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MSI B450M Mortar Max Review | 107 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£80
  • Avg. price in US: ~$80
  • CPU socket: AM4
  • Chipset: AMD B450
  • Form factor: microATX

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

6.2

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%

5.9

Technical Score

10.0%

9.4

User score

Good
5.9

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%

6.8

Memory

16.0%

7.3

Platform & Features

16.0%

5.8

Storage

15.0%

5.5

Network

13.0%

4.7

Ports & USB

8.0%

3.5

Expansion

8.0%

4.7

Power & Cooling

5.0%

7.9

Audio

Good
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
(1338)
amazon
5.0
(1)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

Exceptional
  • 4.2
    Gaming

    Score components:

    28.0%

    4.5

    VRM phases

    22.0%

    5.5

    N. of M.2 sockets

    18.0%

    4.6

    LAN speed

    17.0%

    4.6

    Maximum RAM speed

    15.0%

    1.0

    N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots

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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 B450M Mortar Max is a high-performance Micro-ATX motherboard based on the AMD B450 chipset, supporting 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Gen Ryzen processors via the AM4 socket. It features four DDR4 DIMM slots supporting up to 128GB of memory at overclocked speeds reaching 4133MHz, dual M.2 slots (one PCIe 3.0 x4 and one PCIe 2.0 x4), and dual PCIe x16 slots with 2-way AMD CrossFire support. Key advantages include its robust extended heatsink design for superior VRM cooling, a dedicated Flash BIOS button for easy updates without a CPU, and high-quality audio components with S/PDIF output. However, potential drawbacks include the loss of the second PCIe x16 slot when the second M.2 slot is occupied, the absence of PCIe 4.0 support common in newer chipsets, and limited SATA connectivity with only four ports available.

Technical Specifications of MSI B450M Mortar Max

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%

6.8

Memory

16.0%

7.3

Platform & Features

16.0%

5.8

Storage

15.0%

5.5

Network

13.0%

4.7

Ports & USB

8.0%

3.5

Expansion

8.0%

4.7

Power & Cooling

5.0%

7.9

Audio

5.9
MSI B450M Mortar Max has a technical score of 5.89 points, which is lower than that of 59.3% 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
(1338)
amazon
5.0
(1)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

9.4
MSI B450M Mortar Max has a user score of 9.44 points, which is higher than that of 98.7% 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 Mortar Max 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%

6.2

Overall score

40.0%

10

Price

7.4
MSI B450M Mortar Max has a quality-to-price ratio of 7.4 points, which is higher than 50.6% 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 Mortar Max 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 Mortar Max 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 Mortar Max 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 Mortar Max 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

4
MSI B450M Mortar Max has 4 Memory slots, which is more than 21.5% of motherboards and equal to 72.5% 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

128 GB
MSI B450M Mortar Max supports up to 128 GB of memory, which is more than 40.4% of motherboards and equal to 32.1% of motherboards.
Memory channels
What it is: The memory channel configuration supported by the motherboard platform.
When it matters: When memory bandwidth matters for your build.

Importance: MEDIUM

2
MSI B450M Mortar Max 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

4,133 MT/s
MSI B450M Mortar Max supports memory speeds up to 4133 MT/s, which is lower than that of 55.6% 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

2
MSI B450M Mortar Max has 2 M.2 sockets, which is more than 30.8% of motherboards and equal to 34.6% 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, 1x PCIe 2.0 x4
MSI B450M Mortar Max offers 1x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA, 1x PCIe 2.0x4 for M.2 slot interfaces, which is slower than that of 63.4% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.3% 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 Mortar Max 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 Mortar Max 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

yes
MSI B450M Mortar Max supports NVMe RAID. 40.3% 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 Mortar Max 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 Mortar Max 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 Mortar Max 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/x4, x8/x8/x4, x4/x0/x4
MSI B450M Mortar Max uses x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4, x4/x0/x4 for PCIe slot electrical configuration, which is more flexible than that of 68.3% 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 Mortar Max 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

8
MSI B450M Mortar Max has 8 USB ports (rear I/O), which is more than 40.3% of motherboards and equal to 30.7% 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

14
MSI B450M Mortar Max has 14 USB ports (including headers), which is fewer than 51.8% of motherboards and equal to 12.9% 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

1
MSI B450M Mortar Max 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 Mortar Max 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 Mortar Max has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C), which is equal to 81.6% of motherboards.
10Gbps excluded.
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 Mortar Max 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 Mortar Max 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 Mortar Max does not support Wi-Fi connectivity. 49.1% of motherboards support this feature.
Wi-Fi version
What it is: The supported Wi-Fi generation, such as Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7.
When it matters: When you care about wireless speed and router compatibility.

Importance: MEDIUM

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

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

Importance: MEDIUM

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

Importance: LOW

Good value: 7.1

7.1
MSI B450M Mortar Max offers 7.1 audio channels, which is more than 4.9% of motherboards and equal to 95.1% of motherboards.
Audio SNR
What it is: The signal-to-noise ratio of the onboard audio solution.
When it matters: When you care about cleaner onboard audio output.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=120 dB

95 dB
MSI B450M Mortar Max has an audio SNR of 95 dB, which is lower than that of 84.2% of motherboards and equal to that of 10.1% of motherboards.
Headphone amp support
What it is: Shows whether the onboard audio path includes dedicated headphone amplification for harder-to-drive headsets.
When it matters: When you use harder-to-drive headphones from the onboard audio.

Importance: LOW

yes
MSI B450M Mortar Max supports a headphone amp. 37% of motherboards support this feature.
supports up to 600Ω.
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

5
MSI B450M Mortar Max has 5 3.5mm audio jacks, which is more than 49.8% of motherboards and equal to 36.8% of motherboards.
also has optical S/PDIF out
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 Mortar Max 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 Mortar Max 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

4
MSI B450M Mortar Max has 4 fan headers, which is fewer than 64.3% of motherboards and equal to 12.3% of motherboards.
Pump header
What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes a dedicated header designed for a liquid-cooling pump.
When it matters: When you build with an AIO or custom liquid cooling loop.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
MSI B450M Mortar Max 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

?
Show more

MSI B450M Mortar Max vs the average motherboard

  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C ports
    MSI B450M Mortar Max has more USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C port/s.
    What it is: The number of rear USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C ports on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want faster rear USB-C connectivity.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=1

    MSI B450M Mortar Max has more USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C port/s.1 vs 0
  • 1 more PCIe 2.0x16 slots
    MSI B450M Mortar Max has more PCIe 2.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 2.0x16 slot/s.
    What it is: The number of PCIe 2.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you compare older full-length expansion options.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI B450M Mortar Max has more PCIe 2.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 2.0x16 slot/s.1 vs 0
  • Newer CPU socket
    MSI B450M Mortar Max 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 Mortar Max 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
  • More flexible PCIe lane configuration
    MSI B450M Mortar Max has more flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4, x4/x0/x4 vs x16/x1). The average motherboard uses x16/x1 PCIe slot lane 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

    MSI B450M Mortar Max has more flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4, x4/x0/x4 vs x16/x1). The average motherboard uses x16/x1 PCIe slot lane configuration.x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4, x4/x0/x4 vs x16/x1
  • 1 more RGB headers
    MSI B450M Mortar Max 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 Mortar Max has more RGB headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RGB header/s.2 vs 1
  • 2x cheaper
    MSI B450M Mortar Max is cheaper than the average motherboard (£80 vs £160).
    MSI B450M Mortar Max is cheaper than the average motherboard (£80 vs £160).£80 vs £160
  • 1 more PCIe x1 slots
    MSI B450M Mortar Max 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 Mortar Max has more PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.2 vs 1
  • 18% higher user score
    MSI B450M Mortar Max has a higher user score than the average motherboard (9.44 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 B450M Mortar Max has a higher user score than the average motherboard (9.44 vs 8.000).9.44 vs 8
  • Newer CPU socket
    MSI B450M Mortar Max 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 Mortar Max 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 2.0x16 slots
    MSI B450M Mortar Max has more PCIe 2.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 2.0x16 slot/s.
  • More flexible PCIe lane configuration
    MSI B450M Mortar Max has more flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4, x4/x0/x4 vs x16/x1). The average motherboard uses x16/x1 PCIe slot lane configuration.
  • 1 more PCIe x1 slots
    MSI B450M Mortar Max 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 Gen2 USB-C ports
    MSI B450M Mortar Max has more USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C port/s.
  • 1 more RGB headers
    MSI B450M Mortar Max has more RGB headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RGB header/s.
  • 61 mm shorter
    MSI B450M Mortar Max is shorter than the average motherboard (244 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 Mortar Max has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (AMD B450 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
  • Less versatile form factor
    MSI B450M Mortar Max has less versatile form factor than the average motherboard (microATX vs ATX). The average motherboard comes in ATX form factor.
  • Slower M.2 slot interfaces
    MSI B450M Mortar Max has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (1x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA, 1x PCIe 2.0x4 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.
  • Fewer RAID options
    MSI B450M Mortar Max 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 Mortar Max does not support PCIe bifurcation, while the average motherboard does. 61% of motherboards support PCIe bifurcation.
  • 1 fewer total USB connections
    MSI B450M Mortar Max has fewer total USB connections than the average motherboard (14 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
  • Older HDMI version
    MSI B450M Mortar Max 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 Mortar Max 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 Mortar Max does not include a Wi-Fi antenna, while the average motherboard does. 51.1% of motherboards include a Wi-Fi antenna.
  • 20 dB lower audio SNR
    MSI B450M Mortar Max has a lower audio SNR than the average motherboard (95 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.
  • Fewer VRM phases
    MSI B450M Mortar Max 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 Mortar Max has fewer ARGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 ARGB header/s.
  • No pump header
    MSI B450M Mortar Max does not have a pump header, while the average motherboard does. 77% of motherboards include a pump header.
  • 1 fewer fan headers
    MSI B450M Mortar Max has fewer fan headers than the average motherboard (4 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 fan header/s.
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    MSI B450M Mortar Max 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 Mortar Max 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 Mortar Max 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 Mortar Max 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 Mortar Max has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (1x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA, 1x PCIe 2.0x4 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 Mortar Max has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (1x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA, 1x PCIe 2.0x4 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, 1x PCIe 2.0x4 vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4
  • No PCIe bifurcation support
    MSI B450M Mortar Max does not support PCIe bifurcation, while the average motherboard does. 61% of motherboards support PCIe bifurcation.
    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

    MSI B450M Mortar Max does not support PCIe bifurcation, while the average motherboard does. 61% of motherboards support PCIe bifurcation.
  • No Wi-Fi antenna included
    MSI B450M Mortar Max does not include a Wi-Fi antenna, while the average motherboard does. 51.1% of motherboards include a Wi-Fi antenna.
    What it is: Shows whether the external Wi-Fi antenna is included with the motherboard package.
    When it matters: When the board has Wi-Fi and you want it ready to use right away.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI B450M Mortar Max does not include a Wi-Fi antenna, while the average motherboard does. 51.1% of motherboards include a Wi-Fi antenna.
  • Fewer VRM phases
    MSI B450M Mortar Max has fewer VRM phases than the average motherboard (4+2 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
    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

    MSI B450M Mortar Max has fewer VRM phases than the average motherboard (4+2 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.4+2 vs 10
  • 20 dB lower audio SNR
    MSI B450M Mortar Max has a lower audio SNR than the average motherboard (95 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.
    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

    MSI B450M Mortar Max has a lower audio SNR than the average motherboard (95 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.95 dB vs 115 dB
  • Fewer RAID options
    MSI B450M Mortar Max 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
    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

    MSI B450M Mortar Max 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.0/1/10 vs 0/1/5/10
Total
Platform & Features
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Audio
Power & Cooling

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
4.6
1338 Reviews
amazon
5.0
1 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

What customers like about MSI B450M Mortar Max?

  • Excellent VRM performance and cooling, making it suitable for higher-end Ryzen CPUs and stable overclocking
  • Support for Ryzen 3000 series (Zen 2) right out of the box with the larger 32MB BIOS chip
  • Includes dual M.2 slots, which is rare for many Micro-ATX boards in this price range
  • Great Rear I/O connectivity, featuring more USB ports than similar boards like the Tomahawk
  • Features a BIOS Flashback button, allowing for easy BIOS updates without needing a CPU installed
  • Strong overall value for budget to mid-range Micro-ATX builds

What customers dislike about MSI B450M Mortar Max?

  • Secondary M.2 slot is limited to PCIe 2.0 x4 speeds, making it significantly slower than the primary slot
  • Limited to only four fan headers, which may require splitters for cases with multiple fans
  • Reports of intermittent boot issues (EZ Debug LEDs) or RAM stability problems with certain configurations
  • Subtle RGB lighting that some users find underwhelming or poorly executed
  • The Micro-ATX form factor can look disproportionate in larger full-tower ATX cases

Video reviews

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