OVERALL
ALTERNATIVES
SPECS
VS AVERAGE
REVIEWS
Scored using Motherboards Methodology v3.0
Motherboards Methodology v3.0
Mathematical & Unbiased Scoring
Products in this category are scored under Frontum Motherboards Methodology v3.0: the technical score from the specifications is the base, and independent expert and video reviews (up to ±0.5 points), owner opinions (up to ±0.3) and best-of lists (up to +0.3) move it up or down.
Explore Motherboards Methodology v3.0

MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk review: 109 specs compared

Avg. price:~£900CPU socket:AM4Chipset:AMD B550Form factor:ATX

MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk Review: Compare 109 technical specifications, 21 expert and video reviews and 5 best-of lists to see how this product ranks in the Motherboards category and whether it is worth buying.

MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk
8.0/10

Overall score

Score
8.0/ 10
✕
What it is
Our main score for this model, 1–10. It combines specs, expert reviews, best-of lists, owners and ratings from across the web.
How we count it
Parts: Technical score 40%, Reviews score 20%, List score 20%, Sentiment score 10%, User score 10%
Marks: Each part gets a mark out of 10. For reviews, lists and owners, a typical model in this category gets about 8 and the best one gets 10.
No data yet: A part with no data shows "?". It counts as the mark of a weaker model in this category (4 in 5 models with data score higher). This way, models with reviews, lists and owners usually come out ahead.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
▲ Better than 87% of models
Score components

40%

6.5

Technical score

20%

8.7

Reviews score

20%

9.1

List score

10%

8.4

Sentiment score

10%

9.4

User score

▲Better than 87% of motherboards
7.3

Value for money

Value for money
7.3/ 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
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
▼ Worse than 79% of models
Score components

70%

8.0

Overall score

30%

5.8

Price

▼Worse than 79%
6.5

Technical score

Technical score
6.5/ 10
✕
What it is
How good the specs are compared with the other models in this category, 1–10.
How we count it
Areas: We rate the specs in each area against the other models in this category.
Weighting: The areas that matter most to buyers count more. The shares are shown under Score components.
Share: The technical score is 40% of the overall score.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
▲ Better than 58% of models
Score components

19%

7.0

Memory

16%

8.4

Platform

16%

5.5

Storage

15%

7.4

Network

13%

3.4

Ports

8%

5.2

Expansion

8%

7.4

Power & Cooling

5%

8.5

Audio

▲Better than 58%
8.7

Reviews score

Reviews score
8.7/ 10
✕
What it is
Average grade from independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers, 1–10.
How we count it
Grades: Each review's own score is converted to 1–10; without one, we grade the review ourselves. Big test sites count more, short reviews half as much as full tests. A video review counts half.
Score: The average grade is 80% of the review mark; the number of reviews is the other 20% (1 review = 5, the typical number in this category = 8, the most-reviewed model = 10).
Enough data: With few reviews, the average grade is pulled toward the typical grade of this category. No reviews yet: 7.8 for now.
Share: Reviews count 20% of the overall score.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
▲ Better than 88% of models

80%

8.4

Average grade

20%

9.8

Popularity

Grades by review (21)
10 reviews: 5 with a printed score, 5 estimated from the review. 11 video reviews, each counting half as much as a written test. Reviews count 20% of the overall score.
Ratings from across the web count in the User score, not in this score.
▲Better than 88%
9.4

User score

User score
9.4/ 10
✕
What it is
How happy buyers are with this model, based on ratings from across the web.
How we count it
Enough data: A model needs at least 1 rating from across the web. Without one, it counts as 7.9, the mark of a weaker rated model in this category.
Share: User score counts 10% of the overall score.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
★ Better than 95% of models

70%

9.2

Rating

30%

10

Popularity

★Better than 95%
9.1

List score

List score
9.1/ 10
✕
What it is
How often independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers put this model in their best-of lists for this category.
How we count it
Points: The model in the most lists of this category gets 10; the others get 8 to 10 in proportion. In no list yet: 7.5. Lists count 20% of the overall score.
Enough data: Every list counts, even a single one. With fewer than 5 best-of lists in the category, this part is left out.
Lists with this model (5)
List score: in 5 of 64 lists (8%)
★Better than 99%
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Where to buy
*As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Best rankings
Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).All: ranking among all products in the database.

What reviewers say about the MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk

Based on 10 · 11

Reviewers praise the robust power delivery and good storage options, but find the ports and expansion slots lacking and value questionable.
Praised
Mixed views
Criticised
Pick a topic to see who said what

What owners say about the MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk

Based on 200 owners sharing their experience in online comments

46%positive4%mixed50%negative

Owners praise strong performance, cool VRMs, and value, but many report BIOS failures, boot trouble, and limited connectivity.

What owners dislike

  • Flashback often stops after seconds or leaves the flash LED solid red; several owners fixed it by reformatting the USB stick as FAT32 or MBR.34
  • Some Ryzen 5000 owners saw the CPU LED stay red and no display, and one Ryzen 2600 owner found the chip unsupported.18
  • Many owners report no monitor signal after building or updating, even with a 5600X; some found the HDMI port itself not working.15
  • Setting RAM to its rated speed, such as 3200 MHz, can leave the board stuck in memory training for 20 minutes or more.11
  • The second M.2 slot can go undetected, and using it can block PCIe slots; only the first M.2 slot supports SATA drives.11
  • Owners say the rear USB ports are too few, with no front USB 3.2 Gen 2 port, and some rear ports did not work.10
  • Some owners report boards dead on arrival or failing after weeks, and others got no response when pressing power with the LED lit.9
  • Some owners get stuck on the MSI logo during Windows install, or the PC reopens the BIOS every time they exit it.8
  • Some owners got black screens after a BIOS update through MSI Dragon Center, and a Windows restart during an MSI update bricked one board.7
  • Owners find the BIOS slow to start and hard to navigate, with mouse lag, complicated settings, and language sometimes switching to Chinese on its own.6

Points mentioned by at least 3 owners, most mentioned first.

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Technical Specifications of motherboard MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk

Technical score
Technical score
6.5/ 10
✕
What it is
How good the specs are compared with the other models in this category, 1–10.
How we count it
Areas: We rate the specs in each area against the other models in this category.
Weighting: The areas that matter most to buyers count more. The shares are shown under Score components.
Share: The technical score is 40% of the overall score.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
▲ Better than 58% of models
Score components:

19%

7.0

Memory

16%

8.4

Platform

16%

5.5

Storage

15%

7.4

Network

13%

3.4

Ports

8%

5.2

Expansion

8%

7.4

Power & Cooling

5%

8.5

Audio

6.5
Reviews score
8.7
User score
9.4
List score
9.1
Value for money
Value for money
7.3/ 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
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
▼ Worse than 79% of models
Score components:

70%

8.0

Overall score

30%

5.8

Price

7.3
CPU socket
AM4
This motherboard uses AM4, which is more up-to-date than 38.2% of Motherboards and the same as 13.3% of Motherboards.
CPU platform
AMD
Chipset
AMD B550
This motherboard uses AMD B550, which is more capable than 49.9% of Motherboards and as capable as 4.8% of Motherboards.
Form factor
ATX
Integrated graphics support
yes
This motherboard supports integrated graphics. 10.2% of motherboards support this feature.
Show more
What reviewers say
DDR memory version
DDR4
This motherboard uses DDR4, which is more modern than 13.4% of Motherboards and the same as 50.4% of Motherboards.
Memory slots
4
Market range: <2 – >4
This motherboard has 4 Memory slots, which is more than 21.9% of motherboards and equal to 72% of motherboards.
Maximum memory capacity
128 GB
Market range: <32 GB – >256 GB
This motherboard supports up to 128 GB of memory, which is more than 40.1% of motherboards and equal to 31.9% of motherboards.
Memory channels
2
Maximum RAM speed
5,100 MT/s
Market range: <2.1k MT/s – >8k MT/s
This motherboard supports memory speeds up to 5,100 MT/s, which is higher than that of 59.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 1% of motherboards.
top speed with 1DPC 1R memory
Show more
N. of M.2 sockets
2
Market range: <0 – >4
This motherboard has 2 M.2 sockets, which is more than 30.5% of motherboards and equal to 34.5% of motherboards.
M.2 slot interface per slot
1x PCIe 4.0 x4/SATA, 1x PCIe 3.0 x4
This motherboard offers M.2 slots: 1x PCIe 4.0x4/SATA, 1x PCIe 3.0x4, which is slower than 50.2% of Motherboards and the same as 0.8% of Motherboards.
N. of SATA 3 connectors
6
Market range: <4 – >8
This motherboard has 6 SATA 3 connectors, which is more than 53.5% of motherboards and equal to 31.2% of motherboards.
Supported RAID levels
0/1/10
This motherboard RAID support: 0/1/10, which is less flexible than 67.6% of Motherboards and the same as 23.6% of Motherboards.
NVMe RAID support
yes
This motherboard supports NVMe RAID. 40.2% of motherboards support this feature.
Show more
What reviewers say
N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots
0
Market range: <0 – >1
This motherboard has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slots, which is fewer than 31.6% of motherboards and equal to 68.4% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 4.0 x16 slots
1
Market range: <0 – >1
This motherboard has 1 PCIe 4.0x16 slots, which is more than 55.2% of motherboards and equal to 35.7% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 3.0 x16 slots
2
Market range: <0 – >3
This motherboard has 2 PCIe 3.0x16 slots, which is more than 67.3% of motherboards and equal to 15.4% of motherboards.
PCIe slot electrical configuration
x16
This motherboard splits its PCIe lanes as x16, which is less generous than 81% of Motherboards and the same as 16.1% of Motherboards.
PCIe bifurcation support
yes
This motherboard supports PCIe bifurcation. 40.3% of motherboards support this feature.
Show more
What reviewers say
Total USB ports (rear I/O)
6
Market range: <6 – >10
This motherboard has 6 USB ports (rear I/O), which is fewer than 63.8% of motherboards and equal to 32.8% of motherboards.
Total USB ports (including headers)
13
Market range: <11 – >19
This motherboard has 13 USB ports (including headers), which is fewer than 64.8% of motherboards and equal to 7.6% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (rear I/O)
1
Market range: <0 – >2
This motherboard has 1 USB-C ports (rear I/O), which is more than 35.8% of motherboards and equal to 48.3% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (including headers)
2
Market range: <0 – >3
This motherboard has 2 USB-C ports (including headers), which is more than 51.7% of motherboards and equal to 33% of motherboards.
includes internal USB-C header.
N. of USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C)
0
Market range: <0 – >1
This motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C), which is fewer than 18% of motherboards and equal to 82% of motherboards.
Show more
What reviewers say
LAN speed
2.5 Gbps
Market range: <1 Gbps – >2.5 Gbps
This motherboard supports LAN speeds up to 2.5 Gbps, which is higher than that of 49% of motherboards and equal to that of 41.4% of motherboards.
also includes 1GbE secondary port
LAN controller
Realtek RTL8125B + Realtek RTL8111H
This motherboard has a Realtek RTL8125B + Realtek RTL8111H LAN controller, which is faster than 85.3% of Motherboards and equal to 0.1% of Motherboards.
N. of RJ45 ports
2
Market range: <1 – >2
This motherboard has 2 RJ45 ports, which is more than 85.6% of motherboards and equal to 13.3% of motherboards.
Wi-Fi connectivity
no
This motherboard does not support Wi-Fi connectivity. 50.1% of motherboards support this feature.
Wi-Fi version
N/A
Show more
What reviewers say
Audio codec
Realtek ALC1200
This motherboard uses Realtek ALC1200, which is higher-end than 63.1% of Motherboards and the same as 2.4% of Motherboards.
Audio channels
7.1
This motherboard offers 7.1 audio channels, which is more than 4.7% of motherboards and equal to 95.3% of motherboards.
Audio SNR
110 dB
Market range: <95 dB – >120 dB
This motherboard has an audio SNR of 110 dB, which is lower than that of 54.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 5.4% of motherboards.
Headphone amp support
yes
This motherboard supports a headphone amp. 41.2% of motherboards support this feature.
supports up to 600Ω.
N. of 3.5mm audio jacks
5
Market range: <2 – >6
This motherboard has 5 3.5mm audio jacks, which is more than 50.6% of motherboards and equal to 36.3% of motherboards.
Show more
VRM phases
10+2+1
This motherboard has 10+2+1 VRM phases, which is more than 60.1% of motherboards and equal to 0.8% of motherboards.
N. of CPU power connectors
1
Market range: <1 – >2
This motherboard has 1 CPU power connectors, which is fewer than 45.2% of motherboards and equal to 54.9% of motherboards.
N. of fan headers
8
Market range: <3 – >8
This motherboard has 8 fan headers, which is more than 82.2% of motherboards and equal to 15% of motherboards.
Pump header
yes
This motherboard has a pump header. 22.1% of motherboards include this feature.
Pump header max current
2 A
Market range: <0 A – >3 A
This motherboard supports up to 2 A on the pump header, which is higher than that of 45.1% of motherboards and equal to that of 32.6% of motherboards.
Show more
What reviewers say

MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk vs the average motherboard

246810TotalPlatformMemoryStorageExpansionPortsNetworkAudioPower & Cooling
  • 1 more RJ45 ports
    This motherboard has more RJ45 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RJ45 port/s.
    2 vs 1
  • More capable LAN controller
    This motherboard has a faster LAN controller than the average motherboard (Realtek RTL8125B + Realtek RTL8111H vs Killer + Intel + Realtek).
    Realtek RTL8125B + Realtek RTL8111H vs Killer + Intel + Realtek
  • Integrated I/O shield
    This motherboard has an integrated I/O shield, while the average motherboard does not. 46.6% of motherboards include an integrated I/O shield.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C ports
    This motherboard 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 4.0x16 slots
    This motherboard has more PCIe 4.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 4.0x16 slot/s.
    1 vs 0
  • 1 more PCIe x4 slots
    This motherboard has more PCIe x4 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe x4 slot/s.
    1 vs 0
  • 2.5 more fan headers
    This motherboard has more fan headers than the average motherboard (8 vs 5.5). The average motherboard has 5.5 fan header/s.
    8 vs 5.5
  • More capable onboard audio
    This motherboard has a higher-end audio codec than the average motherboard (Realtek ALC1200 vs Realtek ALC897).
    Realtek ALC1200 vs Realtek ALC897
  • 19.2% higher review score
    Reviews score
    8.7/ 10
    ✕
    What it is
    Average grade from independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers, 1–10.
    How we count it
    Grades: Each review's own score is converted to 1–10; without one, we grade the review ourselves. Big test sites count more, short reviews half as much as full tests. A video review counts half.
    Score: The average grade is 80% of the review mark; the number of reviews is the other 20% (1 review = 5, the typical number in this category = 8, the most-reviewed model = 10).
    Enough data: With few reviews, the average grade is pulled toward the typical grade of this category. No reviews yet: 7.8 for now.
    Share: Reviews count 20% of the overall score.
    Score distribution
    ▼
    <55-66-77-88-99-10
    ▲ Better than 88% of models

    80%

    8.4

    Average grade

    20%

    9.8

    Popularity

    Grades by review (21)
    10 reviews: 5 with a printed score, 5 estimated from the review. 11 video reviews, each counting half as much as a written test. Reviews count 20% of the overall score.
    Ratings from across the web count in the User score, not in this score.
    8.7 vs 7.3
  • 16.7% higher list score
    List score
    9.1/ 10
    ✕
    What it is
    How often independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers put this model in their best-of lists for this category.
    How we count it
    Points: The model in the most lists of this category gets 10; the others get 8 to 10 in proportion. In no list yet: 7.5. Lists count 20% of the overall score.
    Enough data: Every list counts, even a single one. With fewer than 5 best-of lists in the category, this part is left out.
    Lists with this model (5)
    List score: in 5 of 64 lists (8%)
    9.1 vs 7.8
  • 27.0% higher user score
    User score
    9.4/ 10
    ✕
    What it is
    How happy buyers are with this model, based on ratings from across the web.
    How we count it
    Enough data: A model needs at least 1 rating from across the web. Without one, it counts as 7.9, the mark of a weaker rated model in this category.
    Share: User score counts 10% of the overall score.
    Score distribution
    ▼
    <55-66-77-88-99-10
    ★ Better than 95% of models

    70%

    9.2

    Rating

    30%

    10

    Popularity

    9.4 vs 7.4
  • Integrated I/O shield
    This motherboard has an integrated I/O shield, while the average motherboard does not. 46.6% of motherboards include an integrated I/O shield.
  • More up-to-date socket
    This motherboard uses a more up-to-date socket than the average motherboard (AM4 vs LGA 1151).
    AM4 vs LGA 1,151
  • 2 more SATA 3 connectors
    This motherboard has more SATA 3 connectors than the average motherboard (6 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 SATA 3 connectors.
    6 vs 4
  • 1 more PCIe 4.0x16 slots
    This motherboard has more PCIe 4.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 4.0x16 slot/s.
    1 vs 0
  • 1 more PCIe x4 slots
    This motherboard has more PCIe x4 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe x4 slot/s.
    1 vs 0
  • 1 more PCIe x1 slots
    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 Gen2 USB-C ports
    This motherboard 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 total USB-C connections
    This motherboard has more total USB-C connections than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 total USB-C connections.
    includes internal USB-C header.
    2 vs 1
  • 1 more RJ45 ports
    This motherboard has more RJ45 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RJ45 port/s.
    2 vs 1
  • More capable LAN controller
    This motherboard has a faster LAN controller than the average motherboard (Realtek RTL8125B + Realtek RTL8111H vs Killer + Intel + Realtek).
    Realtek RTL8125B + Realtek RTL8111H vs Killer + Intel + Realtek
  • More capable onboard audio
    This motherboard has a higher-end audio codec than the average motherboard (Realtek ALC1200 vs Realtek ALC897).
    Realtek ALC1200 vs Realtek ALC897
  • 2 more 3.5mm audio jacks
    This motherboard has more 3.5mm audio jacks than the average motherboard (5 vs 3). The average motherboard has 3 3.5mm audio jacks.
    5 vs 3
  • 2.5 more fan headers
    This motherboard has more fan headers than the average motherboard (8 vs 5.5). The average motherboard has 5.5 fan header/s.
    8 vs 5.5
  • 1 more RGB headers
    This motherboard has more RGB headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RGB header/s.
    2 vs 1
  • More VRM phases
    This motherboard has more VRM phases than the average motherboard (10+2+1 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
    10+2+1 vs 10
  • Includes onboard RGB lighting
    This motherboard has onboard RGB lighting, while the average motherboard does not. 50% of motherboards include onboard RGB lighting.
    lighting on the chipset heatsink
  • More basic chipset
    This motherboard uses a more basic chipset than the average motherboard (AMD B550 vs Intel B860).
    AMD B550 vs Intel B860
  • 2 fewer rear USB ports
    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
  • Slower NVMe storage slots
    This motherboard has slower M.2 slots than the average motherboard (1x PCIe 4x4/SATA, 1x PCIe 3x4 vs 1x PCIe 5x4, 2x PCIe 4x4).
    1x PCIe 4.0x4/SATA, 1x PCIe 3.0x4 vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4
  • No Wi-Fi connectivity
    This motherboard does not support Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does. 50.1% of motherboards support Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • Less generous lane split
    This motherboard splits its PCIe lanes less generously than the average motherboard (x16 vs x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4).
    x16 vs x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4
  • No Wi-Fi antenna included
    This motherboard does not include a Wi-Fi antenna, while the average motherboard does. 51.1% of motherboards include a Wi-Fi antenna.
  • Fewer RAID options
    This motherboard offers fewer RAID levels than the average motherboard (0/1/10 vs 0/1/5/10).
    0/1/10 vs 0/1/5/10
  • 2 fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports
    This motherboard has fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 port/s.
    2 vs 4
  • 6x more expensive
    MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk is more expensive than the average motherboard (£900 vs £150).
    £900 vs £150
  • 5.4% worse value for money
    MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk has worse value for money than the average motherboard (7.3 vs 7.7).
    7.3 vs 7.7
  • More basic chipset
    This motherboard uses a more basic chipset than the average motherboard (AMD B550 vs Intel B860).
    AMD B550 vs Intel B860
  • Slower NVMe storage slots
    This motherboard has slower M.2 slots than the average motherboard (1x PCIe 4x4/SATA, 1x PCIe 3x4 vs 1x PCIe 5x4, 2x PCIe 4x4).
    1x PCIe 4.0x4/SATA, 1x PCIe 3.0x4 vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4
  • Fewer RAID options
    This motherboard offers fewer RAID levels than the average motherboard (0/1/10 vs 0/1/5/10).
    0/1/10 vs 0/1/5/10
  • Less generous lane split
    This motherboard splits its PCIe lanes less generously than the average motherboard (x16 vs x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4).
    x16 vs x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4
  • 2 fewer rear USB ports
    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
  • 2 fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports
    This motherboard has fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 port/s.
    2 vs 4
  • 2 fewer total USB connections
    This motherboard has fewer total USB connections than the average motherboard (13 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
    13 vs 15
  • No Wi-Fi connectivity
    This motherboard does not support Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does. 50.1% of motherboards support Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • No Wi-Fi antenna included
    This motherboard does not include a Wi-Fi antenna, while the average motherboard does. 51.1% of motherboards include a Wi-Fi antenna.
  • Less recent Bluetooth version
    This motherboard has a less recent Bluetooth version than the average motherboard (5.2 vs 5.4).
    5.2 vs 5.4
  • 5 dB lower audio SNR
    This motherboard has a lower audio SNR than the average motherboard (110 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.
    110 dB vs 115 dB

Video reviews

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

9.0
Son of a Tech
≈ estimated
30/07/2020
Hands-on review · features and first use
Verdict
MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk gives no reason to avoid it if you can find one at near-retail price.
9.0
Laurent's Choice
≈ estimated
26/07/2020
Hands-on review · performance, VRM and back panel
Verdict
MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk has a messy rear panel, but it is a top performer in its price class for gamers.
8.0
KitGuruTech
≈ estimated
26/06/2020
Hands-on review · benchmarks, overclocking and temperature tests
Verdict
MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk is a good all-round board for the price, though HDMI 4K limits and M.2/PCIe bandwidth choices hold it back.
9.0
Lazy Uploader
≈ estimated
10/01/2023
First look · unboxing and feature walkthrough
Verdict
The MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk is a very good entry-level pick with PCIe Gen 4 support, though it is pricier than the previous generation.
9.0
goldfries
≈ estimated
01/10/2021
Short review · cooling and feature test
Verdict
MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk is worth buying for its cooling, M.2 heatsinks and fan headers, despite a few minor drawbacks.
8.0
PLQ Tech, Brewing, and Photography
≈ estimated
22/05/2021
Hands-on review · NVMe slot sharing and bandwidth test
Verdict
The MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk is pretty good overall, but one PCIe slot is disabled when using two NVMe drives.
Not graded
Not graded
Hands-on video, no verdict
Not graded
Not graded

Expert reviews

In-depth analysis and verdict from leading tech publications

8.0
pcmag.com
✓ explicit
01/12/2020
Expert review · Midrange AM4 board
Verdict
The MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk is a mid-range full-size Ryzen board with 2.5Gbps LAN and two 10Gbps USB ports, but it has no Wi-Fi.
9.0
overclock3d.net
≈ estimated
16/06/2020
Lab test · Ryzen overclocking
Verdict
The MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk is a plain-looking board that overclocks a Ryzen 9 3900X to 4.4GHz on all 12 cores while keeping its power stages cool.
8.4
laurentschoice.com
✓ explicit
15/12/2020
Hands-on test · Gaming B550 board
Verdict
The MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk is a gaming-focused board with cool, strong VRMs and seven fan headers, though its second x16 slot has only four lanes.
9.0
kitguru.net
≈ estimated
26/06/2020
Feature review · Budget AM4 board
Verdict
The MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk is a no-nonsense board that favors solid power circuits over flashy lights, with 2.5 Gigabit networking.
7.0
tomshardware.com
✓ explicit
29/06/2020
Full review · Performance and features
Verdict
The MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk performs up there with pricier boards and handles overclocking well, but its six rear USB ports and lack of Wi-Fi hold it back.
8.0
igorslab.de
≈ estimated
09/08/2020
Teardown review · Power and audio
Verdict
The MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk is a strong, stable choice for Ryzen 3000 CPUs, with capable power circuits but few rear USB ports and one 8-pin CPU power connector.
8.0
overclocking.com
≈ estimated
18/06/2020
Overclocking test · B550 board
Verdict
The MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk is a solid mid-range AM4 board with PCIe 4.0 and USB-key BIOS flashing, but it has no Wi-Fi and only one 8-pin CPU power plug.
8.4
profesionalreview.com
✓ explicit
16/06/2020
Full review · Feature tour
Verdict
The MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk is a striking board with strong power circuits for Ryzen 3000 and 4000 CPUs, but it lacks debug LEDs and on-board buttons.
8.0
tomshw.it
✓ explicit
16/06/2020
Lab test · AM4 gaming board
Verdict
The MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk is a no-frills gaming board with solid performance and two LAN ports, but only one M.2 slot gets PCIe 4.0.
9.0
hwready.it
≈ estimated
20/07/2020
Hands-on review · Ryzen midrange board
Verdict
The MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk offers excellent price-to-performance for Ryzen builds and handles an overclocked 3950X, though its HDMI port cannot do 4K at 60Hz.

Third-party reviews

What customers like about MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk

  • Solid VRM performance suitable for overclocking high-end CPUs
  • Dual LAN support including a high-speed 2.5Gbps port
  • Excellent thermal management with large VRM heatsinks and dual M.2 shields
  • Easy building experience with integrated I/O shield and clear board inscriptions
  • User-friendly BIOS with comprehensive customization and overclocking tools
  • Premium build quality with a thick, 6-layer copper PCB
  • Abundant fan headers for cooling-intensive builds
  • Reasonable pricing for a mid-range feature set

What customers don't like about MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk

  • Lacks integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity
  • Limited rear connectivity with only 6 USB ports
  • Average audio codec compared to higher-tier competitors
  • No PCIe 4.0 support for the second M.2 slot (limited to 3.0)
  • SATA ports can be partially obstructed by larger graphics cards
  • Potential RAM compatibility issues with some high-speed DDR4 kits
  • Does not support older 1st or 2nd generation Ryzen processors

Verdict

The MSI MAG B550 TOMAHAWK is a robust ATX motherboard designed for the AMD AM4 socket, supporting Ryzen 3000 and 5000 series processors. It features a high-performance 10+2+1 Duet Rail Power System and 2oz thickened copper PCB for stable overclocking, complemented by an extended PWM heatsink and dual M.2 Shield Frozr for thermal management. Key specifications include PCIe 4.0 support for graphics and primary storage, four DDR4 DIMM slots supporting up to 128GB at 5100MHz (OC), and a unique dual networking setup with 2.5G and 1G LAN ports. Main pros include its exceptional VRM cooling, integrated I/O shield, and premium 7.1-channel Audio Boost with the Realtek ALC1200 codec. However, it lacks built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and the rear I/O offers a relatively limited selection of six USB ports compared to some competitors.

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