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ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi vs MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi: Comparison
ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi vs MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi: the chipset difference
Chipset is the dividing line, ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi B850 against MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi X870. Ecc memory support is not the same on both, Unbuffered ECC on the ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi versus None on the MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi. M.2 pcie 5.0 slots is not the same on both, 1 on the ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi versus 2 on the MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi. They differ on m.2 pcie 4.0 slots too, 3 on the ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi versus 2 on the MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi. They differ on pcie x16 slots too, 2 on the ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi versus 3 on the MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi.
Who each one is for
The ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi suits builders who want four M.2 slots at a B-series price and mainstream AM5 builds with Steel Legend styling preference, though it is not built for enthusiasts who need X870-level chipset lanes and builds needing dual LAN. Buy the MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi for builders who want dual Gen5 M.2 slots without X870E pricing and mid-range AM5 builds that want fast 5G LAN, though it is not the pick for buyers who don't need dual Gen5 storage and budget-first AM5 builds.
Where the two are identical
The common ground is wider than the gap: socket, memory slots, max memory, m.2 slots and m.2 slots onboard are identical here. They match on 20 further specifications as well.
Frequently asked questions
Do the ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi and MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi differ on networking?
Yes. Networking reads 2.5G LAN, Wi-Fi 7 on the ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi versus Realtek 8126-CG 5G LAN, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 on the MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi.
Is the Form Factor the same on the ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi and MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi?
It is. Both are listed at ATX, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Platform
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- AMD
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- AMD
Model Number
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
Socket
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- AMD Ryzen 9000 / 8000 / 7000 series
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- AMD Ryzen 9000 / 8000 / 7000 series
Form Factor
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- ATX
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- ATX
Chipset
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- B850
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- X870
Newest CPU Family Supported
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- Ryzen 9000
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- Ryzen 9000
Memory Type
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- 4x DDR5 DIMM, up to 256GB, up to 8000+ MT/s (OC)
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- 4x DDR5 UDIMM, up to 256GB, up to 8400+ MT/s (OC)
Oldest CPU Family Supported
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- Ryzen 7000
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- Ryzen 7000
Memory Slots
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- 4
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- 4
Max Memory
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- 256 GB
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- 256 GB
Board Width
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- 244 mm
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- 243.84 mm
M.2 Slots
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- 4
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- 4
PCIe 5.0 Support
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- Yes
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- Yes
Wi-Fi Onboard
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- Yes
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- Yes
Max Rated Memory Speed
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- 8000 MT/s
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- 8400 MT/sBest
ECC Memory Support
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- Unbuffered ECC
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- None
M.2 Slots Onboard
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- 4
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- 4
M.2 PCIe 5.0 Slots
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- 1
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- 2
M.2 PCIe 4.0 Slots
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- 3
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- 2
M.2 CPU Attached Slots
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- 2
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- 2
SATA Ports
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- 4
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- 4
PCIe x16 Slots
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- 2
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- 3
Primary Graphics Slot Gen
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- PCIe 5.0
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- PCIe 5.0
Rear USB4 or TB Ports
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- 0
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- 2
Rear USB 20Gbps Ports
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- 0
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- 0
Rear USB 10Gbps Ports
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- 4
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- 3
Rear USB 5Gbps Ports
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- 3
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- 3
Rear USB 2.0 Ports
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- 4
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- 4
Front USB-C Header Speed
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- 20Gbps
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- 20Gbps
Fan and Pump Headers
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- 6
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- 8
ARGB Headers
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- 3
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- 3
Vcore Power Stages
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- 14
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- 14
Power Stage Current Rating
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- 80 A
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- 80 A
BIOS Flashback
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- Yes
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- Yes
Max Ethernet Speed
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- 2.5 Gbps
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- 5 GbpsBest
Ethernet Port Count
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- 1
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- 1
Wi-Fi Standard
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- Wi-Fi 7
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- Wi-Fi 7
Bluetooth Version
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- 5.4
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- 5.4
Audio Codec
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- Realtek ALC4082, Nahimic, 7.1-channel
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- Realtek ALC4080, 7.1-channel
Expansion
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- PCIe 5.0 x16 + PCIe 4.0 x16 (x4)
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- PCIe 5.0 x16 + PCIe 4.0 x4 + PCIe 3.0 x1
Connectivity
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- USB 3.2, Nahimic audio software
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- 2x rear USB 40Gbps Type-C (USB4), front USB 20Gbps Type-C with 27W PD
Networking
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- 2.5G LAN, Wi-Fi 7
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- Realtek 8126-CG 5G LAN, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Special Features
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi
- 4x M.2 (1x Gen5, 3x Gen4)
- MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- 4x M.2 (2x Gen5, 2x Gen4)
Which one should you pick?
Choose ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi if you want the higher memory slots (4 vs 4), the higher max memory (256 GB vs 256 GB) and the higher M.2 slots (4 vs 4).
Choose MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi | MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | View on Amazon | |
| Newegg | View on Newegg |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.