Tuesday, August 18th 2020
AMD Launches A520 Entry-level Desktop Chipset - No PCIe 4.0
AMD today announced its entry-level A520 desktop chipset for 3rd Gen Ryzen "Matisse" processors, and possible readiness for Athlon and Ryzen 4000G processors based on the "Renoir" silicon. Much like the B550, it lacks support for Ryzen 3 3200G and Ryzen 5 3400G processors based on the "Picasso" silicon, as well as older 2nd- and 1st Gen Ryzen processors. The A520 succeeds the A320 chipset, and enables motherboards priced deep under the $100-mark, close to the $50 magic figure. The ASMedia-sourced chipset has quite a few similarities with the B550, but one big segmentation - complete lack of PCIe Gen 4.
Motherboards based on the AMD A520 completely lack PCIe Gen 4 support, even with a Ryzen 3000 "Matisse" processor. Even the PCI-Express x16 and M.2 NVMe slots wired to the AM4 SoC are limited to PCIe Gen 3. On the B550, these two slots run at Gen 4 speeds when paired with a capable processor. Much like the B550, the downstream (general purpose) PCIe lanes from the chipset run at PCIe Gen 3 speeds, although unlike the B550, the chipset only puts out 6 lanes. Other platform I/O includes up to five 10 Gbps USB 3.2 ports (includes two from the AM4 SoC), two 5 Gbps USB 3.1 ports, four SATA 6 Gb/s (AHCI-only) ports, and six USB 2.0 ports. At launch, A520 motherboards only support Ryzen 3000 "Matisse" processors, with support planned for 4000G "Renoir" processors when they launch in the retail channel, and future "Zen 3" processors, through firmware updates.
Motherboards based on the AMD A520 completely lack PCIe Gen 4 support, even with a Ryzen 3000 "Matisse" processor. Even the PCI-Express x16 and M.2 NVMe slots wired to the AM4 SoC are limited to PCIe Gen 3. On the B550, these two slots run at Gen 4 speeds when paired with a capable processor. Much like the B550, the downstream (general purpose) PCIe lanes from the chipset run at PCIe Gen 3 speeds, although unlike the B550, the chipset only puts out 6 lanes. Other platform I/O includes up to five 10 Gbps USB 3.2 ports (includes two from the AM4 SoC), two 5 Gbps USB 3.1 ports, four SATA 6 Gb/s (AHCI-only) ports, and six USB 2.0 ports. At launch, A520 motherboards only support Ryzen 3000 "Matisse" processors, with support planned for 4000G "Renoir" processors when they launch in the retail channel, and future "Zen 3" processors, through firmware updates.
26 Comments on AMD Launches A520 Entry-level Desktop Chipset - No PCIe 4.0
www.asus.com/Motherboards/ROG-STRIX-B550-F-GAMING/specifications/The second PCIe x16 is connected on the chipset. I don't think they split them to x8/x8.
EDIT Just noticed you posted the E model, not the F. the E model DOES support x8/x8.But it also costs over 240€. Not that the F model is much cheaper at about 200€.
If you require that you need to step up to 550/570 chipset
2.5g switch are going to be cheap and mainstream soon.
www.qnap.com/en/news/2020/qnap-introduces-its-first-2-5gbe-network-switch
To use that speed over 1 Gbps will require either a Pf sense box with a nic that can sync over 1 Gbps or an $800 switch.
I suspect 2.5 Gbit switches will become much more common and much lower price now since many Intel laptops and new 10th gen chipsets support this, along with WiFi 6. It's getting mainstream.
This one has 12 ports, 2x 2.5Gbit and 10Gbit uplinks for $149.99. And Zyxel is not a no-name brand, not big but it's known.
www.amazon.com/12-Port-Gigabit-UnManaged-Multi-Gig-XGS1010-12-ZZ0101F/dp/B084MLC83G/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=2.5&qid=1597781150&s=pc&sr=1-2
Reduced capabilities now means board irrelevance sooner to me.
But I'll build a few of these no doubt, not everyone is a power user.
That will only do 1 or 10Gbps switch won't be useful for me 2.5Gbps sync would be required for the 1.5Gbps connection my ISP offers.
And ya i'm not buying a switch from Zxyel.
If i'm going to invest in a switch that I tend to keep for like 5+ years it has to be good and not noisy.
ubiquiti es-16-xg edgeswitch
www.amazon.com/Ubiquiti-Networks-ES-16-XG-Edge-Switch/dp/B01K2Y1HP0/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=ubiquiti+es-16-xg+edgeswitch&qid=1597782591&sr=8-1
But we are kinda getting off topic none of this matter for these budget motherboards :)
It's not just about using or not using features. If the price is so similar then everyone should go with B450 even if they don't use all those features to the fullest extent. Or they explicity need Ryzen 3000 and 4000 support.
Yes not even 3.0, except the lanes directly from the CPU.Actually the A520 has the same number of chipset lanes / SATA ports / USB as B450.
It just got an upgrade from PCI-E 2.0 to 3.0 for the chipset lanes.