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ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi vs MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi: Comparison
ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi vs MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi: the max memory difference
On max memory the spread is 50%, ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi 256 GB against MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi 128 GB, so ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi takes it. M.2 slots runs the same way, 4 on the ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi versus 2 on the MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi, another win for ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi. Memory type is not the same on both, 4x DDR5 DIMM, up to 256GB, up to 8666+... on the ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi versus 4x DDR4 DIMM, dual-channel, up to 128GB, up to... on the MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi.
Which should you buy, ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi or MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi?
The ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi suits mainstream Intel builds that don't need Wi-Fi 7, though it is not built for anyone who specifically wants Wi-Fi 7. It is equally the pick for builders who want four M.2 slots at a B-series price with Steel Legend styling. It is the wrong buy for enthusiasts who want the higher memory OC ceiling of the Z890 Steel Legend. Buy the MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi for AM4 builders who prioritize MSI's military-class component certification and mid-range Ryzen 5000 builds completing an existing system, though it is not the pick for anyone who wants Wi-Fi 6 or faster wired networking and new builds better served by AM5.
Where the two are identical
The common ground is wider than the gap: memory slots, form factor, board width, wi-fi onboard and m.2 cpu attached slots are identical here. They match on 4 further specifications as well.
Frequently asked questions
Do the ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi and MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi differ on chipset?
Yes. Chipset reads B860 on the ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi versus X570 on the MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi.
Is the PCIe x16 Slots the same on the ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi and MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi?
It is. Both are listed at 2, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Platform
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- Intel
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- AMD
Model Number
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
Socket
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- Intel Core Ultra Processors (Series 2)
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- AMD Ryzen 5000 / 3000 / 2000 series, Ryzen 4000 G-Series
Form Factor
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- ATX
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- ATX
Chipset
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- B860
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- X570
Newest CPU Family Supported
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- Core Ultra Series 2
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- Ryzen 5000
Memory Type
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 4x DDR5 DIMM, up to 256GB, up to 8666+ MHz (OC)
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- 4x DDR4 DIMM, dual-channel, up to 128GB, up to 4600+ MT/s (A-XMP OC, 3rd Gen Ryzen)
Memory Slots
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 4
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- 4
Max Memory
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 256 GBBest
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- 128 GB-50%
Board Width
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 244 mm
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- 244 mm
M.2 Slots
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 4Best
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- 2-50%
PCIe 5.0 Support
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- Yes
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- No
Wi-Fi Onboard
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- Yes
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- Yes
Max Rated Memory Speed
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 8666 MT/sBest
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- 4600 MT/s
M.2 Slots Onboard
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 4
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- 2
M.2 PCIe 5.0 Slots
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 1
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- 0
M.2 PCIe 4.0 Slots
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 3
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- 2
M.2 CPU Attached Slots
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 1
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- 1
SATA Ports
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 4
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- 6
PCIe x16 Slots
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 2
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- 2
Primary Graphics Slot Gen
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- PCIe 5.0
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- PCIe 4.0
Rear USB4 or TB Ports
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 1
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- 0
Rear USB 20Gbps Ports
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 0
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- 0
Rear USB 10Gbps Ports
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 2
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- 4
Rear USB 5Gbps Ports
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 4
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- 2
Rear USB 2.0 Ports
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 3
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- 2
Front USB-C Header Speed
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 20GbpsBest
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- 10Gbps
Fan and Pump Headers
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 8
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- 6
ARGB Headers
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 3
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- 2
Vcore Power Stages
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 14
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- Digital PWM IC
EPS 12V Configuration
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- Two 8-pin
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- 8-pin plus 4-pin
Max Ethernet Speed
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 2.5 Gbps
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- 2.5 Gbps
Ethernet Port Count
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 1
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- 1
Wi-Fi Standard
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- Wi-Fi 6E
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth Version
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 5.3
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- 5.2
Audio Codec
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- Realtek ALC1220, Nahimic
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- Realtek ALC1200
Expansion
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- PCIe 5.0 x16 + PCIe 4.0 x16 (x2)
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- 1x PCIe 4.0 x16, 1x PCIe 4.0 x4 (x16 physical), 2x PCIe 3.0 x1
Connectivity
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- Nahimic audio software, Thunderbolt 4/USB4
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- HDMI 1.4, rear USB 10Gbps Type-C
Networking
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 2.5G LAN, Wi-Fi 6E
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- Realtek 8125B 2.5G LAN, Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200, Bluetooth 5.2
Special Features
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 4x M.2 (1x Gen5, 2x Gen4, 1x Gen4 x2)
- MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi
- 2x M.2 (PCIe 4.0 NVMe), M.2 Shield Frozr
Which one should you pick?
Choose ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi if you want the higher memory slots (4 vs 4), the higher max memory (256 GB vs 128 GB) and the higher M.2 slots (4 vs 2).
Choose MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi | MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | View on Amazon | |
| Newegg | View on Newegg | |
| Best Buy | View on Best Buy |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.