The B450M chipset is a high-performance unit ideal for consumers who are looking to design a functional PC. At the same time, they do not want to use the maximum PCIe bandwidth. Additionally, you do not want to spend money on the performance.
The AMD B450M chipset is a sublime choice. Besides, when you want to maximize your ROI, you will want to use a top-notch B450M motherboard. Though you plan to upgrade shortly, you can use the Ryzen 4000 CPU due to AMD confirming that the B450 chipset supports the Zen 3.
We will be reading about the ASRock B450M Pro4 vs MSI B450M Pro-VDH Max motherboards in today’s comparison review. These two brands are top-rated among professional gamers who swear with their models.
You can often find gamers or users of any category using either the ASRock or the MSI chipset on their PCs. It comes with flawless performance and enables you to have an immersive experience.
The ASRock B450M Pro4 comes with everything that a chipset would need and nothing you won’t. We noticed that the motherboard comes with several ports at the rear, and there is also a PS/2 port with many peripherals.
You can also find 4 SATA ports and 2 M.2 slots that can be used for storage. Besides, you can also make use of the RGB headers that are ideal for aesthetics. There is also Gigabit Ethernet that is suitable for connectivity.
The audio segment comes infused with the Realtek ALC892 codec. Typically, we get to see the ALC1220 on most gaming units. The model fits the price exceptionally well. It comes with the Hybrid Digi Power design for sublime control and ideal power to it.
It also ensures that you get sufficient power and power delivery to the CPU. The lifespan and the stability offered to it is also terrific. The pricing also caught our eye. MSI motherboards come embedded with features that work sublimely for gamers.
The memory enhancement and the CPU, fast storage, and USB transfer speed on the unit are suitable to be used. It comes with 4 slots for RAM that is quite good for an mATX motherboard. It offers support for high RAM speeds and works stupendously for AMD Ryzen CPUs.
The BIOS is easy to work with, and you can effortlessly get your cable management worked out. It also comes with exceptional memory performance. The motherboard supports high speed of RAM and has 4 memory slots.
We found the motherboard to be a really awesome unit that could get paired with the Ryzen 3600. The XMP was installed quickly, and we could set the RAM to 3200, enabling it to work instantly.
Let us read the review carefully to find out more about the motherboard and the eventual winner at the end.
 |  |
|---|---|
| ASROCK B450M PRO4 | MSI B450M PRO VDH MAX |
| PROS | PROS |
| The installation was easy, and placing the CPU, GPU, RAM, and connectors. The model has 3 video outputs. It comes with a beautiful USB Type-C for easy connection. It has 2 x M2 for SSD and comes with good operation. The product is effortless to work, and the SATA ports are at right angles. | The installation was quite simple. The motherboard appears beautiful aesthetically. It comes with the connectors required for operations. It has several USB ports and fan ports. The unit has ports labeled and simple to work with. |
| CONS | CONS |
| The I/O cover is not sturdy. | It has very few SATA connectors. |
ASRock B450M Pro4 vs MSI B450M Pro-VDH Max: Features & Layout
The ASRock B450M Pro4 comes with stunning features & layout. It has managed to infuse ultimate quality into the motherboard, ensuring that it comes with a sublime layout for easy installation purposes.
The packing comes nicely with a quality box, foam mat under the board, and anti-static bag. These small things go a long way in ensuring that the user receives a proper motherboard. We do not want to get damaged products under $100.
Besides, this is a budget motherboard. You can notice 3 PCI-E slots, one coming at the 1x PCI-E 3.0 x16 (at x16 mode), the other at 1x PCI-E 2.0 x16 (at x4 mode), and the last one at the 1x PCI-E 2.0 x1.
You can notice 2 RGB headers and addressable LED headers for aesthetics. They were nicely done and useful for gamers. Besides, you can consider adding LED coolers and few light strips. You will be delighted to know that the 4 fan headers are placed well.
Our tester felt that the I/O shelf felt a bit cheap. That is because it comes with a single metal piece stamped port label. When compared to the top-end models of the manufacturer, they look quite appealing.
We felt that the components were also designed beautifully. The manufacturer also has ensured that it comes with Electrostatic Discharge protection. They can be found on the RJ45 LAN port, USB ports, and audio jacks.
Our tester felt that they could have installed the DisplayPort at the rear. It has a VGA and DVI port. Not to mention, the connectivity could have come more adequately for those users planning on using APU.
The experimental setup of the PC was tested, and so was the open test bench. We can say that it excelled in both tests. However, you may want to be a professional. Beginners might require more time to set it up.
We liked the Meshify C Mini that comes with an exceptional case for uninterrupted airflow, allowing sufficient elbow room when designing a new PC. The headers were placed just where we wanted them to be.
Additionally, the mounting screws of the unit were clear of the heatsinks, the connection ports, and the shrouds. You can effortlessly install the connecting of the headers and install the motherboard without much hassle.
All in all, you could say that the motherboard comes with an exceptional sound chip and tremendous chokes. Though it is small in size, the surface area of the VRM heatsinks comes very stably for it.
The MSI B450M Pro-VDH Max motherboard is based on the AMD B450 chipset. It seamlessly provides support for the 3rd generation AMD Ryzen processor. Besides, it also comes with an AM4 socket.
The board has four memory slots providing proper support to the massive 64GB of DDR4 RAM. Gamers can effortlessly perform overclocking to 4133 MHz. You can use the 4 SATA III ports along with Turbo M.2 slot in storage.
It comes with the PCIe 3.0 x4 interface. The motherboard comes embedded with several specifications that include HDMI outputs, DVI-D, and the VGA for integrated graphics. There is the PCIe 3.0 x16 slot for GPU.
Users can find Realtek ALC892 7.1-Channel HD Audio. It comes with PCIe steel armor that can protect the GPU from bending and EMI. The board includes DDR4 Boost, Core Boost, Audio Boost, EZ Debug LED.
ASRock B450M Pro4 vs MSI B450M Pro-VDH Max: Software and Firmware
The ASRock B450M Pro4 comes with functional software embedded in it. They are present in there but not quite up to the potential. You can make use of the app shop to download the latest version of their utilities.
Doing that enables you to make complete utilization of the motherboard. Our tester did that, and he is delighted with it. Most of the units in the price range come with decent features infused in them.
It offers you with sublime monitoring, overclocking, and fan control. The RGB light present with the product shines beautifully. It is quite compatible with the HyperX Predator RGB module. The Xfast LAN offers software-based QoS.
Please do note that shutting down the apps when the motherboard is in operation can immensely affect the bandwidth. This can have a negative impact on online gaming. You can find the live updates from ASRock present on the drivers.
The B450M Pro4 comes with a barrage of features when compared to the B450M Pro-VDH Max unit. You have Glass Fabric PCB, 42A Power Choke, Black PCB, Full Spike Protection, and so on. In comparison, the Max comes with the usual DDR4 Boost, Turbo M.2, Audio Boost, PCI-E Steel Armor, and EZ Debug LED.
The same can be said about the MSI B450M Pro-VDH Max product. A notable feature about the unit is that you can flash the BIOS and enable the latest Ryzen 3000 series. If you are working on a smaller series, then there is no problem, really.
All you need to do straightaway work on the 3900X without altering the complete motherboard. Few users had said that they could not fit the 140mm cooler in the Meshify C Mini case.
We do realize that this is a budget model, and some gamers may want to reduce the expenses of installing a water cooling setup. We highly recommend the large twin tower NH-D15S because it fits in nicely on the motherboard.
We worked on the motherboard using the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 to a brand for a value product. Our tester found that the overclocking was sublime, having 4.2GHz on the X470 motherboard. On the whole, the unit is a practical device with the headers in the right places.
All in all, combining quality with functionality is the main element of the Pro-VDH Max motherboard. They are designed to satisfy the most demanding situations in the market. They can make seamless fitting onto any kind of PC, offering long-lasting top performance.
ASRock B450M Pro4 vs MSI B450M Pro-VDH Max: Overclocking
The ASRock B450M Pro4 motherboard comes with top-notch specifications. It may pack only the 3+3 phase VRM. You also have Vcore and SoC portions infused with VRM passive cooling. This is a feature most MicroATX B450 boards don’t come with.
It will be helpful when you plan on using the Raven Ridge APU. The VRM heatsinks look large enough to be effective, and we didn’t notice any issues or excessive heat when testing the overclocking capabilities with our Ryzen 5 2600 CPU.
It’s good to have 2 M.2 slots on the board for SSD. One is for the NVME/SATA, and the second one is for the SATA M.2. The unit also has a USB 3.1 Gen 1 front-panel header, 4 SATA 3 connectors, and 2 USB 2.0 headers.
You may want to pair it with the 2400G and the Ryzen 2200G APU. You can make use of the VGA, DVI, and HDMI ports present on the rear. Users can find the APUs quite effective as it has specifications of upper entry-level board.
Besides coming with a full-length PCI-E slot, we did not find any drawback in using the motherboard for designing the PC. It allows the users to work on the budget level unit for developing a compact but functional PC.
Our tester felt that the overclocking could have been slightly better on the Ryzen 5 2600 CPU than the X470. This is what it is capable of providing you. Users can get the decent speed with the 4.2GHz overclock at 1.425V, making us mildly impressed.
The MSI B450M Pro-VDH Max provides you a decent option for overclocking. This is if that your CPU is excellent. Probably you can upgrade from the Ryzen 7 to the 9 series in the future. When your PC case is nicely ventilated and the room temperature is less than 30-degree Celsius.
The B450 Pro-VDH Max comes with everything that you will need for designing your new device. However, the needs can vary from user to user. The primary use for mild gaming can be easily satisfied with this unit.
It comes with AMD sublime APUs, and you would be delighted to know that it also comes with the VGA, DVI, and HDMI. So, it has got you covered in that aspect of it. There is no need to worry about the functioning of your PC.
ASRock B450M Pro4 vs MSI B450M Pro-VDH Max: Price
The pricing of the B450M Pro4 and the B450M Pro-VDH Max does not come as a surprise. We knew that ASRock does not take too many chances with anything. The ASRock B450m Pro4 gaming motherboard is priced under $100.
The MSI B450m Pro-VHD Max is priced under $82. Though the B450M Pro4 motherboard is slightly expensive than the Pro-VDH Max, the specifications embedded in it are tremendous. The Max is also a good option because it comes with great features.
ASRock B450M Pro4 vs MSI B450M Pro-VDH Max: Verdict
We have ended our review on the ASRock B450M Pro4 vs MSI B450M Pro-VDH Max. Hope you found it helpful and enabled you to decide on your new motherboard for your PC. Designing PCs does not have to become a challenging task when you have a suitable unit.
The ASRock B450M Pro4 motherboard comes with sublime features for the price range. We were able to operate the PC and running benchmarks without hassle. Our tester was quite pleased with the result he got in the end.
We felt that we were dealing with an expensive device. Though the unit does not handle very elegantly, but it is not that bad either. It comes with a well-balanced feature set. We were not able to find too many faults with it.
The B450M Pro4 comes with exceeding overclocking powers. It also comes with storage and PCI-E connectivity. We believe that the manufacturer has done an exceptional job on the design and layout of the motherboard.
A notable feature was the placement of the elements in it. The installation and setup were quite fast. The MSI B450M Pro-VDH Max is one of the cheapest motherboards in the market today.
In comparison to the options that it provides you. We had a sublime experience using it on the Ryzen 5 3600 processor. You would be happy to know that it comes with 3 years of warranty. Any manufacturer that provides you with that kind of warranty has confidence in what they produce.
We found that the layout is quite neat, and the BIOS is simple for beginners to use and begin operations. There was never a doubt about that because it is an MSI product. You can also tweak the performance of your CPU as and when you want.
We could easily enhance the processor’s speed close to 4.0Ghz, which is impossible on many motherboards within the same price range. The winner in the comparison review of the ASRock B450M Pro4 vs MSI B450M Pro-VDH Max is the Pro4.
James Smith has always been intrigued by electronic products since his childhood. After his post graduation in electronics from a popular university, he decided to pursue a career in the electronics sector. But his calling for writing about these marvellous pieces of work got the better of him. That is how UBG was started. With a writing career spanning more than 12 years, James has worked on several hundred product reviews. During his free time, he like to spend time with his pet dog and relax in the swimming pool.