MSI
MSI B860 Tomahawk Wi-Fi
LGA1851 · B860 · Wi-Fi 7 · $229
88
/ 100
From $229
VS
ASRock
ASRock B850I Lightning Wi-Fi
AM5 ITX · USB4 · Wi-Fi 7
88
/ 100
From $299
Specdex verdict
Dead heat — it comes down to priorities.
In our weighted Specdex score, MSI B860 Tomahawk Wi-Fi lands at 88 and ASRock B850I Lightning Wi-Fi at 88. With scores tied, the decision hinges on which sub-scores matter most to you.
Pick MSI B860 Tomahawk Wi-Fi if…
- ✓Great value Arrow Lake board
- ✓Wi-Fi 7 + 2.5 GbE
- ✓Solid VRM for mid-range
Pick ASRock B850I Lightning Wi-Fi if…
- ✓Mini-ITX with USB4 + Wi-Fi 7
- ✓Strong VRM for ITX
- ✓Two M.2 slots (one PCIe 5.0)
MSI B860 Tomahawk Wi-Fi 88
vs 88 ASRock B850I Lightning Wi-Fi
Score breakdown
MSI B860 Tomahawk Wi-Fi
88 vrm 88
features 88
bios 88
value 94
ease 0
software 0
ASRock B850I Lightning Wi-Fi
88 vrm 86
features 92
bios 0
value 88
ease 88
software 80
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | MSI B860 Tomahawk Wi-Fi | ASRock B850I Lightning Wi-Fi |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1851 | AM5 |
| Chipset | B860 | AMD B850 |
| RAM slots | 4× DDR5-7200 | — |
| Networking | 2.5 GbE + Wi-Fi 7 | — |
| VRM | — | 14+2 phase |
| RAM | — | 2× DDR5 up to 8000 MT/s OC |
| PCIe slots | — | 1× PCIe 5.0 x16 |
| M.2 | — | 2× (1× PCIe 5.0) |
| USB | — | 1× USB4, 5× USB 3.2 Gen 2 |
| Network | — | 2.5 GbE + Wi-Fi 7 |
| Form factor | — | Mini-ITX |
MSI B860 Tomahawk Wi-Fi
Pros
- +Great value Arrow Lake board
- +Wi-Fi 7 + 2.5 GbE
- +Solid VRM for mid-range
Cons
- −Only 1× PCIe 5.0 x16
- −No USB4
- −Memory overclocking headroom limited
ASRock B850I Lightning Wi-Fi
Pros
- +Mini-ITX with USB4 + Wi-Fi 7
- +Strong VRM for ITX
- +Two M.2 slots (one PCIe 5.0)
Cons
- −Two RAM slots only (ITX limitation)
- −Limited fan headers
- −Premium for ITX
FAQ: MSI B860 Tomahawk Wi-Fi vs ASRock B850I Lightning Wi-Fi
Which is better, MSI B860 Tomahawk Wi-Fi or ASRock B850I Lightning Wi-Fi? +
Both score 88 on our weighted rubric — tied. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is MSI B860 Tomahawk Wi-Fi worth the price? +
At $229, MSI B860 Tomahawk Wi-Fi delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in value.
Is ASRock B850I Lightning Wi-Fi worth the price? +
At $299, ASRock B850I Lightning Wi-Fi delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in features.
Does MSI B860 Tomahawk Wi-Fi or ASRock B850I Lightning Wi-Fi last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.