Conclusion
Our review is the second in a series evaluating the Project Zero hardware from MSI. You can check out our initial review of the MSI Project Zero here. Specifically, today, we reviewed the MSI PRO B850M-A WiFi PZ motherboard. This is a micro-ATX entry-level, or budget-oriented motherboard that supports socket AM5 in the $199-$219 price range. The board is pointed primarily at desktop uses and use in business. It also supports DDR5 memory, Gen5 SSDs and Gen5 PCIe. There is adequate connectivity for the purposes intended. Of course, the innovation of Back-Connect makes this quite appealing to builders and DIYers looking for a crisp, modernistic build.
Installation and Use
The MSI Pro B850M-A WiFi PZ had no issues from set-up through initial boot.  Components installed without issue. The CPU space is adequate and uncrowded. Ram slots are single-latched. The M.2 primary requires a screwdriver to remove the heatsink, as does the secondary slot. Our MSI Spatium has a large heatsink, so we obviously had to leave the native motherboard heatsink top on the bench. As well, if your Gen4 SSD has a big heatsink, you will not be able to place the motherboard’s heatsink top here either. M.2 slots are toolless installs. If you choose to place a discrete GPU, the installation and removal is very easy despite limited space. MSI uses an EZ-PCIe Clip II that works very well. There are three other PCIe slots if one wanted to use risers for extra storage.
First Boot, navigation through the BIOS and Windows 11 installation were smooth and without incident. We did have to install a wireless driver manually, however. We used M-Flash without issue to update the BIOS. The MSI Click X BIOS is essentially identical to all the most recent MSI AM5 motherboards we have reviewed. It is very responsive and easy to navigate. All our benchmarks ran without a hitch and were consistent with other B850 chipset motherboards we have reviewed.
The Back-Connect is quite nice. It allows for a tidy case presentation and a very aggravation-free assembly. This is truly a game-changing innovation without affecting the board performance.
The MSI PANO 100R PZ Gaming case
In part one of our series, we introduced the MSI PANO 100R PZ PC case. We recommend you give that a look-see for the details so far on this MATX/ATX Back-Connect case. Once again, we found the case to be very well designed for its intended purpose. Installation of this small-ish motherboard was quite easy, and the finished look was accomplished with a minimum of effort. The case is quite stylish and complements the look of the Pro B850M-A WiFi PZ if it was made for it. (ya think?) There is plenty of room left over in this build for more radiators and fans if you enjoy custom cooling loops. We are, of course, planning a full review of this case as we go through the Project Zero design series.
Final Points
In this review, we took a step back from gaming-oriented motherboards and put the desktop/productivity-oriented MSI PRO B850M-A WiFi PZ to the test. This is an entry-level, or budget-oriented, motherboard in the $199-$219 price range, which is a good entry point for AMD Ryzen CPUs. We found this MATX board to be very capable, testing out equal to all our other B850 chipset reviews. From start to finish, there were no issues.
The addition of Back-Connect design to these motherboards makes it very appealing if you are after a crisp, clean look. This combination would look very sharp and professional sitting on the reception desk at any business. It would also add to any room if used for a media platform. The Project Zero look and final product is very appealing, very much worth consideration for a new build.
