The platform

AMD's new 800-series chipset family was released to enhance the capabilities of the upcoming Ryzen 9000 series processors. Truth be told, it is merely a refresh of the existing chipset. Let me explain. Leading the lineup are the high-end X870E and X870 chipsets. The family will later expand to include the mid-range B850 and B840 chipsets, while the existing A620 chipset will continue as the entry-level option. The 800-series introduces a revised product segmentation strategy. The X870E chipset is a dual-chip solution incorporating two Promontory21 chipsets. This configuration supports PCI Express (PCIe) Gen5 x16 for graphics cards and provides at least one PCIe Gen5 slot for solid-state drives (SSDs). In contrast, the X870 chipset features a single Promontory21 chipset. While it also supports PCIe Gen5 x16 for graphics, it differs in the configuration of downstream general-purpose PCIe lanes, which may affect the number of available high-speed connections for additional components.

The AMD X870E and X870 chipsets enable overclocking of the CPU and RAM. They support multiple GPUs, offering either a single PCI Express (PCIe) 5.0 x16 slot or two PCIe 5.0 x8 slots if using two expansion cards. Both chipsets also accommodate a PCIe 5.0 x4 connection for a high-speed SSD in an M.2 slot, features also found in the AMD X670E chipset. The X670 chipset, however, does not support a PCIe 5.0 x16 connection for the primary graphics card, though it retains most other features. The main difference between the X670E and the new X870 and X870E chipsets is that the newer models require USB4 ports. The X670E from AMD did not support USB4 when it was first released, and it can only use USB4 through an additional third-party controller. In the mid-range segment, the B850 and B840 chipsets will succeed the current B650E and B650 models, respectively. This marks the introduction of the X40 class within AMD's chipset lineup.

The B850 chipset maintains a configuration similar to the X870 concerning downstream PCIe Gen4 lanes. It includes a PCIe Gen5 x16 slot for graphics but offers flexibility for motherboard manufacturers to choose between PCIe Gen5 or Gen4 for NVMe SSD slots. Unlike the higher-tier X870E and X870 chipsets, the B850 does not guarantee USB4 connectivity, although manufacturers can add discrete USB4 controllers if desired. These top tier chipsets support the latest technologies, including PCIe Gen5 for faster data transfer rates and improved support for high-speed storage solutions. However, specific details regarding features such as USB4 support and the exact number of PCIe lanes will vary depending on the chipset and the motherboard manufacturer's implementation.