X870 is the second chipset from the top of AMD's AM5 range. It launched in 2024 with the Ryzen 9000 processors. Every X870 board must have USB4, a PCIe 5.0 graphics slot and at least one PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot, and it allows CPU overclocking. It is the lowest AM5 tier that guarantees all of those, rather than leaving you to check each board. Current prices are on the X870 deals page.
Cheapest X870 boards right now
All 44 X870 motherboards, with price drops and price history
Where X870 sits
The 800-series for AM5 has four tiers: X870E, X870, B850 and B840. Despite the X in the name, X870 is built like a B-series chipset: it uses a single chipset chip, where X870E uses two. In the previous generation both X670E and X670 were two-chip designs, so X870 is not a straight replacement for X670. It is closer to B650E with USB4 added as a requirement.
That matters for expectations. X870 does not give a board more chipset lanes or ports than B850 has to work with. What it gives you is a guaranteed feature list.
Key specifications
| Feature | X870E | X870 | B850 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | 2024 | 2024 | Early 2025 |
| Chipset chips | Two | One | One |
| CPU overclocking | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| PCIe 5.0 graphics slot | Required | Required | Optional, varies by board |
| PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot | Required | Required | Required |
| USB4 | Required | Required | Optional, varies by board |
The PCIe 5.0 lanes come from the processor. The chipset itself supplies PCIe 4.0 lanes, SATA and USB, and links to the CPU over PCIe 4.0.
Compatible CPUs and memory
X870 supports every AM5 desktop processor: Ryzen 7000, Ryzen 8000G and Ryzen 9000. Ryzen 9000 works from the first BIOS. A chip released after your board was manufactured may need an update, which is easy if the board has a BIOS flashback button; see BIOS updates and CPU compatibility.
Memory is DDR5 only, with EXPO and XMP profiles supported, and memory overclocking is allowed. AMD has said AM5 is supported through 2027 and beyond, so the socket is not yet at the end of its life.
One detail: Ryzen 8000G processors are PCIe 4.0 parts. Fit one and the board's PCIe 5.0 slots run at PCIe 4.0 speed. If you are building around an 8000G chip for its integrated graphics, X870 is more board than you need.
X870 against B850 and X870E
X870 and B850 differ mainly in two guarantees: USB4 and PCIe 5.0 for the graphics slot. Some B850 boards have one or both anyway, but you have to check. If you do not plan to use USB4 and are content with a PCIe 4.0 x16 graphics slot, which does not hold back current graphics cards in any way you would notice, B850 does the same job. Our PCIe 5.0 guide goes through the evidence.
Against X870E, you lose the second chipset chip. In practice that means fewer M.2 slots and USB ports on a typical board, not lower performance. The full three-way comparison is in X870E vs X870 vs B850.
What varies by board
- USB4 and M.2 sharing. The USB4 controller uses PCIe lanes from the processor. On some X870 boards it shares bandwidth with one of the M.2 slots, so using both at once slows one of them. The manual says which.
- M.2 slot count and the speed of each slot beyond the first.
- WiFi and Ethernet. WiFi 7 and faster-than-gigabit Ethernet are common at this level but are board features. See motherboard WiFi explained.
- Power delivery, which decides how comfortably the board runs a 16-core chip under sustained load.
- Form factor. Most are ATX; smaller boards exist but the choice is narrower.
Who should buy X870
X870 suits you if you want USB4 for a dock or fast external storage, want a PCIe 5.0 graphics slot without reading the small print, and do not need the extra ports of X870E. It is a sensible match for a Ryzen 7 or Ryzen 9 gaming or general-purpose build with one graphics card and a few drives.
It is poor value if none of the guaranteed features matter to you. A well-specified B850 board often has the same power delivery and the same audio and networking parts for less.
What to check on the listing
- The number of USB4 ports and the total rear USB count.
- M.2 slots: how many, and which are PCIe 5.0.
- WiFi version, if you need wireless at all.
- The exact model suffix, since WIFI and non-WIFI versions are often listed separately.
- On a Warehouse offer, the condition note. AM5 socket pins are on the board and bend easily; our used motherboard checklist tells you what to inspect on arrival.
See what has fallen in price on the X870 deals list, or look across every chipset on the price drops page.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between X870 and X870E?
X870E uses two chipset chips and X870 uses one. That gives X870E boards more PCIe 4.0 lanes, SATA and USB ports to share out. Both require USB4, a PCIe 5.0 graphics slot and a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot, and both overclock.
Is X870 better than B850?
It guarantees more. Every X870 board has USB4 and a PCIe 5.0 graphics slot; on B850 those are optional and vary by board. Processor performance is the same on both, and both allow CPU overclocking.
Can I use a Ryzen 7000 CPU in an X870 motherboard?
Yes. X870 boards support all AM5 desktop processors: Ryzen 7000, Ryzen 8000G and Ryzen 9000.
Does X870 support DDR4?
No. Every AM5 motherboard, whatever the chipset, uses DDR5 memory only.