The AMD AM4 Platform

The new AMD Ryzen processors would not operate by themselves, unless paired with the AM4 platform. This new platform consists of six chipsets that can be interchangeably paired with the new 1331 socket; this aspect allows motherboard manufacturers to craft different models in order to cover all market segments: entry level (A320 or A/B300), middle class (B350) and premium (X370 or X300).

These new solutions do incorporate the latest technologies such as NVMe PCIe 3.0 x4, SATA, SATA Express, dual channel DDR4, native USB 3.1 Gen 2 and more.

The Socket 1331 streamlines AMD’s socket infrastructure (AM3 and FM2+) into a single part which can host the AMD Ryzen processor, the 7th Generation APU or the future “Raven Ridge” APU based on the Zen architecture. AMD is intending on using this new socket through 2020 even with the introduction of new technologies such as DDR5 or PCI Express Generation 4.

The storage and I/O options that have been just described are extra to the SoC design of Ryzen CPU, which does also feature natively:

 

-4xUSB 3.1 Gen 1

-16 lanes of PCI Express Gen 3 for graphics (2x8 mGPU supported on X370)

-4x PCI-Express Gen 3 suitable for a high-speed NVMe SSD or other companion card

-4x PCI-Express Gen 3 for chipset communication (free for re-use along with X300 chipset)

As the flagship SKUs, the Ryzen 5 family of processors comes with unlocked multipliers, in order to squeeze even more performance from the system via the UEFI interface of the motherboard, Ryzen Master utility or the overclocking software coming from each motherboard manufacturer.

Right from the introduction in December 2016, AMD had promised that all mid-range and high-end motherboards based on the mid-range B350 and high-end X370 chipsets will expose the full-range of multiplier voltage control built into the AMD Ryzen processors. Entry-level motherboards, which have weaker VRM designs, are built to run at stock speeds, so A320 chipsets are locking the voltage and multiplier adjustments.

With the presentation of the AM4 platform, we also need to clarify the cooler compatibility; AM4 comes with a wider bolt-through mounting pattern in order to accommodate the extra pins of the Socket 1331 versus the older FM2+ and AM3 designs. AMD has discussed with no less than 15 of the top cooling manufacturers such as EKWB, Phanteks, Noctua, Corsair, Cooler Master and so on in order to provide mounting kits which will enable usage of the previously-launched solutions on the new AM4 platform. What is interesting is that the current AM3/FM2+ coolers that use the clip system for attachment to the socket retention brackets are fully compatible with the AM4 platform, with no modification!

The Ryzen 5 family of processors is officially supporting the following DRAM configurations: