We’ve got a new review coming soon, courtesy of MSI’s AMD-based MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI motherboard; but first, let’s open up the box and see what’s inside of this mid-range model, with our first impressions.
MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI: Unboxing
Some interesting things worth pointing out on the box: first, comparing to the Intel’s equivalent models (like this one), the packaging doesn’t feature the “Ultra Connect” label that indicates Thunderbolt 4 ports, 5GbE LAN, and Wi-Fi 7. Strictly speaking, the B850 TOMAHAWK feature the same 5GbE LAN and Wi-Fi 7 connectivity as the Intel-based counterparts, with the lack of Thunderbolt 4 support being the sole reason why it isn’t labeled as such.
Another small detail is the “64MB BIOS” label on the top right. Now, motherboard manufacturers are more than happy to advertise every big number they get – but to be fair, BIOS memory size was indeed something that had a legitimate selling point back then. AMD’s Socket AM4 support was so far and beyond standard that SPI ROMs at the time couldn’t fit all the models into a single motherboard by the time Ryzen 5000 debuted, which created a bit of a controversy and concluded with motherboard maker releasing special BIOSes that remove older CPU entries to make room for the new chips.
Since then, motherboards pretty much come equipped with 32MB of SPI ROMs, but do you need to get out of the way and buy a board with 64MB SPI ROMs? On paper, no, but it seemingly depends – some motherboard makers are apparently pre-loading barebone Wi-Fi drivers directly into the 64MP SPI ROMs to ensure Wi-Fi works right out of the box, which is needed to get around Microsoft’s account sign-in requirement (and Windows 11 outright refuses to proceed if you do not have an internet connection, unofficial workarounds notwithstanding). As far as we can tell, MSI simply wants to future-proof in case Socket AM5’s socket support gets too far and wide in the future.
In the MAG (MSI Arsenal Gaming) lineup, TOMAHAWKs are for standard ATX motherboards, while MORTARs are the micro-ATX motherboards; the MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI is naturally the former, with the extra height freeing up space for additional PCIe slots. In total, you have three PCIe slots, along with three M.2 SSD slots, cooled under two heatsinks. Unlike earlier MAG boards we reviewed, there’s no Easter Eggs found on this motherboard – we previously spotted ‘AUG 1986’ (MSI’s date of establishment) and ‘2F5P+3X’ (Google Maps Plus Code directing to MSI Taipei HQ) found in B860M and Z890 counterparts.
Visual differences aside, the installation mechanism for the primary M.2 SSD heatsink functions the same, which disengages by pushing a latch on the right, and re-engages by pushing the plate inward. As for the SSD installation mechanism, the B850 model sticks to the conventional rotating clip to secure the drive, predating MSI’s current push-and-lock design. As for the PCIe slot latch, it’s the usual – a button located on the far right of the motherboard can be pressed to lock/unlock the slot.
We’ve mentioned EZ-Conn connectors in previous MSI motherboard reviews, and to summarize, there are two versions – a 7-pin JAF_1 and a 11-pin JAF_2 – that combines ARGB, PWM, and in the case of JAF_2, USB 2.0 signal into one combo connector. It’s ideal for cleaning up the cables, and in this case a full 11-pin variant will allow users to install third-party AIO coolers whilst keeping all the cables behind using the included 3-in-1 adapter. Also, some MSI AIO coolers and fans feature native support for this connector.
MSI is also pretty generous when it comes to wired connectivity, with the MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI using a 5-gigabit Ethernet port, which is above-average in terms of speed when compared to most contemporary mid-range motherboards (usually maxes out at 2.5GbE). You also get Wi-Fi 7 support for wireless connectivity, making this motherboard very well-equipped for high-speed networking.
And that concludes the preview of the MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI motherboard, stay tuned as we complete our testing and review of this motherboard here at Pokde.NET, and we’ll see you there!
