MSI B350 Tomahawk Review: Gaming Performance Comparison

MSI B350 Tomahawk Review: Gaming Performance Comparison

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. Overview of MSI B350 Tomahawk
3. Comparison of CPUs: A12-9800 APU vs Pentium G4600
4. Performance testing Setup
5. Gaming Performance Comparison
   • Alien Isolation
   • Ashes of Singularity
   • Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
   • DOOM
   • Dota 2
   • Prey
   • Resident Evil 7
   • Rise of the Tomb Raider
   • Shadow of Mordor
6. Conclusion

Article: MSI B350 Tomahawk Review and CPU Comparison

Introduction The MSI B350 Tomahawk is a motherboard that has gained quite some attention in the tech community. In this article, we will be providing a comprehensive review of this motherboard, as well as comparing the performance of the A12-9800 APU and Pentium G4600 CPUs.

Overview of MSI B350 Tomahawk The MSI B350 Tomahawk is a mid-range motherboard that offers a range of features suitable for gaming and general computing. It is equipped with the AM4 socket, which supports both the first and second generation AMD Ryzen processors. The motherboard features the B350 chipset and supports DDR4 memory modules up to a maximum of 64GB. It also comes with PCI-E steel armor, which provides added support and protection for graphics cards.

Comparison of CPUs: A12-9800 APU vs Pentium G4600 To evaluate the performance of the MSI B350 Tomahawk motherboard, we will be comparing two different CPUs - the A12-9800 APU and the Pentium G4600. The A12-9800 APU is an AMD processor that combines a quad-core CPU with Radeon Vega graphics. On the other hand, the Pentium G4600 is an Intel processor that features dual-core architecture with hyperthreading.

Performance Testing Setup For our performance testing, we used an ASUS Z270 Maximus Non-Hero motherboard with 16GB of DDR4 RAM running at 2400MHz. The graphics card used was the Sapphire RX 570 Nitro+ Edition. We ran a variety of games to assess the difference in performance between the two CPUs.

Gaming Performance Comparison In our gaming performance comparison, we tested a range of popular titles including Alien Isolation, Ashes of Singularity, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, DOOM, Dota 2, Prey, Resident Evil 7, Rise of the Tomb Raider, and Shadow of Mordor.

• Alien Isolation: The Pentium G4600 performed significantly better than the A12-9800 APU, with a much higher FPS count.
• Ashes of Singularity: The difference in performance was astounding, with the Pentium G4600 providing almost double the performance of the A12-9800 APU.
• Counter-Strike: Global Offensive: This Game demonstrated the importance of having multiple cores, as the A12-9800 APU struggled while the Pentium G4600 performed smoothly.
• DOOM: We encountered launching issues in Vulcan under both CPUs but found that the Pentium G4600 outperformed the A12-9800 APU in OpenGL with significantly better frame rates.
• Dota 2: Surprisingly, we noticed a difference in performance between the two CPUs, with the Pentium G4600 consistently outperforming the A12-9800 APU.
• Prey: The game proved to be unplayable on the A12-9800 APU due to stuttering, while the Pentium G4600 handled it smoothly.
• Resident Evil 7: Both CPUs showcased similar performance, highlighting that Resident Evil 7 can run well even with just two cores.
• Rise of the Tomb Raider: The difference in performance varied throughout the benchmark, but the quad-threaded Pentium G4600 generally performed better.
• Shadow of Mordor: Both CPUs performed similarly, despite the Pentium G4600 experiencing lower utilization compared to the A12-9800 APU.

Conclusion In conclusion, the MSI B350 Tomahawk motherboard is a reliable option for mid-range gaming and general computing. However, when it comes to CPU performance, the Pentium G4600 surpassed the A12-9800 APU in terms of gaming capabilities and overall smoothness of gameplay. The Pentium G4600's dual-core architecture with hyperthreading proved to be advantageous in handling demanding games.

While the A12-9800 APU offers excellent value for its price, the Pentium G4600 is the better choice for avid gamers looking for enhanced performance. Ultimately, the decision between these CPUs depends on individual needs and budget preferences.

Resources:

• MSI B350 Tomahawk
• ASUS Z270 Maximus Non-Hero
• Sapphire RX 570 Nitro+ Edition