The MSI B450I GAMING PLUS MAX WIFI is a Mini-ITX motherboard designed for small form factor (SFF) PC builds. It combines solid performance, support for AMD’s Ryzen processors, and built-in Wi-Fi, making it an excellent choice for gamers, creators, and enthusiasts who need a compact yet capable motherboard.
Despite its small size, it offers great connectivity, storage options, and overclocking capabilities that punch above its weight.
Key Features and Specifications
- Motherboard Model: MSI B450I GAMING PLUS MAX WIFI
- Chipset: AMD B450
- Socket: AM4
- Form Factor: Mini-ITX
- CPU Compatibility: Supports AMD Ryzen™ 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Generation processors, including Ryzen™ with Radeon™ Vega Graphics and Athlon™ with Radeon™ Vega Graphics.
- Memory: 2x DDR4 DIMM slots, supporting up to 64GB with speeds up to 3466 MHz (overclocked).
- Storage: 1x M.2 slot and 4x SATA 6Gbps ports.
- Networking: Realtek Gigabit LAN and Intel® Wireless-AC 3168 (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2).
- USB Ports: 6x USB 3.2 Gen 1 and 4x USB 2.0 ports.
- Expansion: 1x PCIe 3.0 x16 slot.
- Audio: Realtek ALC887/ALC897 Codec with 7.1-Channel High Definition Audio.
Compatibility and Performance
CPU Compatibility
The B450I GAMING PLUS MAX WIFI supports a wide range of AMD Ryzen processors from the 1st to 3rd generation, along with processors featuring integrated Radeon Vega graphics like the Ryzen 3 3200G or Athlon 200GE. This versatility ensures compatibility with both budget-friendly and high-end gaming builds.
Its AM4 socket makes it compatible with Ryzen 3000 series processors, such as the Ryzen 9 3900X, offering excellent performance for multi-threaded workloads, gaming, and content creation. It’s also a solid option for upgrading older systems as it supports the first-gen Ryzen CPUs.
However, the motherboard may require a BIOS update to support the latest Ryzen 5000 series processors, as it is primarily designed for the B450 chipset.
Memory Compatibility
The dual-channel memory architecture supports up to 64GB of DDR4 RAM, which is sufficient for gaming, streaming, or professional work. It supports JEDEC standard speeds up to 2667 MHz, but with A-XMP OC MODE, users can overclock the memory to speeds up to 3466 MHz, depending on the CPU and memory module compatibility.
The 64GB maximum capacity makes this motherboard a great option for multitasking or running memory-intensive applications like virtualization or photo/video editing.
Graphics Compatibility
The single PCIe 3.0 x16 slot allows for the installation of a high-performance GPU. While it limits expansion options compared to larger motherboards, the slot supports full x16 speed with Ryzen CPUs, providing excellent bandwidth for most modern graphics cards.
Storage and Expansion
Despite the compact Mini-ITX form factor, the MSI B450I GAMING PLUS MAX WIFI offers decent storage options:
1x M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 slot, which supports both PCIe NVMe SSDs and SATA-based M.2 drives. NVMe SSDs provide fast read/write speeds, ensuring quick boot times and fast game loading.
4x SATA 6Gbps ports, which can be used for additional storage devices like 2.5″ SSDs or mechanical hard drives. You can also configure RAID 0, 1, and 10 for performance boosts or redundancy.
This makes the B450I a great choice for compact gaming systems or even a small workstation.
Networking: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and LAN
The board features integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth via the Intel Wireless-AC 3168 module, which provides:
Network Connectivity
Wi-Fi 802.11ac (dual-band, up to 433 Mbps), which is fast enough for gaming, streaming, and general use. For wired connections, the motherboard comes with a Realtek 8111H Gigabit LAN controller, providing stable and fast internet speeds for gaming and streaming.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 4.2, offering wireless connectivity for peripherals like headsets, keyboards, and controllers.
Connectivity and USB Ports
The MSI B450I GAMING PLUS MAX WIFI offers a good range of connectivity options for its small size:
- 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports on the front panel, plus 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports on the rear, for fast data transfer and modern peripherals.
- 2x USB 2.0 ports on the front and 2x USB 2.0 ports on the rear, which are perfect for connecting keyboards, mice, or other accessories.
- HDMI 2.0b and DisplayPort outputs support integrated graphics, allowing for 4K @ 60Hz resolution when using compatible Ryzen APUs with Radeon Vega Graphics.
Audio and Additional Features
The Realtek ALC887/ALC897 Codec provides 7.1-channel HD audio, which is standard for motherboards in this class. While the onboard audio is sufficient for most users, audiophiles or those requiring high-end audio performance may want to invest in a dedicated sound card or external DAC.
Additionally, the motherboard includes RGB lighting connectors (2x 12V 5050 RGB LED connectors), which are great for users looking to personalize their builds with LED strips or RGB components.
Cooling and Power
For cooling, the MSI B450I GAMING PLUS MAX WIFI provides:
1x 4-pin CPU fan connector and 1x 4-pin system fan connector, which is limited but typical for Mini-ITX boards. This means you might need a fan splitter or a fan hub for more advanced cooling setups, but it should be sufficient for a compact build with air or AIO cooling.
The board has a standard 24-pin ATX power connector and 8-pin ATX 12V power connector, making it compatible with most standard power supplies. It’s a solid fit for small form factor cases that focus on compact builds without sacrificing performance.
Pricing and Where to Buy
The MSI B450I GAMING PLUS MAX WIFI is a compact yet feature-rich Mini-ITX board, and the price reflects its value in a crowded market:
Brand new units are generally priced around PHP 9000 – 10,500 (approximately $180- $200 USD) depending on the retailer and availability.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Compact Mini-ITX form factor, perfect for small form factor gaming or home theater PCs.
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built-in, eliminating the need for external adapters.
- PCIe 3.0 x16 slot, supporting full-speed GPUs for gaming or productivity.
- M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 slot, providing support for fast NVMe storage.
- Support for Ryzen 1st to 3rd gen processors, making it future-proof for mid-range builds.
- RGB connectors for personalization.
Cons
- Limited expansion options, typical of Mini-ITX boards.
- Only two DIMM slots, capping memory capacity at 64GB.
- Basic onboard audio, suitable for general use but not for audiophiles.
Video: MSI B450i Gaming Plus Max Unboxing
Who Should Use the MSI B450I GAMING PLUS MAX WIFI?
This motherboard is ideal for:
- Gamers: If you’re building a compact gaming PC, the board’s single PCIe 3.0 x16 slot and M.2 support make it perfect for a powerful Mini-ITX gaming build.
- Home Theater PC (HTPC) enthusiasts: Its small size, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and display outputs make it ideal for an HTPC.
- DIY enthusiasts and modders: If you want to build a powerful, customizable PC with RGB lighting in a compact chassis, this board has the necessary features.
- Content creators and streamers: With support for Ryzen 9 CPUs and high-speed RAM, this board can handle editing or streaming in a compact form factor.
Final Verdict
The MSI B450I GAMING PLUS MAX WIFI is an excellent choice for those looking to build a compact, yet powerful system. It offers a great balance of features and performance, including built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and support for high-performance CPUs and GPUs.
While it may lack some of the expansion options of larger motherboards, it excels in offering the essentials for small form factor builds. The price is reasonable for what it offers, making it a fantastic choice for Mini-ITX gaming builds or compact workstations.
Download MSI B450I GAMING PLUS MAX WIFI Driver and Bios Update
To download the latest drivers and BIOS for the MSI B450I GAMING PLUS MAX WIFI visit the official MSI Support page. Search for your motherboard model, then select your operating system (e.g. Windows 7, Windows 10, or Windows 11 64-bit) under the Drivers & Downloads section. Download essential drivers such as chipset, LAN, and audio to ensure proper functionality of your system.
For a BIOS update, download the latest version, save it to a FAT32-formatted USB drive, and restart your PC. During startup, press the Delete key to enter the BIOS menu and navigate to M-Flash. Select the BIOS file from the USB drive and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update. Ensure that the PC remains powered on throughout the process, as it will reboot automatically after the update.
Visit the MSI Support page to download all necessary drivers and BIOS updates for your motherboard.
