Thursday, May 7th 2020
AMD B550 Chipset Detailed, It's Ready for Zen 3, Older AM4 Motherboards not Compatible
In their briefing leading up to today's Ryzen 3 3100 and 3300X review embargo, AMD disclosed that its upcoming "Zen 3" 4th generation Ryzen desktop processors will only support AMD 500-series (or later) chipsets. The next-gen processors will not work with older 400-series or 300-series chipsets. This comes as a blow to those who bought premium X470 motherboards hoping for latest CPU compatibility running into 2020. At this time only B550 is available, but we expect more news on enthusiast chipsets as the Zen 3 launch date comes closer. AMD B550 is a fascinating new mid-range chipset by AMD. Launching today as a successor to the popular B450 chipset, B550 is a low-power silicon with roughly the same 5-7 W TDP as the older 400-series chipset. Although AMD won't confirm it, it's likely that the chipset is sourced from ASMedia. It brings a lot to the table that could draw buyers away from B450, but it also takes some away.
The AMD B550 currently only supports 3rd generation Ryzen "Matisse" processors. Ryzen 3000 "Picasso" APU are not supported. What's more, older Ryzen 2000 "Pinnacle Ridge," "Raven Ridge," and first gen Ryzen 1000 "Summit Ridge" aren't supported, either. The Athlon 200 and 3000 "Zen" based chips miss out, too. AMD argues that it ran into ROM size limitations when trying to cram AGESA microcode for all the older processors. We find that hard to believe because B450 motherboards with the latest ComboAM4 AGESA support 2nd gen and 3rd gen processors, including APUs and Athlon SKUs based on the two. On the bright side, AMD assured us (within its marketing slides for the B550), that the chipset will support upcoming processors based on the "Zen 3" microarchitecture. The company also came up with a new motherboard packaging label that clarifies that the processors won't work with the 3400G and 3200G.
AMD B550 motherboards will feature partial PCI-Express gen 4.0 support. The main PCI-Express x16 slot, and one of the M.2 NVMe slots that are wired to the "Matisse" processor will be PCI-Express gen 4.0, however, all downstream PCIe lanes put out by the B550 chipset are gen 3.0. This is still a step up from 400-series "Promontory" chipsets, which are limited to gen 2.0. B550 puts out eight PCIe gen 3.0 lanes, which combine with the 20 usable processor lanes from "Matisse" to take the platform's total PCIe budget to 28 lanes (x16 gen 4.0 + x4 gen 4.0 + x8 gen 3.0). The B550 chipset itself connects to the "Matisse" processor via a PCI-Express 3.0 x4 connection.
In terms of connectivity, AMD's B550 chipset puts out up to six SATA 6 Gbps ports with AHCI and RAID capability; two each of 10 Gbps USB 3.2 gen 2 and 5 Gbps USB 3.2 gen 1 ports; and six USB 2.0 ports. PCIe, SATA, and USB connectivity from the "Matisse" processor is unchanged: four 10 Gbps USB 3.2 gen 2 ports, and up to two SATA 6 Gbps ports.
The processor includes a PCI-Express 4.0 x16 PEG connection that can be split between slots. AMD is allowing motherboard designers to have multi-GPU capability with the B550, where the x16 PEG link is split between two x16 slots (electrical x8). Previously this capability was limited to the top-tier X370 and X470 boards. The processor also puts out one PCI-Express 4.0 x4 link meant to drive one M.2 NVMe slot or U.2 NVMe port. Every B550 motherboard we've seen so far features one M.2 PCIe gen 4.0 x4 (64 Gbps) slot.
As with both its predecessors, the B350 and B450, the new B550 chipset enables full multiplier-based CPU overclocking, along with broad memory overclocking support. Motherboard designers are at liberty to kit out the B550 with the most elaborate CPU VRM solutions. Expect some of the pricier B550 boards to match their X570 counterparts in overclocking capability.
Motherboards based on the AMD B550 chipset are expected to launch on June 16, 2020. Prices start at $100, according to AMD.
The AMD B550 currently only supports 3rd generation Ryzen "Matisse" processors. Ryzen 3000 "Picasso" APU are not supported. What's more, older Ryzen 2000 "Pinnacle Ridge," "Raven Ridge," and first gen Ryzen 1000 "Summit Ridge" aren't supported, either. The Athlon 200 and 3000 "Zen" based chips miss out, too. AMD argues that it ran into ROM size limitations when trying to cram AGESA microcode for all the older processors. We find that hard to believe because B450 motherboards with the latest ComboAM4 AGESA support 2nd gen and 3rd gen processors, including APUs and Athlon SKUs based on the two. On the bright side, AMD assured us (within its marketing slides for the B550), that the chipset will support upcoming processors based on the "Zen 3" microarchitecture. The company also came up with a new motherboard packaging label that clarifies that the processors won't work with the 3400G and 3200G.
In terms of connectivity, AMD's B550 chipset puts out up to six SATA 6 Gbps ports with AHCI and RAID capability; two each of 10 Gbps USB 3.2 gen 2 and 5 Gbps USB 3.2 gen 1 ports; and six USB 2.0 ports. PCIe, SATA, and USB connectivity from the "Matisse" processor is unchanged: four 10 Gbps USB 3.2 gen 2 ports, and up to two SATA 6 Gbps ports.
Motherboards based on the AMD B550 chipset are expected to launch on June 16, 2020. Prices start at $100, according to AMD.
434 Comments on AMD B550 Chipset Detailed, It's Ready for Zen 3, Older AM4 Motherboards not Compatible
As for the Ryzen 1000 and 2000, it says pretty clear in the slides they're a no go on B550.
Worst case scenario I save a bit of my stimulus money for a new board that will support Zen3, will probably put $200 aside. :clap:
If the issue is only a mere bios capacity to store the asic code for the new 4000 processors I hope that few motherboards manufacturers will opt to throw away the support for some old cpu's in favor of the new ones. But if there is something else that can prevent the new agesa code to run correctly on x470 and b450 boards then I guess there will not be so much to do.
next : The introduction Of Ryzen 3000 was a pain even with the 400 motherbaord : AMD went as far as to lend you free of charge a cpu so that you could update your bios if you bought a 400 with an old Bios. They'll probably have to do it again for Zen3 on 500 chipsets.
For 3 gen they went out of their way to make the dream happen. Does is it suck that couldn't make it happen till the end ? Yes. Did they marketed the AM4 support too heavily even though they weren't 100% sure about it ? Yes. But when you are building PC's, anything with a * or ² should give you pause. You weren't backstabbed, You were just too overeager. You told your client/friends that something was 100% guaranteed, when the company actually said "we'll try, but we are not sure about it".
Glossing over details in marketing isn't new, it sucks, but we need to buy things while keeping that in mind.
I am on X399 and I am not going to lie. I was a little put off that the TRX40 socket is the exact same in terms of pin layout wiht no support for my CPU, but PCIe 4.0 makes that a no go. When I thought further on it though it allowed for several things
A. TRX40 made it possible to purchase a 2920x for $389 Canadian That is about $278 US.
B. The TRX40 boards are not overpriced for what you get. The top TRX40 board is about $1100 (Asus Zenith Extreme) and has 5 NVME PCIe 4.0 all capable of RAID 0 (without using any of the PCIe slots).
C. The 3960X will come down in price. It is the CPU I want to move to from my 2920X. All of my current cooling equipment is also fully compatible.
Having said all of that I am still going to build a B550 based PC (I hope the Strix board is not too expensive) and as I have said before get either one of the 3100 or 3300 (I have an Eisbear unit that just needs a rad to tame the heat) with a 5500XT Multi GPU array (In terms of Gaming, yes there are not a lot of games that support multi gpu) as Total War Warhammer2 supports Multi GPU in DX11 or 12 and is currently my favourite game to play I will see some wonderful FPS. The funny thing is the game I am playing the most right now (Xcom2) fully supports Multi GPU and I see over 180 FPS average at 4K.
It seems neither one is better than the other in the grand scheme of things. Everybody sucks.
I'm only asking people on the other side of the argument to pause for a moment and understand why people like me and oxidized might be upset by this. AMD stated AM4 support until 2020. Well, it's 2020, and here we are getting new AM4 chips that aren't compatible with the AM4 motherboards we may have bought, recommended or even built for others, with "support until 2020" likely playing a factor in the purchasing decision. Sneaking around the "AM4 support until 2020" statement with multiple chipsets that still use AM4, but require a new motherboard anyway, is a shady move, and quite frankly it's a fucked up maneuver.
On the other hand, using the same socket for a long time, if you can, makes a lot of sense. If you can use the same physical socket, you don't need to re-design the socket, CPU package, and go through all that re-tooling all the time. It's a lot more economical than Intel spitting out a new socket every year or two with minor changes. As a manufacturer, you can still add new features with new chipsets and new motherboards, but you'll save a few by not having to design and manufacture new CPU sockets as well. Just don't try to advertise it as "compatible" to the masses when compatibility goes farther than things physically fitting together to have a working computer that actually boots.
www.pccasegear.com/products/46907/msi-x570-gaming-pro-carbon-wifi-motherboardand? So what? thats a good thing! your not going to update your BIOS To run an older CPU now are you? so just do the same for the 4000series, simple.
Whowuddathunkit? Almost like deceptive marketing NEVER goes over well, no matter how many times it's tried.
I will wait for socket AM5 or something relevant from intel.
Even because these B550s should stay for a year until the new AM5 socket from AMD, correct?
You do realize that with the same chipset AMD & board partners will need to ensure an updated design (zen3) works just as well on an older board physically incapable of matching the newer chipsets. Now I agree with the somewhat deceptive marketing part but any comparisons with Intel are just :shadedshu:
There was no official statement from AMD next time wait for an official source.The reason for that is there are alot of pretenders on this thread that are actually intel fanboys.AMD isn't going to notice anything from you going with an Intel build? Why you are just one person.
Don't forget to close the door on your way out.
I feel bad for those who assumed support for older chipsets but everyone should know that 3 years out that is going to be subject to change.
I personally wish we were getting X670 boards also with similar to Z490 vrms and no chipset fan.... Maybe at the very least we will see Refreshed X570 boards.
I do see what is wrong with deceiving customers, however.
1) AMD did nothing when partners advertised B450 mainboards as Zen 3 compatible
www.msi.com//blog/msis-max-motherboard-lineup
"You want a value-oriented motherboard that’ll support not only the latest AMD releases but will also have you covered for all future AM4 product releases."
2) AMD's promise:
community.amd.com/community/gaming/blog/2019/05/27/socket-am4-platform-longevity-getting-ryzen-3000-ready
With the launch of the AM4 platform in 2016, we at AMD made a commitment to maintain and support socket AM4 through 2020.
Your second point though, only says AM4 and AM4 will work with Zen3.
It would seem AMD played a fine gaming of being vague as much as possible (as I posted before, probably because they couldn't actually predict the future), leaving partners to take it one step further. Not cool, but since I have this policy of buying what's delivered on purchase day and not promises about the future, I'm not taking much issue with this.