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Benchmark Results
Our standard benchmarks and power tests are performed using the CPU’s stock frequencies (including any default boost/turbo) with all power-saving features enabled. We set optimized defaults in the BIOS and the memory by enabling the XMP profile. For this baseline testing, the Windows power scheme is set to Balanced (default) so the PC idles appropriately.
Synthetic Benchmarks
Synthetics offer a valuable method for evaluating a board's performance, as identical settings are expected to yield similar results. Turbo boost wattage and advanced memory timings are areas where motherboard manufacturers can still optimize for stability or performance, though, and these settings can impact specific testing scenarios.
The Tomahawk Max II performed well in our synthetic benchmarks, achieving average (or slightly above-average) results across the slew of motherboards we've tested. Nothing alarming so far.
Timed Applications
In our timed applications, in LAME and Corona, it was the slower of the two timed results. Handbrake, the x264 test, was slightly faster than average, and the longer-running x265 test was slightly slower than average—still nothing to worry about.
3D Games and 3DMark
Starting with the launch of Zen 5, we’ve updated our game tests. We’re keeping the F1 racing game but have upgraded to F1 24. We also dropped Far Cry 6 in favor of an even more popular game in Cyberpunk 2077. We run both games at 1920x1080 resolution using the Ultra preset (details listed above). Cyberpunk 2077 uses DLSS, while we left F1 24 to native resolution scaling.
The goal with these settings is to determine if there are differences in performance at the most commonly used (and CPU/system-bound) resolution with settings most people use or strive for (Ultra). We expect the difference between boards in these tests to be minor, with most falling within the margin of error. We’ve also added a minimum FPS setting, which can affect your gameplay and immersion.
In our 3DMark and game tests, the board did well. In 3DMark, it was above average in Speedway and Steel Nomad, but it was ever so slightly slower than the average in games (nothing you’d notice without a frame counter). Overall, again there's nothing to worry about. The Tomahawk Max Wifi II performs well across a wide variety of productivity and gaming.
Overclocking
Over the past few CPU generations, overclocking headroom has been shrinking on both sides of the fence, while the out-of-the-box potential has increased. For overclockers, this means there’s less fun to have. For the average consumer, you’re getting the most out of the processor without manual tweaking. Today’s motherboards are more robust than ever, and they easily support power-hungry flagship-class processors; We know the hardware can handle them. There are multiple ways to extract even more performance from these processors: enabling a canned PBO setting, manually tweaking the PBO settings, or just going for an all-core overclock. Results will vary and depend on the cooling as well. In other words, your mileage may vary. Considering all the above, we will not be overclocking the CPU. However, we will try out our different memory kits to ensure they meet the specifications.
For memory testing, we start with our fastest non-clock driver kit: Klevv 32GB (2x16) DDR5-8000. Per usual on this platform, it booted to Windows but wouldn’t pass a stress test with our 9900X. The Team Group DDR5-7200 kit worked without issue. Those speeds are well past the ‘sweet spot’ for the AMD platform, and with today’s RAM prices, we doubt many people are looking at these higher speeds in the first place.
Dropping in the Ryzen 5 8600G APU, we were able to run our Klevv DDR5-8000 kit without issue. We’ll continue to see this theme moving forward as the IMC on the APUs is generally better than the desktop processors we usually test with and most boards list support to that value or over. Again, AMD’s sweetspot is around 6000-6400 MT/s, and this board (really any board we’ve tested) can handle that, and then some.
Power Consumption / VRM Temperatures
We used AIDA64’s System Stability Test with Stress CPU, FPU, cache, and Memory enabled for power testing, using the processor's peak power consumption value. The wattage reading is obtained from the wall via a Kill-A-Watt meter, capturing the entire PC (excluding the monitor). The only variable that changes is the motherboard; all other parts remain the same. We've moved to using only the stock power use/VRM temperature charts, as this section aims to ensure the power delivery can handle flagship-class processors.
Stress testing the Dark Hero with our DDR5-7200 kit showed it to be slightly more power-hungry. At idle, it sat around 93W and peaked at 269W. This averages out to 181W, which is again slightly higher than the average X870E/X870-based boards, but expected due to all the onboard goodies.
VRM temperatures were also well within specification when stress testing with the DDR5-7200 kit. Temperatures peaked at just under 45 degrees Celsius on our sensors, and a few degrees higher on MSI’s internal sensor (just under 49 degrees). Although we’re only testing with a Ryzen 9 9900X, we’re certain the capable power delivery can handle any flagship-class processor and an overclock without getting in the way.
Bottom Line
MSI’s B850 Tomahawk Max Wifi II is a quality AM5 refresh board. As the story goes, there isn’t much difference among many refresh boards. The Tomahawk Max Wi-Fi II offers an improved aesthetic (albeit slight), losing most of the highlighter-yellow/green highlights, making it more black and, in this reviewer’s opinion, better-looking than previous iterations without those highlights. You also get the OC Engine chip to overclock BCLK independently, a 64MB BIOS to support additional BIOS features and maintain CPU support for all compatible processors, and all for $269.99 at Newegg (a $40 increase over Tomhawk Max Wifi).
Gigabyte and Asus have a couple of B850 options that compete with the Tomahawk Max Wifi II. Asus’ TUF Gaming B850-Pro Wifi7 W Neo ($269.99) is one which also offers an Asynchronous Clock generator for overclocking BCLK, three M.2 sockets, and enough USB ports on the rear IO - but lacks USB4 (40 Gbps) ports. Gigabyte’s B850 Aorus Stealth (X870 Stealth review coming soon) is a rear-connect motherboard in the same price bracket ($264.99). It offers similar specifications (three M.2 sockets, 1x PCIe 5.0), but also lacks USB4 ports. Its wow factor is the back-connect feature, though note that you’ll need a compatible case to take advantage of it (or any rear-connect board). ASRock doesn’t really have anything in the B850 space that competes, but the formidable X870E Taichi Lite is down to $299.99 and offers a lot more (USB4, flagship-class audio, four M.2 sockets, more robust power delivery, and loads of USB ports on the rear IO) if you want to spend an extra $30.
In the end, the MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk Max Wifi II is a worthwhile refresh over the Max Wifi (sans “II”), especially if you’re into overclocking. The now-included OC Engine, 64MB BIOS, and the improved appearance are worth the price of admission, especially if you plan to use the independent overclocking it provides. If not, the ‘base’ Max Wifi is also solid and priced $60 lower at $209.99. It just has more of the bright accents and doesn’t come with a 64MB BIOS or as many M.2 slots. If you want a solid budget motherboard with all the latest features, the MSI B850 Tomahawk Max Wifi II should be on your short list, even if it fell short of making our best motherboard list. Just know you may have to wait a bit before you can buy one. It's expected to be in stock at U.S. Retailers in April.
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