When deciding on a motherboard to your newly bought Ryzen CPU, you’ll encounter 4 fundamental choices: X670, B650, A620, and the latest addition, X870. However what do these names imply? How do X870E, X670E and B650E boards differ from their non-E counterparts? Which do you have to select to your system? This information will present all of the solutions and extra.
The most important distinction between motherboard sorts is the chipset – the chip (or two chips) that connects the CPU to different parts within the system. Prior to now, the chipset consisted of a northbridge chip, which linked the CPU to the RAM and graphics card, and a southbridge chip, which linked the northbridge to the remainder of the parts. These days, nevertheless, the performance previously attributed to the northbridge is built-in into the CPU, which connects on to many parts.
Ryzen 7000 and 9000 processors connect with high-bandwidth parts by means of 28 PCIe lanes and assist PCIe 5.0 speeds. Of those lanes, 16 are reserved for a graphics card (or two, with every using eight lanes), and 4 are designated for an M.2 drive. One other 4 lanes are used to connect with the chipset. The remaining 4 lanes will be employed for parts akin to one other M.2 slot or a USB4 adapter that additionally connects to the CPU’s built-in graphics to allow DisplayPort tunneling.
Ryzen 8000G processors solely have eight PCIe lanes for a graphics card (20 in complete), and assist PCIe 4.0 speeds. Moreover, Ryzen CPUs assist 4 USB 3.1 (or “3.2 Gen 2”) ports and a single USB 2.0 connector.
All present chipsets on the AM5 platform assist solely PCIe 4.0 speeds, which limits the entire bandwidth of the units linked to them at roughly 7GB/s. These units might comprise storage drives using both the NVMe or SATA interface, USB units, community playing cards, and different inner parts akin to soundcards.
Some motherboards characteristic extra connectors than their CPU and chipset assist, both to can help you select between a few of them or as a result of they make use of splitters to share their bandwidth.
With the fundamentals coated, let’s transfer on to the chipsets themselves…
A Useless Compromise: A620
A620 motherboards use the identical Promontory 21 chip utilized in B650 and X870 motherboards, however with a few of its connectors disabled or restricted. It provides assist for 2 USB 3.1, two USB 3.0 (or “3.2 Gen 1”), and 6 USB 2.0 ports. It additionally incorporates eight PCIe 3.0 lanes, of which two or 4 will be employed for SATA ports.
The actual difficulty with A620 motherboards is not the chipset itself; somewhat, it is that they’re designed to be inexpensive boards with cheap voltage regulator modules (VRM) and don’t assist PCIe 5.0 speeds. In addition they solely assist a single graphics card, although the period of multi-GPU gaming has primarily come to an finish in order that’s not an enormous one.
Lastly, A620 motherboards not solely disallow CPU overclocking, however they might additionally formally assist CPUs with a TDP of as much as solely 120W, and even 65W.
On paper, A620 motherboards are a great match for Ryzen 8000G processors, that are meant for compact techniques with fewer parts and decrease energy consumption. In apply, respectable A620 boards price about the identical as B650 ones, so we are able to solely suggest them when they’re on sale.
The Greatest Worth: X870 vs. B650E vs. B650
B650, B650E and X870 motherboards all use a single, absolutely enabled Promontory 21 chip. It provides eight PCIe 4.0 lanes, permitting an M.2 drive to completely make the most of the chipset’s bandwidth by itself. Just like the A620, it additionally contains 4 PCIe 3.0 lanes that can be utilized for as much as 4 SATA ports.
The chipset supplies assist for six USB 2.0 and 4 USB 3.1 ports, in addition to bandwidth that may be allotted for a further two USB 3.1 ports or a single USB 3.2 (“Gen 2 x 2”).
Learn our assessment: Most Affordable AMD B650 Boards Tested
Should you had been questioning concerning the distinction between B650 and B650E motherboards, the reply is that B650E boards (E = brief for “Excessive”) assist PCIe 5.0 for each the graphics card and no less than one M.2 drive. X870 motherboards are principally the identical as B650E, besides they’re required to make use of 4 PCIe lanes for USB4. Nonetheless, as a result of they’re newer, the Wi-Fi playing cards they arrive with assist Wi-Fi 7 somewhat than 6E.
Common B650 boards should still have a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot. Aside from that, these boards do not restrict the CPU in any method and can assist any Ryzen processor till 2027.
We suggest B650, B650E and X870 motherboards for avid gamers and others who wish to get all the pieces that AM5 motherboards have to supply, however needn’t join many drives to their PC concurrently. One other benefit of those boards is their capability to suit all connectors right into a compact micro-ATX type issue, which is helpful if you happen to’re in search of a compact case to position in your desk.
Extra is Extra: X870E vs. X670E vs. X670
X670, X670E and X870E motherboards characteristic a Promontory 21 chip linked to a different one by means of 4 PCIe 4.0 lanes, offering the second chip with the identical bandwidth because the one linked to the CPU.
Mixed, the chipset provides twelve PCIe 4.0 lanes, permitting every M.2 drive to saturate the chipset’s bandwidth individually, and eight PCIe 3.0 lanes for as much as eight SATA ports. With SATA now turning into a legacy connector, it’s normal for a few of these lanes to be allotted to community playing cards, releasing up all PCIe 4.0 lanes for quicker interfaces.
The chipset additionally gives assist for twelve USB 2.0 ports and considered one of three choices: twelve USB 3.1 ports; ten USB 3.1 ports and one USB 3.2 port, or eight USB 3.1 ports and two USB 3.2 ports.
Learn our assessment: The Best AMD X670E Motherboards: 22 Board Roundup
Not like B650, all X670 motherboards characteristic a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot, and naturally, X670E boards assist PCIe 5.0 graphics playing cards. If you buy such a card after they change into obtainable, it in all probability will not even require all 16 lanes. So, in case your board has one other 16-lane PCIe 5.0 slot, you can use it for as much as two M.2 drives with an adapter (some boards really include one). With X870E you will be positive you will get USB4 and Wi-Fi 7.
X670, X670E and X870E motherboards are the best alternative for content material creators who continuously really feel the necessity to add one other drive to their system. With quite a few methods to make the most of the twin chipset, notably, you should not purchase a motherboard based mostly solely on its title; as an alternative, ensure that it has all of the connectors you require.
