I wrote this MSI MPG B550 Gaming Plus review for everyone who’s considering building an AM4 PC on a budget in 2025. While many will argue that it’s a dead platform and technically they are correct, but it still has much more to offer in terms of gaming.
So if you’re looking for the best budget B550 motherboard, this one should definitely be on your radar. It offers a lot of value due to its range of features, excellent VRM, and attractive price. Let’s see whether this budget board can deliver outstanding performance in 2025. Here’s why my testing has discovered.
MSI MPG B550 Gaming Plus Quick Specs Table
| Chipset | B550 |
| Supported CPUs | AMD Ryzen 3000, 4000, 5000 Series (BIOS update may be required for 5000) |
| VRM | 10+2+1 Power Phase, Duet Rail Power System |
| Memory Support | Up to 128GB DDR4, 4400 MHz (OC) |
| GPU Support | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| LAN and Wireless LAN | Realtek 8111H Gigabit LAN (no Wi-Fi/Bluetooth) |
| Audio | Realtek ALC892 7.1-Channel HD Audio |
| Storage Support | 2x M.2 (1x PCIe 4.0 x4, 1x PCIe 3.0 x4), 6x SATA 6Gb/s |
| USB | Rear: 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 2x USB 2.0; Front: 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 2x USB 2.0 |
| Form Factor | ATX 12.0-in x 9.6-in (30.5 cm x 24.4 cm) |
| Price | $99 on Amazon |
Design and Build Quality
MSI MPG B550 Gaming Plus design looks premium with its sleek black PCB that will work perfectly for dark builds. It’s a 2oz copper PCB that allows better thermal efficiency. You’ll find a VRM heatsink to help with VRM cooling, which is a positive for this board.
There’s Mystic Light RGB that can be customized, but what I really liked is the pre-installed IO shield. The first M.2 slot is protected by a Shield Frozr for enhanced cooling. The board features four sturdy RAM slots that are easy to work with.
Overall, it’s a high-quality motherboard that packs plenty of cooling solutions for better stability and longevity of the other components in this build, making it a great budget gaming motherboard.
BIOS and Software
MSI MPG B550 Gaming Plus BIOS packs all the important features that you’d expect from modern motherboards. There’s the Game Boost that allows you to easily overclock the CPU. The BIOS is easy to navigate and setting EXPO or XMP is fairly straightforward.
The M-FLASH BIOS utility is easy to use and makes the process of updating BIOS simple. I like that MSI offers great support when it comes to BIOS updates. The latest release for this model was on the 12th of May 2025. It clearly shows MSI’s commitment to long-term updates.
Mystic Light allows you to control the RGB of your PC, which offers plenty of customization. You can use MSI Center for system monitoring.
Overall, the support page features various drivers, different BIOS versions and other MSI-specific software.
Performance and Features
So far, I’ve spent more than 10 hours gaming on this machine, and the ambient temperature was always around 24 degrees Celsius. Here are the rest of the components that I used:
- Case: DeepCool CC560 ARGB V2
- CPU: Ryzen 7 5700X3D
- CPU Cooler: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Black X Duo
- RAM: Kingston Fury 32 GB DDR4 3200 CL 18 (Dual Channel 2x 16 GB Modules)
- Storage: Kingston Fury Renegade 1 TB (PCI-e 4.0)
- GPU: AsRock B580 Steel Legend 12 GB
- PSU: NZXT C750 Bronze 750W
MSI MPG B550 Gaming Plus Gaming Performance
I threw some of the popular titles to try this build, and I can say that the performance was stable with thermals being steady as expected.
| Game | Native 1080p Results – Highest Preset (No RT with B580) |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | Average: 93.6, 1% Low: 79.3 |
| Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 | Average: 63.2, 1% Low: 38.3 |
MSI MPG B550 Gaming Plus Thermal Performance
Here’s how the temps held up during my testing.
| MSI MPG B550 Gaming Plus Parts | Average Temperatures (°C) |
| VRMs (MOS) | (No VRM temp sensors) – MOS temps – maximum 47 Degrees – Average 46.2 Degrees |
| Chipset | Maximum 42.2 Degrees – Average 41.9 Degrees |
| Motherboard | Maximum 40.5 Degrees – average 39.1 Degrees |
In terms of features, the motherboard offers everything users with different needs might want in their rig. There’s the PCIe 4.0 PCIe x16 GPU slot that’s more than enough for the currently popular GPUs’ bandwidths.
One SSD uses PCIe 4.0, and the second one is on PCIe 3.0, which is more than plenty of people need. On top of that, you get USB-C connectivity on the back side of the motherboard.
A gigabit LAN port is standard today and provides more than enough bandwidth for gaming.
MSI MPG B550 Gaming Plus Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Affordable PCIe 4.0 | No WiFi/Bluetooth |
| Great Thermals with High-End 5000 Series Chips | Limited rear USB ports |
| Dual M.2 Slots | No CPU upgrade path |
| Six Sata Slots |
Alternatives to Consider
Are you interested in alternatives? Here’s my roundup of the best budget B550 motherboards in 2025.
- Gigabyte B550m AORUS Elite: Similar price, includes Wi-Fi 6.
- ASRock B550 Steel Legend: Comparable features, better audio.
- MSI B550 Tomahawk: Slightly pricier, more USB ports.
Even though each of the alternatives have something better to offer, with the current discount, this motherboard is the perfect value. It provides robust VRM and heatsinks which separates it from the cheaper budget alternatives. Plus, those who’re into looks with find RGB a nice addon.
Pricing and Value
Pricing is the most appealing factor for this motherboard. It’s usually around $129-$149, but with ongoing discounts because it’s an old platform, you can get it for $100 on Amazon.
When you consider the feature set it offers, it makes it one of the best value B550 motherboards currently available. Of course, this only if you don’t need Wi-Fi on your PC. MSI MPG B550 Gaming Plus’s price makes this board the most appealing choice if you’re building a new AM4 computer in 2025.
MSI MPG B550 Gaming Plus Review – Final Thoughts
Recommending an AM4 build in 2025 is controversial because there are plenty of budget options on the AM5 platform. However, there are cases when every dollar counts and picking up an AM4 bundle is a better option than going for an AM5 build.
Saving on all the other components leaves you with a higher budget to invest in a better GPU, which will matter the most for gaming.
With all that said, if you’re thinking of getting this motherboard new or used, you’ll be making the right choice. Remember that it doesn’t offer WiFi support, so going for one of the listed alternatives is something to consider.
I’d like to conclude my MSI MPG B550 Gaming Plus review on a positive note – I fully recommend this motherboard that comes with great features, stable thermals, and offers amazing performance for gaming in 2025.
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