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ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi vs MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi: Comparison
What is the difference between ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi and MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi?
The first real difference is chipset: ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi B860 against MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi Z890. Rear usb 10gbps ports is not the same on both, 2 on the ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi versus 4 on the MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi. There is a split on vcore power stages as well, 14 on the ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi versus Digital VRM on the MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi.
ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi vs MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi: which one fits your build
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 not the one for enthusiasts who want the higher memory OC ceiling of the Z890 Steel Legend. The MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi is the one to take for mainstream Z890 builders who want MSI's Frozr thermal design and builds that don't need flagship-tier VRM headroom, though it is not the pick for enthusiasts who want MEG-tier networking and Thunderbolt and budget-first builds better served by a PRO-series board.
What ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi and MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi have in common
Where they agree, they agree completely, socket, memory slots, max memory, m.2 slots and form factor included, so the decision does not turn on any of those. They match on 15 further specifications as well.
Frequently asked questions
Do the ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi and MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi differ on memory type?
Yes. Memory Type reads 4x DDR5 DIMM, up to 256GB, up to 8666+... on the ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi versus 4x DDR5 UDIMM, up to 256GB, up to 9200... on the MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi.
Is the Platform the same on the ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi and MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi?
It is. Both are listed at Intel, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Platform
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- Intel
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- Intel
Model Number
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
Socket
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- Intel Core Ultra Processors (Series 2)
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- Intel Core Ultra Processors (Series 2)
Form Factor
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- ATX
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- ATX
Chipset
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- B860
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- Z890
Newest CPU Family Supported
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- Core Ultra Series 2
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- Core Ultra Series 2
Memory Type
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 4x DDR5 DIMM, up to 256GB, up to 8666+ MHz (OC)
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- 4x DDR5 UDIMM, up to 256GB, up to 9200 MT/s (OC), CUDIMM support
Oldest CPU Family Supported
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- Core Ultra Series 2
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- Core Ultra Series 2
Memory Slots
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 4
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- 4
Max Memory
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 256 GB
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- 256 GB
M.2 Slots
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 4
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- 4
PCIe 5.0 Support
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- Yes
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- Yes
Wi-Fi Onboard
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- Yes
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- Yes
Max Rated Memory Speed
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 8666 MT/s
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- 9200 MT/sBest
ECC Memory Support
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- None
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- None
M.2 PCIe 5.0 Slots
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 1
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- 1
M.2 PCIe 4.0 Slots
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 3
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- 3
M.2 CPU Attached Slots
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 1
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- 2
SATA Ports
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 4
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- 4
Primary Graphics Slot Gen
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- PCIe 5.0
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- PCIe 5.0
Rear USB4 or TB Ports
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 1
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- 2
Rear USB 10Gbps Ports
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 2
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- 4
Rear USB 5Gbps Ports
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 4
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- 4
Front USB-C Header Speed
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 20Gbps
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- 20Gbps
Fan and Pump Headers
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 8
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- 8
ARGB Headers
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 3
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- 3
Vcore Power Stages
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 14
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- Digital VRM (phase count not officially disclosed by MSI)
Max Ethernet Speed
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 2.5 Gbps
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- 5 GbpsBest
Ethernet Port Count
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 1
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- 1
Wi-Fi Standard
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- Wi-Fi 6E
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- Wi-Fi 7
Bluetooth Version
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 5.3
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- 5.4
Audio Codec
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- Realtek ALC1220, Nahimic
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- Realtek ALC1220P
Expansion
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- PCIe 5.0 x16 + PCIe 4.0 x16 (x2)
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- 1x PCIe 5.0 x16 (CPU), 2x PCIe 4.0 x4 (chipset)
Connectivity
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- Nahimic audio software, Thunderbolt 4/USB4
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- 2x Thunderbolt 4, front USB-C 20Gbps header, Frozr thermal design
Networking
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 2.5G LAN, Wi-Fi 6E
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- Intel Killer E5000B 5G LAN, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Special Features
- ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi
- 4x M.2 (1x Gen5, 2x Gen4, 1x Gen4 x2)
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- 4x M.2 (1x PCIe 5.0 CPU, 1x PCIe 4.0 CPU, 2x PCIe 4.0 chipset)
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 Z890 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 Z890 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.