The MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI wins in 6 out of 14 comparable specs. Its biggest advantage is PCIe x1 Slots (100% better).
Z790 AORUS ELITE AX wins in 3 specs (SATA Ports: 50% better).
Recommendation
Choose MAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI if you want the best overall performance — especially pcie x1 slots.
Choose Z790 AORUS ELITE AX if sata ports matters more to you.
| Spec | GigabyteZ790 AORUS ELITE AX | MSIMAG B850 TOMAHAWK WIFI |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | ||
| Socket | LGA1700 | AM5 |
| Chipset | Z790 | B850 |
| Form Factor | ATX | ATX |
| PCIe Gen | 5 | 5 |
| Memory | ||
| Memory Type | DDR5 | DDR5 |
| Memory Slots | 4 | 4 |
| Max Memory | 192 GB | 256 GB |
| Max Memory Speed | 7,600 MHz | 8,200 MHz+8% |
| Expansion | ||
| M.2 Slots | 4 | 4 |
| SATA Ports | 6+50% | 4 |
| PCIe x16 Slots | 3+50% | 2 |
| PCIe x1 Slots | 0 | 1+100% |
| Connectivity | ||
| USB Type-C | 1 | 2+100% |
| USB Type-A | 8 | 8 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 7+8% |
| LAN | 2.5 GbE | 2.5 GbE |
| Audio | Realtek ALC1220 | Realtek ALC4080 |
| Design | ||
| VRM Phases | 16+1+2+12% | 14+2+1 |
| Price | ||
| MSRP | $280 | $230−18% |
| Release Date | Oct 2022 | Jan 2025 |
