MSI
MSI B860 Tomahawk Wi-Fi
LGA1851 · B860 · Wi-Fi 7 · $229
88
/ 100
From $229
VS
MSI MPG Z890 Carbon WiFi wins by 3
MSI
MSI MPG Z890 Carbon WiFi
LGA1851 · Z890 · Wi-Fi 7 · USB4
91
/ 100
From $529
Specdex verdict
MSI MPG Z890 Carbon WiFi takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, MSI B860 Tomahawk Wi-Fi lands at 88 and MSI MPG Z890 Carbon WiFi at 91. That puts MSI MPG Z890 Carbon WiFi ahead by 3 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick MSI B860 Tomahawk Wi-Fi if…
- ✓Great value Arrow Lake board
- ✓Wi-Fi 7 + 2.5 GbE
- ✓Solid VRM for mid-range
Pick MSI MPG Z890 Carbon WiFi if…
- ✓Dual USB4 ports
- ✓Strong memory training
- ✓Solid BIOS
MSI B860 Tomahawk Wi-Fi 88
vs 91 MSI MPG Z890 Carbon WiFi
Score breakdown
MSI B860 Tomahawk Wi-Fi
88 vrm 88
features 88
bios 88
value 94
MSI MPG Z890 Carbon WiFi
91 vrm 92
features 94
bios 90
value 88
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | MSI B860 Tomahawk Wi-Fi | MSI MPG Z890 Carbon WiFi |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1851 | LGA1851 |
| Chipset | B860 | Z890 |
| RAM slots | 4× DDR5-7200 | 4× DDR5-9000+ |
| Networking | 2.5 GbE + Wi-Fi 7 | 2.5 GbE + Wi-Fi 7 |
| PCIe | — | 1× PCIe 5.0 x16 |
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
MSI MPG Z890 Carbon WiFi
Pros
- +Dual USB4 ports
- +Strong memory training
- +Solid BIOS
Cons
- −Only 2.5 GbE
- −Heat spreader fit issues
- −Audio codec dated
FAQ: MSI B860 Tomahawk Wi-Fi vs MSI MPG Z890 Carbon WiFi
Which is better, MSI B860 Tomahawk Wi-Fi or MSI MPG Z890 Carbon WiFi? +
MSI MPG Z890 Carbon WiFi scores 91 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 3. 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 MSI MPG Z890 Carbon WiFi worth the price? +
At $529, MSI MPG Z890 Carbon WiFi delivers a Specdex score of 91 — strongest in features.
Does MSI B860 Tomahawk Wi-Fi or MSI MPG Z890 Carbon WiFi 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.