The overclocker's B850
MAG B850 Tomahawk Max WiFi II
The third-generation B850 Tomahawk: OC Engine BCLK chip, 64MB BIOS, four M.2 (two Gen5) and 14x 80A stages at $259.99.
Our verdict
The Max WiFi II is the enthusiast's version of the family formula: MSI added an external clock generator for BCLK overclocking, a 64MB BIOS, and a fourth M.2 - a throwback to affordable overclocking boards. Every reviewer liked it; every reviewer also said the same thing: at $50 over the discounted Max I, you are paying specifically for those features. Use them or buy the Max.
Best for: AM5 tinkerers who will actually use BCLK overclocking and want maximum Tomahawk.
Skip it if: You just want the value - the cheaper Tomahawk Max is the family's smart buy.
Chipset
B850
Socket
AM5
Form factor
ATX
RAM
4x DDR5 to 192GB
Full specifications
| CPU Support | AMD Ryzen 9000 / 8000 / 7000 Series (native 9850X3D support) |
|---|---|
| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 |
| Chipset | AMD B850 |
| Power / VRM | 17 phases: 14x 80A SPS for Vcore (14+2+1), dual 8-pin CPU power |
| Memory | 4x DDR5 DIMM, up to 256GB; DDR5-8200+ MT/s (OC) |
| PCIe Slots | 1x PCIe 5.0 x16 (EZ Release + supplemental power header), 1x PCIe 4.0 x4, 1x PCIe 3.0 x1 |
| M.2 | 4 slots: 2x Gen5 x4, 1x Gen4 x4, 1x Gen4 x2; tool-less Shield Frozr II |
| SATA | 4x SATA 6Gbps |
| Rear USB | 10 ports: 3x USB-C 10Gbps, 2x USB-A 10Gbps, 1x 5Gbps, 4x USB 2.0 (20Gbps Type-C via front header) |
| Networking | Realtek RTL8126 5G LAN; Wi-Fi 7 (320MHz, up to 5.8Gbps); Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Audio | 7.1-channel HD audio, Realtek ALC4080 with Audio Boost 5 |
| BIOS / OC | 64MB BIOS ROM; OC Engine external clock generator for BCLK overclocking |
| Form Factor | ATX |
Transcribed from the manufacturer's official spec sheet - always confirm details there before buying.
Why buy it
- OC Engine BCLK overclocking chip - rare at this price
- Four M.2 including two Gen5, with tool-less heatsinks
- 14x 80A power stages and a 64MB BIOS with headroom for years
Think twice if
- $50 over the Max I for features many builders never touch
- No USB4 - still absent from the whole B850 Tomahawk line
- Fourth M.2 is only Gen4 x2, and the primary M.2 heatsink is weak
What reviewers say
Tom's Hardware
4/5 stars'The B850 Tomahawk Max Wifi II gets a minor facelift, additional M.2 storage, the OC Engine chip, and a 64MB BIOS. The price is more than the others, but if you use the features, it's worth it over the Max or original B850 Tomahawk.' Criticized the lack of USB4, one M.2 socket being only Gen4 x2, and the price bump.
Full review ↗TweakTown
86%'An overclocking-friendly and feature-rich option, but it needs a price drop if it's to supplant the Max I.' Called it the best of the three B850 Tomahawks and a notable throwback to affordable overclocking boards, but withheld an award because discounted Max I boards undercut it.
Full review ↗The FPS Review
8/10'A well built motherboard, stable in benchmarking but with minimal change from the one year ago release' - a very full-featured entry-level gaming board, but the only obvious upgrades are the 64MB BIOS chip and OC Engine, and performance was identical to other B850 boards tested.
Full review ↗Build around it
A full build starting from this board - picks computed from our live catalog, matched to the board's budget class.
CPU
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
The strongest gaming CPU we track for AM5 - score 99/100 at ~$450.
GPU
NVIDIA RTX 5060 Ti
The best score-per-dollar in our GPU data - matches the value play this board is. Score 72/100 at ~$370.
RAM
Crucial Pro DDR5-6000 CL36 32GB (2x16GB)
DDR5-6000 CL36, 2x16GB - the cheapest kit on the B850 sweet spot at ~$395. Faster kits are mostly wasted money here.
Case
Phanteks XT PRO
Takes ATX with 435mm of GPU clearance - an airflow pick at ~$60.
Frequently Asked Questions
What CPUs does the MAG B850 Tomahawk Max WiFi II support?
It uses the AMD B850 chipset on the AM5 socket. That means AMD Ryzen 7000, 8000, and 9000 series desktop CPUs, including X3D gaming chips. Check any specific pairing with our free bottleneck checker before you buy.
What RAM should I put in the MAG B850 Tomahawk Max WiFi II?
It takes DDR5 in 4 slots (up to 192GB). The sweet spot on B850 is DDR5-6000 CL30 for the 1:1 Infinity Fabric ratio - faster kits cost more for little real-world gain. Our RAM advisor picks a kit for your exact use.
Will the MAG B850 Tomahawk Max WiFi II fit my case?
It is an ATX board. Our case finder filters cases by the form factors they actually take.
How much does the MAG B850 Tomahawk Max WiFi II cost?
As of our last price check it was $259.99. The price on the retailer page is the real one.
Prices are from our latest first-party retailer check and change constantly - always confirm on the product page. Reviewer citations are attributed and linked; we summarize, they tested. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.