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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →The MSI B350 Tomahawk was a well-equipped value motherboard for mainstream Ryzen builds when it launched in 2017. Its ATX layout, CPU overclocking support, four memory slots, and PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slot made it a compelling choice for a single-GPU system. In 2026, it is mainly worth keeping or buying as a tested, inexpensive AM4 board: BIOS support varies by processor, and its older connectivity and limited expansion make it a poor default choice for a new build.
MSI B350 Tomahawk at a glance
MSI’s original B350 TOMAHAWK is an ATX AM4 motherboard built around AMD’s mainstream B350 chipset. It launched in the first-generation Ryzen era, below X370 in expansion and multi-GPU capability while retaining CPU overclocking. That trade-off suited ordinary single-GPU Ryzen 3 and Ryzen 5 systems. Hardware Canucks listed its review price at approximately $110 USD / $145 CAD in September 2017; that historical price is not a guide to what a used board should cost today (Hardware Canucks’ review).
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| Feature | Original B350 Tomahawk |
|---|---|
| Socket and chipset | AM4; AMD B350 |
| Form factor | ATX, approximately 305 × 244 mm |
| Memory | Four dual-channel DDR4 DIMM slots; up to 64 GB in MSI’s specification; up to DDR4-3200 by overclocking |
| Primary graphics slot | PCIe 3.0 x16 with a compatible Ryzen processor |
| Secondary full-length slot | PCIe 2.0 x4 electrically; may operate at x2 depending on populated slots |
| Other expansion | Two PCIe 2.0 x1 slots and two legacy PCI slots |
| Storage | Four SATA 6Gb/s ports and one M.2 slot |
| M.2 | PCIe 3.0 x4 with compatible Ryzen processors; also supports SATA M.2 |
| Networking and audio | Realtek 8111H Gigabit Ethernet; Realtek ALC892 7.1-channel HD audio |
| Rear display outputs | VGA, DVI-D, and HDMI; usable only with a processor that has integrated graphics |
| Rear USB | Two USB 2.0 Type-A, three USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A, and one USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C |
These specifications come from MSI’s original B350 Tomahawk datasheet. DDR4-3200 is an overclocked memory rating, not a guarantee for every kit, CPU, or BIOS.
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Identify the exact motherboard before buying
Several similarly named boards are easy to confuse in used listings: the original B350 TOMAHAWK, B350 TOMAHAWK PLUS, B350 TOMAHAWK ARCTIC, B350M models, and the later B450 Tomahawk are not interchangeable product names. The original board is an ATX model marked MS-7A34. Check the PCB markings and rear-I/O layout in clear photographs rather than relying on a listing title.
#1 Best Overall
- Supports AMD RYZEN Series processors and 7th Gen A-series/Athlon Processors for socket AM4
- Supports DDR4-3200+(OC) Memory
- Reward your ears with studio grade sound quality for the most immersive gaming experience
- In-Game Weapons: Game Boost, GAMING Hotkey, X-Boost
- EZ Debug LED: Easiest way to troubleshoot
The original board has four SATA ports. The B350 Tomahawk Plus has a different storage arrangement, including additional SATA connectivity through an ASMedia controller; do not apply Plus specifications to the original. MSI’s B350 Tomahawk Plus specifications describe that separate model.
Design, installation, and board layout
Hardware Canucks found the ATX layout generally well organized, with headers and connectors placed around the board’s edges and no major installation defect. The CPU socket area is relatively open, but a large tower cooler can come close to the nearest memory slot. Check the cooler’s dimensions against the memory modules if you expect to use all four DIMMs.
The board has four memory slots in a dual-channel layout, an eight-pin CPU power connection, fan headers, front-panel and USB headers, and an RGB strip header. The primary graphics slot has useful clearance, but a long or thick GPU can cover the M.2 drive beneath it. That can make installation and later access awkward and may expose the SSD to GPU heat. The review’s layout and installation observations are documented in its board layout coverage and installation testing.
The board uses a six-phase CPU power design with a Richtek RT8894A PWM controller and NIKOS MOSFETs, according to the review. Phase count by itself does not establish power-delivery quality: component characteristics, heatsink contact, firmware behavior, CPU power draw, and case airflow all matter. It is a value-oriented design suited to sensible tuning, not a reason to assume that an aged board will handle aggressive sustained loads from any later high-core-count CPU.
Storage, graphics, and expansion
M.2 and SATA storage
The single M.2 slot supports PCIe 3.0 x4 with compatible Ryzen processors and also accepts SATA M.2 drives. Hardware Canucks reported support for 22110-length drives and found its tested M.2 implementation performed essentially on par with a PCIe expansion-card implementation (M.2 testing). That result describes the review’s configuration, not every SSD or BIOS.
Rank #2
- ULTRA POWER - SUPPORTS THE LATEST RYZEN 9000 PROCESSORS IN HIGH PERFORMANCE - The MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI employs a 14 Duet Rail Power System (80A, SPS) VRM for the AMD B850 chipset (AM5, Ryzen 9000 / 8000 / 7000) with Core Boost architecture
- FROZR GUARD - Premium cooling features such as 7W/mK MOSFET thermal pads, extra choke thermal pads and an Extended Heatsink; Includes chipset heatsink, EZ M.2 Shield Frozr II, and a Combo-fan (for pump & system) header (3A)
- DDR5 MEMORY, PCIe 5.0 x16 SLOT - 4 x DDR5 DIMM SMT slots enable extreme memory overclocking speeds (1DPC 1R, 8400+ MT/s); 1 x PCIe 5.0 x16 SMT slot (128GB/s) with Steel Armor II supports cutting-edge graphics cards
- QUADRUPLE M.2 CONNECTORS - Storage options include 2 x M.2 Gen5 x4 128Gbps slots, 1 x M.2 Gen4 x4 64Gbps slot and 1 x M.2 Gen4 x2 32Gbps slot; Features EZ M.2 Shield Frozr II to prevent thermal throttling and EZ M.2 Clip II for EZ DIY experience
- CONNECTIVITY - Network hardware includes a full-speed Wi-Fi 7 module with Bluetooth 5.4 & 5Gbps LAN; Rear ports include USB 20G Type-C and 7.1 USB High Performance Audio with Audio Boost 5 (supports S/PDIF output)
Because the slot sits beneath the graphics card, GPU heat can raise SSD temperatures and contribute to throttling in sustained workloads. The board’s four SATA ports are also a constraint for large drive collections. Before choosing a particular M.2 and SATA combination, consult the exact board manual for lane or port-sharing behavior, and verify that the intended drive is detected and boots correctly with the installed BIOS.
PCIe slots and graphics
This is fundamentally a single-GPU board. The primary slot is PCIe 3.0 x16 with a compatible Ryzen CPU. The second x16-length slot is only PCIe 2.0 x4 electrically and, according to the review, can drop to x2 when certain PCIe x1 slots are occupied. It can serve some capture cards or storage adapters, but it is not a second full-bandwidth graphics slot. MSI lists AMD CrossFire support; that should not be read as NVIDIA SLI support or modern multi-GPU suitability. The board also retains two legacy PCI slots for older specialized cards.
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The rear panel includes a PS/2 combo port, two USB 2.0 Type-A ports, three USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A ports, one USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C port, Gigabit Ethernet, VGA, DVI-D, HDMI, and six audio jacks. USB 3.1 Gen 1 is the older 5Gbps class; the board does not provide a native USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10Gbps) implementation. Its display outputs require a compatible APU or other processor with integrated graphics. A conventional Ryzen CPU without integrated graphics still needs a discrete GPU.
The Realtek ALC892 audio codec and Realtek 8111H Gigabit LAN are functional for ordinary use, but neither is a premium implementation. MSI included audio-grade capacitors and PCB isolation around the audio section; that does not change the codec’s entry-level positioning. The board has red onboard ambient lighting and a 12V RGB strip header, not modern addressable-RGB lighting. Hardware Canucks’ rear-I/O and expansion analysis covers the connectivity trade-offs.
BIOS, CPU compatibility, and safe updates
Hardware Canucks documented an MSI UEFI with M-Flash updating, saved OC profiles, hardware monitoring, multi-point fan curves, Smart Fan Mode, Board Explorer, Favorites, and Game Boost. Those are useful controls for a budget board, but the BIOS version is central to whether a particular later AM4 processor will boot.
Rank #3
- Supports up to 64GB Dual Channel DDR4-SDRAM
- ATX form factor
- Ports: 2 x USB2.0, 2 x USB3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1 x USB3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1 x USB3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 1 x Ethernet LAN (RJ-45), 1 x PS/2, 1 x HDMI, 1 x DVI-D
- Chipset: AMD B450
- Supports Windows 7 or later operating systems supported
MSI’s datasheet broadly names Ryzen-series and 7th-generation A-series/Athlon processors, but that wording is not a guarantee for every later Ryzen CPU. Check the MSI B350 TOMAHAWK support page and CPU list for the exact processor and minimum BIOS version. Do not infer compatibility from the B350 chipset name, or rely on a seller’s unqualified “Ryzen 3000/5000 ready” claim.
- Confirm the board is the original B350 TOMAHAWK, not the Plus, Arctic, or another model. Check the PCB or UEFI screen and record the installed BIOS version.
- On MSI’s support page for B350 TOMAHAWK, open the CPU support list and find the exact processor and required BIOS version.
- Download the BIOS for that exact board model, extract it, and copy the BIOS file to a FAT32-formatted USB drive.
- Boot into UEFI and use M-Flash. Do not interrupt power during the update.
- After the update, load optimized/default settings. Re-enable memory profiles and restore other settings only after confirming a stable boot.
- Verify that the CPU, full memory capacity, storage devices, fans, and boot order are recognized.
Do not assume this original board offers a CPU-less USB BIOS Flashback process; confirm the exact manual and board capability before planning an update without a supported processor. If the installed BIOS cannot boot the target CPU, an older compatible AM4 CPU may be needed to update it. An interrupted or failed flash can leave the board unable to boot without a recovery procedure or BIOS reprogramming. After any successful update, retest old memory and overclock settings from defaults.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Overclocking and historical test results
In its 2017 review, Hardware Canucks tested the board with Ryzen 7 processors. Its sample reached a 4.0GHz Game Boost result and a 4.1GHz manual overclock on a Ryzen 7 1800X; the reviewers also reached DDR4-3200 with their memory kit after adjusting voltage and related settings (overclocking results). These are review-sample outcomes, not guaranteed settings for another CPU, board, memory kit, or BIOS. Early AM4 memory tuning was particularly kit- and BIOS-sensitive, and automatic overclocking can use more voltage than a carefully tuned manual configuration.
In one 90-minute stability test, the review’s Ryzen 7 1800X sample at 3.9GHz showed largely stable vCore around 1.344V after a setting of approximately 1.35V and LLC Mode 3. That result is evidence about that sample and test setup, not a safe-voltage recommendation for other processors or proof of suitability for every later CPU (VRM and power testing). A stable boot alone does not prove an overclock stable; use a current stability-testing workflow and monitor CPU and VRM temperatures with limits appropriate to the exact processor.
The same review ran Windows 10 Pro tests on a Ryzen 7 1800X system using multiple default, memory-speed, automatic-overclock, and manual-overclock configurations. Runs were repeated three to ten times and averaged unless noted. Its suite included period-appropriate productivity, memory, graphics, and game benchmarks such as Cinebench R15, wPrime, AIDA64, 3DMark, Grand Theft Auto V, and Shadow of Mordor (test setup; benchmark results). These results help assess the board’s 2017 implementation; they do not predict 2026 gaming performance, which depends chiefly on the CPU, GPU, memory, firmware, drivers, and software.
Rank #4
- This product is original and genuine.There are slight signs of use, but the functions are completely normal. This product can replace old, broken and damaged ones.
- The original packaging is not included, but sturdy packaging will be used to ensure the item is not damaged during transportation. We guarantee that all products are tested before shipment,Ensure that all functions operate normally. Depending on the batch, the appearance and color of the product , but this does not affect use. We recommend that you need certain background knowledge to install this product separately, otherwise, please let a professional install it.
The review also found stock idle power among the lowest in its comparison set and load power among the highest, with roughly 3–4% differences that it considered of little practical concern. That is a historical comparison, not a current efficiency rating; modern component choices and settings change whole-system power.
Strengths and limitations
| Strengths | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Full ATX layout, four DIMM slots, and CPU overclocking support | Only four SATA ports and one M.2 slot |
| PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 support with compatible Ryzen processors | M.2 sits beneath the GPU, where heat and access can be concerns |
| Useful fan controls, diagnostic LEDs, and an organized layout | Second full-length PCIe slot is x4 electrically and may fall to x2 |
| Legacy PCI slots and a useful rear selection of display outputs | Older audio and Gigabit Ethernet implementations |
| Attractive red lighting and a 12V RGB strip header | No native USB 3.1 Gen 2, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth |
| Good feature set for a mainstream 2017 B350 build | Old firmware platform and CPU support that must be checked by exact BIOS |
Should you keep or buy one in 2026?
Keep it if it already works
For an existing AM4 system, keeping a functioning board can be sensible if its current CPU and memory meet your needs. A compatible Ryzen 1000- or 2000-series setup is the least complicated match; a later CPU is a case-by-case BIOS support question. The board’s single M.2 slot, four SATA ports, and older connectivity are acceptable only if they fit the workload.
Consider a used board only as a tested bargain
A replacement or budget AM4 build may make sense if the seller demonstrates successful POST, identifies the BIOS, and the total cost is meaningfully below a newer board or bundle. Include the price of a compatible CPU, memory, storage, and any missing parts in that comparison. Do not treat the 2017 launch price as a current value benchmark.
Skip it for a new system or demanding upgrade
For a new 2026 gaming or workstation build, this board is generally a poor default choice. It lacks PCIe 4.0, modern high-speed USB, onboard wireless networking, and a long upgrade path. It is also a poor fit for multiple NVMe drives, 2.5Gb Ethernet, high-end sustained CPU workloads, or anyone who needs guaranteed modern CPU compatibility.
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Used-board inspection checklist
- Confirm the PCB says B350 TOMAHAWK and inspect the board for damage.
- Ask for the installed BIOS version and the CPU used during the seller’s test; require a successful POST and UEFI access.
- Test all four DIMM slots, M.2 detection, and each SATA port.
- Check rear and front USB where possible, including the rear Type-C port, and test Ethernet and audio output/input.
- Inspect the AM4 socket for bent pins, PCIe slots for damage, and the board for corrosion, damaged capacitors, missing heatsinks, or stripped mounting hardware.
- Confirm whether the I/O shield and SATA cables are included. The original review’s bundle was sparse, with two SATA cables and the rear I/O shield.
Alternatives and buying decision
A used B450 board is the more natural low-cost AM4 comparison; B550 is a better late-AM4 class when PCIe 4.0 and newer connectivity matter. For a genuinely new system and future CPU upgrades, an entry-level AM5 platform is the more appropriate direction. The right choice depends on local prices and the cost of the complete working system, not an assumed universal value ranking. Compare a used B350 only when its condition, BIOS, and included parts are known.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
