MSI

MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi 6E

A entry-level motherboard for PC builders, leading with B850.

49/100
Mixed bag
Overall score · how we rate
B850AM58200 MT/s12 Duet RailATXDDR5
£100best price at Amazon
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Why we rate it

  • VRM heatsink
  • BIOS flashback
  • Debug LED / postcode display
  • Above-average max ram
  • Below-average pcie 4.0 x16 slots
Score profile

Where the MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi 6E wins and loses

Scored against the motherboards class
MemoryPowerExpansionRearNetworkingFeatures738044413574
Memory
73
Power delivery
80
Expansion slots
44
Rear I/O
41
Networking
35
Features
74
Full specification

Specifications

Grouped · supported features marked in blue

Platform

SocketAM5
ChipsetB850
Form factorATX
Supported CPU generationsAMD Ryzen 9000, 8000, 7000

Memory

RAM typeDDR5
RAM slots4
Max RAM256 GB
Max memory speed (OC)8200 MT/s

Power delivery

VRM phases12
VRM heatsinkYes

Expansion slots

PCIe 5.0 x16 slots1
PCIe 4.0 x16 slots1
M.2 slots (total)4
M.2 PCIe 5.0 slots1
M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots1
M.2 heatsinks1
SATA ports4

Rear I/O

USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20 Gb/s)1
Rear USB-C1

Networking

Ethernet2.5
Ethernet ports1
Wi-FiWi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth5.4

Audio

Audio codecRealtek ALC4080
Audio channels7.1

Features

BIOS flashbackYes
Debug LED / postcode displayYes
Fan headers6

More specs

M2 slots4
PCIE 5 count1
Ethernet gbps2.5
Head to head

MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi 6E vs MSI MSI B650 Gaming Plus WiFi

Highlighted cell = better in that row
MemoryPowerExpansionRearNetworkingFeatures
MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi 6EMSI B650 Gaming Plus WiFi
 MSIMSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi 6EThis pageMSIMSI B650 Gaming Plus WiFi
Overall score49 /10049 /100
ChipsetB850B650
SocketAM5AM5
Form factorATXATX
Max RAM speed8200 MT/sBetter6400 MT/s
RAM slots45Better
M2 slots total44
Who it's for

Is the MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi 6E right for you?

Buy it if
Buyers on a budget

Anyone who needs a dependable motherboard for the essentials without overspending.

Skip it if
Skip it if

You need flagship-tier performance, in which case a higher-tier motherboard is the better call.

Performance builder
Chasing frames and headroom in a high-end rig.
okay
Mainstream builder
Wants strong value in a balanced build.
good
Budget builder
Stretching every pound in an entry rig.
excellent
Common questions

Before you buy

Is the MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi 6E worth it?

It depends on what you need. It scores 49/100 against other motherboards, a entry-level result where the class average is around 51.

What stands out on the MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi 6E?

Its vrm heatsink stands out, a genuinely useful feature if your setup calls for it.

How does it compare to the ASUS ROG Strix X870E-E Gaming WiFi?

The ASUS ROG Strix X870E-E Gaming WiFi scores 50/100 versus this one at 49/100, so it is the step up on the spec sheet.