Introduction
In our review this time around, we are taking a step into the “Way-Back Machine” in a manner of speaking, to evaluate a new/old motherboard from MSI. To say the world of PC enthusiasts has been placed in a blender lately would be a safe bet. First, DDR5 RAM can cost more than a month’s rent, then you have to be able to find it. There’s also the cost of NVME storage affected by the same AI appetite.
The price of a motherboard is on the rise. Don’t even ask me about a graphics card. Then there’s that suggestion that our AI-Assistant will have its own PC so we won’t need one. Yikes. Well, MSI has released a new take on their 6-year-old B550 GAMING motherboard to coincide with the 10th anniversary re-release of the AMD Ryzen 5800X3D Anniversary Edition. This AM4 motherboard will allow you to take advantage of some vintage parts you might have in the basement and avail yourself of updated technology at a very, very reasonable price.
The original MSI MPG B550 GAMING Plus board debuted in July of 2020. While still listed on the MSI storefront, it is out of stock. The MSI B550 GAMING WiFi6E has taken its place, offering a few upgrades that make it a very competitive option for a build that can have a GOAT as a centerpiece. Now this motherboard isn’t fancy; it has no RGBs. But, as you will come to see, what it offers in affordability is intriguing. It upgrades from the previous WiFi 5, now upgraded to support WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.
Before we jump into the review, if you look on the MSI storefront, there are no fewer than 10 motherboards listed under the AMD B550 chipset. Here is the product list of all MSI B550 motherboard series. These boards range in price from very cheap to a bit expensive and well-aged. Those with “Gaming” heritage are currently: B550M GAMING PLUS WiFi6E, B550 TOMAHAWK MAX WiFi, and the aforementioned B550 GAMING PLUS V1 (still available on Amazon). The MSI GAMING WiFi6E was released in May 2026 and currently lists at $109 on NewEgg, Amazon, and the MSI-USA Store. The warranty is shown as 3 years. Stay tuned; we also have more new AM4 motherboard reviews coming from MSI, with more major upgrades.
Packaging and Contents
The motherboard was shipped directly from MSI. This is a full retail package. We found the usual packing format. The board was placed inside an anti-static bag and protected by cardboard inserts. Everything else was underneath. The accessories included: booklets, two SATA cables, a motherboard backplate, two M.2 screws, and the WiFi antennas.
MSI B550 GAMING WiFi6E Features
This is a full-sized ATX motherboard. Overall, it is dark gray with black, white, and light blue accents. This is the exact fore-runner of all the MSI GAMING logo boards we see today. As we stated, it’s pretty basic. There are no EZ-DIY components on the board, but honestly, this board predated all that at its original release. The PCB is a 6-layer board with inlaid copper. It is quite sturdy when handled. The heatsinks have been extended according to MSI; they look to be exactly what we have come to expect from this tier of motherboards.
MSI uses the same thermal pads as all their current boards. There are two M.2 slots on this board. The primary has a heatsink accessed by Phillips screws. The secondary is naked. Both M.2 slots depend on small hold-down screws included in the box. The primary PCIe slot is reinforced. It has a standard clasp, which is supposed to be “enlarged”. Â There is no digital debug or power button on the board. There is an LED panel at the top right which has four functions to aid in troubleshooting. Fancy lighting is absent from this motherboard. There are the usual RGB headers, which can be controlled by MSI Center software.
The MSI B550 GAMING WiFi6E has adequate connectivity in keeping with the AM4 platform. There are four USB-A 2.0, two USB-A 5Gb/s, and one USB-A 10Gb/s along with a USB-C. WiFi is, as the name says, 6E, which includes Bluetooth 5.3, which is the biggest update versus the OG MPG GAMING Plus V1. RJ-45 is 1Gb/s using Realtek 8111H, and audio is Realtek ALC897, 7.1 capable.
Power Delivery
The power delivery is noted to be 8+2+1 (it appears to be a duet 4-phase) with 50Amp DrMos circuitry. This is supplied by a single 8-pin connector on the upper left. The VRM heatsinks are what we are used to seeing on an MSI board; there do not appear to be any heatpipes. The motherboard is built on 6 layers with inlaid copper; it feels sturdy when handled.
CPU Socket, Memory and Storage
This MSI B550 GAMING WiFi6E supports socket AM4 CPUs which include Ryzen 3000, 5000 and 4000G. The space around the CPU does not seem to present any issues with cooling placement. Our MSI AIO MAG Core 360I fit with no problems. Memory supported is DDR4 up to 128 GB total. Frequencies are advertised to top at 4800 MT/s (OC). XMP profiles are supported for 1 click overclocking. The memory is single latched.
As was mentioned above, there are two M.2 slots on this board. The primary M.2 is derived from the CPU and is Gen4 x 4 (64Gb/s). M.2_2 is Gen3 (32Gb/s) with lanes derived from the chipset. The primary slot has the MSI Shield Frozr heatsink with a rubber pad placed on the base of the slot. The other slot is bare. The primary heatsink is held by phillips screws, while the secondary M.2 has no heatsink supplied. On the lower right there are six SATA 6Gb/s ports with the PCB cut-out to make it easier to place connectors. The M.2 spacing on this board is excellent. There was no interference with either slot from the dedicated graphics card we used.
Expansion
Expansion on this motherboard consists of two full-length PCIe slots and one PCIe x1 slot. There are only standard clasps. The primary PCIe slot is metal-reinforced. The primary PCIe slot supports Gen4 x16 speed, while the second slot is Gen3 x4. The smaller slot supports x1 speed. As we stated, you have no EZ advantages when it comes to the release of the GPU in either slot, and the tolerance is tight. MSI states the primary PCIe clasp is “enlarged”; however, when the GPU is installed, you have only about the outer half of the clasp to use to release it.
I/O
The rear I/O of the MSI B550 GAMING WiFi6E is adequate. The backplate is not embedded as we have come to see on nearly every motherboard lately. You are supplied with a backplate in the box. Working from left to right: Recessed BIOS Flashback button, two USB-A 2.0 ports, HDMI port and DisplayPort, two USB-A 2.0 ports, RealTek 1G RJ-45, two USB-A 5Gb/s, one USB-A 10Gb/s port and one USB-C 10Gb/s, the WiFi antenna ports, and finally three 3.5mm audio jacks.
On the main board, there are a total of 7 four-pin fan headers. Two top-board labelled Water Pump and CPU FAN, three on the right side and two on the bottom row. All fan headers can be controlled by either Hardware Monitor in the BIOS or Fan Control in the MSI Center motherboard software. The right side of the board houses three fan headers, 24-pin power, a USB-C 5Gb/s front panel port, and 6 SATA ports. The bottom row has the front panel header, two fan headers, a USB-A 5Gb/s front panel port, two USB 2.0 headers, two ARGB headers, one 12V LED header, and the audio header. RGB can be controlled by MSI Center Mystic Fusion software.
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