I'm helping my friend upgrade his PC for his birthday. He's moving from an i7-8700 to a newer setup, ideally with the cheapest Zen 4 7000-series CPU available at that time, along with 6000MHz RAM. I want to ensure it's future-proof, so I'm looking for a motherboard with strong VRMs, at least 2 M.2 slots, 5 USB-A ports, WiFi 6, BIOS Flashback, and PCIe 4.0/5.0 compatibility, plus support for future Zen 5/6 CPUs. I've narrowed it down to a few Micro ATX options within a $20 range: the MSI PRO B650M-A WIFI Micro ATX among them. Which one do you think is the best? Oh, and I just checked his case specs, and it has to be Micro ATX!
5 Answers
If your case can handle a full ATX, go for one of those over a microATX. The Pro and Gaming Plus ATX boards are essentially the same, with only aesthetics differing. If the Gigabyte B650 Eagle AX is available and reasonably priced, it would also be worth a look!
If you're looking for value, the MSI B650 Gaming Plus WiFi is solid. It's a great board that combines features well without breaking the bank.
The Gaming Plus is a great pick! Just make sure you double-check everything fits snugly in your friend’s case since a microATX in a big ATX case might look off.
I’d recommend the MSI PRO B650-S WIFI ATX. It’s similar to the Gaming Plus but I prefer it due to the lack of an integrated I/O shield that sometimes causes fan issues in tighter cases. If you're set on Micro ATX, keep in mind it may limit GPU slot use when space is tight. Also, note that if he’s using Windows, he might need to look for updated audio drivers, as they can be tricky to find.
Good point, I’ll keep that in mind! Just confirmed the Micro ATX requirement again.
Consider the MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi instead. It's a fantastic deal if you can find it. The MSI PRO B850-P WiFi is similar but without the gamer aesthetic, which might suit your friend's setup better.
Thanks for the suggestion! I'll see if I can find that board too.