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MSI A520M Pro C Dash Review | 107 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£55
  • Avg. price in US: ~$80
  • CPU socket: AM4
  • Chipset: AMD A520
  • Form factor: microATX

MSI A520M Pro C Dash review. Compare 107 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among motherboards and if it is worth buying.

4.4

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the motherboard's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best motherboards on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

4.4

Technical Score

10.0%

?

User score

Poor
4.4

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the motherboard's technical performance, covering key areas such as power delivery, CPU and memory support, expansion, storage, connectivity, cooling, BIOS features, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

19.0%

4.2

Memory

16.0%

5.6

Platform & Features

16.0%

4.3

Storage

15.0%

5.0

Network

13.0%

1.8

Ports & USB

8.0%

2.4

Expansion

8.0%

5.4

Power & Cooling

5.0%

7.5

Audio

Poor
?

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the motherboard.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a motherboard performs in real-world builds and how reliable it is in terms of stability, BIOS usability, connectivity, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

?

User reviews

30.0%

?

Popularity

  • 4.8
    Gaming

    Score components:

    28.0%

    9.0

    VRM phases

    22.0%

    3.3

    N. of M.2 sockets

    18.0%

    4.6

    LAN speed

    17.0%

    3.3

    Maximum RAM speed

    15.0%

    1.0

    N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots

  • No image
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Best prices in UK

Best rankings

?

Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The MSI A520M PRO-C DASH is a Micro-ATX motherboard built on the AMD A520 chipset, supporting Ryzen 3000, 4000 G-Series, and 5000 Series desktop processors via the AM4 socket. Key characteristics include two DDR4 DIMM slots supporting up to 64GB at 4600(OC) MHz, a Turbo M.2 slot (Gen3 x4), and a robust 2oz thickened copper PCB for improved heat dissipation. Its main pros are the specialized Realtek 8111EPV DASH LAN for secure remote management, legacy support with VGA and COM ports, and 4K HDMI 2.1 capability. However, notable cons include the lack of PCIe 4.0 support, only two RAM slots, and the absence of high-end features like built-in Wi-Fi or heatsinks on the VRMs, making it less ideal for high-wattage CPUs or significant overclocking.

Technical Specifications of MSI A520M Pro C Dash

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the motherboard's technical performance, covering key areas such as power delivery, CPU and memory support, expansion, storage, connectivity, cooling, BIOS features, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

19.0%

?

Memory

16.0%

?

Platform & Features

16.0%

?

Storage

15.0%

?

Network

13.0%

?

Ports & USB

8.0%

?

Expansion

8.0%

?

Power & Cooling

5.0%

?

Audio

4.4
MSI A520M Pro C Dash has a technical score of 4.36 points, which is lower than that of 91.2% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the motherboard.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a motherboard performs in real-world builds and how reliable it is in terms of stability, BIOS usability, connectivity, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

0.0

User reviews

30.0%

1.0

Popularity

?
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you prefer a motherboard that has already been bought and reviewed by many other users.
1.0
MSI A520M Pro C Dash has a popularity of 1 points, which is lower than 77.9% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the motherboard's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a motherboard that offers a strong balance of features, performance, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

4.4

Overall score

40.0%

10

Price

6.1
MSI A520M Pro C Dash has a quality-to-price ratio of 6.1 points, which is lower than 91.7% of products in this category.
Brand name
What it is: The brand that makes the motherboard.
When it matters: When you have a brand preference for support, BIOS, or build quality.

Importance: MEDIUM

MSI
CPU socket
What it is: The socket type the motherboard is built to support.
When it matters: When you need the motherboard to match a specific CPU.

Importance: HIGH

AM4
MSI A520M Pro C Dash uses the AM4 CPU socket, which is more advanced than that of 38.5% of motherboards and equal to that of 13.3% of motherboards.
CPU platform

Importance: MEDIUM

AMD
Chipset
What it is: The chipset that defines the motherboard platform and many of its features.
When it matters: When you compare platform features, connectivity, and CPU support.

Importance: HIGH

AMD A520
MSI A520M Pro C Dash uses the AMD A520 chipset, which is less advanced than that of 85.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 1.2% of motherboards.
Form factor
What it is: The physical size standard of the motherboard, such as ATX or Micro-ATX.
When it matters: When you need the board to fit a specific case size.

Importance: HIGH

microATX
MSI A520M Pro C Dash has the microATX form factor, which is less versatile than that of 52.2% of motherboards and equal to that of 32.4% of motherboards.
Show more
DDR memory version
What it is: The RAM generation the motherboard supports, such as DDR4 or DDR5.
When it matters: When you need the board to match a certain memory platform.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: DDR5

DDR4
MSI A520M Pro C Dash uses DDR4 memory, which is newer than that of 13.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 51% of motherboards.
Memory slots
What it is: The number of RAM slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more room for future memory upgrades.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=4

2
MSI A520M Pro C Dash has 2 Memory slots, which is fewer than 78.6% of motherboards and equal to 21.4% of motherboards.
Maximum memory capacity
What it is: The largest total amount of RAM the motherboard supports.
When it matters: When you plan a build with very high memory capacity.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=128 GB

64 GB
MSI A520M Pro C Dash supports up to 64 GB of memory, which is less than 62.6% of motherboards and equal to 24.3% of motherboards.
Memory channels
What it is: The memory channel configuration supported by the motherboard platform.
When it matters: When memory bandwidth matters for your build.

Importance: MEDIUM

2
MSI A520M Pro C Dash supports 2 memory channels, which is more than 0.2% of motherboards and equal to 92.5% of motherboards.
Maximum RAM speed
What it is: The highest officially supported memory speed for the motherboard.
When it matters: When you choose RAM and want to know the supported speed ceiling.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=6400 MT/s

3,200 MT/s
MSI A520M Pro C Dash supports memory speeds up to 3200 MT/s, which is lower than that of 62.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 10.9% of motherboards.
Show more
N. of M.2 sockets
What it is: The number of M.2 slots available on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want room for more NVMe or M.2 drives.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=3

1
MSI A520M Pro C Dash has 1 M.2 sockets, which is fewer than 69.2% of motherboards and equal to 19.1% of motherboards.
M.2 slot interface per slot
What it is: The storage or PCIe interface available for each M.2 slot on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want to check which drives each M.2 slot can use.

Importance: HIGH

1x PCIe 3.0 x4/SATA
MSI A520M Pro C Dash offers 1x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA for M.2 slot interfaces, which is slower than that of 73.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 10.4% of motherboards.
N. of SATA 3 connectors
What it is: The number of SATA 6Gb/s connectors on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you plan to connect multiple SATA drives.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=6

4
MSI A520M Pro C Dash has 4 SATA 3 connectors, which is more than 5.6% of motherboards and equal to 46.3% of motherboards.
Supported RAID levels
What it is: The RAID modes officially supported by the motherboard storage platform.
When it matters: When you plan to use multiple drives in a RAID setup.

Importance: MEDIUM

0/1/10
MSI A520M Pro C Dash supports RAID levels 0/1/10, which is narrower than 68.3% of motherboards and equal to 23.2% of motherboards.
SATA only
NVMe RAID support
What it is: Shows whether the board supports RAID configurations that use NVMe SSDs.
When it matters: When you plan to use multiple NVMe drives in RAID.

Importance: LOW

no
MSI A520M Pro C Dash does not support NVMe RAID. 59.8% of motherboards support this feature.
Show more
N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 5.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want the newest high-bandwidth expansion slots.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
MSI A520M Pro C Dash has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slots, which is equal to 68.5% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 4.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 4.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more room for modern expansion cards.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
MSI A520M Pro C Dash has 0 PCIe 4.0x16 slots, which is equal to 55.6% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 3.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 3.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you need more full-length expansion slots.

Importance: MEDIUM

1
MSI A520M Pro C Dash has 1 PCIe 3.0x16 slots, which is more than 40.6% of motherboards and equal to 26.7% of motherboards.
PCIe slot electrical configuration
What it is: The actual lane wiring used by the motherboard PCIe slots.
When it matters: When you need to know how much bandwidth each slot really gets.

Importance: HIGH

x16/x1/x1
MSI A520M Pro C Dash uses x16/x1/x1 for PCIe slot electrical configuration, which is less flexible than that of 61.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 8% of motherboards.
PCIe bifurcation support
What it is: Shows whether the board can split PCIe lanes across multiple devices from one slot or link.
When it matters: When you plan multi-SSD adapters or more advanced expansion setups.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
MSI A520M Pro C Dash does not support PCIe bifurcation. 61% of motherboards support this feature.
Show more
Total USB ports (rear I/O)
What it is: The total number of rear USB ports available on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you use many USB devices directly from the back of the PC.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=8

6
MSI A520M Pro C Dash has 6 USB ports (rear I/O), which is fewer than 64.2% of motherboards and equal to 32.9% of motherboards.
Total USB ports (including headers)
What it is: The total number of USB ports supported when rear ports and internal headers are counted together.
When it matters: When you want to know the board's full USB expansion potential.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=14

12
MSI A520M Pro C Dash has 12 USB ports (including headers), which is fewer than 72.4% of motherboards and equal to 16.6% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (rear I/O)
What it is: The total number of rear USB-C ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more USB-C devices connected without adapters.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=1

0
MSI A520M Pro C Dash has 0 USB-C ports (rear I/O), which is fewer than 64.6% of motherboards and equal to 35.4% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (including headers)
What it is: The total number of USB-C ports supported when rear ports and internal headers are counted together.
When it matters: When you want more USB-C connectivity across the whole build.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=2

0
MSI A520M Pro C Dash has 0 USB-C ports (including headers), which is fewer than 69.6% of motherboards and equal to 30.4% of motherboards.
N. of USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C)
What it is: The number of rear USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want very fast USB-C connectivity on the rear I/O.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
MSI A520M Pro C Dash has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C), which is equal to 81.6% of motherboards.
Show more
LAN speed
What it is: The maximum wired Ethernet speed supported by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want faster wired networking.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 2.5GbE

1 Gbps
MSI A520M Pro C Dash supports LAN speeds up to 1 Gbps, which is lower than that of 50.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 49.1% of motherboards.
LAN controller
What it is: The model of onboard Ethernet controller used by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you compare networking hardware quality and features.

Importance: MEDIUM

Realtek RTL8111E
MSI A520M Pro C Dash uses the Realtek RTL8111E LAN controller, which is less advanced than that of 89.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 1.7% of motherboards.
N. of RJ45 ports
What it is: The number of wired Ethernet ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you need one or more wired network connections.

Importance: LOW

1
MSI A520M Pro C Dash has 1 RJ45 ports, which is equal to 85.6% of motherboards.
Wi-Fi connectivity
What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes onboard Wi-Fi hardware instead of requiring a separate adapter.
When it matters: When you want wireless networking without adding an extra card.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
MSI A520M Pro C Dash does not support Wi-Fi connectivity. 49.1% of motherboards support this feature.
Wi-Fi version
What it is: The supported Wi-Fi generation, such as Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7.
When it matters: When you care about wireless speed and router compatibility.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)

N/A
Show more
Audio codec
What it is: The onboard audio codec used by the motherboard.
When it matters: When sound quality from the built-in audio matters to you.

Importance: MEDIUM

?
Audio channels
What it is: The audio channel configuration supported by the onboard sound solution.
When it matters: When you want surround sound from the motherboard audio outputs.

Importance: LOW

Good value: 7.1

7.1
MSI A520M Pro C Dash offers 7.1 audio channels, which is more than 4.9% of motherboards and equal to 95.1% of motherboards.
Audio SNR
What it is: The signal-to-noise ratio of the onboard audio solution.
When it matters: When you care about cleaner onboard audio output.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=120 dB

95 dB
MSI A520M Pro C Dash has an audio SNR of 95 dB, which is lower than that of 84.2% of motherboards and equal to that of 10.1% of motherboards.
Headphone amp support
What it is: Shows whether the onboard audio path includes dedicated headphone amplification for harder-to-drive headsets.
When it matters: When you use harder-to-drive headphones from the onboard audio.

Importance: LOW

?
N. of 3.5mm audio jacks
What it is: The number of rear 3.5mm audio jacks on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more analog audio connection options.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=5

3
MSI A520M Pro C Dash has 3 3.5mm audio jacks, which is fewer than 50.3% of motherboards and equal to 38.2% of motherboards.
Show more
VRM phases
What it is: The number of power-delivery phases used by the motherboard VRM.
When it matters: When you care about CPU power delivery and overclocking headroom.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=12

?
N. of CPU power connectors
What it is: The number of CPU power connectors on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you care about power delivery for higher-end CPUs.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=2

1
MSI A520M Pro C Dash has 1 CPU power connectors, which is equal to 54.5% of motherboards.
N. of fan headers
What it is: The number of headers available for case or CPU fans.
When it matters: When your build uses several fans.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=6

2
MSI A520M Pro C Dash has 2 fan headers, which is fewer than 91.7% of motherboards and equal to 8.3% of motherboards.
Pump header
What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes a dedicated header designed for a liquid-cooling pump.
When it matters: When you build with an AIO or custom liquid cooling loop.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
MSI A520M Pro C Dash does not have a pump header. 77% of motherboards include this feature.
Pump header max current
What it is: The maximum current the dedicated pump header can supply.
When it matters: When you want to make sure the pump header can power your cooling setup.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=2 A

0 A
MSI A520M Pro C Dash supports up to 0 A on the pump header, which is lower than that of 74.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 25.7% of motherboards.
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MSI A520M Pro C Dash vs the average motherboard

  • 1 more PCI slots
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has more PCI slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCI slot/s.
    What it is: The number of legacy PCI slots on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you need compatibility with older expansion cards.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has more PCI slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCI slot/s.1 vs 0
  • Newer CPU socket
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has newer CPU socket than the average motherboard (AM4 vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 CPU socket.
    What it is: The socket type the motherboard is built to support.
    When it matters: When you need the motherboard to match a specific CPU.

    Importance: HIGH

    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has newer CPU socket than the average motherboard (AM4 vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 CPU socket.AM4 vs LGA 1151
  • Supports ECC memory
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash supports ECC memory, while the average motherboard does not. 20.9% of motherboards support ECC memory.
    What it is: Shows whether the motherboard can work with ECC memory on supported CPU and platform combinations.
    When it matters: When stability and error correction matter in your system.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    MSI A520M Pro C Dash supports ECC memory, while the average motherboard does not. 20.9% of motherboards support ECC memory.
  • 85 mm shorter
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash is shorter than the average motherboard (220 mm vs 305 mm). The average motherboard height is 305 mm.
    What it is: The physical height of the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you check case fit or compare board size.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI A520M Pro C Dash is shorter than the average motherboard (220 mm vs 305 mm). The average motherboard height is 305 mm.220 mm vs 305 mm
  • 2.91x cheaper
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash is cheaper than the average motherboard (£55 vs £160).
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash is cheaper than the average motherboard (£55 vs £160).£55 vs £160
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has more DVI outputs than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 DVI outputs.
    What it is: The number of DVI video outputs on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you plan to use older compatible monitors.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has more DVI outputs than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 DVI outputs.1 vs 0
  • Includes VGA connector
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has a VGA connector, while the average motherboard does not. 22% of motherboards include a VGA connector.
    What it is: Shows whether the rear I/O includes an analog VGA display output.
    When it matters: When you need compatibility with older displays or projectors.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has a VGA connector, while the average motherboard does not. 22% of motherboards include a VGA connector.
  • 1 more PCIe x1 slots
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has more PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
    What it is: The number of PCIe x1 slots on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want space for smaller add-in cards.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=2

    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has more PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.2 vs 1
  • Newer CPU socket
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has newer CPU socket than the average motherboard (AM4 vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 CPU socket.
  • Supports ECC memory
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash supports ECC memory, while the average motherboard does not. 20.9% of motherboards support ECC memory.
  • 1 more PCI slots
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has more PCI slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCI slot/s.
  • 1 more PCIe x1 slots
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has more PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has more DVI outputs than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 DVI outputs.
  • Includes VGA connector
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has a VGA connector, while the average motherboard does not. 22% of motherboards include a VGA connector.
  • 85 mm shorter
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash is shorter than the average motherboard (220 mm vs 305 mm). The average motherboard height is 305 mm.

Total
Overall
Platform & Features
Memory
Expansion
Ports & USB
Power & Cooling
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (AMD A520 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
  • No BIOS flashback support
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash does not support BIOS flashback, while the average motherboard does. 50.8% of motherboards support BIOS flashback.
  • Not suitable for gaming
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash is not suitable for gaming, while the average motherboard is. 86.3% of motherboards are suitable for gaming.
    business/productivity-focused
  • Fewer BIOS update options
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has fewer BIOS update options than the average motherboard (UEFI utility, Windows app vs UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app). The average motherboard offers UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app BIOS update methods.
  • No automatic overclocking
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash does not support automatic overclocking, while the average motherboard does. 74% of motherboards support automatic overclocking.
    CPU auto-OC not supported
  • Less versatile form factor
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has less versatile form factor than the average motherboard (microATX vs ATX). The average motherboard comes in ATX form factor.
  • 2 fewer memory slots
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has fewer memory slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 memory slot/s.
  • 50% less maximum memory capacity
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (64 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
  • 30.4% lower maximum RAM speed
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has a lower maximum RAM speed than the average motherboard (3,200 MT/s vs 4,600 MT/s). The average motherboard supports RAM speed of 4,600 MT/s.
  • Slower M.2 slot interfaces
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (1x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4). The average motherboard uses 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4 M.2 slot interfaces.
  • No NVMe RAID support
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • 1 fewer M.2 sockets
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has fewer M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (1 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
  • Fewer RAID options
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has fewer RAID options than the average motherboard (0/1/10 vs 0/1/5/10). The average motherboard has 0/1/5/10 RAID level/s.
    SATA only
  • No PCIe bifurcation support
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash does not support PCIe bifurcation, while the average motherboard does. 61% of motherboards support PCIe bifurcation.
  • No multi-GPU support
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash does not support multi-GPU, while the average motherboard does. 54.6% of motherboards support multi-GPU.
  • 2 fewer rear USB ports
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has fewer rear USB ports than the average motherboard (6 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.
  • 1 fewer rear USB-C ports
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has fewer rear USB-C ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 rear USB-C port/s.
  • 3 fewer total USB connections
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has fewer total USB connections than the average motherboard (12 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
  • 1 fewer USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has fewer USB 3.2 Gen2 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2 port/s.
  • 1 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 DisplayPort outputs.
    other video outputs only
  • 1 fewer total USB-C connections
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has fewer total USB-C connections than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 total USB-C connections.
  • More basic LAN controller
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has more basic LAN controller than the average motherboard (Realtek RTL8,111E vs Marvell AQtion AQC113C). The average motherboard uses Marvell AQtion AQC113C LAN controller.
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has a lower LAN speed than the average motherboard (1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.
  • No Wi-Fi antenna included
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash does not include a Wi-Fi antenna, while the average motherboard does. 51.1% of motherboards include a Wi-Fi antenna.
  • 20 dB lower audio SNR
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has a lower audio SNR than the average motherboard (95 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.
  • 2 fewer 3.5mm audio jacks
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has fewer 3.5mm audio jacks than the average motherboard (3 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 3.5mm audio jacks.
  • No optical S/PDIF out
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash does not have optical S/PDIF out, while the average motherboard does. 55.7% of motherboards include optical S/PDIF out.
  • No pump header
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash does not have a pump header, while the average motherboard does. 77% of motherboards include a pump header.
  • 3 fewer fan headers
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has fewer fan headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 fan header/s.
  • No onboard RGB lighting
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash does not have onboard RGB lighting, while the average motherboard does. 50.3% of motherboards include onboard RGB lighting.
  • 1 fewer RGB headers
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has fewer RGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RGB header/s.
  • 2 A lower pump header current limit
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has a lower pump header current than the average motherboard (0 A vs 2 A). The average motherboard provides pump header current of 2 A.
  • 1 fewer ARGB headers
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has fewer ARGB headers than the average motherboard (1 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 ARGB header/s.
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (AMD A520 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
    What it is: The chipset that defines the motherboard platform and many of its features.
    When it matters: When you compare platform features, connectivity, and CPU support.

    Importance: HIGH

    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (AMD A520 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.AMD A520 vs Intel B860
  • More basic LAN controller
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has more basic LAN controller than the average motherboard (Realtek RTL8,111E vs Marvell AQtion AQC113C). The average motherboard uses Marvell AQtion AQC113C LAN controller.
    What it is: The model of onboard Ethernet controller used by the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you compare networking hardware quality and features.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has more basic LAN controller than the average motherboard (Realtek RTL8,111E vs Marvell AQtion AQC113C). The average motherboard uses Marvell AQtion AQC113C LAN controller.Realtek RTL8111E vs Marvell AQtion AQC113C
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has a lower LAN speed than the average motherboard (1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.
    What it is: The maximum wired Ethernet speed supported by the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want faster wired networking.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: 2.5GbE

    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has a lower LAN speed than the average motherboard (1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps
  • Slower M.2 slot interfaces
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (1x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4). The average motherboard uses 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4 M.2 slot interfaces.
    What it is: The storage or PCIe interface available for each M.2 slot on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want to check which drives each M.2 slot can use.

    Importance: HIGH

    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (1x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4). The average motherboard uses 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4 M.2 slot interfaces.1x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4
  • 2 fewer memory slots
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has fewer memory slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 memory slot/s.
    What it is: The number of RAM slots on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want more room for future memory upgrades.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=4

    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has fewer memory slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 memory slot/s.2 vs 4
  • No NVMe RAID support
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
    What it is: Shows whether the board supports RAID configurations that use NVMe SSDs.
    When it matters: When you plan to use multiple NVMe drives in RAID.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI A520M Pro C Dash does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • 2 fewer rear USB ports
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has fewer rear USB ports than the average motherboard (6 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.
    What it is: The total number of rear USB ports available on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you use many USB devices directly from the back of the PC.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=8

    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has fewer rear USB ports than the average motherboard (6 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.6 vs 8
  • 50% less maximum memory capacity
    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (64 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
    What it is: The largest total amount of RAM the motherboard supports.
    When it matters: When you plan a build with very high memory capacity.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=128 GB

    MSI A520M Pro C Dash has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (64 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.64 GB vs 128 GB
Total
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Platform & Features
Memory
Storage
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Ports & USB
Network
Audio
Power & Cooling

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Third-party reviews

What customers like about MSI A520M Pro C Dash?

  • Highly affordable and budget-friendly for AM4 builds
  • Includes DASH LAN for secure out-of-band and remote management
  • Stable performance for everyday tasks and casual 1080p gaming
  • Supports legacy video ports like VGA and DVI-D, plus COM ports
  • Features 2oz thickened copper PCB for improved heat dissipation
  • Compact Micro-ATX form factor suitable for smaller cases

What customers dislike about MSI A520M Pro C Dash?

  • Limited to PCIe 3.0, lacking support for faster PCIe 4.0 SSDs and GPUs
  • Minimal VRM cooling and power delivery, not recommended for high-end CPUs like Ryzen 9
  • Only two RAM slots, limiting future memory expansion compared to B550 boards
  • Lacks modern features like built-in Wi-Fi, front-panel USB-C, or BIOS Flashback
  • Chipset does not support CPU overclocking
  • No integrated I/O shield, which can make installation feel less 'premium'

Video reviews

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