM
Supports Dual-Channel mode
Supports Non-ECC, Un-buffered memory
Supports CUDIMM, Clock Driver bypass mode only*
Graphics:
Support DisplayPort 1.2, maximum resolution of 4K 60Hz*
*Available only on processors featuring integrated graphics. Graphics specifications may vary depending on the CPU installed.
Storage:
M.2_1 Source (From CPU) supports up to PCIe 5.0 x4 , supports 2280/2260 devices
M.2_2 Source (From CPU) supports up to PCIe 4.0 x4 , supports 22110/2280 devices
M.2_3 Source (From Chipset) supports up to PCIe 4.0 x2 , supports 2280/2260 devices
4x SATA 6G
M2_1 slot
• Supports up to PCIe 5.0 x4 (For Ryzen™ 9000/ 7000 Series processors)
• Supports up to PCIe 4.0 x4 (For Ryzen™ 8000 Series processors)
M2_2 slot • Supports up to PCIe 4.0 x4 (For Ryzen™ 9000/ 7000 Series processors) • Supports up to PCIe 3.0 x4 (For Ryzen™ 8700/ 8600/ 8400 Series processors) • Supports up to PCIe 3.0 x2 (For Ryzen™ 8500/ 8300 Series processors) *Please refer to the manual for M.2 SSD heatsink restrictions.
Expansion Slots:
PCI_E1 Gen PCIe 5.0 supports up to x16 (From CPU)
PCI_E2 Gen PCIe 3.0 supports up to x1 (From Chipset)
PCI_E3 Gen PCIe 4.0 supports up to x4 (From Chipset)
PCI_E4 Gen PCIe 3.0 supports up to x1 (From Chipset)
PCI_E1 slot
• Supports PCIe 5.0 x16 (For Ryzen™ 9000/ 7000 Series processors)
• Supports PCIe 4.0 x8 (For Ryzen™ 8700/ 8600/ 8400 Series processors)
• Supports PCIe 4.0 x4 (For Ryzen™ 8500/ 8300 Series processor)
* PCI_E2, PCI_E3 & PCI_E4 share the bandwidth, PCI_E3 slot will run at x2 speed when installing devices in the PCI_E2 or PCI_E4 slot.
USB:
4x USB 2.0 (Front)
1x USB 5Gbps Type A (Rear)
4x USB 5Gbps Type A (Front)
1x USB 5Gbps Type C (Front)
1x USB 10Gbps Type A (Rear)
2x USB 10Gbps Type C (Rear)
Internal I/O:
2x Power Connector(CPU_PWR)
1x Power Connector(PCIE_PWR 8pin)
1x CPU Fan
1x Combo Fan (Pump_Sys Fan)
4x System Fan
1x EZ Conn-header (JAF_1)
2x Front Panel (JFP)
1x Chassis Intrusion (JCI)
1x Front Audio (JAUD)
1x Com Port (JCOM)
1x Tuning Controller connector(JDASH)
3x Addressable V2 RGB LED connector (JARGB_V2)
1x RGB LED connector(JRGB)
1x TPM pin header(Support TPM 2.0)
4x USB 2.0 ports
4x USB 5Gbps Type A ports
1x USB 5Gbps Type C ports
Back Panel I/O:
USB 10Gbps (Type-A)
USB 2.0
5G LAN
Wi-Fi / Bluetooth
Audio connectors
Flash BIOS Button
DisplayPort
USB 10Gbps (Type-C)
USB 10Gbps (Type-C)
USB 5Gbps (Type-A)
S/PDIF-OUT
WiFi:
The Wireless module is pre-installed in the M.2 (Key-E) slot
Supports MU-MIMO TX/RX, 2.4GHz/ 5GHz/ 6GHz* (320MHz) up to 5.8Gbps
Supports 802.11 a/ b/ g/ n/ ac/ ax/ be
Supports Bluetooth® 5.4**, MLO, 4KQAM * 6GHz band support may depend on every country’s regulations and Wi-Fi 7 will be ready in Windows 11 version 24H2. ** The Bluetooth version may be updated, please refer to the Wi-Fi chipset vendor’s website for details. Bluetooth 5.4 will be ready in Windows 11 version 24H2.
Audio:
7.1-Channel High Definition Audio
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