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MSI B450M Gaming Plus Review | 107 Data compared

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  • Avg. price: ~£70
  • CPU socket: AM4
  • Chipset: AMD B450
  • Form factor: microATX

MSI B450M Gaming Plus review. Compare 107 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among motherboards and if it is worth buying.

5.1

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%

4.6

Technical Score

10.0%

9.4

User score

Good
4.6

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%

4.0

Memory

16.0%

6.9

Platform & Features

16.0%

4.3

Storage

15.0%

5.5

Network

13.0%

2.8

Ports & USB

8.0%

1.9

Expansion

8.0%

4.2

Power & Cooling

5.0%

6.6

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%

9.1

User reviews

30.0%

10

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.5
(254)
amazon
4.3
(45)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.6
(1502)
Amazon_logo.png
4.5
(733)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

Exceptional
  • 3.6
    Gaming

    Score components:

    28.0%

    4.5

    VRM phases

    22.0%

    3.3

    N. of M.2 sockets

    18.0%

    4.6

    LAN speed

    17.0%

    3.6

    Maximum RAM speed

    15.0%

    1.0

    N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots

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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 B450M Gaming Plus is a Micro-ATX motherboard built on the AMD B450 chipset, supporting 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Gen Ryzen processors via the AM4 socket. It features two DDR4 memory slots supporting up to 64GB at overclocked speeds of 3466+ MHz, a single PCIe 3.0 x16 slot with Steel Armor, and one Turbo M.2 slot utilizing NVMe PCIe Gen3 x4 for speeds up to 32Gb/s. Key advantages include its compact form factor, a BIOS Flashback+ button for CPU-less updates, and isolated Audio Boost circuitry for improved sound quality. However, its primary limitations include having only two RAM slots for future expansion, a limited number of SATA ports (four), and the lack of integrated Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity.

Technical Specifications of MSI B450M Gaming Plus

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%

4.0

Memory

16.0%

6.9

Platform & Features

16.0%

4.3

Storage

15.0%

5.5

Network

13.0%

2.8

Ports & USB

8.0%

1.9

Expansion

8.0%

4.2

Power & Cooling

5.0%

6.6

Audio

4.6
MSI B450M Gaming Plus has a technical score of 4.58 points, which is lower than that of 87.4% 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%

9.1

User reviews

30.0%

10

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.5
(254)
amazon
4.3
(45)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.6
(1502)
Amazon_logo.png
4.5
(733)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

9.4
MSI B450M Gaming Plus has a user score of 9.38 points, which is higher than that of 95.4% 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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%

5.1

Overall score

40.0%

10

Price

6.5
MSI B450M Gaming Plus has a quality-to-price ratio of 6.5 points, which is lower than 79.3% 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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

microATX
MSI B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus supports up to 64 GB of memory, which is less than 62.6% of motherboards and equal to 24.3% of motherboards.
higher limit with ECC memory
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 B450M Gaming Plus 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

3,466 MT/s
MSI B450M Gaming Plus supports memory speeds up to 3466 MT/s, which is lower than that of 60.9% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.6% 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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

1
MSI B450M Gaming Plus has 1 USB-C ports (rear I/O), which is more than 35.4% of motherboards and equal to 48.8% 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

1
MSI B450M Gaming Plus has 1 USB-C ports (including headers), which is more than 30.5% of motherboards and equal to 21.3% 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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

?
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 B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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

Realtek ALC887
MSI B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus offers 7.1 audio channels, which is more than 4.9% of motherboards and equal to 95.1% of motherboards.
full 7.1 needs front panel audio.
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

97 dB
MSI B450M Gaming Plus has an audio SNR of 97 dB, which is lower than that of 67.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 16.8% 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

yes
MSI B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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

4+2
MSI B450M Gaming Plus has 4+2 VRM phases, which is fewer than 88.6% of motherboards and equal to 5.8% 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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

3
MSI B450M Gaming Plus has 3 fan headers, which is fewer than 76.7% of motherboards and equal to 15% 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus vs the average motherboard

  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus has more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen1 header/s.
    two internal headers
    What it is: The number of internal USB 3.2 Gen1 headers for front-panel Type-A ports.
    When it matters: When your case has front USB-A ports to connect.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=1

    MSI B450M Gaming Plus has more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen1 header/s.2 vs 1
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen1 USB-C ports
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus has more USB 3.2 Gen1 USB-C ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen1 USB-C port/s.
    What it is: The number of rear USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-C ports on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want more USB-C connectivity on the rear I/O.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    MSI B450M Gaming Plus has more USB 3.2 Gen1 USB-C ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen1 USB-C port/s.1 vs 0
  • Newer CPU socket
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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
  • 1 more RGB headers
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus has more RGB headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RGB header/s.2 vs 1
  • 95 mm shorter
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus is shorter than the average motherboard (210 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 B450M Gaming Plus is shorter than the average motherboard (210 mm vs 305 mm). The average motherboard height is 305 mm.210 mm vs 305 mm
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus has more DVI outputs than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 DVI outputs.1 vs 0
  • 2.29x cheaper
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus is cheaper than the average motherboard (£70 vs £160).
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus is cheaper than the average motherboard (£70 vs £160).£70 vs £160
  • 1 more PCIe x1 slots
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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.
  • 1 more PCIe x1 slots
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus has more PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus has more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen1 header/s.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen1 USB-C ports
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus has more USB 3.2 Gen1 USB-C ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen1 USB-C port/s.
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus has more DVI outputs than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 DVI outputs.
  • 1 more RGB headers
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus has more RGB headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RGB header/s.
  • 95 mm shorter
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus is shorter than the average motherboard (210 mm vs 305 mm). The average motherboard height is 305 mm.

Total
Overall
Platform & Features
Expansion
Ports & USB
Power & Cooling
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus does not support BIOS flashback, while the average motherboard does. 50.8% of motherboards support BIOS flashback.
  • Less versatile form factor
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (64 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
    higher limit with ECC memory
  • 24.7% lower maximum RAM speed
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus has a lower maximum RAM speed than the average motherboard (3,466 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • 1 fewer M.2 sockets
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus does not support PCIe bifurcation, while the average motherboard does. 61% of motherboards support PCIe bifurcation.
  • No multi-GPU support
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus does not support multi-GPU, while the average motherboard does. 54.6% of motherboards support multi-GPU.
  • 2 fewer rear USB ports
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus has fewer rear USB ports than the average motherboard (6 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.
  • 3 fewer total USB connections
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 DisplayPort outputs.
    other video outputs only
  • 1 fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus has fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (3 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 port/s.
  • Older HDMI version
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus has older HDMI version than the average motherboard (2 vs 2.1). The average motherboard supports HDMI 2.1.
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus does not include a Wi-Fi antenna, while the average motherboard does. 51.1% of motherboards include a Wi-Fi antenna.
  • More basic audio codec
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus has more basic audio codec than the average motherboard (Realtek ALC887 vs Realtek ALC898). The average motherboard uses Realtek ALC898 audio codec.
  • 18 dB lower audio SNR
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus has a lower audio SNR than the average motherboard (97 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.
  • 2 fewer 3.5mm audio jacks
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus does not have optical S/PDIF out, while the average motherboard does. 55.7% of motherboards include optical S/PDIF out.
  • Fewer VRM phases
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus has fewer VRM phases than the average motherboard (4+2 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
  • 2 fewer ARGB headers
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus has fewer ARGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 ARGB header/s.
  • No pump header
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus does not have a pump header, while the average motherboard does. 77% of motherboards include a pump header.
  • 2 fewer fan headers
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus has fewer fan headers than the average motherboard (3 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 fan header/s.
  • No onboard RGB lighting
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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 motherboard chipset
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • 2 fewer rear USB ports
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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 B450M Gaming Plus has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (64 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
    higher limit with ECC 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 B450M Gaming Plus 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
  • 1 fewer M.2 sockets
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus has fewer M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (1 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
    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

    MSI B450M Gaming Plus has fewer M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (1 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.1 vs 2
Total
Overall
Platform & Features
Memory
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Audio
Power & Cooling

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
4.5
254 Reviews
amazon
4.3
45 Reviews
United States
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4.6
1502 Reviews
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4.5
733 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

What customers like about MSI B450M Gaming Plus?

  • Solid VRM performance for the price, capable of handling 6-core and even some 8-core CPUs with decent airflow
  • Highly stable performance, passing long-duration stress tests like Prime95
  • Includes a BIOS Flashback button for easy updates without needing a CPU installed
  • Features helpful Debug LEDs to quickly diagnose boot issues related to CPU, RAM, or GPU
  • Strong value for budget-conscious builders, often considered a cheaper alternative to the Tomahawk
  • Supports high-speed memory overclocking, with some users reaching over 3700MHz stable

What customers dislike about MSI B450M Gaming Plus?

  • Limited memory expandability with only 2 RAM slots
  • Mediocre integrated audio (ALC887) compared to higher-end B450 boards
  • Sparse rear I/O with a limited number of USB ports
  • Only one M.2 slot available for high-speed storage
  • Limited fan headers (typically 1 CPU and 2-3 case fan headers), which may require splitters for complex builds
  • Aesthetics are basic and may not appeal to users looking for integrated RGB lighting

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