If you are interested in upgrading to the AMD Ryzen 7000 series CPUs then you will need an AM5 motherboard. The A620 chipset is for entry-level motherboards while the B650 chipset is for mid-range motherboards. In this article, we go over the differences between the AMD AM5 A620 and B650 chipsets.
AMD AM5 Platform: A620 Vs B650 Vs X670 Specs
Since the A620 chipset is entry-level, it does miss out on some features compared to B650. A620 is limited to CPU PCIe Gen4 and does not have Gen5 even though both chipsets have up to 28 lanes. In terms of chipset, A620 is limited to PCIe Gen3 while B650 gets bumped up to Gen4 and the same is the case for PCIe uplink.
USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 is optional on the B650 motherboards and it is not available on A620. Both chipsets support RAM overclocking but CPU overclocking and Crossfire support are only available on the B650 chipset. AMD has already confirmed that the B650 Extreme chipset will support PCIe Gen5 for both the graphics card and storage. Other features are similar as you can see in the chart below:
Best AMD A620 Motherboards
MSI PRO A620M-E (Under $100)
At under $100, the MSI PRO A620M-E offers great value for budget gamers that are looking to game at 1080p. Since this is a budget motherboard, you do not get fancy features such as armor or RGB lighting but the motherboard does support DDR5 memory up to 6400 MHz and is PCIe 4.0 compatible. It has a single M.2 slot for fast SSD storage and a reinforced PCIe slot.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Chipset | AMD A620 |
| CPU Socket | Socket AM5 |
| Form Factor | Micro-ATX |
| Memory | – 2 x DDR5 memory slots, support up to 96GB – Supports DDR5 6000+(OC)/ 5800(OC)/ 5600(OC)/ 5400(OC)/ 5200(OC)/ 5000(OC)/ 4800(JEDEC) MHz – Supports Dual-Channel mode – Supports non-ECC, un-buffered memory |
| LAN | Realtek® RTL8111H Gigabit LAN |
| Audio | Realtek® ALC897 Codec, 7.1-Channel High Definition Audio |
| Storage | – 1 x M.2 Gen4 x4 64Gbps slot<br>- 4 x SATA 6Gb/s ports |
| Onboard Graphics | – 1 x HDMI™ Support HDMITM 2.1, maximum resolution of 4K 60Hz – 1 x VGA Support maximum resolution of 2048×1536 50Hz, 2048×1280 60Hz, 1920×1200 60Hz |
| RAID | Supports RAID 0, RAID 1, and RAID 10 for SATA storage devices |
| Expansion Slots | – 1 x PCI-E x16 slot – 1 x PCI-E x1 slot |
| USB (Front) | – 2 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type A – 4 x USB 2.0 |
| USB (Rear) | – 4 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type A – 2 x USB 2.0 |
| Internal Connectors | – 1 x Power Connector(ATX_PWR) – 1 x Power Connector(CPU_PWR) – 1 x CPU Fan – 2 x System Fan – 2 x Front Panel (JFP) – 1 x Chassis Intrusion (JCI) – 1 x Front Audio (JAUD) – 1 x Com Port (JCOM) |
| Dimensions | 8.30″ x 9.60″ |
| Operating System Support | Support for Windows® 11 64-bit, Windows® 10 64-bit |
| Special Features | – Core Boost technology for faster and undistorted current delivery to the CPU – EZ OC TUNING for higher CPU performance – MSI DRIVER UTILITY INSTALLER for automatic driver and utility installation when connected to the internet |
ASUS TUF Gaming A620M-PLUS (WiFi)
The ASUS TUF Gaming A620M-PLUS (WiFi) is a more expensive option but it does come with additional features such as armor, better cooling an additional M.2 slot, Wi-Fi, and 4 DIMM slots. The motherboard does not have an integrated I/O shield but it does have a reinforced PCIe slot that supports PCIe 4.0. It has a stealthy black design and should blend in well with the rest of your PC parts.
Other features of the motherboard include 2.5Gb LAN, Front USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C, BIOS Flashback button and M.2 Q-Latch.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| AMD AM5 Socket | Ready for AMD Ryzen 7000 Series Desktop Processors |
| Enhanced Power Solution | Six-layer PCB, alloy Chokes, military-grade TUF components, and DIGI+ VRM for maximum durability |
| ASUS OptiMem II | Careful routing of traces and vias, plus ground layer optimizations to preserve signal integrity for improved memory overclocking |
| Comprehensive Cooling | Enhanced VRM heatsink, PCH heatsink, hybrid fan headers, and Fan Xpert 2+ |
| Ultrafast Connectivity | PCIe 4.0 support, dual M.2 slots, USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, front USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C |
| Made for Online Gaming | Wi-Fi 6, Realtek 2.5Gb Ethernet, TUF LANGuard |
| Aura Sync RGB Lighting | Onboard Addressable Gen 2 headers and Aura RGB header for RGB LED strips, easily synced with Aura Sync-capable hardware |
| Two-way AI Noise-Cancelation | Reduces background noise from the microphone and audio output for crystal-clear communication in games or video conferences |
Best AMD B650 Motherboards
GIGABYTE B650M AORUS Elite AX (Great Value)
The B650M AORUS Elite AX provides impressive value for money with ample armor and cooling, 2x M.2 slots, Wi-Fi, and support for PCIe 5.0. The motherboard has a clean black and silver design which is neutral allowing the motherboard to blend in with the rest of the PC parts.
The motherboard has a 12+2+2 phase power design and 8-Layer 2X Copper PCB. Other features include USB 3.2 Gen2X2 Type-C, Intel 2.5GbE LAN, Q-Flash Plus, and EZ-Latch.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Power Design | – CPU Power Connector: 8+4 Solid Pin |
| – VRM Design: Twin 14+2+1 Digital, 70A Smart Power Stage | |
| – PCB: 8-Layer 2X Copper, PCIe 5.0 Ready, Low Loss | |
| Thermal Design | – Heatsinks: Fully Covered MOSFET Heatsinks |
| – Heatpipe: 6mm Mega-Heatpipe | |
| – Thermal Conductivity Pad: 7 W/mk | |
| – I/O Shield: Integrated | |
| PCI Express 5.0 Design | – M.2 Slots: 1PCIe 5.0 x4 M.2 & 2 PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 with M.2 Thermal Guard |
| – PCIe Slots: 1PCIe 4.0 x16 with Ultra Durable™ Armor, 2PCIe 3.0 x1 | |
| Other Features | – Socket: AM5, Supports AMD Ryzen™ 7000 Series Processors |
| – Memory: Dual Channel SMD DDR5 | |
| – Power Connectors: 24 Pin ATX Power Connector | |
| – Fan Headers: Smart Fan 6, 6*PWM/DC Fan Headers, Dual Fan Curve Mode | |
| – WiFi & Bluetooth: Wi-Fi 6E 802.11ax 2T2R & BT 5 with AORUS Antenna | |
| – USB: 1*USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C®, Front USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C® | |
| – Audio: Hi-Fi Audio, 8-Channel HD Audio, Audio Noise Guard, High-End Audio Capacitor | |
| – RGB: RGB FUSION, 2Addressable LED Header, 3RGB LED Header | |
| Performance | – DDR5 Overclocking: Up to 8000 and Beyond with EXPO & XMP |
| – M.2 Connector: Ultra Durable™ SMD PCIe 5.0 x4 | |
| – Exclusive DDR5 Circuit Design: Programmable Mode, unlocks Native DDR5 voltage control |
ASUS TUF Gaming B650-PLUS WiFi
The ASUS TUF Gaming B650-PLUS WiFi is a bit more expensive but it is a full-size ATX motherboard so you get better expansion options. The motherboard has a 12+2 phase power design and supports DDR5 memory. It supports PCIe Gen5 storage and graphics cards.
The motherboard has three M.2 slots and they all come with heatsinks. It also has a pair of full-length PCIe slots for graphics cards and one of them is reinforced. This is the one you will use for your graphics card. The motherboard has plenty of armor and cooling and even has an integrated I/O shield.
Other features include 2.5 Gb Ethernet, WiFi 6, USB4, USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C, and front USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Form Factor | ATX |
| Chipset | AMD B650 |
| Compatible Processors | AMD Ryzen processors |
| Expansion Slots | – 1 x PCIe 4.0/3.0 x16 – 1 x PCIe 3.0 x16 (x4 mode) – 3 x PCIe 3.0 x1 – 3 x PCIe 3.0 x1 |
| Storage Interfaces | – 6 x SATA 6Gb/s – 2 x M.2 |
| Network Controller | Intel I225-V |
| Wireless | Intel Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | Version 5.2 |
| USB | – 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 – 2 x USB 2.0 – 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 |
| Audio | 8-channel HD audio |
| Internal Interfaces | – 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 header – 2 x USB 2.0 headers – 1 x COM port header |
| Included Accessories | Cables, screws, and a TUF Gaming sticker |
| Compliant Standards | RoHS |
| Power Connectors | 24-pin main power, 8-pin ATX12V |
Best AMD X670 Motherboard – MSI PRO X670-P WiFi ProSeries
The MSI PRO X670-P WiFi ProSeries Motherboard is designed to support AMD Ryzen™ 7000 Series Desktop Processors and offers a range of features optimized for performance, connectivity, and ease of use.
The motherboard includes a Performance Switch that combines AMD’s default PBO (Precision Boost Overdrive) with MSI’s own OC settings for maximum performance. It provides several thermal profiles to control CPU temperature and has Config TDP for ECO mode or different TDP settings.
The motherboard offers options like Flash BIOS Button to recover or update your BIOS easily without the need for a CPU or memory to be installed.
MSI includes an EZ M.2 Clip for easy installation of M.2 SSDs and a Driver Utility Installer to automatically detect and install the right drivers once connected to the internet.
It’s certified for Windows 11 and provides utilities like EZ Debug LED for troubleshooting, XL Clip for easier handling of PCI-E devices, and enhanced ESD protection.
The motherboard features a range of USB ports including Lightning USB 20G for up to 20Gb/s transfer speeds, Front USB Type-C, and a variety of other USB 3.2 ports. It also includes a Realtek® 2.5G LAN for network connectivity and AMD Wi-Fi 6E for wireless connections.
Equipped with a Realtek® ALC4080 Codec, it supports 7.1-Channel High Performance Audio and S/PDIF output.
It supports DDR5 memory with a maximum capacity of 192GB and various overclocking options for memory speed. It also supports AMD EXPO for easy memory overclocking profiles.
The motherboard provides 4 M.2 slots with different PCIe configurations and 6 SATA 6G ports for storage devices, along with support for RAID 0, RAID 1, and RAID 10 configurations.
It has 3 PCIe x16 slots and 1 PCIe x1 slot, with various generations of PCIe support, ensuring flexibility for adding GPUs and other PCIe devices.
The MSI Center unifies MSI software utilities, providing control over motherboard features, including Mystic Light for RGB control, True Color for monitor optimization, and various user scenarios and hardware monitoring tools.
It offers Click BIOS 5 with both EZ and advanced modes for user-friendly BIOS navigation, EXPO profiles for overclocking, and a hardware monitor to keep track of system vitals.
Let us know what you think about the A620 chipset and whether or not you are interested in building an entry-level PC on the AM5 platform.
