Which mATX B450M board - Asrock or MSI?

[Gimpymoo]

https://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/B450M-HDV R4.0/

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/B450M-PRO-M2-MAX


Personally, I am leaning towards the Asrock as it features two system fan headers, one PWM, the other a 3 pin.

The MSI just has one PWM fan header. Yes, I could get a PWM splitter but why do that if the Asrock has 2 headers anyway, is going in a MATX case so PWM is not that important anyway as I expect the fan will always be on anyway.

Am I missing something which helps make one better than the other?

This is not for gaming, well, maybe some light gaming with emulation using the Vega iGPU on the 3200G.

Any thoughts please?

Thanks.

 

[Jamin280672]

https://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/B450M-HDV R4.0/

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/B450M-PRO-M2-MAX


Personally, I am leaning towards the Asrock as it features two system fan headers, one PWM, the other a 3 pin.

The MSI just has one PWM fan header. Yes, I could get a PWM splitter but why do that if the Asrock has 2 headers anyway, is going in a MATX case so PWM is not that important anyway as I expect the fan will always be on anyway.

Am I missing something which helps make one better than the other?

This is not for gaming, well, maybe some light gaming with emulation using the Vega iGPU on the 3200G.

Any thoughts please?

Thanks.

MSI all day long, they made the best 450 boards out of the lot, especially in the VRM department, the Motar is the same as the Tomahawk, just its little brother.

EDIT: sorry didnt read it properly, I thought you were comparing the Mortar, id still spend the extra and get the Mortar out of those 2.

 

[Gimpymoo]

MSI all day long, they made the best 450 boards out of the lot, especially in the VRM department, the Motar is the same as the Tomahawk, just its little brother.

EDIT: sorry didnt read it properly, I thought you were comparing the Mortar, id still spend the extra and get the Mortar out of those 2.

The "extra" is not worth it for the intended usage, hence the low spec. No dedicated GPU, no OC.

 

[orbitalwalsh]

Not sure when b550 Aorus elite gets in but £105.
Might also be worth waiting for Ryzen 4200G , sure that end of the month

 

[pc-guy]

https://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/B450M-HDV R4.0/

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/B450M-PRO-M2-MAX


Personally, I am leaning towards the Asrock as it features two system fan headers, one PWM, the other a 3 pin.

The MSI just has one PWM fan header. Yes, I could get a PWM splitter but why do that if the Asrock has 2 headers anyway, is going in a MATX case so PWM is not that important anyway as I expect the fan will always be on anyway.

Am I missing something which helps make one better than the other?

This is not for gaming, well, maybe some light gaming with emulation using the Vega iGPU on the 3200G.

Any thoughts please?

Thanks.

What’s the system for. Why do you even need B450 boards if it is pure lowest grade you are after.

You can get A320 board you know if you just want pure basics especially if no OC and using iGPU

 

[Gimpymoo]

What’s the system for. Why do you even need B450 boards if it is pure lowest grade you are after.

You can get A320 board you know if you just want pure basics especially if no OC and using iGPU

System is being used as a HTPC.

Do not need schmancy but do need practicality.

I uppped my budget to go for this:
https://www.asrock.com/MB/AMD/B450M Pro4/

First reason, it has more than ONE chassis fan header meaning no seperate fan controller or splitters. The fans I need to use will all be PWM controlled. Soo many of the budget mATX boards in the A320/B450 lineup have ONE chassis fan header which is rubbish to be honest. In smaller cases you need adequate cooling. Any cost saved on the board is nibbled into if you are then buying splitters and/or fan controllers. Also, it has 4 DIMM slots meaning future upgrade patch for later in life when I need to give it more "oomph".