Need help
Need help
You're torn between two options: an ASUS TUF B450M-PRO gaming model and an MSI B450M Pro VDH Max. The ASUS has great VRAM but the MSI offers a broader memory range. You're worried about memory usage since you won't need RAM above 3400MHz, and you plan to use OCR for your CPU.
Our tier list shows the B450 Pro VDH ahead of the B450 TUF Asus, especially in terms of power phases for the B450. That aligns with what I expect.
You don’t require extra VRM or memory speed beyond what you need. Pushing them too high can lead to issues. Your board likely has limited capacity, but it might still suffice for now. I wouldn’t recommend upgrading right away unless you specifically need to improve one component. Upgrades will probably be necessary later as you approach the board’s maximum limits.
Budget boards get budget VRMs. In fact MSI's VRMs aren't really that much "better" for say. Near same quality, same quantity. With exception of "I" not "m" series where most manufacturers use x6 IR VRMs. Asus 4C10B vs Msi 4C029N - Not a great deal of difference here..... Both of these VRM setups are "cheap"
It's mainly offset by the inferior heatsinks on this MSI board. This is why the TUF Plus was pushed even lower due to its compact cooling units.
From my perspective, some claim MSI VRMs perform better. No one mentions the cooling being superior. That’s confusion spreading here. It’s similar to saying "Asus has great VRMs" while most B450 boards use affordable ones. Cooling gets overlooked. A key point in this discussion is suggesting boards for an unidentified CPU. If it’s a 3000G, you can likely run it on anything you prefer.