The Difference Between B450 And B450m Motherboards

If you’re in the market for a motherboard for your new PC, there are many factors to consider before choosing a new one. The important thing when purchasing a motherboard is identifying which features will suit your needs and desire.

In this article, we’ll compare two of the most popular motherboards on the market – MSI’s B450 Tomahawk and MSI’s B450M Mortar. Find out what makes these two different and how they compare!

What is the Difference Between B450 and B450M?

A comparison between the two most popular B450 motherboards is in order. Both boards are based on the latest Intel chipset and feature a range of ports, including six USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, four USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports, dual M.2 slots, and an HDMI port.

The biggest difference between the two boards is that the B450M has more features oriented toward gaming and overclocking, while the B450 is intended for mainstream users.

The most notable difference between these two boards is their CPU support. The B450 supports an Intel Core i7-8700K processor, while the B450M can support an Intel Core i9-9900K.

There are also other differences in graphics support, power delivery options, and storage connectivity. Overall, these are very similar boards that offer a wide range of features for both mainstream and high-end users.

Differences in Specifications of B450 and B450M

The chipset on a motherboard can make a big difference in performance. For example, the Intel B450 chipset is found on many budget motherboards, while the Intel B450M chipset is usually found on more expensive motherboards. Here’s a look at the differences between these two chipsets.

Intel B450 vs Intel B450M:

  1. The Intel B450 chipset supports up to 8 DDR4 memory slots, while the Intel B450M chipset only supports up to 4 DDR4.
  2. The Intel B450 chipset supports up to 44 PCI Express lanes, while the Intel B450M chipset only supports up to 28 PCI Express lanes.
  3. The Intel B450 chipset has 2 USB 3.1 Gen2 ports, while the Intel B450M chipset only has 1 USB 3.1 Gen2 port.
  4. The CPU socket on the motherboard is LGA 1151, while the CPU socket on the Intel B450M motherboard is LGA 2011-3v3. With this motherboard, you will need to purchase an appropriate cooling solution if you use an AMD Ryzen 7 or Ryzen 5 processor.
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How to Choose between the B450 and B450m Motherboards Recommendation

When shopping for a new motherboard, there are a few things to consider. The main difference between the B450 and B450m motherboards is that the B450 supports more features and has more ports. However, if you don’t need those extra features, the B450m is a good option because it costs less.

To make your decision easier, we’ve outlined the main differences between the two below:

B450 Motherboard: 

  • Supports up to 64GB of DDR4 memory (2x24GB)
  • 6x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 slots
  • 4x PCIe 2.0 x1 slots
  • Dual M.2 slots with support for both SATA and PCI Express storage devices
  • Intel GbE LAN with 10/100/1000Mbit support

B450m Motherboard: 

  • Supports up to 8GB of DDR4 memory (2x4GB)
  • 4x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 slots 
  • 2x PCIe 2.0 x1 slots 
  • Single M.2 slot with support for both SATA and PCI Express storage devices 
  • Intel GbE LAN with 10/100/1000Mbit support

How to Upgrade from a B450 To a B450M

Upgrading from a B450 to a B450M motherboard is a simple process that can save you money. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Remove the old motherboard from your computer.
  2. Install the new motherboard in its place.
  3. Connect all of the cables and connectors.
  4. Restore the operating system and other software settings.

Features of B450 and B450M

Compared to their predecessor, the B450 and B450M motherboards are feature-packed. Here are some of the key differences:

  • The B450 has an onboard M.2 slot that supports PCIe 3.0 and SATA 6Gbps storage devices. The B450M has a dedicated M.2 slot that only supports PCIe 3.0 x4 storage devices.
  • The B450 comes with two DIMM slots that can support up to 32GB of DDR4 memory each, while the B450M offers four DIMM slots that can support up to 64GB of DDR4 memory each.
  • The B450 comes with three PCI-E 3.0 x16 slots, while the B450M offers four PCI-E 3.0 x16 slots. In addition, there are two PCI-E 2.0 x1 slots on the motherboard for added versatility.
  • Both boards have two USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports, one USB 3.1 Gen 1 port on the rear I/O panel, and a PS/2 keyboard and mouse port. There is also a Gigabit Ethernet jack for wired networking connections on both boards.
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Benefits of B450

The B450 chipset is a powerful, feature-rich motherboard that offers enhanced performance, compatibility with high-end hardware, and updated features. Here are some of the key benefits of using a B450 chipset: Enhanced performance

The B450 chipset offers increased performance over other motherboard brands. This is due to its advanced architecture and integrated features. It is ideal for users who need maximum performance from their system. Compatibility with high-end hardware

The B450 chipset is compatible with a wide range of hardware. This makes it perfect for users who want to upgrade their systems without worrying about compatibility issues. Updated features

The B450 chipset includes updated features that provide improved functionality and stability. These include support for next-generation storage technologies and enhanced security measures.

Overall, the B450 chipset provides users superior performance and compatibility when upgrading their system.

Benefits of B450m

If you’re looking for a motherboard that can handle heavy graphics and processing loads, the B450m is worth considering. It’s built for AMD Ryzen processors and offers several benefits over its B350 counterpart.

For starters, the B450m supports up to four DDR4 memory modules at speeds of up to 3600MHz. That’s more than enough bandwidth for most builds.

The motherboard also features dual M.2 slots that can support SATA and PCI-E devices, so you can build a powerful system without sacrificing capacity or performance.

The B450m also comes with several features designed specifically for Ryzen processors. For example, it includes an enhanced clock generator that helps keep your processor running at peak performance during demanding tasks.

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And thanks to its CrossfireX support, you can easily combine two graphics cards on this motherboard for even more firepower when gaming or editing video footage.

Disadvantages of B450

The B450 chipset is a successor to the B350 chipset. It offers better performance and power efficiency than its predecessor. However, there are some disadvantages to using this chipset.

The first disadvantage is that it doesn’t offer much-overclocking potential as the B350 chipset. This is because it uses a more modern microarchitecture, limiting the overclocking headroom.

Additionally, some older motherboards may not be compatible with the B450 chipset.

Another disadvantage is that it doesn’t support as many features as the B350 chipset. For example, it doesn’t support AMD CrossFire or NVMe storage interfaces.

Disadvantages of B450m

There are a few disadvantages of the B450m chipset over the B450 chipset. The first disadvantage is that the B450m doesn’t support as many features as the B450 chipset.

The second disadvantage is that the B450m has a lower maximum power rating than the B450 chipset. Lastly, the B450m only supports two dual-channel DDR4 memory modules simultaneously compared to four on the B450 chipset.

Conclusion

If you’re looking to upgrade your motherboard and are unsure which model to select, read our article on the difference between B450 and B450m motherboards.

Both models have their strengths and weaknesses, so it’s important to choose the right one for your needs. Don’t also forget to consider your budget when making your purchase!


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Matt Wilson
By Matt Wilson

Matt Wilson is a PC gaming and hardware expert with years of experience. He's a trusted tech product reviewer for gamers and tech enthusiasts.


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