Best B850 Motherboards to Buy in 2025

1. Gigabyte B850 EAGLE WiFi6E

The Gigabyte B850 EAGLE WiFi6E is a brilliant budget option for a gaming PC; in fact, Gigabyte even labels it “built for gaming” right on the box. This motherboard is ideal for gamers who wish to dip their toes into DDR5 RAM and PCIe 5.0 for next-generation GPUs without breaking their bank. It’s the most affordable board in our line-up of recommendations, offering all the essentials to get you gaming out of the box. While it skips some high-end features, such as multiple Gen5-capable M.2 lanes, Thunderbolt, and premium audio, it’s ideally suited for mid-range to slightly high-end builds. For these reasons, we wouldn’t recommend this motherboard for creative content-oriented workloads; they require more oomph these days.

It supports up to 256GB of DDR5 memory, with overclocking potential up to 8200MT/s and features a robust 12+1+2+1 VRM layout for stable performance across Ryzen 7000/8000/9000 series CPUs. However, CPU overclocking is not supported due to limitations of the B850 chipset. For creative workloads that demand high-speed IO and advanced storage, we’d recommend considering one of our other B850 recommendations or even an X-series motherboard.

The front IO includes a USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C port, while the rear IO offers a mix of USB 2.0, Gen1, and Gen2, including a Type-C Gen1. Networking is handled by 2.5G LAN and WiFi 6E, and audio is delivered via three standard rear IO audio jacks. When it comes to audio quality, the motherboard features high-end audio capacitors to produce high-resolution, high-fidelity audio, providing realistic sound effects and experiences.

When it comes to physical design, the board keeps things on the down low. It features a matte-black PCB with subtle grey accents, offering a clean, simple aesthetic that blends easily into most builds. The motherboard should be relatively easy to install components in, as it utilises EZ-Latch technology, making the build process finger-friendly and new-builder-friendly. You can expect to receive a WIFI EZ-PLUG with your purchase, as this motherboard supports wireless internet connectivity. A WIFI EZ-PLUG integrates a WiFi antenna plug into one adapter, making it easier to install.

2. Gigabyte B850 AORUS Elite WiFi 7 ICE

This motherboard has an aesthetic edge over the other two in this buyer’s guide, offering two visually striking colourways, both with identical performance and specs! Curiously, the white variant is more affordable than the black, which is an unusual pricing twist. For this motherboard, Gigabyte has put cooling at the forefront of its design and engineering, with multiple large heatsinks spanning the rear IO and M.2 slots, and even VRM heatsinks for exceptional heat dissipation. When it comes to assembly, you’ll find that this motherboard is just as conventional as the EAGLE.

The Gigabyte B850 AORUS Elite WiFi 7 is a visually impressive board that also delivers more features than the Gigabyte B850 EAGLE WiFi6E. One standout upgrade is its WiFi 7 support, which significantly improves upon the EAGLE’s WiFi 6E. While WiFi 6E is fast, it struggles with wall penetration and can exhibit higher latency between upload and download speeds. WiFi 7 mitigates these issues with better throughput, lower latency, and enhanced multi-device performance, making your gaming experience smoother and steadier than the already strong WiFI 6E. Wired gaming and internet use are supported by 2.5G LAN as well.

The AORUS Elite also supports up to 256GB of DDR5 memory and has overclocking potential of up to 8200 MT/s, just like the EAGLE. The front IO includes a USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C port, while the rear IO offers a mix of USB 2.0, Gen1, and Gen2, including a Type-C Gen2 port, making the IO slightly more advanced.

3. MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WiFi

~ MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WiFi Review – Written by Jay Harris ~

The MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WiFi is a motherboard that we have reviewed in greater detail, and as this is just a Buyer’s Guide roundup of the best B850 motherboards, we’ll give a brief rundown of this board in this article; however, we have an in-depth review of this motherboard if it does tickle your fancy!

Suppose you’re considering spending a bit more than the cost of the Gigabyte B850 EAGLE WiFi6E, and your choice is between the MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WiFi and the Gigabyte B850 AORUS ELITE WiFi7. In that case, there are several key differences to weigh. First, suppose the white aesthetic of the AORUS ELITE ICE doesn’t win you over and you prefer a stealthy black finish. In that case, the TOMAHAWK MAX offers a compelling alternative – even compared to the black variant of the AORUS ELITE. MSI chose sharp, electric-yellow accents for this board, giving it a military-like appearance.

While the TOMAHAWK excels in bandwidth and connectivity, its USB layout is slightly less generous in quantity but offers higher-quality ports; the AORUS ELITE provides more total USB ports, but the TOMAHAWK counters with a stronger selection of USB Type-C ports. It also supports RAM speeds up to 8400 MT/s, giving it a modest 200 MT/s edge after overclocking.

Additionally, the TOMAHAWK includes an extra PCIe x4 lane with Gen5 support, ideal for future-proofing M.2 storage or expansion cards. Networking is another spotlight feature as the TOMAHAWK MAX features 5 Gigabit LAN, a clear upgrade over the 2.5 Gigabit LAN found on the AORUS ELITE and the EAGLE; however, the wireless functionality stays on par with it, utilising the latest and fastest WIFI 7 as well.

Our top pick would be the Gigabyte B850 AORUS Elite WiFi 7 ICE, a solid mid-range option with a striking white finish. However, it doesn’t offer a significant enough upgrade over the B850 EAGLE WiFi6E to warrant top billing. In contrast, the performance gap between the AORUS ELITE and the TOMAHAWK MAX is much more pronounced, making the latter a clear standout in this roundup.