Hey everyone! I'm currently building a new PC and could really use your advice on picking the best motherboard. I have some experience with building PCs, but I haven't kept up with all the latest stuff, so I'm feeling a bit lost.
Here's what I've got so far: an RTX 5080 graphics card, 32GB of 6000MHz DDR5 RAM at CL30, and I just ordered a Ryzen 7 9850X3D processor. I need a motherboard with 4 M.2 slots since I already have 3 Gen4 M.2 SSDs.
I'm considering two options: the MSI MAG X870E TOMAHAWK and the Asus TUF GAMING X870E-PLUS. I'd like to steer clear of the B850 unless it's significantly cheaper. Both motherboards are currently on a small sale for me. I've seen some comments about potential issues with the MSI Tomahawk, so I'm not sure what to believe. Any help or tips would be super appreciated!
2 Answers
You might want to check out some reviews on these motherboards; YouTube has some great video comparisons. There are links to a few reviews comparing the X870 and B850 motherboards, which really help clarify their features. Just remember, a lot depends on what you're planning to do with your build. Reading up on features like VRM quality, connectivity options, and overall build process could really help you make a more informed decision.
Ultimately, knowledge is power! Good luck!
The main thing to keep in mind between those two motherboards is how they handle PCIe lanes for the M.2 slots. Both of them offer four M.2 slots, but the speeds can vary based on what's installed. For the MSI, if you use the second M.2 slot, it shares bandwidth with USB 4.0 ports, which can slow things down a bit. On the flip side, if you choose the ASUS, the second M.2 slot shares bandwidth with the main PCIe x16 slot, but that shouldn’t hurt performance too much for most uses. If USB 4.0 bandwidth is a priority for you, I'd say go with the ASUS. If you care more about the graphics performance with the PCIe lanes, the MSI might be the better choice.
Also, there’s the ASUS ROG STRIX X870E-E that splits the lanes but gives you more M.2 slots if you want to consider that. And if none of this sounds right, the MSI B850 boards offer a decent setup as well, just without the premium features of the X870s.
Thanks for clearing that up! I've been leaning toward the ASUS but wasn't sure about the differences. Do you think the ASUS ROG STRIX is worth the extra bucks?
Thanks for the links! I’ll definitely check them out this weekend. I want to make sure I choose the right one for my setup.