If you own a B450 motherboard and are looking for an upgrade, the X570 might be worth checking out.
In this article, we’ll compare the B450 vs X570 chipset to give you the definitive answer as to whether the upgrade is worth it or not.
B450 vs X570 – General Overview
| B450 | X570 | |
|---|---|---|
| Release Date | 2018, March | 2019, July |
| CPU Support | Zen, Zen +, Zen 2 (Zen 3 with BIOS update) | Zen +, Zen 2, Zen 3 |
| PCIe Support | PCIe 2.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| USB Support (10Gbps, 5Gbps, 480Mbps) | 2, 2, 6 | 8, 0, 4 |
| SATA Ports | 6 | 12 |
| CrossFire Support | Yes | Yes |
| SLI Support | No | Yes |
| AMD StoreMI Technology | Yes | Yes |
| Overclocking | Yes (has PBO) | Yes (has PBO) |
Released in March 2018, the B450 motherboard chipset is a very good option for PC gamers who don’t want to break the budget but are still looking for a solid chipset with good overclocking ability.
The X570 is more than a year younger (released in July 2019), and the chipset has received an upgrade in almost every aspect compared to the B450, including PCIe support, USB support, number of SATA ports and CPU support.
Questions to Ask Yourself
On the surface, the X570 is clearly the more powerful of the two, but before you rip out your old B450 motherboard and replace it with a shiny new X570 one, here are some questions to ask yourself beforehand:
- What is my budget? The X570 motherboard is around $50 to $100 more expensive, so depending on your budget, this might be an important factor in choosing.
- What other components will I install? Building a PC rig is a lot like doing a puzzle in that you need to make sure that every component fits not just physically but also that it is compatible with your motherboard.
- What will I use the PC for? Finally, the most important question is, “what will I use the PC for?” If you just need it for some office work, then just about any old laptop should do it. However, for more process-intensive tasks like gaming, crypto mining, or graphic design, you will need a motherboard that can support a more powerful rig.
Socket and CPU Compatibility
Both B450 and X570 support the AMD AM4 socket.
The AM4 socket was released in 2016 and supports a wide range of processors, from the 2-core Athlon to the 16-core Ryzen 9.
Here is the full list of AM4-supported processors:
- Athlon (2-4 cores)
- A6 (2 cores)
- A8 (4 cores)
- A10 (4 cores)
- A12 (4 cores)
- Ryzen 3 (4 cores, 8 to 12 threads)
- Ryzen 5 (4 to 6 cores, 8 to 12 threads)
- Ryzen 7 (8 cores, 16 threads)
- Ryzen 9 (12 to 16 cores, 24 to 32 threads)
CPU Support and Compatibility
When it comes to CPU support and compatibility, the B450 belongs to the AM4 400-series and was built to support Zen 2 processors.
However, when AMD announced Zen 3 processors and said they will only be compatible with the 500-series (like X570 and B550) chipsets, they soon had to switch their stance and make select 400-series chipsets compatible with Zen 3 via a BIOS update.
Form Factor
As for the individual GPUs, the only limiting factor might be the graphic card size versus the PC’s form factor. Some high-end graphics cards, like the Palit GeForce RTX 3090, will probably be too big (394mm long) to fit on Mini-ITX or Micro ATX motherboards.
However, as both B450 and X570 are ATX form factors, this won’t be a problem.
GPU Compatibility
One of the biggest differences between the “B” and “X” chipset series is that the latter supports both CrossFire and SLI. The second (Scalable Link Interface), in essence, allows your motherboard to hook up two or more video cards.
However, before you insert GPUs just because your motherboard supports SLI and has lots of PCIe slots, keep in mind that SLI is deprecated, and most games today don’t benefit from it. In fact, you might find it to be the opposite.
Performance
Looking to compare the B450 chipset to an older X-model like X470? Check out our B450 vs X470 comparison for a detailed guide.
Overclocking
Both B450 and X570 are fully unlocked to allow you to overclock your CPU or GPU. However, the X570 has a significantly better VRM (Voltage Regulator Module), making sure your PC runs cooler when you push it hard (like when you’re overclocking it, for instance).
As a result, while the B450 motherboard chipset should have little trouble overclocking Ryzen 3, 5 and 7 CPUs, overclocking a Ryzen 9 CPU will be a little more difficult due to overheating, but that won’t be the case for the X570 chipset.
Data Transfer Speed
Data transfer speed represents how fast data can travel from one location to another in bps or Bps. As AM4 board chipsets, both the B450 and X570 are dual-channel max.
However, while the B450 supports USB 3.1 Gen 1 and Gen 2, with transfer speeds of 5Gbps and 10Gbps each, X570 also supports USB 3.2, which is capable of data speeds up to 20Gbps.
Memory Speed and Compatibility
Both B450 and X570 have a dual memory channel, four DIMM slots and support up to 128GB RAM.
The biggest difference, however, is that B450 supports DDR4 up to 3466 MHz, while X570 also supports 3600, 3733, 3866, 4000, 4133, 4266 and 4000 MHz.
While you’re on the topic, check out how the X570 compares to its predecessor in our X470 vs X570 comparison article.
Other Features
WiFi Compatibility
The WiFi compatibility of your motherboard will largely depend on the manufacturer.
The B450 usually has an onboard 802.11ac WiFi module and supports Dual Band for 433Mbps and Bluetooth 4.2.
On the other hand, X570 supports the WiFi 6 standard and the 802.11ax module.
Connectivity: Ports, PCI Slots, SATA
With X570, you will have a lot more port options than with B450.
For instance, whereas B450 supports PCIe 2.0 and has six PCIe slots in total, X570 supports PCIe 4.0 and includes 16 slots. In addition, X570 has 12 SATA ports, compared to just 6 on B450.
BIOS
The X570 chipset supports the newer BIOS version 4, whereas B450 supports the 3rd version of BIOS.
However, both also include the BIOS flash button, so you will be able to update your BIOS regardless.
Recommended B450 Motherboards
Here are some B450 motherboards that you can check out:
- MSI B450 Tomahawk MAX – Check Price on Amazon
- Gigabyte B450 AORUS Pro – Check Price on Amazon
- ASUS ROG Strix B450-F – Check Price on Amazon
Recommended X570 Motherboards
Looking for a good X570 mobo? Check out these:
- ASUS TUF Gaming X570-Pro – Check Price on Amazon
- ASUS ROG Strix X570-E – Check Price on Amazon
- Gigabyte X570 AORUS Elite – Check Price on Amazon
Conclusion
We’re sure our B450 vs X570 comparison has made it clear already, but if you’re still wondering if the X570 chipset is better than the B450 — with more USB and SATA ports, PCIe 4.0 support versus PCIe 2.0 and better overclocking abilities thanks to superior VRM, we have to say that it is.
The only limiting factor might be the price tag, but if your budget allows it, you should go for X570 over B450.
