We discuss the solution of the small perturbation equations for a horizontal fluid layer heated from below with an applied magnetic field either in vertical or in horizontal direction. The magnetic field stabilizes, due to the Lorentz force, more or less Rayleigh-Bénard convective cellular motion. The solution of the eigenvalue problem shows that the critical Rayleigh number increases with increasing Hartmann number while the corresponding wave length decreases. Interesting analogies to solar granulation and black spots phenomena are obvious. The influence of a horizontal field is stronger than that of a vertical field. It is easy to understand this by discussing the influence of the Lorentz force on the Rayleigh-Bénard convection. This result corrects earlier calculations in the literature.