Ryzen 7000 processors will be accompanied by new motherboards with some good surprises in store.
While multiple rumors had preceded AMD’s CPU announcements, there were still many unanswered questions about the AM5 platform as a whole and the more specific case of the “accessible” chipset, the B650.
Support for AM4 and arrival of LGA1718
Anxious to caress its users in the direction of the hair, AMD first insisted on the success of the AM4 platform – that of the previous Ryzen – and on its commitment to it. The manufacturer recalled that around this unique platform, five CPU architectures followed one another and, with them, four burning processes.
In total, AMD claims that more than 125 processors have been designed for the AM4 platform and that more than 500 motherboard models have been distributed. Without saying more, the American also implied that support for AM4 was not yet over.
Still, the future now belongs to AM5, the platform designed to support the Ryzen 7000s. First, AMD recalled that it will be an opportunity to introduce a new socket, with a simplified installation system, the LGA 1718. The objective is, as with Intel, to make the processor less fragile, especially at the pin level.
AMD also specifies that this socket change is an opportunity to review the power limit that the latter is able to offer. We are now talking about 230 Watts, knowing that the most powerful of the Ryzen 7000 presented – the 7950X – has a TDP of 170 Watts. AMD points out that the AM4 coolers will also be AM5 compatible before discussing the technological innovations.
EXPO to make the most of DDR5
At this level, there are hardly any surprises. The AM5 platform is an opportunity to return to the level of Intel, which had taken the lead in adopting DDR5 on the one hand and PCI Express 5.0 on the other. However, AMD has no “lag” insofar as no graphics card or storage unit stamped PCIe 5.0 has been released and DDR5 remains expensive.
As we know, PCIe 5.0 SSDs are coming and the DDR5 price drop has begun. AMD therefore seems to have to fall head-on. For DDR5 support, the American ensures that it remains compatible with its competitor’s XMP profiles, but advances EXPO technology, for Extended Profiles for Overclocking. The idea is of course to certify and simplify the installation of bars with optimized settings.
AMD specifies that it has worked with the biggest bar manufacturers so that more than 15 DDR5 kits are available when the Ryzen 7000s are released: we are talking about AData, Corsair, Geil, G.Skill, Kingston… and AMD explains that, thanks to EXPO, we can expect performance up by 11% and latency down to 63 ns.
Two chipsets on release, two more in October
We have known for several months now that these new AM5 motherboards will be designed around a new generation chipset capable of using DDR5 or PCI Express 5.0, the X670. Recently, AMD confirmed that a version extended of this chipset will be put on the market to go a little further.
On the occasion of its event, AMD confirmed that two other chipsets are planned and reminded us of the good memories of the B650, of which the most assiduous of you were waiting for news. While the X670 / X670E will be ready for the launch of the Ryzen 7000 on September 27, 2022, it will be necessary to wait until October to see the B650 motherboards arrive. Unfortunately, we have no more precise information on this subject.
AMD however surprised its world by evoking not one, but two B650s. Like the X670, it will be offered in a B650 and a B650E version with the same distinction: the “E” model authorizes support for PCIe 5.0 on the graphics card and SSDs while the “basic” is content with PCIe 5.0 on the storage units.
Good news never comes alone, AMD has also pledged not to restrict overclocking functions to the X670/X670E alone, although motherboard manufacturers will no doubt have more elements for the more expensive models of their catalog. Classic.
Since we are talking about tariffs, it is useful to specify another commitment of AMD. The American actually pointed out that the AM5 platform would be accessible from $125 before explaining that, here again, long-term monitoring will not be an empty word with support until at least 2025.
Source: press conference
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