A520 is the entry-level chipset of the last AM4 generation, launched in 2020. It does not allow CPU overclocking and everything on the board runs at PCIe 3.0. In return, A520 boards are among the least expensive ways to get a Ryzen 5000 processor running. AM4 is an old platform, replaced by AM5 in 2022, so A520 is best seen as a cheap replacement or a base for a low-cost build from parts you already own. Current prices are on the A520 deals page.
Cheapest A520 boards right now
All 74 A520 motherboards, with price drops and price history
Amazon Warehouse offers on A520 boards
Where A520 sits
The final AM4 chipsets are X570, B550 and A520. In AMD's naming, X is the enthusiast tier, B is mainstream and A is basic. A520 followed B550 by a couple of months in 2020 and supports the same processors. What it removes is CPU overclocking and PCIe 4.0.
Key specifications
| Feature | B550 | A520 | B450 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | 2020 | 2020 | 2018 |
| CPU overclocking | Yes | No | Yes |
| Memory overclocking (XMP) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Graphics slot and main M.2 (from the CPU) | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Chipset lanes | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Ryzen 1000 and 2000 support | No | No | Yes |
What the limits mean in use
PCIe 3.0 only. Even with a processor that supports PCIe 4.0, an A520 board runs the graphics slot and the M.2 slot at PCIe 3.0. A PCIe 4.0 SSD works but is capped at PCIe 3.0 speed, so there is little point paying extra for a fast one. For graphics, a PCIe 3.0 x16 slot is fine for most cards. The exception is budget graphics cards that use only eight or four lanes; those lose some performance in a PCIe 3.0 slot, so check the card's specification if you are pairing one with A520.
No CPU overclocking. You cannot raise the processor's multiplier. Ryzen chips boost themselves automatically, so for most people this costs little. Memory overclocking is allowed, so you can enable an XMP profile (labelled DOCP or A-XMP by some makers) and run DDR4 at its rated speed.
Compatible CPUs and memory
A520 supports the same processors as B550:
- Supported: Ryzen 3000 processors without integrated graphics, Ryzen 5000 desktop processors, and the Ryzen 4000G and 5000G chips with integrated graphics.
- Not supported: Ryzen 1000, Ryzen 2000, and the older G-series parts such as the Ryzen 3 3200G and Ryzen 5 3400G, which belong to the earlier generation despite their names.
If you own an unsupported chip, a B450 board is the usual answer. Whatever you own, check the board's CPU support list on the maker's website before ordering.
Ryzen 5000 was released a few months after A520. A board made before then needs a BIOS update before one will start. BIOS flashback buttons are uncommon on boards this cheap, so if you are buying old stock for a Ryzen 5000 chip, read BIOS updates and CPU compatibility first.
Power delivery on A520 boards is basic. It suits 65 W processors such as the Ryzen 5 5600 or Ryzen 5 5600G well. The chips with higher power ratings are often listed as supported, but a small board with no heatsinks over its power delivery may not sustain their full speed under long loads.
Memory is DDR4 only. Many A520 boards have two slots, some have four.
A520 against B550 and B450
B550 adds CPU overclocking and PCIe 4.0 for the graphics slot and main SSD, and B550 boards are generally better equipped. When the price gap is small, B550 is the better buy, particularly with a Ryzen 5 5600 or faster chip and a modern graphics card.
B450 is older but allows CPU overclocking and supports Ryzen 1000 and 2000. Both are PCIe 3.0 for graphics and the main SSD. A520's advantages are newer board designs and no need to worry about whether a BIOS update has removed support for anything. For a Ryzen 5000 chip at stock settings the two are much alike, so choose on the board and the price.
Who should buy A520
A520 suits a home or office PC built around a G-series chip and its integrated graphics, a replacement for a dead board in a basic Ryzen system, or a low-cost gaming PC with a 65 W Ryzen 5. It is a poor fit for a Ryzen 9, for fast PCIe 4.0 storage, or for anyone who wants to tune the CPU.
For a build from nothing, compare the full cost with an entry-level AM5 build before committing. AM5 boards and DDR5 cost more, but the platform has newer processors and AMD has said it is supported through 2027 and beyond. AM5 vs AM4 goes through the choice.
One thing in favour of buying AM4 boards as opened stock: the pins are on the processor, not in the board's socket, so the socket is harder to damage. See are Amazon Warehouse motherboards worth it for the rest of the risks.
What varies by board
- Two or four memory slots.
- One or two M.2 slots.
- Rear video outputs: important with a G-series chip. Check they match your monitor.
- WiFi: usually absent; some models have a WIFI version.
- Size: most A520 boards are micro-ATX, with some mini-ITX models.
What to check on the listing
- Your processor on the board's CPU support list, with the BIOS version it needs.
- The number of memory slots.
- Video outputs, if you are using integrated graphics.
- The price of the nearest B550 board.
See the A520 deals list for current reductions, and the price drops page to compare against other chipsets.
Questions people ask
Can you overclock on an A520 motherboard?
Not the CPU. A520 does not allow CPU overclocking. Memory overclocking is allowed, so XMP profiles work.
Does A520 support Ryzen 5000 processors?
Yes. Boards made before Ryzen 5000 was released in late 2020 need a BIOS update first, so check the BIOS version on old stock.
Does A520 support PCIe 4.0?
No. A520 boards run at PCIe 3.0 throughout, even with a processor that supports PCIe 4.0. For PCIe 4.0 on AM4 you need B550 or X570.
Will a Ryzen 5 2600 or Ryzen 5 3400G work in an A520 board?
No. A520 does not officially support Ryzen 1000 or 2000 processors or the older G-series chips such as the 3200G and 3400G. Check the CPU support list of the board, and consider B450 instead.