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MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC Review | 107 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£120
  • Avg. price in US: ~$130
  • CPU socket: AM4
  • Chipset: AMD B450
  • Form factor: Mini-ITX

MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC review. Compare 107 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among motherboards and if it is worth buying.

5.2

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%

4.7

Technical Score

10.0%

9.4

User score

Good
4.7

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%

4.1

Memory

16.0%

6.9

Platform & Features

16.0%

4.3

Storage

15.0%

6.7

Network

13.0%

1.5

Ports & USB

8.0%

1.5

Expansion

8.0%

5.1

Power & Cooling

5.0%

7.9

Audio

Poor
9.4

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%

9.2

User reviews

30.0%

10

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.6
(1039)
amazon
4.5
(273)
amazon
4.4
(28)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.6
(1055)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

Exceptional
  • 3.6
    Gaming

    Score components:

    28.0%

    5.1

    VRM phases

    22.0%

    3.3

    N. of M.2 sockets

    18.0%

    4.6

    LAN speed

    17.0%

    2.5

    Maximum RAM speed

    15.0%

    1.0

    N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots

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Best prices in UK

Best rankings

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

Verdict

The MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC is a compact Mini-ITX motherboard designed for the AMD AM4 socket, featuring the B450 chipset with support for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Gen Ryzen processors. Key technical specifications include two DDR4 DIMM slots supporting up to 64GB of RAM (OC up to 3466MHz), a single PCIe 3.0 x16 slot, one Turbo M.2 slot (PCIe Gen3 x4) located on the rear of the PCB, and four SATA 6Gb/s ports. Its primary pros are a robust VRM design suitable for small-form-factor overclocking, integrated Intel 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2, and high-quality 7.1-channel Audio Boost technology. Main cons include the lack of a USB Type-C port, limited expansion with only one case fan header, and the inconvenient rear placement of the M.2 slot which can complicate cooling and accessibility.

Technical Specifications of MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC

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%

4.1

Memory

16.0%

6.9

Platform & Features

16.0%

4.3

Storage

15.0%

6.7

Network

13.0%

1.5

Ports & USB

8.0%

1.5

Expansion

8.0%

5.1

Power & Cooling

5.0%

7.9

Audio

4.7
MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has a technical score of 4.68 points, which is lower than that of 85.5% 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%

9.2

User reviews

30.0%

10

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.6
(1039)
amazon
4.5
(273)
amazon
4.4
(28)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.6
(1055)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

9.4
MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has a user score of 9.41 points, which is higher than that of 96.1% of products in this category.
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.
10
MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has a popularity of 10 points, which is higher than 79.9% 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%

5.2

Overall score

40.0%

9.9

Price

6.6
MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has a quality-to-price ratio of 6.6 points, which is lower than 75.9% 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC 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 B450
MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC uses the AMD B450 chipset, which is less advanced than that of 54.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 1.8% 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

Mini-ITX
MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has the Mini-ITX form factor, which is less versatile than that of 84.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 7.3% 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC supports up to 64 GB of memory, which is less than 62.6% of motherboards and equal to 24.3% of motherboards.
requires BIOS update for full capacity
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 B450I Gaming Plus AC 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

2,667 MT/s
MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC supports memory speeds up to 2667 MT/s, which is lower than that of 77.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 1% 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC 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/x0/x0
MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC uses x16/x0/x0 for PCIe slot electrical configuration, which is less flexible than that of 80.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 1% 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC 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

8
MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has 8 USB ports (including headers), which is fewer than 97.9% of motherboards and equal to 1.9% 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC 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 RTL8111H
MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC uses the Realtek RTL8111H LAN controller, which is less advanced than that of 74.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 10.2% 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC 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

yes
MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC supports Wi-Fi connectivity. 50.9% 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)

Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC supports Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), which is newer than that of 49.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 10.7% of motherboards.
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

Realtek ALC887
MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC uses the Realtek ALC887 audio codec, which is less advanced than that of 89% of motherboards and equal to that of 7.9% of motherboards.
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 B450I Gaming Plus AC 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

?
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

yes
MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC supports a headphone amp. 37% of motherboards support this feature.
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 B450I Gaming Plus AC 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

6+2
MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has 6+2 VRM phases, which is fewer than 79.6% of motherboards and equal to 1.6% of motherboards.
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 B450I Gaming Plus AC 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC 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

yes
MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has a pump header. 23.1% 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC 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.
Show more

MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC vs the average motherboard

  • Supports Wi-Fi
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC supports Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does not. 49.1% of motherboards support 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

    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC supports Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does not. 49.1% of motherboards support Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • Newer CPU socket
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC supports ECC memory, while the average motherboard does not. 20.9% of motherboards support ECC memory.
    ECC requires compatible CPU.
    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 B450I Gaming Plus AC supports ECC memory, while the average motherboard does not. 20.9% of motherboards support ECC memory.
  • Supports Bluetooth
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC supports Bluetooth, while the average motherboard does not. 47% of motherboards support Bluetooth.
    What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes built-in Bluetooth for wireless peripherals and accessories.
    When it matters: When you want to connect wireless peripherals without an adapter.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC supports Bluetooth, while the average motherboard does not. 47% of motherboards support Bluetooth.
  • 1 more RGB headers
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has more RGB headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RGB header/s.
    What it is: The number of 4-pin RGB headers available on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want to connect more standard RGB lighting devices.

    Importance: LOW

    Good value: >=2

    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has more RGB headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RGB header/s.2 vs 1
  • 135 mm shorter
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC is shorter than the average motherboard (170 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC is shorter than the average motherboard (170 mm vs 305 mm). The average motherboard height is 305 mm.170 mm vs 305 mm
  • Broader Windows support
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has broader Windows support than the average motherboard (Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 7 vs Windows 11, Windows 10). The average motherboard supports Windows 11, Windows 10.
    What it is: The Windows versions officially supported by the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want to know whether your planned Windows version is supported.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has broader Windows support than the average motherboard (Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 7 vs Windows 11, Windows 10). The average motherboard supports Windows 11, Windows 10.Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 7 vs Windows 11, Windows 10
  • 17.6% higher user score
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has a higher user score than the average motherboard (9.41 vs 8.000).
    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.
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has a higher user score than the average motherboard (9.41 vs 8.000).9.41 vs 8
  • Newer CPU socket
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has newer CPU socket than the average motherboard (AM4 vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 CPU socket.
  • Broader Windows support
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has broader Windows support than the average motherboard (Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 7 vs Windows 11, Windows 10). The average motherboard supports Windows 11, Windows 10.
  • Supports ECC memory
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC supports ECC memory, while the average motherboard does not. 20.9% of motherboards support ECC memory.
  • Supports Wi-Fi
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC supports Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does not. 49.1% of motherboards support Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • Supports Bluetooth
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC supports Bluetooth, while the average motherboard does not. 47% of motherboards support Bluetooth.
  • 1 more RGB headers
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has more RGB headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RGB header/s.
  • 135 mm shorter
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC is shorter than the average motherboard (170 mm vs 305 mm). The average motherboard height is 305 mm.
  • 74 mm narrower
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC is narrower than the average motherboard (170 mm vs 244 mm). The average motherboard width is 244 mm.

Total
Overall
Platform & Features
Memory
Network
Power & Cooling
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (AMD B450 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
  • No BIOS flashback support
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC does not support BIOS flashback, while the average motherboard does. 50.8% of motherboards support BIOS flashback.
    requires CPU/RAM
  • Fewer BIOS update options
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has fewer BIOS update options than the average motherboard (UEFI utility vs UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app). The average motherboard offers UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app BIOS update methods.
  • No TPM connector
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC does not have a TPM connector, while the average motherboard does. 86.7% of motherboards include a TPM connector.
  • 2 fewer memory slots
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (64 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
    requires BIOS update for full capacity
  • 42% lower maximum RAM speed
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has a lower maximum RAM speed than the average motherboard (2,667 MT/s vs 4,600 MT/s). The average motherboard supports RAM speed of 4,600 MT/s.
  • 29.7% lower overclocked RAM speed
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has a lower overclocked RAM speed than the average motherboard (3,466 MT/s vs 4,933 MT/s). The average motherboard supports overclocked RAM speed of 4,933 MT/s.
  • Slower M.2 slot interfaces
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • 1 fewer M.2 sockets
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC does not support PCIe bifurcation, while the average motherboard does. 61% of motherboards support PCIe bifurcation.
  • No multi-GPU support
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC does not support multi-GPU, while the average motherboard does. 54.6% of motherboards support multi-GPU.
    Single PCIe x16 slot only.
  • 1 fewer PCIe x1 slots
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has fewer PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
  • 2 fewer rear USB ports
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has fewer rear USB ports than the average motherboard (6 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.
  • 7 fewer total USB connections
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has fewer total USB connections than the average motherboard (8 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
  • 1 fewer rear USB-C ports
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has fewer rear USB-C ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 rear USB-C port/s.
  • 1 fewer USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC 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 USB 2.0 headers
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has fewer USB 2.0 headers than the average motherboard (1 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 header/s.
  • Older HDMI version
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has older HDMI version than the average motherboard (1.4 vs 2.1). The average motherboard supports HDMI 2.1.
  • 1 fewer total USB-C connections
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has fewer total USB-C connections than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 total USB-C connections.
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC 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.
  • More basic LAN controller
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has more basic LAN controller than the average motherboard (Realtek RTL8,111H vs Marvell AQtion AQC113C). The average motherboard uses Marvell AQtion AQC113C LAN controller.
  • Older Bluetooth version
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has older Bluetooth version than the average motherboard (4.2 vs 5.4). The average motherboard supports Bluetooth 5.4.
  • More basic audio codec
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has more basic audio codec than the average motherboard (Realtek ALC887 vs Realtek ALC898). The average motherboard uses Realtek ALC898 audio codec.
  • 2 fewer 3.5mm audio jacks
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC does not have optical S/PDIF out, while the average motherboard does. 55.7% of motherboards include optical S/PDIF out.
  • 2 fewer ARGB headers
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has fewer ARGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 ARGB header/s.
  • Fewer VRM phases
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has fewer VRM phases than the average motherboard (6+2 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
  • 3 fewer fan headers
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has fewer fan headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 fan header/s.
  • No onboard RGB lighting
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC does not have onboard RGB lighting, while the average motherboard does. 50.3% of motherboards include onboard RGB lighting.
  • 2 A lower pump header current limit
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC 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.
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC 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
  • More basic LAN controller
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has more basic LAN controller than the average motherboard (Realtek RTL8,111H 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC has more basic LAN controller than the average motherboard (Realtek RTL8,111H vs Marvell AQtion AQC113C). The average motherboard uses Marvell AQtion AQC113C LAN controller.Realtek RTL8111H vs Marvell AQtion AQC113C
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (AMD B450 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (AMD B450 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.AMD B450 vs Intel B860
  • Slower M.2 slot interfaces
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • 2 fewer rear USB ports
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC 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 B450I Gaming Plus AC has fewer rear USB ports than the average motherboard (6 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.6 vs 8
  • 7 fewer total USB connections
    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has fewer total USB connections than the average motherboard (8 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
    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

    MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has fewer total USB connections than the average motherboard (8 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.8 vs 15
Total
Overall
Platform & Features
Memory
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Audio
Power & Cooling

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
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4.6
1039 Reviews
amazon
4.5
273 Reviews
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4.4
28 Reviews
United States
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4.6
1055 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

What customers like about MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC?

  • Excellent VRM quality for its size, often cited as one of the best for B450 ITX boards
  • Strong memory overclocking support, capable of reaching speeds beyond 3466 MHz
  • Solid price-to-performance ratio, making it a budget-friendly mini-ITX choice
  • Includes essential modern features like built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a reinforced PCIe slot
  • No onboard RGB lighting, which is preferred by users wanting a clean, professional aesthetic

What customers dislike about MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC?

  • Limited to only two 4-pin fan headers, requiring a controller for multiple case fans
  • The single M.2 slot is located on the back of the board, which can lead to high temperatures without direct airflow
  • Lacks a USB Type-C port on the rear I/O
  • Missing a BIOS Flashback button, meaning an older CPU is required to update the BIOS for newer Ryzen generations
  • Limited audio connectivity with only three analog outputs, lacking full 7.1 analog support

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