When choosing CPUs, motherboards & memory for an LGA1151 build, two boards that both reference DDR4 can still lead to different build plans. ASUS PRIME H310M-A R2.0 and MSI Z390-A PRO share those platform words, yet their stated connection names and product-specific details take the selection in different directions. That matters when a build already has a chosen processor or connection requirement. The useful payoff is a clearer short list: match the board's stated details to the components you intend to use.
Quick verdict
The listed-price difference is $128.25. Choose ASUS when a MicroATX board is central to your plan, and choose MSI when ATX is the intended format. Their shared LGA1151 and DDR4 wording is helpful, but the deciding details are the listed footprint and each board's connection names.
| Detail | ASUS PRIME H310M-A R2.0 | MSI Z390-A PRO |
|---|---|---|
| Listed price | USD 43.96 | USD 172.21 |
| Board format | MicroATX | ATX |
| Named connections | DVI, VGA | M.2, USB 3.1 |
Where each product wins
The better match turns on the particular connection wording you want included in your build plan.
- ASUS: DVI and VGA are both named. Favor the H310M-A R2.0 when those connection names are requirements.
- MSI: M.2 and USB 3.1 are named in the Z390-A PRO title. Favor the MSI board when those are the connections you are selecting around.
Product notes
ASUS PRIME H310M-A R2.0
The H310M-A R2.0 is a clear match when a two-slot memory layout matches the modules you plan to use. Its used condition is the main trade-off, and normal-use wear is described, so the decision should be comfortable with a used motherboard. Intel compatibility is identified, which keeps the processor-family direction clear. The practical limitation is fixed in the specification: two memory slots leave the board suited to a plan that works within that layout. Select ASUS PRIME H310M-A R2.0 for a build that deliberately needs that slot count rather than a different memory-slot arrangement for its intended purpose.
MSI Z390-A PRO
The Z390-A PRO is the choice for shoppers whose processor plan specifically matches its 9th/8th Gen Intel wording. That direct generation reference gives a concrete reason to favor MSI over treating the shared socket name as the whole decision. The constraint is cost: USD 172.21 is $128.25 above the ASUS listed price. It keeps the decision focused on an expressly named processor target rather than a broad socket match. Choose the MSI Z390-A PRO when the stated processor generation is central; pass when that generation callout is not part of your plan.
Final choice by use case
- Choose ASUS PRIME H310M-A R2.0 for a planned two-module memory setup that works within its two listed slots, at USD 43.96.
- Choose MSI Z390-A PRO when stated support for 9th/8th Gen Intel processors is central to the build plan.
