AMD launches A520 motherboards, so building a PC is now cheaper

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• AMD launches A520 motherboards, so building a PC is now cheaper

AMD has announced the launch of its new motherboards with the A520 chipset, offering a pocket-friendly solution for PC builders where saving money is a priority. A520 motherboards remain with socket AM4, and models will be available from popular manufacturers around the world. These cards are compatible with current Ryzen 3000 desktop chips, including recently released additions to the processor lineup that came in the form of "XT" models. They'll also be compatible with fourth-generation Ryzen processors (Zen 3) coming out later in 2020. So while it might be a budget option, if you buy now and pair one of these A520 cards with an existing card. Ryzen, you're not going to be dry and dry if you want to upgrade in the future.

Limitations of the A520

These entry-level A520 motherboards do not support PCIe 4.0, as expected with newer B550 cards (and indeed X570 products), which remain with PCIe 3.0. There is also no overclocking support with AMD's A520 chipset. A520 motherboards are expected to be available from manufacturers shortly, and MSI, ASRock, and Asus models are rumored to have leaked lately with prices as low as €100 (around $75, AU$140). Fingers crossed we'll see some for sale very soon, giving cash-strapped PC builders new options for building a rig on a budget.