What To Know
- When it comes to budget-friendly options, the Gigabyte B450 Aorus Elite and MSI B450M Mortar Max stand out as two of the most popular choices.
- The Aorus Elite features a sleek black and silver design with RGB lighting, while the Mortar Max has a more subtle black and gray aesthetic.
- The Aorus Elite offers a wider range of expansion slots and connectivity options, making it a better choice for users who plan to expand their system in the future.
Choosing the right motherboard is crucial for building a balanced and efficient PC system. When it comes to budget-friendly options, the Gigabyte B450 Aorus Elite and MSI B450M Mortar Max stand out as two of the most popular choices. In this comprehensive comparison, we will delve into the key differences and similarities between these two motherboards to help you make an informed decision.
Form Factor and Design
The Gigabyte B450 Aorus Elite is an ATX motherboard, while the MSI B450M Mortar Max is an mATX motherboard. ATX motherboards are larger and offer more expansion slots, while mATX motherboards are more compact and suitable for smaller cases. The Aorus Elite features a sleek black and silver design with RGB lighting, while the Mortar Max has a more subtle black and gray aesthetic.
Chipset and Socket
Both motherboards are based on the AMD B450 chipset, which supports AMD Ryzen processors of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generations. They feature an AM4 socket, allowing for easy processor upgrades.
Expansion Slots
The Gigabyte B450 Aorus Elite offers four PCIe x16 slots, two of which run at x16 and the other two at x8. It also has one PCIe x1 slot. The MSI B450M Mortar Max has one PCIe x16 slot that runs at x16, one PCIe x4 slot, and two PCIe x1 slots.
Memory Support
Both motherboards support up to 128GB of DDR4 memory. The Aorus Elite supports speeds up to 4400MHz, while the Mortar Max supports speeds up to 4200MHz.
Storage Options
The Aorus Elite has six SATA III ports and one M.2 slot that supports both PCIe NVMe and SATA SSDs. The Mortar Max has four SATA III ports and two M.2 slots, one of which supports PCIe NVMe and the other supports SATA SSDs.
Connectivity
The Aorus Elite has a wide range of connectivity options, including Gigabit LAN, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, and multiple USB ports. The Mortar Max also has Gigabit LAN and multiple USB ports but lacks Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Audio
Both motherboards feature Realtek ALC1220 audio codecs for high-quality audio output.
BIOS and Overclocking
The Aorus Elite has a user-friendly BIOS with advanced overclocking options. The Mortar Max also has a well-designed BIOS but with slightly fewer overclocking features.
Price and Availability
The Gigabyte B450 Aorus Elite is priced around $120, while the MSI B450M Mortar Max is slightly cheaper at around $100. Both motherboards are widely available from major retailers.
In a nutshell: Choosing the Right Motherboard for Your Needs
Both the Gigabyte B450 Aorus Elite and MSI B450M Mortar Max are excellent budget-friendly motherboards. The Aorus Elite offers a wider range of expansion slots and connectivity options, making it a better choice for users who plan to expand their system in the future. The Mortar Max is more compact and affordable, making it ideal for smaller builds or users on a tighter budget. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your specific needs and preferences.
Questions We Hear a Lot
1. Which motherboard has better overclocking capabilities?
The Gigabyte B450 Aorus Elite has slightly better overclocking features than the MSI B450M Mortar Max.
2. Which motherboard has more PCIe slots?
The Gigabyte B450 Aorus Elite has four PCIe x16 slots, while the MSI B450M Mortar Max has only one.
3. Which motherboard has more M.2 slots?
The MSI B450M Mortar Max has two M.2 slots, while the Gigabyte B450 Aorus Elite has only one.
4. Which motherboard has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support?
The Gigabyte B450 Aorus Elite has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, while the MSI B450M Mortar Max does not.
5. Which motherboard is more affordable?
The MSI B450M Mortar Max is slightly more affordable than the Gigabyte B450 Aorus Elite.
