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ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi vs MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi: Comparison
What is the difference between ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi and MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi?
Chipset is the dividing line, ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi B860 against MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi Z790. Board width is not the same on both, 244 mm on the ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi versus 243.84 mm on the MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi. They differ on m.2 pcie 5.0 slots too, 1 on the ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi versus 0 on the MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi.
Which should you buy, ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi or MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi?
The ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi suits mainstream Intel builds that don't need Wi-Fi 7, though it is the wrong buy for anyone who specifically wants Wi-Fi 7. It also earns its place with 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 Z790 Tomahawk WiFi for mainstream LGA1700 builders who want MSI's Frozr thermal design and builds that don't need flagship-tier VRM headroom, though it is not built for enthusiasts who want Thunderbolt 4 or dual LAN. Avoid it for new builds better served by the newer Core Ultra Series 2 platform.
Where the two are identical
The common ground is wider than the gap: memory slots, max memory, m.2 slots, m.2 slots onboard and form factor are identical here. They match on 15 further specifications as well.
Frequently asked questions
Do the ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi and MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi differ on socket?
Yes. Socket reads Intel Core Ultra Processors on the ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi versus Intel 12th / 13th / 14th Gen Core on the MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi.
Is the PCIe 5.0 Support the same on the ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi and MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi?
It is. Both are listed at Yes, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Platform
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- Intel
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- Intel
Model Number
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
Socket
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- Intel Core Ultra Processors (Series 2)
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- Intel 12th / 13th / 14th Gen Core
Form Factor
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- ATX
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- ATX
Chipset
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- B860
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- Z790
Newest CPU Family Supported
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- Core Ultra Series 2
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- Core 14th Gen
Memory Type
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 4x DDR5 DIMM, up to 256GB, up to 8666+ MHz (OC)
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- 4x DDR5, up to 256GB, up to 7200+ MT/s (OC)
Oldest CPU Family Supported
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- Core Ultra Series 2
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- Core 12th Gen
Memory Slots
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 4
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- 4
Max Memory
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 256 GB
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- 256 GB
Board Width
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 244 mm
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- 243.84 mm
M.2 Slots
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 4
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- 4
PCIe 5.0 Support
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- Yes
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- Yes
Wi-Fi Onboard
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- Yes
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- Yes
Max Rated Memory Speed
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 8666 MT/sBest
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- 7200 MT/s
ECC Memory Support
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- None
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- None
M.2 Slots Onboard
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 4
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- 4
M.2 PCIe 5.0 Slots
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 1
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- 0
M.2 PCIe 4.0 Slots
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 3
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- 4
M.2 CPU Attached Slots
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 1
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- 1
SATA Ports
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 4
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- 7
PCIe x16 Slots
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 2
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- 2
Primary Graphics Slot Gen
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- PCIe 5.0
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- PCIe 5.0
Rear USB4 or TB Ports
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 1
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- 0
Rear USB 20Gbps Ports
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 0
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- 1
Rear USB 10Gbps Ports
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 2
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- 5
Rear USB 5Gbps Ports
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 4
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- 4
Rear USB 2.0 Ports
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 3
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- 0
Front USB-C Header Speed
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 20GbpsBest
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- 10Gbps
Fan and Pump Headers
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 8
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- 8
ARGB Headers
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 3
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- 3
Vcore Power Stages
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 14
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- 16
Power Stage Current Rating
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 80 A
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- 90 A
EPS 12V Configuration
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- Two 8-pin
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- Two 8-pin
Max Ethernet Speed
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 2.5 Gbps
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- 2.5 Gbps
Ethernet Port Count
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 1
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- 1
Wi-Fi Standard
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- Wi-Fi 6E
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth Version
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 5.3
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- 5.3
Audio Codec
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- Realtek ALC1220, Nahimic
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- Realtek ALC4080
Expansion
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- PCIe 5.0 x16 + PCIe 4.0 x16 (x2)
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- 1x PCIe 5.0 x16 (CPU), 1x PCIe 4.0 x4 (x16 physical), 1x PCIe 3.0 x1
Connectivity
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- Nahimic audio software, Thunderbolt 4/USB4
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- Rear USB 20Gbps Type-C, M.2 Shield Frozr
Networking
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 2.5G LAN, Wi-Fi 6E
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- Intel 2.5Gb LAN, Intel Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
Special Features
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 4x M.2 (1x Gen5, 2x Gen4, 1x Gen4 x2)
- MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
- 4x PCIe 4.0 M.2, 7x SATA
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 256 GB) and the higher M.2 slots (4 vs 4).
Choose MSI MAG Z790 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 Z790 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.