Help me choose a B450 motherboard
Help me choose a B450 motherboard
Hey there! I've been digging into the latest options for building a PC over the past few days. Since I'm new to PC construction, I had to stay updated on what's available. I came across several choices: MSI B450 Tomahawk, MSI B450M, Mortar MAX, Asus ROG Strix B450-F, Gigabyte B450, and AORUS PRO. I couldn't find a Tomahawk Max in my area, but the Mortar is available in MATX form. The Gaming Plus model is more affordable and comes in ATX size. Asus ROG Strix looks decent, though it seems to lag behind MSI's performance in VRMs and similar specs. Gigabyte is a bit cheaper too. My setup has a 3600 CPU, 3200MHz RAM, and I won't be heavily overclocking. Still, I want the best possible build.
If I go with the Mortar MAX, it would fit nicely in an ATX case. Would you prefer a MATX motherboard if I decide to use the Mortar?
A mATX motherboard typically fits in an ATX case, usually leaving extra space. It’s shorter with fewer slots, so the lower ones aren’t needed. When it comes to appearance, opinions vary a lot—it’s hard to decide. Many prefer larger boards because they support bigger BIOS updates, faster RAM configurations, and sometimes Ryzen2 compatibility is easier due to pre-existing BIOS support. The main differences between MSI models lie in design and features. Newer versions often include updated BIOS, which can make overclocking simpler. Each board you mentioned can handle a 3600 CPU, but performance limits and overclock potential depend on the specific model.
For MSI boards, the Max indicates it includes a 3rd Gen BIOS built-in. I’ve used a Tomahawk Max with a 2700 MHz and considered upgrading later as the 4th generation releases, while budgeting for a solid CPU to match my RX 570. A quick look shows the Tomahawk and Mortar are mostly similar, differing mainly in case type (Mortar is mATX, Tomahawk is ATX). The Mortar offers two M.2 slots, whereas the Tomahawk has just one. I’d choose the Mortar if available, but I really like my Tomahawk.