MSI MPG B650 Carbon WiFi Review

Introduction

Whenever a new AMD CPU hits the market it is usually accompanied by two different chipsets. On the one hand you have the flagship X model which normally has most of the new features that come along with the new processor and has a suitable price tag. Then there is the B chipset, usually giving you all the important elements but at a price point that is easier to swallow.

Recently we’ve seen the two lines blur a little, as manufacturers have produced more affordable X chipset motherboards, or stuffed their B range with all the extras normally found on a high end option. In the middle, therefore, the price is a bit squidgier. Is it better to go for a low-end (relatively) X chipset motherboard, or go all in on a flagship B model? Like all things it depends largely upon your planned use, and the type of hardware you have to install. The specifications of your system play a large role, and we don’t think it’s very likely that someone will only have the funds for a B chipset, but want to put a 7950X in it. However, CPU is, after GPU, the one area where spending more gets you the most obvious returns. Perhaps then you fall in the camp that wants a functional motherboard and put a bigger percentage of your budget towards the processor. If so, the MSI MPG B650 Carbon WiFi promises to tick a huge amount of wishlist boxes, with PCI Express 5.0 M.2 support, DDR5 and the important socket AM5 that allows you to install one of the shiny new Ryzen CPUs.

For our testing of the new AM5 socket we’re utilising the Ryzen 9 7900X, a processor which offers the majority of premium performance without the hefty requirements and heat generation of the Ryzen 9 7950X. This gives every motherboard a chance to strut its still whilst still being stern enough to sort the chaff out from the wheat.

Technical Specifications

Naturally with specifications we’re looking for the places where the B650 is compromised compared to its X670 cousin, and the main point we can notice is that the GPU PCI Express slots are just 4.0. Given that no graphics card yet requires PCIe 5.0 this might be a brilliant way to save money whilst losing no real world performance. You’re still getting M.2 Gen5 and some high throughput networking and USB options. AKA “the important stuff”.

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