Compare MSI B450 Tomahawk MAX with Asus Rog STRIX B450-F for gaming.
Compare MSI B450 Tomahawk MAX with Asus Rog STRIX B450-F for gaming.
Initially, I aim to avoid generic suggestions like "just get a b550 board" or "go for a matx board." I’m looking for the reliability and features of an ATX setup, and I’ve been told these newer AMD chips should work fine on most b450 boards without overclocking. I’m not planning to upgrade anytime soon, so I want a board that’s versatile now and will adapt to future needs. I have a few questions about these options that I’d really appreciate hearing.
I recently purchased an RX 580 and a Ryzen 3 3200G a few months back, but still need the remaining components. My friend with an RX 580 and Ryzen 5 3600 owns the Asus ROG STRIX B450-F gaming unit and seems to enjoy it. I’ve also heard the MSI Tomahawk is highly regarded as the top b450 board. My main concerns are: Does removing the plastic cover on the Asus model improve its performance compared to the Tomahawk? Also, regarding the ASUS ROG STRIX B450-F Gaming RYZEN 3000—are you sure it’s compatible with Ryzen 2000 or can it run Ryzen 3000? I’ve seen mixed information online, so I’d like a clear answer.
No, not all b450 boards are compatible with overclocking. The Tomahawk model is the best option, featuring 4 4C029N and 4 4C024N components. There are other boards that achieve similar results at a lower cost, such as the B450 A Pro Max (non-M) which uses the same VRM and is roughly 20 dollars cheaper. If a board claims to be Ryzen 3000 ready, it likely is. Most current b450 boards include Zen 2 AGESA support, and MSI's models also support this. However, if you're restricted to these two, the Tomahawk Max is superior, though the B450 A Pro Max (non-M) is a solid alternative. I didn’t hear they recommended a B550 with a 3200G, because B550 doesn’t support Zen + APU unless you disclose the CPU details.
The top B450 board right now is the Asus TUF B450M Pro S, basically a TUF B550M Plus using a Tomahawk chipset. The B450-F model has poorer heatsinks and MOSFETs. Even the B450-E version, which improves the heatsink, still uses inferior mosfets for Ryzen 2000. All boards available today were made late enough to support BIOS version 3000, but MSI Max and a few others were built with 3000 compatibility from the start, which is why they’re called "3000 ready."
Opt for the lowest VRM temperature instead of chasing high numbers. Avoid overclocking and throttling—good VRM means your CPU runs efficiently, saving power and heat. MSCI’s software support isn’t great.
In either case, the tomahawk stands out more than the other option. No, the pros rely on the same VRM as the B550M Tus Plus—8 sic639’s—which makes it the top choice for the B450 board. The TUF pro gaming version falls short. Edited September 5, 2020 by TofuHaroto
But what? The review didn’t touch on overclocking. From the OC perspective, pairing with any Ryzen 3 generation doesn’t matter since their VRMs are built in. For 3rd gen support, check the B450-F shop listing—they have 3000 units available, and I think most are already stocked. Now ASUS released a new "B450-F Gaming II" version, featuring BIOS flashback and other updates. The Tomahawk also offers the cheapest audio/lan setup: AUDIO Realtek ® ALC892 Codec 7.1-Channel High Definition Audio LAN 1 x Realtek ® 8111H Gigabit LAN controller. While the ASUS B450-F already has top-tier components, the new model adds BIOS flashback and other improvements. Also, the Tomahawk provides the most affordable audio/lan configuration.