AM4 was launched in September 2016 and was designed to replace the sockets AM3+, FM2+ and FS1b as a single platform. It has 1331 pin slots and is the first from AMD to support DDR4 memory as well as achieve unified compatibility between high-end CPUs (previously using Socket AM3+) and AMD's lower-end APUs (on various other sockets).[3][4] In 2017, AMD made a commitment to using the AM4 platform with socket 1331 until 2020.[5][6][7] AM5 succeeded the AM4 platform in late 2022 with the introduction of the Ryzen 7000 series, however, AMD has continued to release new CPUs for AM4 even after the release of AM5.[8][9][10][11]
Features
Support for Zen (including Zen+, Zen 2 and Zen 3) based family of CPUs and APUs (Ryzen, Athlon), as well as for some A-Series APUs and Athlon X4 CPUs (Bristol Ridge based on the Excavator microarchitecture)
Supports up to 4 modules of DDR4 RAM in dual-channel configuration[12]
Heatsink
The AM4 socket specifies the 4 holes for fastening the heatsink to the motherboard to be placed in the corners of a rectangle with a lateral length of 54×90 mm. Previous sockets have 48×96 mm.
Some heat sinks for older sockets are not compatible.[14][15] Some cooler manufacturers, however, are reported to be offering brackets allowing previously manufactured coolers to work with AM4,[16] while other coolers will be redesigned.[17][18] Alternatively, some motherboard makers are including both AM3 and AM4 cooler mounting holes, allowing previous generation coolers to be used.[19] AM4 coolers that use a two-pronged bracket approach (such as the AMD Wraith Prism) to mount the cooler will work with AM4 and all the way back to Socket 754/939.
Chipsets
Socket AM4 is currently a base for 8 chipset models. While the processors for this socket have been designed as systems in a package (SiP), with the traditional northbridge and southbridge on board the processor, the motherboard chipset will increase the number of PCI Express lanes and other connectivity options. These connectivity options include: NVMe, SATA, and USB 3.2 Gen 2.[2][18][20] There also exists chipset-less variations of A320 and X370, called A300 and X300 respectively, that rely solely on the I/O die integrated into the CPU; these platforms are designed solely for small form factor (SFF) systems where there is a possibility that there is not enough space on the board to fit an actual chipset; these 'chipsets' are also solely available for OEM use only and are not available for purchase with SFF boards.[2][18][21]
v
t
e
^ PCIe lanes provided by the chipset. The CPU provides other PCIe 3.0 or 4.0 lanes.
^ USB 3.2 Gen 2x1, USB 3.2 Gen 1x1, USB 2.0
^Knoll chipsets consume "insignificant power ...after [boot] in sleep mode", power figure based on a typical SPI controller
^Limited to specific SKUs branded as Ryzen Pro and Athlon Pro
^Only pre-Zen CPUs can be overclocked.
^ BIOS update needed. Availability may depend on manufacturer.
^ a b Beta BIOS updates may be made available by motherboard manufacturers.
^OEM-only B550A is a rebranded B450
^7 watts on passive cooling (termed X570s).
Compatibility
In 2020, AMD faced some criticism when it was announced on May 7 that its Zen 3-based Ryzen 5000 microprocessors would only be compatible with newer 500-series chipset AM4 motherboards.[41][42][43] This was explained as motherboard BIOS's sizes not being large enough to support the full range of AM4 socket processors.[41][43] This had upset some of the user base as, described by AnandTech, they "...had assumed that this meant any AM4 platform based motherboard would be able to accept all processor made from 2016 to 2020, including the new Zen 3...".[43] After the announcement some motherboard manufacturers announced they were planning to add in support for Zen 3 processors via BIOS updates.[41][44]
On 19 May 2020, however, AMD changed its position and stated that Zen 3 would be coming to selected older X470 and B450 motherboards via a BIOS update.[45] This would be achieved by disabling support for some older AM4 processors in the BIOS ROM in order to allocate space to support the newer processors.[45][46][43]
On 12 November 2021, according to TechPowerUp, ASUS and Gigabyte were the few vendors that allowed Ryzen 5000 on A320 motherboard, and according to Tom's Hardware, it was done by removing support for AMD's 7th Generation A-series and Athlon X4 series (Bristol Ridge) processors.[47][48] AMD later officially expanded Ryzen 5000 support to 300-series motherboards in March 2022.[49][50]
^Tyson, Mark (September 5, 2016). "7th Generation AMD A-Series desktop PC systems start to ship". Hexus. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
^ a b cUng, Gordon (September 5, 2016). "AMD's new Bristol Ridge processor is faster and more power efficient". PCWorld. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
^Smith, Ryan (May 6, 2015). "AMD's 2016-2017 x86 Roadmap: Zen Is In, Skybridge Is Out". AnandTech. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
^Mujtaba, Hassan (May 7, 2015). "AMD Confirms x86 Zen Based Enthusiast FX CPUs and 7th Generation APUs in 2016 - Compatible With AM4 Socket". Wccftech. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
^Bright, Peter (March 2, 2017). "AMD's moment of Zen: Finally, an architecture that can compete". Ars Technica. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
^Leather, Antony (March 9, 2018). "More AMD CPU Leaks Revealed: Ryzen 2nd Gen Details Plus AM4 And TR4 Socket Life Confirmed?". Forbes. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
^Campbell, Mark (April 21, 2018). "AMD reaffirms commitment to AM4 socket until 2020". Overclock3D. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
^"AMD Expands 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen™ Desktop Processor Family, Unleashing Powerful "Zen 2" Core For The Mainstream". AMD. 2020-04-21. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
^"AMD Chipset Comparison: B550 Specs vs. X570, B450, X370, & Zen 3 Support (2020)". GamersNexus. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
^CrimsonRayne (2018-12-01). "AMD X570 Launches at Computex & Supports PCIE 4.0 | Ryzen 3000 Series Launch Date Leaked?". redgamingtech. Retrieved 2019-07-10. the X570 platform is targeting a release of Computex 2019, which takes place between May 28th and June 1st.
^Hassan Mujtaba (2019-05-27). "AMD X570 Motherboard Roundup – Featuring X570 AORUS Xtreme, ASRock X570 Taichi, MSI MEG X570 GODLIKE, ASUS Crosshair VIII HERO & More". wccftech. Retrieved 2019-07-10. slide
^Gavin Bonshor (2019-05-26). "AMD Reveals the X570 Chipset: PCIe 4.0 is Here". AnandTech. Retrieved 2020-08-19. One of the caveats to a more powerful chipset is that it draws around 11 W of power.
^"AMD X570 Unofficial Platform Diagram Revealed, Chipset Puts out PCIe Gen 4". TechPowerUp. 2019-05-20. Retrieved 2020-08-19. The source also mentions the TDP of the AMD X570 chipset to be at least 15 Watts, a 3-fold increase over the X470 with its 5W TDP.
^ a b cMujtaba, Hassan (May 7, 2020). "AMD Ryzen 4000 'Zen 3' CPUs Compatible With X570 & B550 Chipset". Wccftech. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
^Hallock, Robert (May 7, 2020). "The Exciting Future of AMD Socket AM4 | Community". AMD. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
^ a b c dCutress, Ian (May 19, 2020). "AMD to Support Zen 3 and Ryzen 4000 CPUs on B450 and X470 Motherboards". AnandTech. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
^Mujtaba, Hassan (April 16, 2020). "AMD Zen 3 Ryzen 4000 'Vermeer' Desktop CPUs Will Be Compatible With Existing AM4 Boards". Wccftech. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
^ a bu/AMDOfficial (May 19, 2020). "The "Zen 3" Architecture is Coming to AMD X470 and B450". Reddit. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
^Tyson, Mark (May 19, 2020). "AMD "decided to change course" with Zen 3 B450/X470 support". Hexus. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
^AleksandarK Discuss (November 12, 2021). "ASUS and GIGABYTE Enable AMD Ryzen 5000 Series Processor Support on A320 Chipsets". TechPowerUp. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
^Liu, Zhiye (November 12, 2021). "Ryzen 5000 Support Finally Enabled On A320 Motherboards". Tom's Hardware. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
^Subramaniam, Vaidyanathan (15 March 2022). "AMD bids adieu to socket AM4 by extending Ryzen 5000 Zen 3 support to all 300-series AM4 motherboards including the A320 chipset". notebookcheck.net. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
^Sen, Sayan (15 March 2022). "Long live Socket AM4! AMD officially expands Ryzen 5000 CPU support to 300 series boards". Neowin. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Socket AM4.