Upgrading your B450M Asus TUF Pro S with a B450M MSI Mortar Max is a solid choice.
Upgrading your B450M Asus TUF Pro S with a B450M MSI Mortar Max is a solid choice.
Hey! I just set up an account to discuss this decision. I’m planning to build a new gaming PC and am weighing the pros and cons of swapping my current B450M MSI Mortar Max for a B450M Asus TUF Pro S. I didn’t realize the Pro S was available until yesterday, which is confusing. Should I go back on my purchase or stick with what I have? Since I expect to use the system for about 6 to 8 years, I want a reliable board. Besides the better VRM and 2.5 GB LAN port, does the Pro S bring any extra advantages like improved storage options, updated BIOS support, or better software compatibility? I’m not familiar with Asus’s offerings beyond what I’ve heard, so I’m unsure how to evaluate them.
I’m not sure about anything, but regarding customer support, I believe choosing EVGA or MSI products right now offers similar quality since both companies host weekly live streams where you can interact directly. Checking their forums shows no clear differences between them. The main distinction seems to be that MSI boards have a setting that is disabled by default or automatically activated, while ASUS boards have it enabled.
It seems MSI offers a few notable upgrades compared to the Pro S model. The differences include a superior VRM design, a 2.5 GB LAN port, and a redesign of one of the case fan headers into an optional CPU fan port. Whether these changes justify replacing your Mortar Max with the Pro S depends on your specific needs. What exactly are you asking about that both models share?
I don’t recall the exact model but it’s related to BIOS settings affecting game performance. The MSI version has it disabled, while ASUS and other boards keep it active. It probably isn’t worth changing unless you need to reset it once, since the BIOS should retain your preferences. Here are the LAN port specifications for the MSI board: RTL8111H(S)-CG - REALTEK. On the ASUS RTL8125BG(S)-CG - REALTEK page, scroll down to view features for each LAN port.