The chipset has a great influence on the overall performance of the computer system because, as the central element on the motherboard, it controls the flow of data between the processor, main memory, bus systems and the controllers of the internal and external interfaces. The choice of the right chipset determines which components can be used in a computer system.
When putting together a desktop PC, the focus is on selecting the right mainboard together with the corresponding chipset, which in turn connects all the components of the PC, such as main memory, SSD, graphics adapter and the CPU. The CPU is mounted on a socket. It is important to ensure that the CPU socket and chipset of the mainboard match the CPU in question.
Selection criteria for chipsets
The following factors should be considered when selecting the appropriate chipsets:
- PCIe version: PCIe (PCI Express) refers to the standard according to which the internal lines transfer data between the CPU, the on-board controller and other devices, such as a graphics adapter. PCIe 4.0, the current version, is approximately twice as fast as PCIe 3.0. In addition, it is also important to consider how many lanes (lines) there are in the corresponding PCIe version.
- Connection chipset/ CPU: the faster the connection between CPU and chipset, the more power is available for coupling devices to the chipset.
- PCIe per CPU: describes the number of PCIe lanes to which graphics adapters can be connected.
- USB 3.2 Gen 1 (originally 3.0) or Gen 2 (originally 3.1): describes the number of supported USB ports with up to 5 or 10 GBit/s.
- Overclocking the CPU: Overclocking functions can be used to increase the performance of the hardware.
AMD chipsets of the old and new generation in comparison
The chipset also determines whether the mainboard allows overclocking of the processor. With AMD, almost all chipsets support overclocking of the CPU, although the mainboards have differences in terms of their connection options.
The current AM4 mainboards are available with the B550, B450 and B350 chipsets as well as the high-end variants X370, X470 and X570. With a few exceptions, almost all AMD CPUs can be combined with the available AMD chipsets.
Those who decide to buy boards from older generations should definitely pay attention to compatibility: One shortcoming of these predecessor models is that a BIOS upgrade is first required to use newer CPUs.Compared to the X570 chipset, the B550 is the cheaper variant. Besides the lower connectivity, another disadvantage is the single PCIe 4.0 SSD slot. In contrast, the X570 board offers the possibility of accommodating two NVMe SSDs according to the latest standard.
For those who value strong overclocking of the Ryzen top models, the X570 variant is also the better choice.
A minus point here, however, is the active cooling, which is unavoidable with almost all mainboards due to the high power requirements of the chipset. The resource-saving B550 boards, on the other hand, manage with passive coolers.
Due to their attractive price-performance ratio, mainboards based on the B550 chipset are particularly interesting for users who do not have any special requirements but still value solid computing performance. In contrast to X570 boards, they only support processors of the Zen 3 architecture and third-generation Ryzen processors – but not CPUs of the older Zen and Zen+ generations.
Mainboards with X470 and X370 chipsets are almost identical to X570 boards in terms of features, but do without PCIe 4.0 and are therefore cheaper and more resource-efficient in operation.
The boards with B450 and B350 chipsets are once again one step below the X chipsets, but are still suitable for the majority of mainstream users, as they have sufficient connections and also offer a very good price-performance ratio.
The generations in the comparison overview
| X570 | X470 | X370 | B550 | B450 | B350 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connection chipset | PCIe 4.0 x4 | PCIe 3.0 x4 | PCIe 3.0 x4 | PCIe 4.0 x4 | PCIe 3.0 x4 | PCIe 3.0 x4 |
| Available PCIe lanes | 4.0 x16 | 2.0 x8 | 2.0 x8 | 3.0 x10 | 2.0 x6 | 2.0 x6 |
| USB 3.2 Gen 2 (originally 3.1) | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| USB 3.2 Gen 1 (originally 3.0) | 0 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| USB 2.0 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| SATA III | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| SATA Express | 0 | 2x or 4x SATA or 4x NVMe Gen 3 | 2x or 4x SATA or 4x NVMe Gen 3 | 0 | 2x or 4x SATA or 4x NVMe Gen 3 | 2x or 4x SATA or 4x NVMe Gen 3 |
Recommendation for demanding users
The current AMD chipsets B550 and X570 are ideal for CPU overclocking, so that gamers, for example, can get the maximum performance out of the system.In addition, the voltage converters have been improved compared to the older mainboards, which also allows higher performance to be achieved: Because depending on the selected system, the CPU is able to hold the CPU boost longer or achieve better overclocking values. Thanks to PCIe 4.0 compatibility, even more performance can be achieved in conjunction with the appropriate graphics card.
Designed specifically for visual effect graphics, data scientists and video specialists, the AMD TRX40 chipset offers a wide range of expansion options for demanding multi-GPU and NVMe arrays thanks to PCIe 4.0 connectivity. With four-channel DDR4, available ECC support and unlocked overclocking, the chipset scores particularly well with users who rely on massive computing power. In addition, a CPU with 64 cores can be installed in an AMD system with a TRX40 chipset, which can be a great advantage especially for video rendering.
Recommendation for users in the B2B environment
Since overclocking potential is usually not a criterion in the B2B sector, the B450 and B550 mainboards are particularly recommended here. The B550 chipset, for example, offers all the functions that are important for a good office PC. A small disadvantage is the currently still relatively limited CPU selection. If you want to be on the safe side, choose the somewhat higher-priced X570 variant here as well: The current AMD top model is also compatible with older CPU series. As a rule, however, a B model should suffice for most everyday applications.
