Analyzing B450 for AMD Ryzen: A Quick Look at 25+ Motherboards
by Gavin Bonshor on July 31, 2018 8:00 AM ESTMSI B450M Pro-M2 and B450M Pro-VDH
Last up from MSI is a pair of microATX motherboards from the Pro series of motherboards, the B450M Pro-M2 and B450M Pro-VDH. Both models share the same black PCB with brownish traces and tracks, while the B450M Pro-VDH makes use of a heatsink on the CPU section of the power delivery, whereas the B450M Pro-M2 omits power delivery heatsinks completely. Both have a square black metallic chipset heatsink with a fin array.
MSI B450M Pro-VDH (left) and MSI B450M Pro-M2 (right)
Both models have a full-length PCIe 3.0 x16 slot with both featuring metal reinforcement; the B450M Pro-VDH having the most predominant looking of the two. Also included on both is a pair of PCIe 2.0 x1 slots for expansion cards. The Pro series microATX pairing have four RAM slots supporting up to DDR4-3466 memory and have the ability to support up to 64 GB. ECC and non-ECC modules are both supported, albeit with installed ECC memory operating in non-ECC mode.
Storage wise, both boards have a total of four SATA 6 Gbps ports with the ports on the B450M Pro-M2 all featuring straight angled connectors, and the B450M Pro-VDH having two right-angled and two straight angled connectors. Both models have a single M.2 slot capable of supporting both PCIe 3.0 x4 and SATA M.2 2280 (22 x 80 mm) SSDs.
While both virtually identical in terms of overall specifications, the main difference comes on the rear panel. Both feature four USB 3.1 5 Gbps Type-A ports and two USB 2.0 ports; the B450M Pro-VDH has an additional two USB 2.0 ports giving it a total of four. Both boards have DVI-D and HDMI 1.4 video outputs, as well as a PS/2 keyboard and mouse combo port. The three 3.5 mm audio jacks on the B450M Pro-M2 is provided thanks to a Realtek ALC887 audio codec, whereas the B450M Pro-VDH utilizes a slightly more premium Realtek ALC892 codec. The LAN ports on both models are controlled by a Realtek 8111H Gigabit LAN controller.
Users looking to make the most of their new Ryzen 1st or 2nd generation processors, or even one of the Ryzen APUs with integrated Vega graphics cores without all the gaming-themed stylings and RGB could potentially save a bit of budget by opting for a Pro series board. While pricing hasn’t been unveiled as of yet, the B450M Pro-VDH is likely to cost a little bit more than the B450M Pro-M2 which is set to retail for $69.99 due to a slightly higher-grade audio codec and the M2 having no power delivery heatsinks supplied.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
62 Comments
View All Comments
bi0logic - Tuesday, July 31, 2018 - link
It looks like the price link to the "TUF B450-Plus Gaming" is going to an amazon search for "ASRock B450M Pro4"eastcoast_pete - Tuesday, July 31, 2018 - link
Thanks Gavin, I know this is a lot of information to go through and present. I would love to see a follow-up on these questions:1. Especially for these compact boards, any problems with stock processor heat sinks blocking DIMM slots, i.e. do DIMMs with heat spreaders still fit with a Wraith or Spire cooler, respectively?
2. I have my eye on the Aorus Pro WiFi or something similar, but am wary of the placement of the WiFi antenna connectors right next to two of the USB 3 connectors. I frequently use 3-4 USB 3 devices at the same time frequently, and am wary of the USB 3 - WiFi interference with that placement. Any chance Gigabyte could state if/that they got that taken care of?
Thanks!
Also, still looking forward to your Ryzen 2200/2400 GPU overclock chapter on that duo. Any chance we'll see it soon?
sonofgodfrey - Tuesday, July 31, 2018 - link
Second to last table is labeled X470 Motherboards.PingSpike - Tuesday, July 31, 2018 - link
It looks like the ASUS ROG STRIX B450-F GAMING inherits some of the layout features of the (much more expensive) x470 Crosshair 7 in that it steals some of the CPU lanes to get a second full PCI-e 3.0 M.2 slot. Then 8x goes to PCI-e 16 1, the remaining 4x to PCI-e 16 2 and finally a chipset PCI-e 2.0On the surface, this seems like it has totally ignored the bifrucation limitations that supposedly are inherent to the B450 chipset.
In other words, I thought you couldn't get that on this chipset.
Dragonstongue - Tuesday, July 31, 2018 - link
well at least the pricing is "more inline" with the pricing they should be, newer boards, better componentes that actually save the maker a bit of coin per board made, so they keep the same "launch price" is acceptable in my books coming from gen 1 (I so hate the naming AMD used for Ryzen 1xxx and 2xxx needless confusion for nothing)x3xx to x4xx same concept, reduced price to produce so they save some money, but the vast majority of vendors used these "savings" to cram more disco light show RGB on the boards to jack the price up some instead.
seems at least with the B4xx boards the vendors took a "better" approach beyond a few more "premium" boards which rightfully have an increased price (justifiable, maybe, but I myself have zero need of RGB and would only buy a more expensive board that offered them at the increased price if they were WORTH it as far as just overall better then lower cost boards, sadly, there seems to be little difference in more "premium" beyond a butt load of extra RGB little better in VRM etc which are much more useful and required IMO)
they could almost have a market for the premium boards RGB free, so pay a bit less for people like me who do not want all the RGB crud but still get the increased premium sound/VRM/BIOS etc ^.^
WasHopingForAnHonestReview - Wednesday, August 1, 2018 - link
Nice review. Good work.Im amazed that almost every comment is a nitpick. Rough life, Ian.
Flappergast - Wednesday, August 1, 2018 - link
Nice overview on the last page. I’m looking for mITX WiFi - nice to see some good boardsSakkura - Wednesday, August 1, 2018 - link
As documented by Buildzoid, the Asrock B450 Pro4 does not have the claimed 6+3-phase VRM. It is a pure 3+3-phase. Same probably applies for the B450M Pro4.https://youtu.be/yWAwOH-egFs?t=2104
JohanPirlouit - Wednesday, August 1, 2018 - link
Hi everyone,Am I the only one to see that on the AMD picture:
- CPU: 2x SATA 3Gbps
- Chipset: 6x SATA 3Gbps
What do AMD talks about: SATA "3" (known as "6Gbps") or SATA 3Gbps (aka SATA II)?
Sakkura - Wednesday, August 1, 2018 - link
They mean SATA3 = SATA 6Gbps. Annoying that we keep running into these easily confused naming schemes (see also: USB 3.1 Gen1 and Gen2). At least SATA is getting old enough that we should soon be able to just drop the version number (unlike USB 2.0 there's really no reason to make modern hardware with SATA2).