Yesterday we explained that AMD basically is invoking three motherboard chipset lines based on Socket AM4. These motherboards will be ready for Zen based Summit Ridge 8 core processors.
A couple of new details & photos have been shared on Korean website Bodnara. AMD is to release X370, B350 and A320 chipsets. Socket AM4 mainly will bring ZEN processors support for course, but also will evolve the PC infrastructure towards DDR4, NVMe M2 and USB 3.1 Gen 2 and sure, PCI Express 3.0 platform support.
- AMD X370 Chipset (High-End) - So the most high-end chipset will be the X370 with that X for Extreme. This chipset will support Multi-GPU rendering (Crossfire and SLI) with two full x16 PCI Express slots (Gen 3.0). The chipset will support overclocking. Basically this is the chipset series you and yours truly will be after once Zen releases and yes you can expect a dandy overclocking software suite.
- AMD B350 Chipset (Entry level to Mainstream) - If it has a B in the naming schema, you should think mainstream and that B for Business. A more generalized chipset that offers full performance, yet less tweaking options and often less PCI-Express lanes available, the mainstream series. For B350 some specs already have leaked, next tot the 8x Gen 3 PCI-Express lanes, it'll add/hook another 6 Gen 2 lanes through the chipset and will offer a wide varyity of USB connectivity. This motherboard series will offer 2 channel DDR4 memory we assume up-to 2400 MHz.
- AMD A320 Chipset (SSF/Budget) - Then there is the A320 and A300 series. These are intended for value, budget and small form factor products. This chipset will offer 4 PCI-e Gen 2 lanes with 1+2+6 (USB 3.1 Gen2, USB 3.1 Gen1, USB 2.0) support. A300 should be the chipset for SSF computers (like tiny home theater builds etc).
So the photos that surfaced are based on the Gigabyte GA-B350M-D2 for and was intended to be an OEM Bristol Ridge product. B350 is an entry level towards mainstream series. The Gigabyte GA-B350M-D2 is based on a 4+3 phase design Mini You will see four SATA3 6Gbps ports. The audio solution is based on an 8 channel Realtek ALC887 high definition audio codec. The LAN jack seem to be managed by Realtek 8111G (Gigabit Ethernet controller).
There is a second set of photos, could be be showing a X370 and is again a Gigabyte motherboard, then again it might as well be a B350 board as it is showing one x16 and one x4 at the mechanical x16 PCIe slots. This one has a 4+3 phase power design, two PCI Express x16 Gen 3.0 slots (one x4 wired), an NVMe M2 and four DIMM (DDR4) slots. The audio solution is based on an 8 channel Realtek ALC887 high definition audio codec. The LAN jack seem to be managed by Realtek 8111G (Gigabit Ethernet controller).
AMD Gigabyte AM4 X370 and B350M-D2 Motherboard Photos Surface