I'm choosing between two Micro Center Ryzen 9800X3D bundles. The $779.99 bundle has a Gigabyte B850 Gaming X WiFi6E, while the $829.99 bundle has an MSI X870E-P Pro WiFi. Both include 32GB of Corsair Vengeance DDR5-6000.
Is the more expensive board worth it, or should I save the $50?
I'd save the $50 unless there's something specific on the MSI board you want. A different motherboard alone won't make the 9800X3D perform better in games. Check the ports, storage connections and other features against what you actually plan to use.
For a $50 difference, I'd be tempted by the X870E bundle. It's a relatively small step up in the total build cost, and having more features available could be nice. That said, it's a want rather than a need if the B850 already covers your build.
Looks are a fair reason too. If you prefer the MSI board and will be looking at it through a case window, $50 might be worth it to you. Just don't buy it expecting a performance boost from the chipset name.
Resale could be another consideration. The more expensive board might be worth more when you sell it, though there's no guarantee you'll get the extra $50 back. I'd treat that as a possible bonus, not the main reason to buy it.
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