It's a close match. Both components tie in most comparable specs (4 ties out of 14 specs).
| Spec | ASUSROG STRIX Z490-E GAMING | MSIPRO B850M-A WIFI |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | ||
| Socket | LGA1200 | AM5 |
| Chipset | Z490 | B850 |
| Form Factor | ATX | Micro ATX |
| PCIe Gen | 4 | 5+25% |
| Memory | ||
| Memory Type | DDR4 | DDR5 |
| Memory Slots | 4 | 4 |
| Max Memory | 128 GB | 256 GB |
| Max Memory Speed | 4,600 MHz | 7,200 MHz+57% |
| Expansion | ||
| M.2 Slots | 2 | 2 |
| SATA Ports | 6+50% | 4 |
| PCIe x16 Slots | 3+200% | 1 |
| PCIe x1 Slots | 3+200% | 1 |
| Connectivity | ||
| USB Type-C | 1 | 1 |
| USB Type-A | 8+33% | 6 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 7+17% |
| LAN | 2.5 GbE | 2.5 GbE |
| Audio | Realtek ALC1220 | Realtek ALC897 |
| Design | ||
| VRM Phases | 14+2+45% | 8+2+1 |
| Price | ||
| MSRP | $300 | $150−50% |
| Release Date | May 2020 | Jan 2025 |
