MSI B350 Tomahawk AM4 Motherboard Review

Packaging & Accessories

In the Hardware Installation section we examine how major components fit on the motherboard, and whether there are any serious issues that may affect installation and general functionality. Specifically, we are interested in determining whether there is adequate clearance in all critical areas.

Since the Tomahawk in the model name relates to the cruise missile and not the axe, that is what is represented on the front of the packaging. The red bar is probably there to invoke the red backlit PCB audio separation line or even the red strips on the heatsinks. As always, we like that the back of the box is filled with useful information regarding all of the interesting features that have been packed onto this model, as well as a full specifications list and a handy rear I/O panel diagram.

Once you flip open the box, you are greeted with two separate sections, the top half securely holds the motherboard in an anti-static bag while the bottom half contains the documentation, the driver/software DVD, and the accessories.

As with most affordable motherboards, the accessories bundle is rather scarce, comprised of just two SATA 6Gb/s cables and a rear I/O panel cover. We would have liked to see four SATA cables, but MSI also only included two on the vastly more expensive Z270 Gaming Pro Carbon that we reviewed earlier, so apparently that’s what they are doing at this moment.