AM4 is AMD's previous desktop socket. It carried every mainstream Ryzen from the 1000 series of 2017 to the 5000 series, all on DDR4 memory, and was replaced by AM5 in 2022. It is an old platform now, but a cheap and capable one, and the boards we track are on the AM4 motherboard deals page.
Cheapest AM4 boards right now
All 191 AM4 motherboards, with price drops and price history
Amazon Warehouse offers on AM4 boards
What AM4 is
AM4 is a pin grid array (PGA) socket with 1,331 pin holes. The pins are on the processor and the socket on the board is a grid of holes with a locking lever. AM5 reversed this and put the pins in the socket.
For a buyer of open-box boards this is good news. There are no fragile pins on an AM4 motherboard to bend, so a returned board is less likely to have socket damage than an Intel or AM5 one. The risk sits with the processor instead: handle an AM4 chip by its edges and never force it into the socket.
| Item | AM4 |
|---|---|
| Socket type | PGA, pins on the processor |
| First Ryzen processors | 2017 |
| Processors | Ryzen 1000 to 5000, depending on chipset and BIOS |
| Memory | DDR4, dual channel |
| PCIe | PCIe 4.0 on X570 and B550 with a suitable processor; PCIe 3.0 elsewhere |
| Replaced by | AM5, in 2022 |
Compatible processors and memory
Not every AM4 processor works in every AM4 board. Support depends on the chipset and on the BIOS version the board carries, so always check the maker's CPU support list for the exact model. As a guide:
- X570 supports Ryzen 2000 to 5000 series processors.
- B550 and A520 officially support Ryzen 3000, 4000G and 5000 series, but not the Ryzen 3200G and 3400G or anything older.
- B450, and the X470 boards sold alongside it, were extended to Ryzen 5000 through BIOS updates. Older stock may need updating before a 5000-series chip will start.
- The oldest chipsets (A320, B350, X370) vary the most. Some received Ryzen 5000 support late on and some never did.
If the board needs an update and you have no older processor to boot it with, look for a model that can flash from a USB stick with no CPU fitted. BIOS updates and CPU compatibility explains the feature names each maker uses.
Two more points catch people out. Most AM4 Ryzen chips have no integrated graphics, so the video outputs on the board do nothing unless you fit a G-series processor. And PCIe 4.0 needs both the right board (X570 or B550) and the right chip: the Ryzen 5000G processors and the Ryzen 5 5500 run at PCIe 3.0 whatever they are fitted to.
Memory is DDR4 on every AM4 board. Reusing DDR4 you already own is one of the strongest reasons to stay on the platform; see DDR4 vs DDR5 motherboards.
Chipsets that pair with AM4
Four AM4 chipsets are still sold in any number. X570 is the best connected, with PCIe 4.0 from the chipset as well as the processor. B550 gives PCIe 4.0 from the processor for the graphics slot and one M.2 slot and is the usual recommendation. A520 is PCIe 3.0 only with no CPU overclocking. B450 is older, PCIe 3.0 only, and does allow CPU overclocking. Motherboard chipsets explained covers what the letters mean.
Cooler compatibility
AM4 coolers are plentiful and cheap, and the mounting carried over to AM5, so a good cooler bought for an AM4 build will usually move to an AM5 board later. The exception is a cooler that fits its own backplate, which may need a kit for AM5.
Platform lifespan and upgrade path
AM4 is a closed platform. AMD was still releasing new AM4 processors in 2024, which is a remarkable run for a socket from 2017, but the Ryzen 5000 series is the end of the line. A board bought today will never take anything faster than chips such as the Ryzen 7 5800X3D or Ryzen 9 5950X.
That still leaves a large jump for many owners. If you run a Ryzen 1000, 2000 or 3000 processor, a Ryzen 5000 chip in your existing board, or in a replacement B550, is the cheapest meaningful upgrade in desktop PCs. AM5 vs AM4 sets out when to do that and when to move on.
Buying into AM4 in 2026
Buying AM4 for a completely new build is hard to justify unless the budget is very tight, because every part except the graphics card and drives is a dead end. It makes good sense in three cases: replacing a failed board, giving an existing Ryzen system a final processor upgrade, or building a low-cost PC around DDR4 and a processor you already have.
AM4 is also a sensible place to buy open-box. The boards are simple, the socket has no pins to bend, and the saving is a larger share of a low price. Read Are Amazon Warehouse motherboards worth it? first, and run through the used motherboard checklist when it arrives.
What to look for
- The CPU support list for your exact processor, and the BIOS version needed.
- B550 rather than A520 if you want PCIe 4.0 for a fast SSD or plan to overclock.
- A chipset fan on most X570 boards. The later X570S models are passively cooled.
- Four memory slots if you want to add to the DDR4 you have; the cheapest Micro-ATX boards have two.
The current list of AM4 motherboard deals shows new and Warehouse prices side by side, and price drops picks out boards that have fallen against their own history.
Questions people ask
Do all AM4 motherboards support Ryzen 5000 processors?
No. B550, A520 and X570 boards do. Most B450 and X470 boards do after a BIOS update. Support on the older A320, B350 and X370 boards varies by model. Check the CPU support list for the exact board.
Is AM4 still worth buying in 2026?
As an upgrade or a repair, yes: a Ryzen 5000 processor on a B550 board with DDR4 you already own is very good value. As the base for a brand-new build it is a dead end, and AM5 is the better long-term choice.
Can I use DDR5 memory on an AM4 board?
No. Every AM4 board uses DDR4, and DDR5 modules will not fit the slots. DDR5 on an AMD system means moving to AM5.
Why is there no picture from the HDMI port on my AM4 board?
Most AM4 Ryzen processors have no integrated graphics, so the video outputs on the board only work with a G-series processor such as the Ryzen 5 5600G. With any other chip you need a graphics card.