X570 is the top chipset for AMD's AM4 socket. It launched in 2019 with the Ryzen 3000 processors and was the first mainstream desktop chipset with PCIe 4.0. It supports Ryzen 2000 to Ryzen 5000 chips, allows overclocking, and is the only AM4 chipset where the chipset's own lanes are PCIe 4.0 as well as the processor's. It is also an old platform now: AM4 uses DDR4 and was replaced by AM5 in 2022. Boards we track are on the X570 deals page.
Cheapest X570 boards right now
Where X570 sits
The final generation of AM4 chipsets is X570, B550 and A520. X570 came first, in 2019; the other two followed in 2020. In 2021 board makers released revised boards sold as X570S. The chipset's features are the same; the S marks designs that cool the chipset without a fan.
The chipset fan
Running PCIe 4.0 made the X570 chipset use more power than earlier AM4 chipsets, and most X570 boards cool it with a small fan under a cover near the graphics slot. On many boards the fan only spins when the chipset is warm. On a new board it is rarely audible. On a used or Warehouse board it is a moving part that may have years of dust in it, so listen for rattling or whining on first start and check the fan speed reading in the BIOS. X570S boards avoid the question by being fanless.
Key specifications
| Feature | X570 | B550 | B450 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | 2019 | 2020 | 2018 |
| CPU overclocking | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Graphics slot and main M.2 (from the CPU) | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Chipset lanes | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Ryzen 2000 | Yes | No | Yes |
| Ryzen 5000 | Yes, BIOS from late 2020 or newer | Yes, early boards may need an update | Yes, after a BIOS update |
| Chipset fan | Most boards; X570S fanless | No | No |
PCIe 4.0 needs a processor that supports it: Ryzen 3000 or Ryzen 5000 without integrated graphics. With a Ryzen 2000 chip, or with a G-series processor such as the Ryzen 5 5600G, the slots fed by the processor run at PCIe 3.0.
Compatible CPUs and memory
X570 supports Ryzen 2000, Ryzen 3000 and Ryzen 5000 desktop processors, plus the G-series chips with integrated graphics. First-generation Ryzen 1000 is not officially supported. For any G-series part or older chip, check the board's CPU support list on the maker's site, because support differs between boards and BIOS versions.
Ryzen 5000 arrived in late 2020, after X570 boards had been on sale for over a year. A board with a BIOS older than that will not start a Ryzen 5000 chip until it is updated. Boards with a BIOS flashback button can be updated with no processor fitted; see BIOS updates and CPU compatibility.
Memory is DDR4 only, in two channels. Ryzen 3000 and 5000 chips are generally happiest with DDR4 at 3200 to 3600 MT/s. Memory profiles work, though some makers label XMP as DOCP or A-XMP on AM4 boards.
X570 against B550
With a Ryzen 3000 or 5000 chip, both give the graphics card and the main M.2 slot PCIe 4.0 from the processor. The difference is further down. On X570 the chipset's lanes are PCIe 4.0, so a second M.2 slot can run at full PCIe 4.0 speed. On B550 the chipset's lanes are PCIe 3.0, so a second M.2 slot fed by the chipset is limited to that. X570 boards also tend to have more USB and SATA ports.
If you will fit one NVMe drive, or a second one for storage where PCIe 3.0 speed is plenty, B550 does the same job with no fan. X570 is for builds with two or more fast drives, or for anyone running a Ryzen 2000 chip, which B550 does not support.
Whether X570 is still worth buying
As the base of a brand new build, usually not. AM4 is at the end of its line: its newest processors are the Ryzen 5000 family, it uses DDR4, and it has no PCIe 5.0. AM5 vs AM4 sets out the choice.
As a replacement or upgrade board it still makes sense. If you own a Ryzen chip and DDR4 memory and your board has failed, or you want to move from an older board to a Ryzen 7 5700X3D or similar without replacing the memory, an X570 board keeps everything else you own. Buying new stock of a 2019 design at full price is hard to justify, which is why reduced and Warehouse boards are the sensible route. One point in AM4's favour there: the socket has holes, not pins, because the pins are on the processor. A returned AM4 board is less likely to have socket damage than an AM5 or Intel one. The Warehouse guide covers the other risks.
What varies by board
- Fan or fanless (X570S) chipset cooling.
- Number of M.2 slots and whether each has a heatsink.
- Power delivery, which matters if you are fitting a 12- or 16-core Ryzen 9.
- WiFi: boards of this age have WiFi 5 or WiFi 6 where fitted, with WiFi 6E on some later models.
- Size: mostly ATX, with a few smaller boards.
What to check on the listing
- X570 or X570S, if fan noise matters to you.
- A BIOS flashback button, if you are fitting Ryzen 5000 and cannot confirm the BIOS version.
- M.2 slot count.
- The first-available date, to see how old the model is.
- On a Warehouse board, whether the condition note mentions missing accessories such as M.2 screws or the WiFi antenna.
Current offers are on the X570 deals list, with opened-box stock on the Warehouse page.
Questions people ask
Do all X570 motherboards have a chipset fan?
Most do. The X570 chipset runs warmer than other AM4 chipsets because of PCIe 4.0. The later X570S boards, released in 2021, are fanless, and a small number of original X570 boards also used passive cooling.
Does X570 support Ryzen 5000 processors?
Yes. A board with a BIOS from before late 2020 needs an update first. Boards sold in recent years will usually have a new enough BIOS, but it cannot be guaranteed for old stock.
Is X570 better than B550?
It has PCIe 4.0 on the chipset lanes as well as the processor lanes, so extra M.2 slots can run at PCIe 4.0, and it supports Ryzen 2000. For one graphics card and one fast SSD, B550 performs the same.
Does X570 support DDR5 or PCIe 5.0?
No. X570 is an AM4 chipset: DDR4 memory and PCIe 4.0 at most. DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 on AMD need an AM5 board.