AMD has been making waves in the CPU market with its Ryzen series of processors, which offer excellent performance, efficiency, and value for money. The latest generation of Ryzen, codenamed “Zen 4”, is expected to launch later this year, and it will bring some significant changes to the platform. One of them is the transition to a new socket, AM5, which will support PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 memory, among other features.
However, many PC enthusiasts have been worried about the cost of upgrading to the new platform, as AM5 motherboards have been scarce and expensive so far. The cheapest AM5 motherboard available until recently was the MSI X670-A PRO, which retails for $199.99. That’s a hefty price to pay for a basic motherboard, especially considering that AM4 motherboards can be found for much less.
But now, there is some good news for budget-conscious PC builders who want to jump on the AM5 bandwagon. ASRock, a well-known manufacturer of affordable and reliable motherboards, has just released its first AM5 motherboard, the B650M-HDV/M.2, which is listed at Newegg.com for $124.99. That’s a significant drop from the previous lowest price, and it makes AM5 more accessible to a wider range of consumers.
The ASRock B650M-HDV/M.2 is a micro-ATX motherboard that supports AMD Ryzen 7000 series processors, PCIe 5.0 x16 and x1 slots, two DDR5 DIMM slots, one M.2 PCIe 5.0 x4 slot, one M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 slot, four SATA 6Gb/s ports, one HDMI 2.1 port, one DisplayPort 1.4 port, one USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C port, four USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, one Gigabit LAN port, and a 7.1-channel HD audio codec. It also features a 6+2 power phase design, a heatsink for the chipset, and a BIOS flashback button.
The ASRock B650M-HDV/M.2 may not be the most feature-rich or aesthetically pleasing AM5 motherboard, but it offers the essentials for a decent gaming or productivity PC. It also has the advantage of being compatible with both 24GB and 48GB DDR5 modules, which are currently not supported by some other AM5 motherboards due to a firmware issue that AMD is working on fixing.
The availability of the ASRock B650M-HDV/M.2 is a positive sign for the AM5 platform, as it shows that AMD and its partners are committed to delivering affordable and diverse options for consumers. It also gives hope that more AM5 motherboards will be released soon, with different chipsets, form factors, and features. AMD has already announced that it will offer a range of AM5 chipsets, from the high-end X670 to the entry-level A520, to cater to different needs and budgets.
The AM5 platform is poised to be a game-changer for the PC industry, as it will enable AMD to compete with Intel on equal footing in terms of technology and innovation. PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 will offer faster speeds and bandwidths for graphics cards, storage devices, and memory modules, which will benefit gamers, content creators, and professionals alike. AMD has also hinted that its Zen 4 processors will offer improved performance, efficiency, and security, as well as support for new technologies such as 3D V-Cache and FidelityFX Super Resolution.
The first AMD AM5 motherboard below $125 is a milestone for the PC community, as it makes the new platform more accessible and affordable. It also shows that AMD and its partners are listening to the feedback and demands of the consumers, and are working hard to deliver the best products possible. The AM5 platform is not only the future of AMD, but also the future of PC gaming and computing123456