AMD Unveils Mainstream B850 and Entry-Level B840 Chipsets at Computex 2024
7/16/2024AMD Unveils Mainstream B850 and Entry-Level B840 Chipsets at Computex 2024
At Computex 2024, AMD introduced its latest 800-series chipset lineup, including the mainstream B850 and entry-level B840 chipsets, designed for cost-effective motherboards. These new chipsets aim to cater to a wide range of users, from high-end PC enthusiasts to budget-conscious consumers.
AMD B850 Chipset: Balancing Performance and Affordability
The AMD B850 chipset offers a blend of Gen5 and Gen4 capabilities, making it a versatile choice for mainstream users. Gen5 lanes are primarily allocated for NVMe storage devices, while Gen4 lanes handle graphics. Motherboard manufacturers can opt to dedicate Gen5 lanes to discrete graphics cards if desired. Additionally, B850 motherboards will support USB 3.2 (20 Gbps) but will not include USB4 support, which is reserved for higher-end models.
Graphics configurations for the B850 chipset include x16 (Gen4) or x8 (Gen5 or Gen4) setups. Importantly, B850 motherboards will support both memory and CPU overclocking, positioning them as strong competitors to Intel’s B760 family, typically priced between $100 and $200 USD.
AMD B840 Chipset: Entry-Level Efficiency
The AMD B840 chipset is tailored for entry-level designs, featuring support for PCIe Gen 3.0 lanes only. These motherboards will include USB 3.2 (10 Gbps) support and will offer memory (EXPO) overclocking capabilities. With 16 lanes dedicated to the GPU, B840 motherboards are expected to be priced around $100 USD. While PCIe Gen 3.0 is a limitation, CPU lanes may still harness Gen5 or Gen4 capabilities on these AM5 motherboards.
Future-Proofing with Ryzen 9000 “Zen 5” Compatibility
Both the B850 and B840 chipsets are designed to support AMD’s upcoming Ryzen 9000 “Zen 5” Desktop CPUs, ensuring compatibility with the latest processors. AMD has committed to a longevity plan extending to 2027+ for its AM5 family, encompassing both 600-series and 800-series products. Memory support will include DDR5-5600 MT/s default (JEDEC), up to 6400 MT/s 1:1, and 6000 MT/s as the optimal setting, with DDR5-8000 MT/s supported in a 1:2 configuration.
AMD AM5 Chipset Comparisons
| Chipset Name | PCIe Lanes Gen (PCH) | USB Support (Max) | Overclocking Support | Graphics Configs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| X870E | Gen5 (GPU & NVMe) | USB4 | CPU+Memory | 1x16, 2x8 |
| X670E | Gen5 (GPU & NVMe) | USB 3.2 (20 Gbps) | CPU+Memory | 1x16, 2x8 |
| X870 | Gen5 (GPU & NVMe) | USB4 | CPU+Memory | 1x16, 2x8 |
| X670 | Gen5 (NVMe), Gen4 (GPU) | USB 3.2 (20 Gbps) | CPU+Memory | 1x16, 2x8 |
| B850 | Gen5 (NVMe / GPU Opt), Gen4 (GPU) | USB 3.2 (20 Gbps) | CPU+Memory | 1x16, 2x8 |
| B650E | Gen5 (NVMe / GPU) | USB 3.2 (20 Gbps) | CPU+Memory | 1x16, 2x8 |
| B650 | Gen5 (NVMe), Gen4 (GPU) | USB 3.2 (20 Gbps) | CPU+Memory | 1x16, 2x8 |
| B840 | Gen3 (NVMe / GPU) | USB 3.2 (10 Gbps) | Memory Only | 1x16 |
| A620 | Gen4 (NVMe / GPU) | USB 3.2 (10 Gbps) | Memory Only | 1x16 |
Launch Timeline
The AMD X870E and X870 AM5 motherboards are expected to hit the market on September 30th, with the B850 and B840 chipsets following shortly after.