AMD’s B450 chipset is built for 2nd generation AMD Ryzen processors with an AM4 socket. This is the secondary chipset in the AMD 400 sequence chipsets made for the A4 socket mainframes. Until the B450 came along, the market was mostly held by the previous X470 which included supported many of the latest and advanced features not supported by the AMD 300 series motherboards.
The B450 chipset aims to mainstream and support recent features and overclocking with costing as much as the X470. The B450 chipset motherboards, in that sense, are more budget-friendly. So, you can build a mid-range financial plan with a 2000 series and a B450 motherboard.
Before buying a B450 motherboard for your build, there are certain factors you should consider. These are important so that you can make the best decision for yourself.
| Award | Model | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Best B450 ATX Motherboard |
MSI B450 Gaming Pro Carbon AC (Wi-Fi)
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| Best Premium B450 Motherboard |
ASUS ROG Strix B450-F Gaming
|
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| Best Performance B450 Motherboard |
MSI Arsenal Gaming B450 TOMAHAWK MAX II
|
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| Best Value For Money B450 Motherboard |
Gigabyte B450 AORUS Pro (Wi-Fi)
|
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| Best Budget B450 Motherboard |
ASUS TUF Gaming B450-PLUS II
|
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VRM is probably the most crucial element in the motherboard. It stands for Voltage Regulator module and works to supply steady energy to the motherboard and its various components. A good VRM would ensure that you can get the most out of your computer especially when it is being overclocked (see also how to check if CPU is overclocked). If the VRM is poorly designed, it can cause the processor to underperform or it can start to crash.
VRMs are important so make sure you’re getting a board that comes with good VRMs. Most manufacturers will include the details about the VRMs on the label. They are often sold with a combination that looks something like ‘8+2’. The first number indicates the number of phases available to power the CPU. The second records the power for other motherboards components.
If you do work that requires multiple pieces of equipment or if you want to have more storage options in your computer then you are going to need multiple ports or expansion slots. But it’s almost impossible to find a budget motherboard that will have everything you need. So, you will need to choose based on the nature of your work. You will get some and lose some so make sure you’re choosing wisely. Whether it is the number of ports or expansion slots, it should reflect how you’re using the computer.
BIOS is a small piece of code or instruction stored in the motherboard that helps the computer to boot up. It directs the system set up before you ever get to the operating system. Without it, you will not be able to even start the computer.
Since it is a program, it can be upgraded, replace, or deleted. However, it is advised that you don’t play with the BIOS as it can be a pain in the neck to reinstall. Sometimes things go wrong with the BIOS during updates which can cause quite a lot of problems. To counter this, some motherboards come with a rollback feature to go back to a stable version of the BIOS. If you like to mess around in the BIOS we advise that you choose a motherboard that supports rolling back.
This is a fancy term that is used to describe the size of computer hardware like GPUs and motherboards. Three of the most popular are Mini-ITX which is the smallest, then Micro-ATX which is medium-sized with limited expansion slots and then the largest is the Standard-ATX.
These are there for different sized computers. As you can guess the smaller the board the more limited options you have for connectivity. Smaller boards contain lesser expansion slots and a lesser number of ports. But smaller does not necessarily mean bad since what form factor you choose will depend on the kind of work you do with your computer.
So if you don’t need to connect a lot of different components and just a mouse and keyboard (see also best mechanical switches for your mechanical keyboard here) will do the trick for you or you only run a few applications on your computer and require a lot of storage then you can get away with a smaller motherboard. On the other hand, if you’re a gamer and you require multiple expansion slots you should go for a Standard-ATX form factor.
We also have an article here for the best horizontal PC cases and open air PC case that you might be interested in.
It’s an improved board that aims to outperform and is certainly a better buy compared to most X470 models.
Check Latest PriceMSI B450 Gaming Pro Carbon AC (Wi-Fi) is the best of the best when it comes to B450 chipset motherboards. This one is the ultimate option for any B450 build out there. It comes with a 4+2 phase power stage and a total of 8 semiconductor 4C029 fets and eight low-side 4C024 fets
The design MSI B450 Gaming Pro Carbon features an all-black scheme with a streamlined aesthetic. The PCB is black with carbon fibre textured heatsinks and M.2 shield. The RGB on this motherboard takes on an almost mystic feel. It’s not as vibrant as some Gigabyte ones. The motherboard also contains ports for any extra lighting solutions you might want to put in later.
For storage options, the motherboard has room for two x16 motherboards and three x1 motherboards. It also comes with two M.2 slots and six SATA3 ports and four DIMM slots. This includes one PCIe Gen3 x4 NVMe slot and one PCIe Gen2 x2 NVMe slot. The motherboard can support 128GB of RAM clocking up o 3466MHz. B450 doesn’t support SLI, but this doesn’t pose much of a problem for most mid-range builds. The board comes with the latest M7 MSI UEFI which means we’ll be greeted with an advanced well-polished main menu in the BIOS.
The thermal performance of this motherboard is also nice. However, it was seen running at slightly higher CPU temps compared to other value options on the market such as Gigabyte B40 Aorus Pro Wifi. The only drawback that you might find with this motherboard is that it can get power hungry and also lacks any voltage offset support in the BIOS.
It is a great budget motherboard with a sound foundation for any future upgrades.
Check Latest PriceASUS ROG Strix B450-F Gaming is an envy-worthy piece of hardware. If a budget is no concern and you’d like to get a little more flexibility from your build, then consider investing in this one. This is an excellent choice for a B450 chipset and combines both the best performance and features you desire.
The motherboard offers some essential features such as XMP settings and manual core voltage settings. However, you will not be getting absolute control over BIOS functionality as it does lack some features. If this is important to you should consider moving towards a more high-end option.
The ASUS ROG Strix B450 is a matte black motherboard and it features shiny stencilling around the PCIe slots and the chipset along with some ROG catchphrases. The VRM heatsink contains an embedded RGB ROG symbol for improved aesthetics. It contains a 6 phase VRM with a 4+2 channel controller. The motherboard is capable of supporting 64 GB DDR4-3200 memory and comes with adequate room for expansion with its four PCIe x1 slots, three PCIe x16 slots and two M.2 PCIe x4 slots.
On the rear I/O panel, there are two USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A ports, four USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports and two USB 2.0 ports. There is a full-size display port and a single HDMI port. Other ports include Intel I-211 AT NIC, along with five 5-plug audio jacks and a S/PDIF port plus a PS/2 port.
ASUS ROG Strix B450-F Gaming is a solid mid-range board that comes with all the features desired for a B450 chipset and has room for growth. This could be the perfect fit for you if you decide to put in the extra bucks.
Whether you intend to get a Zen, Zen+, Zen 2 or Zen3 processor, this one will do the job.
Check Latest PriceThe MSI Arsenal Gaming B450 Tomahawk MAX II delivers an optimal gaming experience. It has ‘just enough’ features for all your needs. It is a serious contender and has blown its way through the competition, sitting firmly close to the top tier on nearly every test. This one is a good bargain for a powerful and feature-rich motherboard, making it a good consideration for a B450 chipset.
This one will be able to fit a heavy-duty GPU making it possible to build a gaming rig for 1080p or 1440p gaming. And if you’re a fan of high-end gaming, the budget-friendly motherboard ensures you can easily grab the B450 Tomahawk for your next build and spend that hard cash on a GPU upgrade.
The board isn’t much to look at with a flat black PCB and complimenting grey stencilling. There aren’t a lot of RGB options on the board save for the ones on the top right of the board. But then again. this one isn’t built to look good; It does what it needs to, and does it well.
The VRM credentials are excellent and the overhead VRM heatsink is quite effective at keeping the VRM temps in check. The board comes with four DDR4 slots which can support up to 128GBs of memory. The A-XMP ensure the memory sticks can be overclocked with ease. It also contains 6 SATA III ports as well as a single NVMe M.2 slot. On the rear-end, it holds four USB 3.2 ports, four USB 2.0, a Realtek ACL892/ ALC897, a DVI-D, and an HDMI port.
For a medium budget system, the MSI Arsenal Gaming B450 Tomahawk Max II is a solid choice. Especially considering the features set it comes with which is an absolute steal for a B540 build.
Gigabyte B4550 Aorus Pro Wifi is a great budget-friendly motherboard that tries to offer as much as possible and comes out with a lot of features that are hard to find on one single board.
Check Latest PriceGigabyte B450 AORUS Pro Wifi is a budget-friendly motherboard that is built for function. It is chock full of decent features that you might require in your new build. However, if you’re interested in overclocking your CPU, you might as well skip this one because it doesn’t have a lot of room for tweaking and experimenting. But if you don’t particularly care for overclocking and would like to get as many features as possible, then read on.
Gigabyte has traditionally stuck to catering to higher-end premium products but it seems they couldn’t resist jumping the budget wagon with this one. One can only guess what a brand name company might seemingly desire from a lower-tier market but some believe that this might be a marketing ploy. In any case, the board doesn’t appear to lack on any ground except the one. Gigabyte has truly unleashed the hawk on this one with the motherboard performance rivalling that of the X470.
The motherboard also looks similar to the aforementioned X470 except for some RGB inlays. It comes equipped with ample RGB lights, RGB power switches and an addressable LED interface. The PCB is solid black containing the infamous hawk logo and the VRM and M.2 heatsinks contain customizable RB inlay.
The board comes with 4x DDR4 DIMM sockets which can support up to 128 GBs of memory which can clock up to 3600 MHz. It also contains two M.2 slots and six SATA III slots. The back I/O panel contains a Realtek ALC1220-VB codec, a USB Type-C port, five USB 3.1 ports and four USB 3.1 ports. It has an HDMI port, a DVI-D port and five audio jacks.
This one checks all the boxes except for overclocking. But you can’t expect too much from a budget motherboard, especially one that comes at such a price tag. All in all, in my opinion, this is an excellent option for a budget B450 build.
The board is a jack of all trades and it almost covers all the areas a good motherboard requires.
Check Latest PriceASUS is a top-line hardware manufacturer that is the best in PC hardware. As such the ROG series may be their best, top of the line hardware lineup. They also have a budget-friendly series that is not concerned with providing the user with the best of the best but rather a more workable lineup that can suit multiple budget needs. Realistically, more often than not, people are looking for a medium-budget build that can provide them with multiple high-end functionality features.
The ASUS TUF Gaming B450 PLUS II is just that. This is a budget-oriented motherboard that will provide you with the maximum value for money. The one is built for durability and the performance on it is better than most motherboards of this range.
The board supports VRMs with 8+2 DrMOS power stages. It can efficiently power any 3rd Gen Ryzen processor with ease. The heatsinks come with a 2-ounce copper layer that draws heat away from critical components so that your system keeps running at optimal temperatures. This provides greater flexibility for overclocking. The board also takes advantage of several ASUS technologies such as AURA SYNC, Enhanced DRAM Over Current Protection and more.
The board has a black PBC with grey streaks running from one end to the other. The heatsinks feature yellow line-work and sport a TUF gaming monogram. There is not much RGB to be seen on the board. However, it still holds an aura of complexity and sophistication that not many others can claim.
The board comes with four DDR4 memory slots that can support a maximum frequency of 4400MHz after overclocking. For expansion slots, it has one PCIe 3.0 x16, one PCIe 3.0 x8, one PCIe 3.0 x4, one PCIe 2.0 x16 and three PCIe 2.0 x1. It also has six SATA and dual M.2 slots. On the rear I/O panel, it contains five USB 3.2 ports, one USB Type-C port two USB 2.0 ports. It also has a DisplayPort 1.2, one HDMI 2.0 port and five audio jacks.
The only downside you may be facing with this one is that it doesn’t provide much room for storage expansion. In any case, the motherboard is an amazing deal and packs a lot of features in a single packet. It is a great budget option for all the B450 builds around.
We have added to this list, the best motherboards you can get with a B450 chipset. The list includes motherboards that pack the most punch. The budget-friendly B450 chipset comes with a variety of advanced features. But obviously, you won’t be getting everything in one motherboard which is surely not possible from the price point. However, you can choose certain features that you require the most. You can go for the MSI B450 Gaming Pro Carbon AC (Wi-Fi) which is a great choice for a b450 motherboard or you could go for the ASUS ROG Strix B450-F Gaming if you have the cash. Either way, you won’t be disappointed.
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