I'm not into overclocking and will just be using my 9800X3D at stock settings. I don't prioritize speed for connectivity; I mostly care about connecting my peripherals. Given this, is there any reason to choose the X870E over the B850? I'm comparing the MSI MPG B850 EDGE TI WIFI with the MSI MAG X870E TOMAHAWK WIFI.
3 Answers
For most users, there's virtually no difference between these chipsets. The chipset mainly affects the distribution of PCIe lanes, which in turn influences the USB and M.2 options you get. If that's not a priority for you, it's a non-issue.
I'd recommend going for the B850 unless you have specific needs for the X870E. A lot of folks spend extra on high-end motherboards they won't even fully utilize.
If you're not planning on making any BIOS tweaks and are okay with running everything at stock, the B850 is definitely a good choice. More expensive boards often offer better undervolting options which can enhance performance, but you're probably safe with the 9800X3D at stock. I opted for a B760 instead of an X790 before, and I regret it because my CPU runs hotter without good undervolting features. You might not face that issue, but if you think you’ll want to tweak things later, spend a little more on a nicer board now.
I'm planning to put a 360mm AIO on it, so as long as it stays below 80°C while gaming, I’m fine. Plus, after having a 14900K, I'm pretty used to high CPU temps.
I actually grabbed the X870E recently when I was aiming for the B850 max. There was a flash deal and they were the same price, so I couldn't resist.