OVERALL
ALTERNATIVES
SPECS
VS AVERAGE
REVIEWS
Scored using Motherboards Methodology v1.0
Motherboards Methodology v1.0
Mathematical & Unbiased Scoring
Products in this category are evaluated mathematically under Frontumo Motherboards Methodology v1.0 using verified laboratory benchmarks, technical specifications, and authentic consumer ratings with 0% commercial bias.
Explore Motherboards Methodology v1.0

MSI B450M Gaming Plus Review | 107 Data compared

Avg. price:~£70CPU socket:AM4Chipset:AMD B450Form factor:microATX

MSI B450M Gaming Plus Review: Compare 107 technical specifications and user reviews to see how this product ranks in the Motherboards category and whether it is worth buying.

5.0

Overall score

Score
5.0/ 10
✕
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 distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 83% of models
Score components

90%

4.5

Technical score

10%

9.4

User score

â–¼Worse than 83% of motherboards
4.5

Technical score

Technical score
4.5/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Motherboards category across these key areas: Platform & Features, Memory, Storage, Expansion, Ports & USB, Network, Audio, Power & Cooling.
When it matters
When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 88% of models
Score components

19%

4.1

Memory

16%

7.7

Platform & Features

16%

4.5

Storage

15%

3.3

Network

13%

2.8

Ports & USB

8%

3.0

Expansion

8%

4.5

Power & Cooling

5%

6.7

Audio

â–¼Worse than 88% of motherboards
9.4

User score

User score
9.4/ 10
✕
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 distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
★ Better than 96% of models
Score components

70%

9.1

User ratings

30%

10

Number of reviews

Based on 2,534 buyer reviews from online shops.
Read buyer reviews on Amazon →
How we calculate this
User ratings – average star rating across all shop listings, weighted by how many reviews each has, on a 1–10 scale.
Number of reviews – how many buyer reviews the product has, on a logarithmic scale; the 8% most-reviewed models in the category get 10.
★Better than 96% of motherboards
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Best prices

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Best rankings

Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).All: ranking among all products in the database.
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Technical Specifications of motherboard MSI B450M Gaming Plus

Technical score
Technical score
4.5/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Motherboards category across these key areas: Platform & Features, Memory, Storage, Expansion, Ports & USB, Network, Audio, Power & Cooling.
When it matters
When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 88% of models
Score components:

19%

4.1

Memory

16%

7.7

Platform & Features

16%

4.5

Storage

15%

3.3

Network

13%

2.8

Ports & USB

8%

3.0

Expansion

8%

4.5

Power & Cooling

5%

6.7

Audio

4.5
User score
User score
9.4/ 10
✕
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 distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
★ Better than 96% of models
Score components

70%

9.1

User ratings

30%

10

Number of reviews

Based on 2,534 buyer reviews from online shops.
Read buyer reviews on Amazon →
How we calculate this
User ratings – average star rating across all shop listings, weighted by how many reviews each has, on a 1–10 scale.
Number of reviews – how many buyer reviews the product has, on a logarithmic scale; the 8% most-reviewed models in the category get 10.
9.4
Popularity
Popularity
10.0/ 10
✕
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.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
★ Better than 92% of models
Popularity:
MSI B450M Gaming Plus has a popularity score of 10 points, which is higher than that of 91.5% of products in this category.
10
Value for money
Value for money
6.5/ 10
✕
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 distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 82% of models
Score components:

60%

5.0

Overall score

40%

10

Price

6.5
Brand name
MSI
CPU socket
AM4
CPU socket
AM4
â–¼ Worse than 48% of models
This motherboard 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
AMD
CPU platform
AMD
â–¼ Worse than 68% of models
This motherboard is built for the AMD CPU platform, which is less common than that of 68.5% of motherboards and equal to that of 31.5% of motherboards.
Chipset
AMD B450
Chipset
AMD B450
â–¼ Worse than 55% of models
This motherboard 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
microATX
Form factor
microATX
â–¼ Worse than 52% of models
This motherboard 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
DDR4
DDR memory version
DDR4
â–¼ Worse than 36% of models
This motherboard uses DDR4 memory, which is newer than that of 13.5% of motherboards and equal to that of 50.8% of motherboards.
Memory slots
2
Memory slots
2
â–¼ Worse than 79% of models
Market range: <2 – >4
This motherboard has 2 Memory slots, which is fewer than 78.6% of motherboards and equal to 21.4% of motherboards.
Maximum memory capacity
64 GB
Maximum memory capacity
64 GB
â–¼ Worse than 63% of models
Market range: <32 GB – >256 GB
This motherboard 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
2
Memory channels
2
â–¼ Worse than 7% of models
This motherboard supports 2 memory channels, which is more than 0.2% of motherboards and equal to 92.6% of motherboards.
Maximum RAM speed
3,466 MT/s
Maximum RAM speed
3,466 MT/s
â–¼ Worse than 61% of models
Market range: <2k MT/s – >8k MT/s
This motherboard supports memory speeds up to 3,466 MT/s, which is lower than that of 61.2% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.5% of motherboards.
Show more
N. of M.2 sockets
1
N. of M.2 sockets
1
â–¼ Worse than 69% of models
Market range: <0 – >4
This motherboard has 1 M.2 sockets, which is fewer than 69.3% of motherboards and equal to 19.1% of motherboards.
M.2 slot interface per slot
1x PCIe 3.0 x4/SATA
M.2 slot interface per slot
1x PCIe 3.0 x4/SATA
â–¼ Worse than 74% of models
This motherboard offers 1x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA for M.2 slot interfaces, which is slower than that of 74.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 10.4% of motherboards.
N. of SATA 3 connectors
4
N. of SATA 3 connectors
4
â–¼ Worse than 48% of models
Market range: <4 – >8
This motherboard has 4 SATA 3 connectors, which is more than 5.6% of motherboards and equal to 46.2% of motherboards.
Supported RAID levels
0/1/10
Supported RAID levels
0/1/10
â–¼ Worse than 68% of models
This motherboard supports RAID levels 0/1/10, which is narrower than 68.1% of motherboards and equal to 23.3% of motherboards.
SATA only
NVMe RAID support
no
NVMe RAID support
no
â–¼ Worse than 60% of models
This motherboard does not support NVMe RAID. 59.8% of motherboards support this feature.
Show more
N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots
0
N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots
0
â–¼ Worse than 31% of models
Market range: <0 – >1
This motherboard has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slots, which is fewer than 31.5% of motherboards and equal to 68.5% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 4.0 x16 slots
0
N. of PCIe 4.0 x16 slots
0
â–¼ Worse than 45% of models
Market range: <0 – >1
This motherboard has 0 PCIe 4.0x16 slots, which is fewer than 44.5% of motherboards and equal to 55.5% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 3.0 x16 slots
1
N. of PCIe 3.0 x16 slots
1
â–² Better than 40% of models
Market range: <0 – >3
This motherboard has 1 PCIe 3.0x16 slots, which is more than 40.5% of motherboards and equal to 26.8% of motherboards.
PCIe slot electrical configuration
x16/x1/x1
PCIe slot electrical configuration
x16/x1/x1
â–¼ Worse than 59% of models
This motherboard uses x16/x1/x1 for PCIe slot electrical configuration, which is less flexible than that of 59% of motherboards and equal to that of 5.6% of motherboards.
PCIe bifurcation support
no
PCIe bifurcation support
no
â–¼ Worse than 60% of models
This motherboard does not support PCIe bifurcation. 59.7% of motherboards support this feature.
Show more
Total USB ports (rear I/O)
6
Total USB ports (rear I/O)
6
â–¼ Worse than 64% of models
Market range: <6 – >10
This motherboard has 6 USB ports (rear I/O), which is fewer than 64.3% of motherboards and equal to 32.7% of motherboards.
Total USB ports (including headers)
12
Total USB ports (including headers)
12
â–¼ Worse than 73% of models
Market range: <11 – >19
This motherboard has 12 USB ports (including headers), which is fewer than 72.6% of motherboards and equal to 16.3% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (rear I/O)
1
Total USB-C ports (rear I/O)
1
â–² Better than 35% of models
Market range: <0 – >2
This motherboard has 1 USB-C ports (rear I/O), which is more than 35.5% of motherboards and equal to 48.7% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (including headers)
1
Total USB-C ports (including headers)
1
â–¼ Worse than 48% of models
Market range: <0 – >3
This motherboard has 1 USB-C ports (including headers), which is more than 30.4% of motherboards and equal to 21.3% of motherboards.
N. of USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C)
0
N. of USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C)
0
â–¼ Worse than 18% of models
Market range: <0 – >1
This motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C), which is fewer than 18.3% of motherboards and equal to 81.7% of motherboards.
Show more
LAN speed
1 Gbps
LAN speed
1 Gbps
â–¼ Worse than 51% of models
Market range: <1 Gbps – >2.5 Gbps
This motherboard supports LAN speeds up to 1 Gbps, which is lower than that of 50.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 49.2% of motherboards.
LAN controller
Killer + Intel + Realtek
LAN controller
Killer + Intel + Realtek
â–¼ Worse than 65% of models
This motherboard uses the Killer + Intel + Realtek LAN controller, which is less advanced than that of 64.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 28.7% of motherboards.
N. of RJ45 ports
1
N. of RJ45 ports
1
â–¼ Worse than 14% of models
Market range: <1 – >2
This motherboard has 1 RJ45 ports, which is fewer than 14.4% of motherboards and equal to 85.6% of motherboards.
Wi-Fi connectivity
no
Wi-Fi connectivity
no
â–¼ Worse than 50% of models
This motherboard does not support Wi-Fi connectivity. 50.1% of motherboards support this feature.
Wi-Fi version
N/A
Show more
Audio codec
Realtek ALC887
Audio codec
Realtek ALC887
â–¼ Worse than 89% of models
This motherboard uses the Realtek ALC887 audio codec, which is less advanced than that of 89% of motherboards and equal to that of 7.8% of motherboards.
Audio channels
7.1
Audio channels
7.1
â–² Better than 5% of models
This motherboard 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
97 dB
Audio SNR
97 dB
â–¼ Worse than 65% of models
Market range: <95 dB – >120 dB
This motherboard has an audio SNR of 97 dB, which is lower than that of 65.4% of motherboards and equal to that of 17% of motherboards.
Headphone amp support
yes
Headphone amp support
yes
â–² Better than 41% of models
This motherboard supports a headphone amp. 40.8% of motherboards support this feature.
N. of 3.5mm audio jacks
3
N. of 3.5mm audio jacks
3
â–¼ Worse than 50% of models
Market range: <2 – >6
This motherboard has 3 3.5mm audio jacks, which is fewer than 50.4% of motherboards and equal to 38.1% of motherboards.
Show more
VRM phases
4+2
VRM phases
4+2
â–¼ Worse than 88% of models
This motherboard has 4+2 VRM phases, which is fewer than 88.4% of motherboards and equal to 5.4% of motherboards.
N. of CPU power connectors
1
N. of CPU power connectors
1
â–¼ Worse than 45% of models
Market range: <1 – >2
This motherboard has 1 CPU power connectors, which is fewer than 45.5% of motherboards and equal to 54.5% of motherboards.
N. of fan headers
3
N. of fan headers
3
â–¼ Worse than 77% of models
Market range: <3 – >8
This motherboard has 3 fan headers, which is fewer than 77.1% of motherboards and equal to 14.8% of motherboards.
Pump header
no
Pump header
no
â–¼ Worse than 78% of models
This motherboard does not have a pump header. 78.1% of motherboards include this feature.
Pump header max current
0 A
Pump header max current
0 A
â–¼ Worse than 76% of models
Market range: <0 A – >3 A
This motherboard supports up to 0 A on the pump header, which is lower than that of 76% of motherboards and equal to that of 24% of motherboards.
Show more

MSI B450M Gaming Plus vs the average motherboard

246810TotalPlatform & FeaturesMemoryStorageExpansionPorts & USBNetworkAudioPower & Cooling
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers
    N. of USB 3.2 Gen1 headers (USB-A)
    2
    â–² Better than 68% of models
    Market range: <1 – >2
    This motherboard 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
    2 vs 1
  • Newer CPU socket
    CPU socket
    AM4
    â–¼ Worse than 48% of models
    This motherboard has newer CPU socket than the average motherboard (AM4 vs LGA 1151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1151 CPU socket.
    AM4 vs LGA 1,151
  • 1 more RGB headers
    N. of RGB headers (4-pin)
    2
    â–² Better than 77% of models
    Market range: <0 – >2
    This motherboard 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
    Height
    210 mm
    ★ Better than 90% of models
    Market range: <170 mm – >320 mm
    This motherboard 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
    N. of DVI outputs
    1
    â–² Better than 78% of models
    Market range: <0 – >1
    This motherboard 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).
    £70 vs £160
  • 17.3% higher user score
    User score
    9.4/ 10
    ✕
    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 distribution
    â–¼
    â–¼
    <55-66-77-88-99-10
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus
    the average motherboard
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus has a higher user score than the average motherboard (9.38 vs 8.000).
    9.38 vs 8
  • 1 more PCIe x1 slots
    N. of PCIe x1 slots
    2
    â–² Better than 56% of models
    Market range: <0 – >3
    This motherboard has more PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
    2 vs 1
  • 2.29x cheaper
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus is cheaper than the average motherboard (£70 vs £160).
    £70 vs £160
  • 17.3% higher user score
    User score
    9.4/ 10
    ✕
    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 distribution
    â–¼
    â–¼
    <55-66-77-88-99-10
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus
    the average motherboard
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus has a higher user score than the average motherboard (9.38 vs 8.000).
    9.38 vs 8
  • 59.7% more popular
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus is more popular than the average motherboard (10 vs 6.3).
    10 vs 6.26
  • Newer CPU socket
    CPU socket
    AM4
    â–¼ Worse than 48% of models
    This motherboard has newer CPU socket than the average motherboard (AM4 vs LGA 1151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1151 CPU socket.
    AM4 vs LGA 1,151
  • Broader Windows support
    Supported Windows versions
    Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 7
    â–² Better than 84% of models
    This motherboard 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
  • 1 more PCIe x1 slots
    N. of PCIe x1 slots
    2
    â–² Better than 56% of models
    Market range: <0 – >3
    This motherboard has more PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
    2 vs 1
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers
    N. of USB 3.2 Gen1 headers (USB-A)
    2
    â–² Better than 68% of models
    Market range: <1 – >2
    This motherboard 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
    2 vs 1
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    N. of DVI outputs
    1
    â–² Better than 78% of models
    Market range: <0 – >1
    This motherboard has more DVI outputs than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 DVI outputs.
    1 vs 0
  • 1 more RGB headers
    N. of RGB headers (4-pin)
    2
    â–² Better than 77% of models
    Market range: <0 – >2
    This motherboard 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
    Height
    210 mm
    ★ Better than 90% of models
    Market range: <170 mm – >320 mm
    This motherboard is shorter than the average motherboard (210 mm vs 305 mm). The average motherboard height is 305 mm.
    210 mm vs 305 mm
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    LAN speed
    1 Gbps
    â–¼ Worse than 51% of models
    Market range: <1 Gbps – >2.5 Gbps
    This motherboard 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
    Chipset
    AMD B450
    â–¼ Worse than 55% of models
    This motherboard 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
    M.2 slot interface per slot
    1x PCIe 3.0 x4/SATA
    â–¼ Worse than 74% of models
    This motherboard has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (1x PCIe 3x4/SATA vs 1x PCIe 5x4, 2x PCIe 4x4). 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
    Memory slots
    2
    â–¼ Worse than 79% of models
    Market range: <2 – >4
    This motherboard 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
    NVMe RAID support
    no
    â–¼ Worse than 60% of models
    This motherboard does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • 2 fewer rear USB ports
    Total USB ports (rear I/O)
    6
    â–¼ Worse than 64% of models
    Market range: <6 – >10
    This motherboard 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
    Maximum memory capacity
    64 GB
    â–¼ Worse than 63% of models
    Market range: <32 GB – >256 GB
    This motherboard 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
    64 GB vs 128 GB
  • 1 fewer M.2 sockets
    N. of M.2 sockets
    1
    â–¼ Worse than 69% of models
    Market range: <0 – >4
    This motherboard has fewer M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (1 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
    1 vs 2
  • 14% worse value for money
    MSI B450M Gaming Plus has worse value for money than the average motherboard (6.5 vs 7.4).
    6.5 vs 7.41
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    Chipset
    AMD B450
    â–¼ Worse than 55% of models
    This motherboard 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
  • No BIOS flashback support
    BIOS flashback
    no
    â–¼ Worse than 51% of models
    This motherboard does not support BIOS flashback, while the average motherboard does. 50.9% of motherboards support BIOS flashback.
  • Fewer useful accessories
    Included accessories
    SATA cables, I/O shield, M.2 kit
    â–¼ Worse than 78% of models
    This motherboard has fewer useful accessories than the average motherboard (SATA cables, I/O shield, M.2 kit vs 2x SATA cables, Wi-Fi antenna, M.2 kit, front-panel adapter, RGB cable). The average motherboard comes with 2x SATA cables, Wi-Fi antenna, M.2 kit, front-panel adapter, RGB cable.
    SATA cables, I/O shield, M.2 kit vs 2x SATA cables, Wi-Fi antenna, M.2 kit, front-panel adapter, RGB cable
  • Older CPU platform
    CPU platform
    AMD
    â–¼ Worse than 68% of models
    This motherboard uses the AMD CPU platform compared to Intel on the average motherboard. The average motherboard uses Intel CPU platform.
    AMD vs Intel
  • Less versatile form factor
    Form factor
    microATX
    â–¼ Worse than 52% of models
    This motherboard has less versatile form factor than the average motherboard (microATX vs ATX). The average motherboard comes in ATX form factor.
    microATX vs ATX
  • 2 fewer memory slots
    Memory slots
    2
    â–¼ Worse than 79% of models
    Market range: <2 – >4
    This motherboard has fewer memory slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 memory slot/s.
    2 vs 4
  • 50% less maximum memory capacity
    Maximum memory capacity
    64 GB
    â–¼ Worse than 63% of models
    Market range: <32 GB – >256 GB
    This motherboard 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
    64 GB vs 128 GB
  • 26.8% lower maximum RAM speed
    Maximum RAM speed
    3,466 MT/s
    â–¼ Worse than 61% of models
    Market range: <2k MT/s – >8k MT/s
    This motherboard has a lower maximum RAM speed than the average motherboard (3466 MT/s vs 4733 MT/s). The average motherboard supports RAM speed of 4733 MT/s.
    3,466 MT/s vs 4,733 MT/s
  • 29.7% lower overclocked RAM speed
    Maximum overclocked RAM speed
    3,466 MT/s
    â–¼ Worse than 73% of models
    Market range: <2.7k MT/s – >8.2k MT/s
    This motherboard has a lower overclocked RAM speed than the average motherboard (3466 MT/s vs 4933 MT/s). The average motherboard supports overclocked RAM speed of 4933 MT/s.
    3,466 MT/s vs 4,933 MT/s
  • Slower M.2 slot interfaces
    M.2 slot interface per slot
    1x PCIe 3.0 x4/SATA
    â–¼ Worse than 74% of models
    This motherboard has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (1x PCIe 3x4/SATA vs 1x PCIe 5x4, 2x PCIe 4x4). 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
  • No NVMe RAID support
    NVMe RAID support
    no
    â–¼ Worse than 60% of models
    This motherboard does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • 1 fewer M.2 sockets
    N. of M.2 sockets
    1
    â–¼ Worse than 69% of models
    Market range: <0 – >4
    This motherboard has fewer M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (1 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
    1 vs 2
  • Fewer RAID options
    Supported RAID levels
    0/1/10
    â–¼ Worse than 68% of models
    This motherboard 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
    0/1/10 vs 0/1/5/10
  • No PCIe bifurcation support
    PCIe bifurcation support
    no
    â–¼ Worse than 60% of models
    This motherboard does not support PCIe bifurcation, while the average motherboard does. 59.7% of motherboards support PCIe bifurcation.
  • No multi-GPU support
    Multi-GPU support
    no
    â–¼ Worse than 55% of models
    This motherboard does not support multi-GPU, while the average motherboard does. 54.6% of motherboards support multi-GPU.
  • Less flexible PCIe lane configuration
    PCIe slot electrical configuration
    x16/x1/x1
    â–¼ Worse than 59% of models
    This motherboard has less flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x16/x1/x1 vs x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4). The average motherboard uses x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4 PCIe slot lane configuration.
    x16/x1/x1 vs x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4
  • 2 fewer rear USB ports
    Total USB ports (rear I/O)
    6
    â–¼ Worse than 64% of models
    Market range: <6 – >10
    This motherboard has fewer rear USB ports than the average motherboard (6 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.
    6 vs 8
  • 3 fewer total USB connections
    Total USB ports (including headers)
    12
    â–¼ Worse than 73% of models
    Market range: <11 – >19
    This motherboard has fewer total USB connections than the average motherboard (12 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
    12 vs 15
  • 1 fewer USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    N. of USB 3.2 Gen2 ports (USB-A)
    0
    â–¼ Worse than 63% of models
    Market range: <0 – >4
    This motherboard 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.
    0 vs 1
  • 1 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    N. of DisplayPort outputs
    0
    â–¼ Worse than 54% of models
    Market range: <0 – >1
    This motherboard has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 DisplayPort outputs.
    other video outputs only
    0 vs 1
  • 1 fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports
    N. of USB 3.2 Gen1 ports (USB-A)
    3
    â–¼ Worse than 52% of models
    Market range: <0 – >6
    This motherboard 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.
    3 vs 4
  • Older HDMI version
    HDMI version
    2.0
    â–² Better than 46% of models
    This motherboard has older HDMI version than the average motherboard (2 vs 2.1). The average motherboard supports HDMI 2.1.
    2.0 vs 2.1
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    LAN speed
    1 Gbps
    â–¼ Worse than 51% of models
    Market range: <1 Gbps – >2.5 Gbps
    This motherboard 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
  • No Wi-Fi connectivity
    Wi-Fi connectivity
    no
    â–¼ Worse than 50% of models
    This motherboard does not support Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does. 50% of motherboards support Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • No Wi-Fi antenna included
    Wi-Fi antenna included
    no
    â–¼ Worse than 51% of models
    This motherboard does not include a Wi-Fi antenna, while the average motherboard does. 51.1% of motherboards include a Wi-Fi antenna.
  • 18 dB lower audio SNR
    Audio SNR
    97 dB
    â–¼ Worse than 65% of models
    Market range: <95 dB – >120 dB
    This motherboard has a lower audio SNR than the average motherboard (97 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.
    97 dB vs 115 dB
  • More basic audio codec
    Audio codec
    Realtek ALC887
    â–¼ Worse than 89% of models
    This motherboard has more basic audio codec than the average motherboard (Realtek ALC887 vs Realtek ALC897). The average motherboard uses Realtek ALC897 audio codec.
    Realtek ALC887 vs Realtek ALC897
  • 2 fewer 3.5mm audio jacks
    N. of 3.5mm audio jacks
    3
    â–¼ Worse than 50% of models
    Market range: <2 – >6
    This motherboard has fewer 3.5mm audio jacks than the average motherboard (3 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 3.5mm audio jacks.
    3 vs 5
  • No optical S/PDIF out
    Optical S/PDIF out (TOSLINK)
    no
    â–¼ Worse than 56% of models
    This motherboard does not have optical S/PDIF out, while the average motherboard does. 55.8% of motherboards include optical S/PDIF out.
  • Fewer VRM phases
    VRM phases
    4+2
    â–¼ Worse than 88% of models
    This motherboard has fewer VRM phases than the average motherboard (4+2 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
    4+2 vs 10
  • 2 fewer ARGB headers
    N. of ARGB headers (3-pin)
    0
    â–¼ Worse than 62% of models
    Market range: <0 – >3
    This motherboard has fewer ARGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 ARGB header/s.
    0 vs 2
  • 2.5 fewer fan headers
    N. of fan headers
    3
    â–¼ Worse than 77% of models
    Market range: <3 – >8
    This motherboard has fewer fan headers than the average motherboard (3 vs 5.5). The average motherboard has 5.5 fan header/s.
    3 vs 5.5
  • No pump header
    Pump header
    no
    â–¼ Worse than 78% of models
    This motherboard does not have a pump header, while the average motherboard does. 78.1% of motherboards include a pump header.
  • No onboard RGB lighting
    Onboard RGB lighting
    no
    â–¼ Worse than 50% of models
    This motherboard does not have onboard RGB lighting, while the average motherboard does. 50.4% of motherboards include onboard RGB lighting.
  • 2 A lower pump header current limit
    Pump header max current
    0 A
    â–¼ Worse than 76% of models
    Market range: <0 A – >3 A
    This motherboard 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.
    0 A vs 2 A

Video reviews

Hands-on testing, unboxing, and real-world video evaluations

Third-party reviews

Based on 2,534 buyer reviews from online shops.
Reviews last updated: May 2026 · How we calculate this
Read buyer reviews on Amazon →

What we 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 we don't like 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

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.

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