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Motherboards for amd processors. Choosing a motherboard for a home PC for AMD processors. We say we mean Ryzen

Most computer users prefer Intel processors and ignore AMD processors. But recently the situation is changing not for the better for Intel. AMD is gaining more and more popularity among users. The FX 8350 processor is an excellent budget solution, it performs well both in games and in heavy programs. And when overclocked, it can be considered an analogue of the Intel Core i5.

Sure, the new ones are much, and especially the AM3, but at the moment the cheapest processor in this series is the Ryzen 5 1400. If you don’t have enough budget to buy a top-end Ryzen processor, you can still choose one of the previous generation processors. There are different types of processors and motherboards on the market. price category. Therefore, you can choose the one that will meet your requirements.

Almost all socket AM3+ motherboards support only one PCIe x16 slot for installing a graphics card, several SATA connectors and USB ports. However, if that doesn't suit you, there are more expensive boards that support multiple graphics cards.

Choosing a motherboard is a rather difficult task. You need to consider all the factors in order to choose exactly what you need and then not regret the decision you made. Let's look at what factors to consider when choosing a motherboard:

socket. One of the most important factors. This is the socket where the processor is installed. FX processors use socket AM3+ motherboards. All of these boards will also support socket AM3 processors. This can be very handy if you have old processors that you want to use.
Form factor. Computer cases are different. Therefore, there are several form factors of motherboards - these are ATX, mini-ITX and micro-ATX. If you're going for a full size case, then there's no point in getting a smaller version of the motherboard, usually larger ATX motherboards have more features and a better power system.
Power phases. The number of power phases characterizes the capabilities of the VRM of the motherboard - the power system of the processor and chipset. If you choose a powerful processor and are still going to overclock it, then the more phases in the VRM, the better.
TDP. Motherboard manufacturers indicate what processor power their board is designed for. Most write the figure 140 watts. However, it is worth looking not only at this figure, but also at the list of supported processors on the website of your board;
List of supported processors. On the official website of each motherboard there is a list of processors supported by it. If you want to be sure that your board will work well with this processor, then search and see if your chosen processor is on this list.

Best Motherboards for Socket AM3+

1. Gigabyte GA-78LMT

Supported processors: 4/6 AM3+ series processors, as well as AMD AM3 Phenom II and MD Athlon II;
Chipset: AMD 760G;
Memory: dual-channel, DDR3 up to 1333 MHz, up to 32 GB;
PCI slots: one PCIe 2.0 x16, one PCIe 2.0 x1 and one PCI x1;
Net: Realtek GbE LAN;
Form factor: MicroATX;
SATA connectors: 6, up to 3Gbps;
USB ports: 1 USB port 3.0 and 8 USB 2.0 ports.
Power phases: 4+1;
TDP: up to 125 watts.

The GA-78LMT is the best budget am3+ motherboard with some CPU and memory overclocking options. It supports DDR3 RAM up to 1333 MHz and traditionally has four slots that can accommodate up to 32 GB of memory. Boards for Intel based on the H81m-P33 chipset for the Lga 1150 socket do not have this feature, although both boards are in the same price range.

The board has six SATA ports and four USB ports that support data transfer rates up to 5 Gbps. This is the best motherboard for AM3+ in the sub-$300 price range. It is best suited for the AMD FX 6300 processor.

Advantages:

SATA connectors are located in different places, which will make the assembly of the computer more convenient;
Supports USB 3.0 on the front panel;
There are two PCIx1 slots where you can install Wifi or sound cards;
The presence of VGA and DVI connectors on the motherboard allows you to use processors with integrated graphics with it;
Supports pooling hard drives in RAID.

Flaws:

It is better to use only together with AMD FX 4300 or AMD FX 6300. The motherboard may not reveal the potential of more powerful processors.

2. ASUS M5A97LE R2.0

Supported processors: AM3+ 4, 6 and 8 series, as well as Phenom II, Athlon II and Sempron 100;
Chipset: AMD 970;
Memory:
PCI slots: one PCIe 2.0 x16, one PCIe 2.0 x16 (in x4 mode) two PCIe 2.0 x1 and two PCI x1;
Net: Realtek 8111F;
Form factor: ATX;
SATA connectors: 6, up to 6Gbps;
USB ports: 2 USB 3.0 ports and 6 USB 2.0 ports.
Power phases: 4+2;
TDP: up to 140 W.

This is not a bad motherboard for AM3 or AM3+ in its price range. It has some very interesting advantages, including CrossFireX support for four video cards and a large number of PCI slots. You can install here RAM with a frequency of up to 2133 MHz and a capacity of up to 32 gigabytes. The motherboard uses the 970th chipset, so it provides good opportunities for overclocking the processor and memory.

You can install FX 6300, FX 8320 or 8350 processors on it. However, it is better not to engage in extreme overclocking on this board.

Advantages:

User-friendly and simple BIOS UEFI setup interface from ASUS;
Support for combining up to four video cards via AMD CrossFire X.

Flaws:

No support for processors with integrated graphics.

3. MSI 970 GAMING

Supported processors: AM3+ 4, 6, 8 series, as well as Phenom II, Athlon II and Sempron 100;
Chipset: AMD 970;
Memory: dual-channel, DDR3 up to 2133 MHz, up to 32 GB;
PCI slots: one PCIe 2.0 x16, one PCIe 2.0 x16 (in x8 mode) two PCIe 2.0 x1 and two PCI x1;
Net: Qualcomm Atheros Killer E2205;
Form factor: ATX;
SATA connectors: 6, up to 6Gbps;
USB ports:
Power phases: 6+2;
TDP: up to 140 W.

In addition to being able to install random access memory up to 32 gigabytes and AMD CrossFire X, this motherboard has several more additional features. These are Audio Boost 2.0 technology that improves sound quality and the Killer E2200 Ethernet network adapter, designed specifically to provide good network throughput in games.

In addition, the motherboard itself looks very stylish. The black color of the PCB contrasts well with the red inserts and the MSI logo. This board also provides the user with good opportunities for overclocking the processor and memory. Compared to the previous board, you have a lot more overclocking options here. This board is designed for FX 8000 series processors. Fx 8150, fx 8320E and fx 8370E processors will work fine with this board.

However, to unlock the full potential of the FX 8350 or FX 8370 processors, you will need a 990FX motherboard. Therefore, we can conclude that this is a good motherboard for AM3 + for those who want to use an 8000 series processor and one video card. Although CrossFire is supported here, the power of the processors in this series will not be enough to unleash the full potential of this technology.

Advantages:

There are several USB 3.0 ports;
Supported by AMD CrossFire;

Flaws:

High TDP processors are not recommended;
High price.

4. Gigabyte 990FXA-UD3 R5

Supported processors: AM3+ 4, 6, 8, and 9 series and AMD AM3 Phenom™ II/AMD Athlon™ II processors;
Chipset: AMD 990FX;
Memory: dual-channel, DDR3 up to 2133 MHz, up to 32 GB;
PCI slots: two PCIe 2.0 x16, one PCIe 2.0 x4 two PCIe 2.0 x1 and one PCI x1;
Net: Realtek® GbE LAN;
Form factor: ATX;
SATA connectors: 6, up to 6Gbps;
USB ports: 2 USB 3.0 ports and 8 USB 2.0 ports.
Power phases: 8+2;
TDP: up to 220 W.

This motherboard uses the chipset I mentioned earlier, the 990FX. It is perfect for overclocking the Fx 8320, fx 8350 and fx 8370, and will also allow you to unleash their full potential. However, in this motherboard you can also install 9000 series processors, for example, the most powerful processor from AMD - FX 9590.

This is the first motherboard on our list that supports both CrossFire and SLI. You can combine two video cards from NVIDIA or from AMD. AMD FX9590 together with two video cards will give excellent performance. This is a great motherboard for the fx 8350 and 9590. However, if you're already looking to buy such an expensive processor, it might be better to go with the new Ryzen.

Advantages:

There is a power and reset button on the motherboard itself;
There are two bios and the ability to switch between them if something goes wrong;
Support for powerful processors on a relatively inexpensive board;
Support for SLI and Crossfire;
Supports disk aggregation in RAID.

Flaws:

High price.

5. ASUS Crosshair V Formula-Z

Supported processors: all AM3+ FX/Phenom II/Athlon II/Sempron 100;
Chipset: AMD 990FX;
Memory: dual-channel, DDR3 up to 2400 MHz, up to 32 GB;
PCI slots: three PCIe 2.0 x16 (two x16 or x16x8x8), one PCIe 2.0 x16 (in x4 mode) two PCIe 2.0 x1;
Net: Intel 82579;
Form factor: ATX;
SATA connectors: 8, up to 6Gbps;
USB ports: 4 USB 3.0 ports and 8 USB 2.0 ports.
Power phases: 8+2;
TDP: up to 140 W.

Like the previous motherboard, the 990FX chipset is used here, which means that the board provides ample overclocking capabilities. This is the best motherboard for creating a powerful gaming computer. It can be used with the FX 9570 or 9590 processors, which consume a lot of power but provide excellent performance.

The motherboard supports linking up to four video cards using SLI technology and linking up to three video cards using CrossFireX. If you will be installing multiple graphics cards, since 9000 series processors consume a lot of power, you will need a 1000W or more power supply. And this is clearly not a budget computer.

Advantages:

Supports memory overclocking up to 2400 MHz;
There are USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports;
There are power reset and BIOS switch buttons on the motherboard.

Flaws:

Too expensive for the current market situation. If you have the budget for such a board, then it is better to choose Ryzen.

6. AsRock 990FX Extreme

At the very beginning of this summer, an article was published on our website designed to facilitate. Well, or even more confuse him. Despite the fact that the current platforms of the company are only LGA1151 (“second version”) and LGA2066, and all previous developments (as usual) automatically add to the list of obsolete ones (in principle, you can purchase them, but with a substantial discount - due at least to the fact that that after some time there may be problems with their repair / modernization), they turned out to be quite complicated. More precisely, too polyvariant - the flexibility of on-the-fly port configuration provokes motherboard manufacturers to endow their products with maximum support for different interfaces ... that cannot be used simultaneously. You have to understand all this - at least in order to understand which of the four (intended for "private users") chipsets to choose so as not to make a mistake.

As a result, the material turned out to be voluminous and overloaded with technical details, although we limited ourselves to the platforms of one manufacturer. And they promised to talk about how to choose a motherboard for AMD processors later. In this case, the approach may be simpler, since the companies used slightly different ideologies when developing platforms. Yes, and there is no such diversity, despite the fact that if we talk about practically significant functionality, then AMD platforms are in no way inferior to Intel developments, and even surpass them in some ways. In their case, everything is much simpler and ... somehow more logical. Therefore, today we will not have to delve too deeply into extensive tables with numbers.

Historical and current AMD platforms in retail chains

If Intel changed the mass and HEDT platforms (in pairs) approximately every two years, then AMD did not indulge us with updates at all for several years. The new universal platform AM4 formally appeared on the market almost two years ago, but its implementation was not some kind of one-time event, but rather an extended process - which is ending only now. As a result, in any self-respecting store you can find motherboards with four different AMD sockets (absolutely incompatible with each other), and there can be as many as six processor lines (since there is already partial compatibility there). But choosing the right one is not so difficult.

AM3+ - repair part

Our parade-alle opens with the oldest platform of the company, presented on the market back in 2011 - in the form of a small modification of the AM3 sample of 2009, and conceptually the "roots" of both stretch back to 2003, when Socket 939 appeared. the platform has not changed at all for years, but the “burden of centuries” makes itself felt: from the point of view of today, support for only PCIe 2.0 and DDR3 memory looks archaic. Yes, and the absence of USB 3.0, too, although some of the boards sold today (but not all of them!) have solved this problem using discrete controllers. In principle, AM3 + became outdated three or four years ago, but it “healed” a lot, since powerful desktop processors not for it at AMD appeared only at the beginning of last year. Accordingly, for almost ten years (including AM3), a lot of computers were sold on it. Some of them have to be repaired, and the processors do not differ in "high mortality", but the boards can. Replacing only the board in the case when everything else suits is the cheapest.

Is it worth it? Depends on what's already on hand. Phenom II X6 and FX-8000 series processors still cope with most home user tasks, and this more or less applies to Phenom II X4 / FX-6000. The main disadvantage of both of them is high power consumption with not very high performance, but this is neglected by many :) Processors of other families from the point of view of today are already low-performance, although if they suited the user until recently, then you can continue their use. Moreover, the transition to a new platform will require changing the memory - all modern solutions from both AMD and Intel are designed to use DDR4. Besides, PATA (colloquially known as “IDE”) has been deprived of support for a long time, but the southbridges of AM3+ chipsets have no problems with it (but the corresponding connectors can no longer be found on all boards, so you should be careful when buying). And, of course, there are no problems with Windows XP, or even earlier systems - at least with respect to all components installed on the board. But with new equipment, problems are already possible - for example, according to user reviews, Samsung SSD with a SATA interface do not always work correctly with "historical" AMD chipsets. Perhaps not only them. Some video cards (moreover, manufactured by AMD itself) may experience problems in PCIe 2.0 slots. Etc.

In general, in a nutshell, then use AM3 + to assemble new system doesn't make sense. To modernize the existing one too. But for its repair, if all the other components of the computer are satisfied, and their replacement is not expected in the near future - just right. The simplest models of motherboards for AM3+ are sold for about 3500 rubles, but usually they have only two memory slots "on board" and do not support USB 3.0. A fully functional model will cost about 4,500 rubles - it's cheaper in every way than switching to a new platform.

- repairs and sometimes upgrades

Another historical platform of the company, still presented in retail chains, formally dates back to 2014, but is also compatible with 2012 FM2 processors. Its main advantage has always been considered powerful (relatively) integrated graphics - mainstream Intel processors (desktop models, anyway) are even now equipped with a less powerful GPU! On the other hand, it is not enough for serious gaming use (especially now), but for just “picture output” it is redundant. Or not enough - when it comes to decoding modern high-definition video formats. The main drawback of the platform has always been low "processor" performance: APUs (as AMD calls processors with integrated graphics) were limited to two modules (two "x86 cores" in each), but in FX for AM3 + there were up to four of them - plus a cache -memory of the third level.

Despite the latter, the platform has long remained popular in the minimum cost segment - as a solution on which you can somehow play not only casual games (usually, integrated Intel graphics are enough for this). And even the appearance of AM4 did not immediately change the situation - initially APUs were produced for this platform, similar to models for FM2 +, but more expensive (and the boards were more expensive), or powerful processors, but more than $100 and no graphics at all. However, this year the use of FM2 + to assemble a new system was put to rest. At the beginning of the year, the Ryzen 3 2200G appeared - at a price of around a hundred dollars, it demonstrates a completely different level of performance for both the processor and the graphics core. And recently it began to supply the budget Athlon 200GE - which is already at the level of the A-series APUs, but still works faster. Also does not force to contact with the morally outdated decision.

As a result, FM2 + remains the same niche as AM3 + - computer repair in case of failure of the motherboard. True, in his case it is a little wider: sometimes it is possible to change the processor. Indeed, a lot of different Celeron, Pentium and Core i3 for LGA1155 were sold, it is difficult to buy a new board with such a connector, and “moving” to an APU for FM2 + will allow you to save DDR3 memory, lose nothing (and sometimes gain) in processor speed and drastically improve the graphics. Moreover, if you used an old budget video card, like the Radeon HD 6670 or GeForce GT 440 with DDR3 memory (not to mention slower ones), you can just throw it away - it's not needed. And if not quite budget, then Athlon for FM2+ costs a couple of thousand rubles cheaper than similar APUs in terms of processor component. An alternative, of course, is to buy a board for LGA1151 with DDR3 memory and a “hyperstump”, but this option is more expensive, which is undesirable: in fact, if you are already spending money, it makes sense to upgrade the system radically, and if the task is to save money, then it is necessary save. If you need integrated graphics, then the Pentium will be both more expensive and weaker - even if the processor cores in it are faster.

There are no other reasons to buy a board with an FM2+ connector. So you can simply scroll through the corresponding section in the price lists of stores selling components - as well as AM3 +. Except in the cases (described above) when you know for sure that such a board is needed. But in almost all other cases, the next platform is needed.

We say we mean Ryzen

Harsh statistics says that the concept of the "mainstream segment" and its boundaries in the case of desktop processor models have not changed for more than 10 years - we are talking about the price range of $80-$200, which accounts for 90% of sales. Above and below - 3% and 7% respectively. Processors of the Ryzen 3/5/7 lines and new Athlons based on this microarchitecture have recommended prices from $55 to $329 - that is, it is "slightly wider" than mainstream. In general, somewhere like this, 98% of buyers of AMD desktop processors need Ryzen - and, consequently, a board for AM4. You can simply forget about A-series APUs in such a design after the appearance of Athlon 200GE and Ryzen 3 2200G - yes, they are going there! :)

Why (and in what cases) are these processors so good? In fact, we have two families - APUs and "simple" processors. There are three first models so far, but their number will increase - first of all, in the budget segment “up to $100”. The buyer of these will receive two processor cores that perform four threads of computation, and a relatively powerful GPU - better than in the A-series, and much better than in mass Intel solutions, regardless of the price of the latter. But some things will have to be abandoned. In particular, from overclocking - this point should be taken into account. In addition, only four PCIe lanes can be used to connect a video card, not 16. Or eight in slightly more serious Ryzen 3 and Ryzen 5 G-series, containing four processor cores (single- or dual-threaded, respectively) and an even more powerful GPU , but you can overclock them. And here the graphics performance is generally comparable to the junior discrete video cards, so, despite the prices of 8-11 thousand rubles (at the time of writing), both are an excellent solution for a budget multi-purpose home computer. This will cope with all "everyday tasks", will work great with multimedia information and even allow you to sometimes play modern games.

For a serious gaming system or the production (rather than consumption) of content, "clean" Ryzen processors are intended - up to and including. Here the latter cost up to 25 thousand rubles (if we talk about retail Russian prices) and require the use of a discrete video card, but they already provide the buyer with eight dual-threaded cores. Just a couple of years ago, this was available only in HEDT systems at the appropriate price - about $ 1,000 for just one processor, for which you also needed to purchase a not the cheapest board. Even lower prices, and quad-core and Ryzen 5 are cheaper than their respective APUs. But they may be more preferable when using a discrete graphics card (which they need) - due to support for PCIe 3.0 x16 and a slightly larger cache memory.

Why do we focus on processors? Since the choice of a motherboard, nevertheless, is primarily a choice of a processor - this immediately determines the required platform, and the features of specific models will already affect the requirements for the chipset and / or motherboard. For example, when buying "just processors" (not APUs) of the Ryzen family, video outputs on the motherboard are simply not needed - since they do not have an integrated GPU. Accordingly, their set is all the more unimportant - all the same, they will only take up space on the rear panel, so it's better to look at the board in general, where something more useful to the buyer is located on it. And all models of the Ryzen family (and Athlon based on them) have a developed peripheral component, independent of the chipset, but requiring the "correct" support from the motherboard. Since this issue significantly affects the choice, we will dwell on it in more detail below. In the meantime, let's deal with another interesting and relevant platform of the company.

movie is not for everyone

For a long time, AMD did not deal with HEDT (“High-End Desktop”) platforms, since the term itself was born at a time when it was generally not good at high-end solutions. Athlon FX used to work well, but then the term HEDT did not exist - processors were much more expensive, so solutions for mass platforms also reached four-digit prices. Prices later dropped, but buyers remained willing to pay high prices for extreme levels of system performance. Or extreme expansion possibilities. Ryzen Threadripper for the TR4 platform occupies the corresponding niche in the AMD assortment, which is essentially an intermediate solution between Ryzen for AM4 and server processors of the Epyc line.

You can draw parallels with Intel's HEDT solution - the LGA2066 platform, which also occupies an intermediate position between the mass LGA1151 and the server LGA3647. But the analogy will not be complete - Intel makes different chips and even uses different microarchitectures within the same platform, not to mention different ones, which imposes its own specifics. That is, it cannot be said that, for example, the Core i9-7920X is a “doubled” Core i7-8700K: in fact, these are completely different processors (and even the systems of commands they execute are slightly different). But you can assume that Ryzen Threadripper is two Ryzen in one case. Because the way it is - the same crystals go to Threadripper as to Ryzen 5/7. This has both its pros and cons. In particular, it is wrong to talk about a four-channel memory controller - in fact, there are two dual-channel ones, and the cores cannot access "foreign" memory directly - only by exchanging data through a "neighboring" crystal (with increased delays). But there are four memory channels in a TR4-based system - which allows, for example, installing 128 GB of memory in a computer, and not being limited to 64 GB typical for mass platforms. And 60 PCIe 3.0 lines available for connecting different devices are also in the system. And there are twice as many processor cores than in older solutions for AM4, and the cores are exactly the same.

More precisely, there were twice as many of them in the first generation of Ryzen Threadripper, and the second one added to the family and models, where the “periphery” corresponds to two crystals, but there are already four of them “under the lid” (as in Epyc). As a result, the older model of the family already includes 32 processor cores, while the X series remained limited to "only" 16 cores.

However, already by the numbers ( 16/32 cores, 128 GB, 60 lanesPCIe 3.0) it is clear that the TR4 platform lies somewhere apart from the interests of the average PC user. The prices of processors produced for it further reinforce this feeling: only 8- and 12-core “first generation” models formally fit into the “psychologically significant” $500, which the company is interested in selling to free up warehouses. But they are just the least interesting - eight cores are also in AM4, and the "new" 12-core 2920X has advantages over the "old" 1920X in performance and not only. True, its recommended price is already $649, 16 cores of the “second generation” will cost the buyer about $899 (you can buy a similar one-year-old 16-core at a discount, but here it is officially only $100), and the WX line models generally turn out to be higher than the bar in 1000 dollars. In general, only one processor for the price of not the worst system unit (possibly a gaming unit) based on AM4. In addition, received opportunities you still need to be able to manage - not every software can do this.

Thus, TR4 is a relevant platform, but a niche one. Her customers know why they need her. If anyone finds it difficult to answer this question, then he simply does not need this platform :) But it is worth considering the fact of its presence on the market. However, in the following story, we will not separate Ryzen Threadripper from just Ryzen, and TR4 from AM4: in fact, this is not a separate, only partially compatible platform, but a top-end “add-on” over the base one. You can even simply consider that this is such a two- or four-processor version of the AM4 - with the only difference that the processors are sold immediately in "assemblies", so it is impossible to upgrade one to the other in stages. Well, we repeat, the mass user can “not count” anything at all in relation to TR4, since this platform is unlikely to be useful to him. The main needs are completely covered by the assortment of processors and boards for AM4, so it makes sense to pay attention to them in the first place.

Drives are not a single chipset

In terms of its conceptual design, the AM4 strongly resembles the AMD FMx and Intel LGA115x platforms. There is nothing surprising in this - the mass platforms of the “tenth years” of this century cannot fundamentally differ. But unprincipled - they can. What do we have in this case.

The basic concept of LGA1156 in 2009 was the distribution of basic functions across two chips - a processor and a chipset, which has been preserved to this day. To communicate with the "outside world", the first was equipped with a PCIe controller with support for 20 lanes. 16 of them could be used to connect devices directly to the processor, but usually they were output to exactly one slot, where one video card was most often installed. Some processors could divide these lines into 8+8 or even 8+4+4 configurations, but not all - and each of these options had to be supported by the corresponding chipset. It was the latter at the stage of initial initialization that “prompted” to the processor which modes it could use and which not. In principle, this scheme can be "hacked", but motherboard manufacturers, for obvious reasons, preferred not to indulge in this - it's not worth spoiling relations with the supplier (especially in conditions of complete withdrawal of alternative chipset manufacturers from the market). That is why, when installing any processor into a board based on a junior chipset for any platform (H61 / H81 / H110 - now here is H310), he suddenly forgets about the ability to support more than one memory module per channel - although, it would seem, where is the memory controller, where is the chipset? But these and other nuances still have to be taken into account by anyone choosing an Intel platform.

All drives and other peripherals are connected exclusively to the chipset via the appropriate interfaces: SATA, USB, PCIe, etc. The chipset is connected to the processor using the remaining four lines of the PCIe processor controller, on the basis of which the DME interface is assembled. And this also has to be taken into account when choosing - even the younger B360 for the modern version of LGA1151 already supports 12 PCIe lanes, but if, for example, you use them to install three NVMe drives with a PCIe 3.0 x4 interface (how is a separate question), the total throughput data exchange with them will be limited by the "processor-chipset" link. This, we repeat, is exactly enough for one fast SSD - and yet somehow you need to “feed” both the SATA controller and other devices. Moreover, the notorious Flexible I / O flexibility sometimes leads to unexpected effects - they installed a PCIe device and suddenly a couple of SATA ports turned off or the USB port “fell off”. Want to get rid of problems? We will have to consider the HEDT platform - where there are more PCIe lines actually "from the processor".

We needed such a lyrical digression from the AMD topic in order to sum up: many "horrors" of choosing the "right" chipset and motherboard for Intel processor in the case of the AM4 platform, you can forget, which only adds to its attractiveness. Yes, of course, there are limitations, but everything is simpler and more logical. And less is required of the chipset here - in particular, due to the fact that some of its "traditional" functions are built directly into the processors. For example, the company implemented an additional four PCIe 3.0 lanes in Ryzen just to support drives, and also built a SATA controller into the processor. Accordingly, almost any board with an AM4 connector has one M.2 connector, which is not related to the chipset in any way. Moreover, it usually supports both SSDs with PCIe 3.0 x4 and SATA - in fact, this is the only case of “flexible switching” of different interfaces. However, usually- does not mean always A: On some boards, the "primary" M.2 does not support SATA, so this point is worth checking before buying.

This is not the cheapest motherboard for AM4, but its price is below 4000 rubles, so such an offer (in pair with Athlon) “knocks out” both old AMD platforms and inexpensive Intel Celeron/Pentium based systems from the budget market. Its interesting feature is the presence of three video outputs, including DVI and "analogue" VGA, which will be especially appreciated by owners of old but functional monitors. Moreover, unlike cheap systems based on the Intel H310, you can also install a high-speed SSD here, since the M.2 connector is connected to the processor and supports drives with PCIe 3.0 x4 and SATA interfaces. And four additional SATA ports will allow you to install up to five drives in the system - by the standards of the budget segment, even an excessive amount.

By adding about 1500 rubles, you can already deny yourself nothing- by the standards of the budget segment, of course :) Four (not two) memory slots and a USB 3.1 Type-C connector will be added to the advantages of the previous model. Note that motherboards based on Intel H310 cannot offer any of this (as well as support for top-end SSDs), so the cheapest motherboards for AM4 intersect in terms of functionality with not the cheapest ones (based on the B360 chipset and later) for Intel.

And it is not necessary to go in cycles in ASRock products (although motherboards from this manufacturer are very interesting in the budget segment) - Gigabyte can offer a similar product for the same money. Something will have to be lost, but a radiator for M.2 will appear :)

Full-sized boards based on the B450 usually already "live" above 7500 rubles - that's why we recommend don't discount previous collection of chipsets. But, in principle, in this case, the specific manufacturer does not matter - they all offer products of the same class for the same money. And with very close possibilities.

You can choose a Mini-ITX board with 13 thousand rubles or more. Largely due to the higher cost, despite the smaller size - there are more additional controllers here than in mid-range products.

The prices of top-end motherboards based on the X470 chipset start at a comparable level - they usually already have everything, a lot of everything and not without pleasant (and sometimes useful) excesses :)

This segment ends above 20 thousand rubles. That is, in principle, the most “dense” rows are in the budget segment. Here you can still choose a chipset, since there is no additional functionality other than that provided by it and the processor, and different prices are largely dictated by how much they cut it. In expensive boards, manufacturers can "frolic" as they like - and here it is already very difficult to formulate any objective selection criteria. Moreover, buyers of products of this level, as a rule, have their own criteria - subjective. The general principles remain somewhere in the budget segment.

Total

It is clear that the above ten boards do not exhaust the offers from companies - there are many more. In fact, the main difficulty is not to decide on the main characteristics of the platform (here everything is simple, harmonious and logical for AMD) and not even to choose a specific board manufacturer (only four of them are widely represented - Asus, ASRock, Gigabyte and MSI, and for the same money they offer similar products as well), and not get lost in dozens of models of the assortment of each of them. But this process is already creative and poorly formalized - so we will leave it to the readers :) And all the basic information necessary for a conscious choice according to formal criteria is presented above.

Supported processors: The main advantage of AMD processors is the optimal ratio show full...value for money, as well as an emphasis on floating point calculations, which provide high performance in solving mathematical problems. The range of AMD processors includes the following models:
Dual-core AMD X2 processors have two cores on the same die. They have high performance and can process two data streams simultaneously.
x86-compatible AMD Athlon processors with the K7 architecture were created back in 1999 as an alternative to Intel's Pentium 3. In those years, the architecture of the K7 core included innovative developments to improve performance. The Athlon 64 FX, Athlon 64, and the dual-core Athlon 64 X2 were released in this lineup.
The 64 Athlon processor (Athlon X2), created in 2003 based on the K8 architecture, was the first 64-bit central processing unit for personal computers, compatible with x86. It is equipped with a copper plate that compensates for most of the damage to the core.
The Athlon 64 FX CPU is a high frequency, single core processor with an open multiplier, making it much easier to overclock. Athlon II processors are available in the following series: X2 2xx - dual-core, X3 4xx - three-core, X4 6xx - quad-core. The number in their name depends on the cache size (from 1 to 2 MB) and the processor clock speed.
AMD Phenom II multi-core processors are based on K10 technology and are primarily intended for personal computers with support for DDR3 RAM. Representatives of this line are two- (X2), four- (X4) and six-core (X6) and are marked depending on the clock frequency - the higher the three-digit number, the higher the frequency. Dual-core models have 1 MB L2 cache + 6 MB L3 cache. In turn, the X4 series models have 2 MB cache in the second level and 6 MB cache in the third level. The six-core Phenom II X6 processors are the most powerful of all models currently produced by AMD. They have high clock speeds, 3 MB (512 KB x6) L2 cache and 6 MB L3 cache.

AMD Sempron processors are in the lower price range. They are designed for everyday work with light programs. All processors of the Sempron line have a cache size of 1 MB.
Turion X2 dual-core 64-bit processors were developed in 2006 as competitors to Intel Core and Intel Core 2. They are less energy efficient than previous models, but unfortunately they are not compatible with Socket 754. Such processors are designed to use DDR2 RAM.

Chipset Manufacturer: AMD manufactures chipsets with and without integrated graphics. show full...her. The first type includes devices 740G, 760G, 780G, 785G, 780V, 790GX, 880G, 890GX, and the second type includes 770, 790X, 790FX, 870, 890FX. The 770 chipsets are universal, they are suitable for all motherboard configurations, the 790X series is used when it is necessary to increase the performance of audio and video cards, and the most expensive 790FX series allows you to overclock processors and other components by increasing the operating frequency or supply voltage on a specific component.

For modern processors from Intel on sockets 1151v2 and 2066. In this article we will do the same, but with processors from AMD, that is, with sockets AM4 and TR4.

AMD A300 and A320 - entry level

Like Intel, AMD has a budget chipset, and not even one - it's the A300 and A320. You most likely won’t find boards on the first of them for sale - this is an OEM segment, that is, you can find them only inside a PC, and the manufacturer sets the restrictions (for example, on the maximum heat dissipation of the processor), so it’s not possible to talk about the choice account for. But there are no such problems with the A320 - boards on it are sold in retail, and there are some differences between them, so we will talk about this chipset.

So what is he capable of? Theoretically, they support the entire line of processors released for AM4 (some after updating the BIOS), from the simplest Athlon to the top Ryzen 7. At the same time, some manufacturers may specifically limit support only to solutions with a 65 W TDP - looking ahead, this is a logical decision. Unfortunately, there is no processor overclocking, but RAM, unlike simple Intel chipsets, can and even needs to be overclocked, because the internal bus frequency of modern AMD processors is tied to the RAM frequency.

However, you should not rejoice and install 6- and 8-core Ryzen on motherboards with such a chipset, even with a heat dissipation of 65 W: alas, since the segment is budgetary, often there are only 3-4 power phases for the processor, there may not be heatsinks in principle, but these CPUs seriously go beyond their thermal envelope even under medium load. As a result - overheating of the VRM (processor power circuit), and, accordingly, processor throttling in order to reduce the temperature. Therefore, when buying a board based on this chipset, you should limit yourself to 2- and 4-core processors, that is, Athlon, Ryzen 3, and some Ryzen 5.

Typical low cost board for Athlon 200GE, Ryzen 3 1200 or Ryzen 3 2200G processors.

As for RAM, everything here is more interesting than that of Intel: if the "blue" boards on a simple H310 chipset have two slots for RAM, then the "red" ones on the A320 have boards with 4 slots. But there is little sense in the latter: the problem is that AMD poorly shared a simple chipset (A320) with more advanced ones that support overclocking (B350/450) - the difference in cost between them is often only a thousand rubles. Therefore, "expensive" boards with 4 slots on the A320 often cost the same as boards on the B350 or B450 - that is, they simply lose their meaning. So if you're building a simple AMD PC, you don't need CPU overclocking and want to save as much as possible - you'll have to take A320 boards with 2 RAM slots.

As for the rest of the content of the board, it can be characterized simply - the necessary minimum: one full-fledged PCIe x16 slot, 4-6 USB, 4 SATA, there is often a slot for m.2 SSD. Of course, there can be no talk of any SLI or CrossFire, but, unlike the Intel H310, here you can implement a RAID array of several drives.

The sound on such boards is implemented using the Realtek ALC887 audio controller - it will not work for flac lovers, but there will be no problems when listening to mp3 or playing games, most smartphones sound worse. The network controller is also from Realtek, of course, there is support for a speed of 1 Gb / s - that is, again, there will be no problems even at high-speed tariffs. Alas, Wi-Fi is rare in such boards, but finding PS / 2 (yes, on 2017 boards) is not a problem.

Now let's answer the main question of the article - what should I pay attention to? The answer is only to the filling of the board: the number of USB ports, the availability of the necessary video output, and so on, because there is practically no difference in everything else: with a 2-core Athlon, an extra power phase will not help you, and there are always two RAM slots on advantageous boards.

AMD B350 and B450 - middling, indistinguishable from the tops

Like Intel, AMD also decided to produce chipsets in the mid-range segment. So, with the release of the updated Ryzen on the Zen + architecture, the company added the B450 to the already existing B350 - what's new in it?

Apparently motherboards on both chipsets support the entire Ryzen processor line (the B350 might need a BIOS update). These are also the simplest AMD chipsets, supporting not only RAM overclocking, but also processor overclocking (Intel nervously smokes aside with its B360/H370/Q370). What is the difference between them? In some small things that may be important.

Firstly, this AMD StoreMI technology, which is supported only by the 400th chipsets: it allows you to combine a hard drive, SSD and (or) RAM into one storage. Why is this needed? In order, on the one hand, to get a huge data storage space, which, on the other hand, will work much faster than a conventional hard drive: in this case, the chipset decides for itself what data to put where, and frequently used information will be stored in a dedicated amount of RAM or SSD for quick access.

A good board that can easily handle overclocking 6-core Ryzen 5.

Secondly, the 400th chipsets support AMD Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO) technology - in fact, this is a processor auto-overclocking technology. Yes, there is something similar to it in the 300th chipsets, but now it has become even better: for example, with manual overclocking, the top Ryzen 7 2700X will most likely work at frequencies of the order of 4.1-4.2 GHz, but with PBO - up to 4.35 GHz (however, not for long and not with all cores).

Thirdly, the B450 chipset supports CrossFire, that is, you can put two video cards from AMD together. Alas, the B350 doesn't have this feature, and both chipsets don't support SLI.

Let's move on to the circuitry of the boards. As I said above, solutions based on the B-chipset support overclocking of both the processor and the RAM. At the same time, in the case of AMD, it is possible to overclock all Ryzen processors and some Athlon processors (officially, 200GE is not overclocked, but in practice, many manufacturers still made overclocking support for it). Therefore, if in the case of Intel, overclocking is the lot of expensive motherboards and CPUs, where it makes no sense to save an extra thousand rubles, then in the case of AMD, overclocking is really "folk", so let's consider it in more detail.

So, you have an Athlon 200GE or a 4-core Ryzen, and you are planning to overclock it. Obviously, heatsinks on VRM boards are a must, but you shouldn't overpay for monstrous designs with heat pipes. As for the number of phases, 4 pieces is enough (you're not going to break overclocking records, right?)

If you plan to overclock 6- or 8-core Ryzen, then everything is different: if the main problem when overclocking 8-core Intel Core is overheating of the power circuits, then even with a 6-phase VRM and 8-core Ryzen, their heating hardly exceed 80 degrees, which is quite acceptable. The problem will be in something else - in the current limit: that is, even by greatly increasing the voltage, you will not get stability. Therefore, if you plan to overclock above 4 GHz, it makes sense to look at boards with 8 phases.

In terms of RAM, everything here is the same as on the A320: it can be overclocked, and there can be from 2 to 4 slots, depending on the price segment and the size of the board. Of course, it is better to take options with 4 slots - this will allow you to upgrade in the future without replacing the already inserted dies. It is also worth considering that at the moment the maximum supported volume of one die is 16 GB, that is, in total it can be no more than 64. In addition, the layout of the tracks of the RAM slots was changed on boards with the 400th line of chipsets, which improved overclocking potential - however, not much, most likely it will be possible to "win back" another 100-200 MHz, no more.

As for the rest of the content of the board, everything is up to you: the sound card can be represented by either a simpler Realtek ALC8xx or a higher-quality ALC1220. USB 3.0 connectors can be up to 8 pieces, SATA - four. There may be not one, but two network cards, the board may have USB-C and DisplayPort, and up to three m.2 slots - in general, it makes sense to choose all the “jewelry” here according to your needs and wallet.

In the end, what should you pay attention to? In general, if you use one video card, overclock the processor manually and are not going to conquer the frequency of 4 GHz with RAM, it makes no sense to chase the B450 chipset: AMD promised to support the AM4 socket until 2020, that is, no one will specifically cut the B350 . If overclocking is important to you, then, as in the case of Intel, again, you need to carefully look at the power circuits of the selected board - but not for heating, but for the ability to deliver the required current. If you plan to seriously overclock the RAM, you should take the B450.

AMD X300, X370 and X470: older is superfluous

Want to set overclocking records on the top 8-core Ryzen 7 2700X? Then this board is for you.

In general, the presence of X-chipsets raises questions, since their functionality is almost the same as the B-series. It makes no sense to consider the X300 - again, this is an OEM segment, that is, motherboards with it are available only when purchased together with a PC. But the rest of the representatives of the X-line are sold at retail, and we'll talk about them.

If we talk about the difference between X470 and X370, it is the same as between B450 and B350: 400th chipsets support StoreMI and PBO technologies, and also show better results when overclocking memory. As for the comparison with the B-line of chipsets, the difference is also small: these are extra 2 SATA and 4 USB 3.0, as well as Nvidia SLI support (CrossFire, as I said above, is also on B-chipsets). Therefore, in general, the X-line is meaningless: unless you connect five disks and a couple of Nvidia video cards.

Accordingly, it doesn't make much sense to take a closer look at these chipsets - everything is true for them as for the B-series. Perhaps the only important change that comes purely from manufacturers is that motherboards based on X-chipsets are better suited for extreme overclocking, as there are expensive solutions with 10 or more power phases.

AMD X399 - who has 32 cores in the desktop?

As many as 16 power phases - can handle even a 32-core Threadripper 2990WX.

Like Intel, AMD has a chipset for Threadripper's high performance (HEDT) line of processors, the X399. Obviously, overclocking is not limited in any way here - overclocking of both the processor and RAM is supported. Also, there are no pitfalls with processor support, like Intel has: any processor from the Threadripper line will work on any board - at most, you will have to update the BIOS.

Of course, the presence in the line of processors with 16, 24 and even 32 cores imposes its own limitation on the VRM zone: for example, given that such CPUs can consume over 300 W during overclocking, 8 phases is already the minimum for operation at stock frequencies, and for overclocking, it is best to look at solutions with 10 phases or more.

In terms of RAM, everything is also more interesting here than with simpler Ryzen: compact boards have 4 slots, full-size boards have 8, that is, the maximum supported memory size is an impressive 128 GB. The rest of the content of the boards is standard for Hi-End: this is a good Realtek ALC1220 sound card, up to three Ethernet adapters (including those with 10 Gb / s support) and up to 4 PCIe x16 slots (according to the scheme 16 + 8 + 16 + 8). The number of SATA - 6 pieces, USB 3.0 - 10.

As a result, in this segment, the most important thing is to take solutions with good power circuits, and it is desirable to organize airflow if you plan to overclock, especially the top 24- or 32-core Threadripper WX.

the chipset model is of great importance, then for AMD it is not critical. As we remember, all the most important things are contained in the CPU itself, and the chipset acts as a household assistant. Strange as it may sound, even the simplest of them can be used to build a very perfect system.

AMD X300 and A300 Designed for entry level computers. In terms of capabilities, they are almost identical, and the main difference is the lack of overclocking support in the A300. That is, the processor is ready to chase, but the chipset prevents it. The X300, although just as simple, has no such problems - drive as much as you want. The chipsets support two SATA ports and four USB 3.1 ports.

AMD A320- a more versatile soldier. It also does not know how to overclock processors, but it supports USB 3.1 G2 and up to 6 USB 2.0 ports (the first two do not have the old standard as a class). Functional and inexpensive motherboards are produced on this chipset for those who are not very close to overclocking.

AMD B350 and B450– multifunctional twins. They can do everything you need, support a full set of expansion ports, and if you do not plan to install several graphics cards, it is on this couple that you should stop. They are really twins, and the only difference with the newer B450 is the free support for AMD StoreMI drive acceleration technology. It allows you to combine ordinary hard drives with a small capacity SSD in one volume, achieving performance gains. The idea of hybridization of drives has been walking around the market for a long time and, to be honest, I still advise you not to bother with gadgets, but simply put the system and heavy applications on an SSD. But if you want to play around, then, of course, you need to take a B450 motherboard. Everything also works on the B350, but you will have to pay extra for the Enmotus FuzeDrive utility.

AMD X370 and X470- mega twins. Everyone can do it, they support a full set of ports in excess and support the installation of two video cards. The differences between them are again in the work with AMD StoreMI. Probably, since we are talking about a top-end solution, it makes no sense to take the older X370, but in terms of user experience, the chipsets are identical. Moreover, there is only one slot for a video card on inexpensive versions of boards with these chipsets...

As you can see, the list of chipsets is not so long, which is explained by their not the highest role in the system. In all honesty, the B450 simply has nowhere to go, but wealthy guys will still buy the X470 and Ryzen 7.

There is only one chipset for AMD Ryzen Threadripper - X399. This is a kind of X370 on steroids. More precisely, it's just what it is, the only differences are in the layout on the board and the BIOS version. Since there are no alternatives, then there is nothing special to talk about. If you take Threadripper, you can also take X399.

Which motherboard to buy for an AMD processor

ASUS. It is necessary to take ASUS.

I bought my first motherboard of this breed 21 years ago. For the Intel Pentium MMX processor, if you remember this one. And even then there were ASUS motherboards, and there were all the rest. Today everything is exactly the same. Unless ASUS now has not one or two flagship boards for each processor family, but several at once, with different capabilities. And, accordingly, different prices. Paying immediately for full stuffing, even if you don’t really need it, is not necessary now.

In the case of AMD processors, the choice of ASUS is justified for four reasons at once.

1) ASUS maintains its boards for a long time, releasing new BIOS versions, and, if new models (and even families) of processors are released, you are very likely to be able to put them in an existing system.

2) AMD processors require high RAM frequencies. At the same time, the characteristics of DDR4 modules in themselves do not guarantee: the motherboard must help the processor recognize them and overclock to the maximum. Here, the layout on the board, and the organization of power supply, and support in the BIOS - all in a complex. ASUS does it better.

Under load, computer components heat up themselves and / or take heat stroke from their neighbors. There can be no trifles in the choice of components and their placement on the motherboard. Everything is important.

3) In all Ryzen the multiplier is unlocked, and a significant part of the buyers are trying to overclock them. And overclocking is ASUS.

4) You saved a lot on the processor, which means there is something to take a normal motherboard.

Understanding the variety of ASUS motherboards for the AMD platform is easier than it might seem after a first look at the official website.

The base level is the Prime and TUF families Gaming. I used the word "basic" and not "simple" or "budget" because there are no serious restrictions. Availability - yes, there is.

Suffice it to say that in the line Prime there is a model based on the X399 chipset designed for AMD Ryzen Threadripper and does a good job with it (Prime X399-A). A normal "state employee" where you can install three video cards.

Ruler TUF Gaming functionally it does not differ from Prime, but there is a recognizable design by which these motherboards can be recognized from afar, as well as additional “gain” for seasoned gamers. Increased frequencies, high temperature for a long time, intensive power consumption of components - all this is provided for in the design and will not cause inconvenience. There is also a certification of components for TUF Gaming, and by reading a long list of different hardware, you will exclude the situation when the cooler does not fit on the board due to the unusual shape of the radiator, or memory modules interfere with it.

Even a very small motherboard can be gaming. If done wisely, of course.

In fact, most users can stop right here, because the ASUS base-level capabilities for the AMD platform are pleasantly surprising. If you don't plan to build something like that, you can take Prime or TUF Gaming and enjoy life. But for connoisseurs of such options, there are also options.

Nicely discounted bells and whistles - ROG Strix. Generally, ROG(Republic of Gamers) is a top segment, and recently the brand is often found on its own, without mentioning ASUS. He grew up and became independent. ROG Strix - the opportunity to join the magic of the Republic of Gamers is somewhat cheaper, however, even holding the boards in your hands, it is difficult to distinguish "the best" from just "the best".

No, seriously - you can arrange contests, like "Look at the ROG Strix board and find at least one compromise in it." There is not. You won't find. I was looking for. For example, the ROG Strix B450-F Gaming board is a perfect design, where wide functionality is combined with depth and subtlety of customization. For connoisseurs of beauty, the board has a full-color AURA LED backlight with the ability to connect additional lights and other devices that support the technology. In principle, in the presence of a transparent case, you can safely refuse in favor of the ROG Strix B450-F Gaming from the Christmas tree. Just because the tree looks much less festive.

Here I once again have to tell you - STOP! ROG Strix are motherboards of a high, even redundant level for a normal person. They have everything you need, and even some nice extras.

But, of course, for truly wealthy guys, there are even more serious options.

ROG Cross hair - power over beauty. To be honest, the words are already running out. Do you want to have EVERYTHING in the motherboard? Take ROG Crosshair. But be prepared for the fact that your ideas about EVERYTHING IN GENERAL are much more modest than ASUS sees it. The fact that the boards of this family are very beautiful even compared to the ROG Strix is important only for true aesthetes. But this beauty did not require sacrifice. Fine-tuning cooling, not only air, but also water - please. Reinforced connectors and interfaces - of course. Components with a clearly excessive margin of safety - but how without them? AURA lighting is in two places, and there is also support for Philips Hue. Overclocking - are you kidding me or something, of course yes! Sound - sound!

No, I won't waste your time. If your budget allows, go for it. Have fun. In the end, the sadness of parting with money will quickly melt away, but the pleasure will remain.

ROG Zenith Extreme - Dad. Motherboards are usually affectionately called "moms", so this is Dad. Father. A board for the Ryzen Threadripper processor has been made and costs a staggering 35 thousand rubles. But you need to understand that this is not a mass product, but a kind of exhibition of ASUS achievements. Here you can install as many as four video cards, here they seriously got confused with sound, using chips from discrete sound adapters, here are only the most expensive components with forced cooling ...

No, seriously, if your rich aunt in Brazil passed away and left you a couple of wagonloads of reais, this ROG Zenith Extreme would be a great choice. But still, I think most readers are better off paying attention to cheaper options. Luckily they are no worse.

Total

Ten years ago, the Intel vs. AMD has been very, very hot. Then, when AMD objectively lagged behind, there was nothing to argue about, but at the same time, pleasant surprises left the processor market. Yes, Intel Core has been getting prettier year by year, but the improvements have become more and more smooth, measured. And it seemed that the intrigue from this market was gone forever.

The advent of Ryzen has significantly shaken up the status quo. The outsider, habitually swallowing the dust of the leader, suddenly began to run on a par, and sometimes even break out half a body ahead. Not on all tracks and not in all sports, but still it is no longer possible to talk about Intel Core as the only and unconditional option.

And that's great. For everyone - for us, customers, for AMD, for Intel. The intrigue is definitely back.

I plan to assemble a workstation on AMD by the end of the year and, after a 20-year (!) break, try this platform again in business. It looks like a lot has changed since the AMD K5-PR133.