đ» With limited desk space, I initially set my sights on an mATX motherboard, specifically focusing on the B850 series. This lineup boasts a PCIe 5.0 graphics card slot and excellent expandability, making it an appealing choice.

1. **ASUS TUF B850M-PLUS** This board is undeniably solid, but its recessed graphics card slot poses challenges. Pairing it with my chosen case created complications: the graphics card sat too close to the ground, and there wasnât enough clearance for the bottom fan. This issue left me scratching my head for quite some time.

2. **GIGABYTE B850M AORUS PRO AX** While this option is respectable, it falls short in several areas. The power delivery, PCB quality, and interface design arenât as refined as Iâd hoped, and to top it off, the price isnât exactly budget-friendly.

3. **MSI MAG B850M MORTAR** Highly recommended by many online, this board seemed like a no-brainerâuntil rumors surfaced about a delay pushing it to March. Having waited since January, my patience has worn thin. Moreover, the official specs reveal that each phase of the power supply delivers only 60A, which pales in comparison to the TUF. (Urgent build? No time to waitâfarewell!)

No matter how I weighed my options, I remained torn. As I noticed that most mATX boards hover around the $1300â1400 mark, switching to an ATX board began to feel like a smarter move. It would eliminate potential conflicts between the graphics card and the bottom fan altogether.

Unfortunately, the ROG Strix presented its own quick-release issues, leaving me with one standout contender: the B850 Tomahawk. This motherboard truly shines, offering robust performance and sleek aesthetics. Assembly went smoothly, save for the minor headache of wiring fans in series.

Despite the small hiccups, the final result is exceptional. The "sea view" visual effect is nothing short of breathtaking, making the effort well worth it.


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