In anticipation of the release of its next-generation Ryzen 9000 series “Granite Ridge” desktop CPUs, which use the “Zen 5” microarchitecture, AMD is preparing the new 800-series motherboard chipset. The AMD X870E, which replaces the existing X670E, will be the flagship model in the chipset family. Since AMD isn’t altering the CPU socket—which is essentially the same Socket AM5—the 800-series chipset will support Ryzen 7000 series “Raphael” and Ryzen 8000 series “Hawk Point” in addition to “Granite Ridge” at launch. The specifics of what distinguishes the X870E from the existing X670E are covered in Moore’s Law is Dead, and they all revolve around USB4.

The AMD X870E chipset is essentially a 3-chip solution consisting of two Promontory 21 bridge chips and a discrete ASMedia ASM4242 USB4 host controller. It appears that motherboard manufacturers will be required to include 40 Gbps USB4 connectivity with the chipset; however, it’s possible that AMD’s QVL will permit other brands of USB4 controllers as they become available. Similar to the Ryzen 7000 “Raphael,” the Ryzen 9000 series “Granite Ridge” processors are chiplet-based. Although the 4 nm “Zen 5” CCDs are new, the 6 nm client I/O die (cIOD) is primarily unchanged from “Raphael,” with a few memory controller modifications.Although AMD may persuade its motherboard suppliers to enable DDR5-8000 EXPO configurations with an FCLK of 2400 MHz and a divider, DDR5-6400 will be the new “sweetspot” speed that AMD recommends.

In addition to a new generation of AMD X870E motherboards, the Ryzen 9000 series “Granite Ridge” will also be available with BIOS upgrades for AMD 600-series chipset motherboards. You can also purchase a motherboard with a 600-series chipset and a Ryzen 9000 series processor in combination since the great majority of Socket AM5 motherboards provide USB BIOS Flashback. The X870, B850, and the new entry-level B840 chipset types are examples of further chipset versions that the business may add to the 800-series.