It's been two years since the AMD AM5 motherboard platform and the 600-series motherboards launched. Since its launch, the platform has seen the launch of several CPUs in the Ryzen 7000, Ryzen 8000, and Ryzen 9000 families. While the 600-series motherboards provide great features & compatibility with newer Zen 5 CPUs, motherboard makers are always looking to enhance user experiences through the latest technologies, so AMD has introduced a new chipset line called the 800-series.
Now, AMD has introduced both X870 and B850 series chipsets for high-end and mainstream AM5 motherboards. Both of these chips provide brand-new designs and brand-new features that are sure to entice new AMD builders and older AM4 users into investing in a new motherboard for their gaming and content creation needs.
We received a load of motherboards from various manufacturers, so let's start by taking a look at these updated designs. For this review, we will be testing out Colorful's mainstream motherboard, the CVN X870 ARK Frozen V14, which retails for around $250 US.
The AMD AM5 Platform
The AMD AM4 platform has been the longest-running modern-day platform to date, which was first introduced in 2017 & is very much alive and kicking in 2024. The company just recently launched new chips for the platform, and it looks like it will stick around for another year till 2025.
AMD is now launching its 2nd Generation AM5 platform under the new 800-series family. The lineup will initially target the high-end enthusiasts with the X870E and X870 chipsets. These chipsets are designed to offer better features, IO memory support, and additional OC features for Ryzen CPUs such as the Zen 5-based Ryzen 9000 "Granite Ridge" family and future Ryzen launches.
Certain aspects that have been upgraded on the AMD X870E & X870 motherboards include:
- USB 4.0 standard on all X870/X870E motherboards
- PCIe Gen5 on Graphics & NVME on all X870/X870E motherboards
- Higher EXPO memory clock support on X870/X870E motherboards
AMD did disclose that there would be new PBO and CO algorithms introduced with Ryzen 9000 CPUs, and these new motherboards will fully support them out of the box. In addition to the X870E and X870 motherboards, the company also plans to introduce its B850 & B840 chipsets, which will serve the mainstream segment. The following is what the chipset lineup will look like:
- X870E (Promontory 21 x2)
- X870 (Promontory 21 x1)
- B650 (Promonotory 21 x1)
- B840 (Promontory 19 x1)
So in terms of what each chipset offers, the X870E series will use two Promontory 21 dies on the motherboards with support for USB4 & both Gen5 GPU/SSD support. X870 (Non-E) will feature just 1 of the dies but retain the same support in terms of I/O. Just the lanes will be fewer.
AMD Chipset Features and Specifications:
| Wccftech | X870E | X870 | X670E/X670 | B650E/B650 | A620 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CrossfireX/SLI | 2-Way CFX | 2-Way CFX | 2-Way CFX | 2-Way CFX | N/A |
| CPU Lanes (Usable) | 24 Gen 5 (with Ryzen 7000 CPUs & above) | 24 Gen 5 (with Ryzen 7000 CPUs & above) | 24 Gen 5 (with Ryzen 7000 CPUs & above) | 24 Gen 5 (with Ryzen 7000 CPUs & above) 24 Gen 4 for B650 | 24 Gen 4 (with Ryzen 7000 CPUs & above) |
| PCH Lanes (Usable) | 8 Gen4 12 Gen3 | 4 Gen4 8 Gen3 | 12 Gen4 8 Gen3 | 8 Gen4 4 Gen3 | 8 Gen 3 |
| USB4 | Standard | Standard | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| USB 3.1/3.2 Gen2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| USB 3.1/3.2 Gen1 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 6 | 2 |
| USB 2.0 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 |
| SATA 6Gb/s | 8 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 4 |
| DDR5 DIMMs | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| DDR4 DIMMs | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Overclocking Support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A |
| XFR2 Enhanced | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A |
| Precision Boost Overdrive | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A |
| NVMe | Yes (Gen 5.0) | Yes (Gen 5.0) | Yes (Gen 5.0) | Yes (Gen 5.0) | N/A |
| Form Factor | ATX/ITX | ATX/mATX/ITX | ATX/mATX/ITX | ATX/mATX/ITX | mATX/ITX |
The motherboards will feature support for DDR5-5600 MT/s memory speeds natively and over 8000 MT/s transfer rates on some of the high-end motherboards that we will be getting by the July timeframe.
The AMD B850 motherboards will feature the same Promontory 21 die minus the native USB4 support. They will carry Gen5 GPU support, but Gen5 M.2 support will be optional. The B840 will be the entry-level option within the series, with the older Promontory 19 die, which means you will get just Gen4 GPU/SSD support, no CPU overclocking, and only memory overclock support. The B840 motherboards are going to be very affordable in terms of pricing, so that will be competitive against sub-$200 US options from Intel.
AMD will also have the A620/A620A series continuing its role to serve the entry-level segment. There are plans to offer even more price adjustments, making them a viable option for ODMs and system builders to attract more customers.
AMD AM5 Chipset Comparisons:
| Chipset Name | PCIe Lanes Gen (PCH) | USB Support (Max) | Overclocking Support | Graphics Configs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| X870E | Gen5 (GPU & NVMe) | USB4 | CPU+Memory | 1x16, 2x8 |
| X670E | Gen5 (GPU & NVMe) | USB 3.2 (20 Gbps) USB4 (Optional) | CPU+Memory | 1x16, 2x8 |
| X870 | Gen5 (GPU & NVMe) | USB4 | CPU+Memory | 1x16, 2x8 |
| X670 | Gen5 (NVMe) Gen4 (GPU) | USB 3.2 (20 Gbps) USB4 (Optional) | CPU+Memory | 1x16, 2x8 |
| B850 | Gen5 (NVMe / GPU Opt) Gen4 (GPU) | USB 3.2 (20 Gbps) | CPU+Memory | 1x16, 2x8 |
| B650E | Gen5 (NVMe / GPU) | USB 3.2 (20 Gbps) USB4 (Optional) | CPU+Memory | 1x16, 2x8 |
| B650 | Gen5 (NVMe) Gen4 (GPU) | USB 3.2 (20 Gbps) USB4 (Optional) | CPU+Memory | 1x16, 2x8 |
| B840 | Gen3 (NVMe / GPU) | USB 3.2 (10 Gbps) | Memory Only | 1x16 |
| A620 | Gen4 (NVMe / GPU) | USB3.2 (10 Gbps) USB4 (Optional) | Memory Only | 1x16 |
Meet The LGA 1718 Socket - How Long Will This One Last?
As mentioned earlier, AM4's reign is finally over, and the AM5 socket is here now. The new socket moves from a PGA (Pin-Grid-Array) design to an LGA (Land-Grid-Array) layout. The new LGA 1718 socket offers more pin connections to the CPU, allowing for more communication channels with the board itself and enabling support for enhanced features that the new platform has to offer.
As for longevity, AMD has committed to a 2027+ plan for its latest AM5 socket. The AM4 platform is a testament to AMD's support for its consumers, and while the newer 500-series lineup was locked out initially, the company and its partners worked towards extending support for older processors on the newer chipsets and newer CPUs on older motherboards. The AM4 platform continues to be the best seller in the Ryzen lineup, but that would change with the introduction of more budget and feature-rich designs for the AM5 socket, like the 800-series.
Cooler Compatibility With AM5 Socket
The AMD Ryzen 7000/8000/9000 Desktop CPUs will feature a perfect square shape (45x45mm) but will house a very chonky integrated heat spreader or IHS. The CPUs will be the same length, width, and height as the existing Ryzen Desktop CPUs and are sealed across the sides, so applying thermal paste won't fill the interior of the IHS with TIM. That's also why current coolers will be fully compatible with the latest Ryzen CPUs.
The Colorful CVN X870 ARK Frozen V14 motherboard comes in a standard cardboard package. The front features a picture of the motherboard & has a white/black color scheme. The packaging also lists down a few features such as USB4 ports, PCIe 5.0 standard, and iGame software. The motherboard fully supports AMD Ryzen 9000 Desktop CPUs.
The backside of the package lists the specifications and special features of the motherboard, such as the 6x protection against over-voltage and spasmodic electricity current, support for DDR5 memory, up to 3 M.2 SSD slots, PCIe 5.0 Steel Slot, and the CVN Design Armor.
Inside the package is another box that contains the accessories and is located right below the box holder for the board itself. You get a Quick Installation Guide, 2x ARGB cables, and two SATA cables.
With all the accessories done, it's time to put that box aside and take the motherboard out of its package.
The Colorful CVN X870 ARK FROZEN V14 motherboard is a standard ATX offering that measures 305 x 245 mm. The motherboard carries a white color scheme with a few silver and orange accents on the heatsinks, mainly to mark the different logos. The CVN White series is great for mainstream builders who are assembling white builds.
While the motherboard doesn't feature any RGB LEDs, it does come with a very nice aesthetic that should please the masses.
The board uses the LGA 1718 socket to support AMD Ryzen "AM5" processors. The socket works with Ryzen 7000, Ryzen 8000G, and Ryzen 9000 CPUs and will also support future generations of AM5 Ryzen chips that are supported by the platform.
Next to the socket are four DDR5 DIMM slots that can support up to 192 GB of dual-channel memory.
These slots are rated to support XMP profiles up to 8200 MT/s (OC Plus). Each slot is labeled, making it easier to install DIMMs in the proper orientation. DDR5 memory comes with a different latch position, so forcing a DDR4 module into a DDR5 slot will cause permanent damage. Each slot is also combined with a reinforced design to make sure signal integrity remains good while keeping the slots durable for long-term usage. The full QVL list can be found here.
The CVN X870 ARK FROZEN V14 motherboard features a 14+2+1 (VCore/ VccGT/VccAUX) phase VRM delivery that utilizes 80A DrMOS Power Stages.
The VRMs and power delivery solution are scattered around the AM5 socket. The motherboard also uses premium electrical components and can support up to the flagship Ryzen 9 9950X3D.
The VRMs receive ample cooling from the CVN Frost Armor solution.
The CPU is supplied power through an 8+8-pin power connector configuration. This will feed the CPU with up to 600 Watts of power. The AMD Ryzen 9000 CPUs are very power-hungry, with the maximum target power going above 220W for the flagship Ryzen 9 9950X CPU.
Coming to the heatsink solution, there are two blocks of aluminum that feature a fully covered and condensed fin solution to enhance heat dissipation.
The heatsink has three core aspects: the extensively covered alloy thermal armor, which presents a nice appearance with good cooling, the dual large-area heatsinks that cover the DrMOS VRM, and multiple CNC cutouts to increase heat radiation area.
Expansion slots include two PCI Express x16 (1 x Gen 5.0 x16 / 1 x Gen 4.0 x4), a single PCIe 3.0 x1 slot, and three M.2 slots.
- 1 PCIe 5.0 x16 slot
- 1 PCIe x16 slot (supports PCIe 4.0 x4 specification)
- 1 PCIe 3.0 x1 slot
- (When a PCIe 4.0 x4 slot is connected to a device, the M.2.3 slot will be shielded)
The motherboard utilizes a full metallic slot, and the Colorful also features its CVN Pullout Switch release mechanism, which provides for a seamless removal of graphics cards.
The motherboard has three M.2 slots, all of which are featured under dedicated CVN Frost M.2 Thermal Armor heatsinks.
Colorful uses standard standoffs and screws for the M.2 heatsinks. They don't come with an EZ release mechanism.
The small On/Off Switch on the motherboard is the PCIe remove mechanism. When removing an add-in card, the switch needs to be set to Off.
Following is the full list of M.2 ports and their details on the Colorful CVN motherboard:
- Supports 3 M.2 slots and 4 SATA 6Gb/s hard disk interfaces, supporting the creation of RAID 0 and RAID 1 disk arrays using M.2 NVMe hard disk devices
- M.2_1 slot: supports M.2 SSDs (PCIe 5.0/4.0 x4, CPU channel) of 2242/2260/2280/22110 specifications
- M.2_2 slot: supports M.2 SSDs (PCIe 5.0/4.0 x4, CPU channel) of 2242/2260/2280/22110 specifications
- M.2,3 slot: supports M.2 SSDs (PCIe 4.0 x4, PCH channel) of 2242/2260/2280 specifications
- (* Whether PCIe 5.0 is supported depends on the CPU matched with the motherboard)
- (* When a PCIe 4.0 x4 slot is connected to the device, the M.2.3 Slot will be blocked)
The X870 PCH is housed beneath a large heatsink with the CVN logo etched over it. The heatsink has a standard aluminum design.
Once again, there's no RGB LED zone on the motherboard itself, but it comes with three 5V ARGB and a single 12V RGB header.
Storage options include four SATA III ports rated to operate at 6 GB/s. These can support 4 different storage devices at once. For the front IO, you get 4 USB 2.0 ports, 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 5Gbps, and 2 USB 3.2 Gen 2 10 Gbps ports.
Colorful uses a 7.1 CH HD audio design with the latest Realtek ALC1220 CODEC.
There is a large selection of connectors on the motherboard. The full list of connectors on the motherboard is as follows.
- 2 USB 2.0 pins expandable to 4 USB 2.0 Type-A interfaces
- 1 USB 3.2 Gen 1 pin expandable with 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 5 Gbps Type-A interfaces
- 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C Slot expandable with 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 10 Gbps Type-C interface
- 1 CPU fan pin
- 4 system fan pins
- 1 water-cooled pump pin
- 3 5V 3-pin ARGB pins
- 1 12V 4-pin RGB pin
- 1 front audio pin
- 1 front panel pin
- 1 speaker pin
- 1 serial port pin
- 1 clear CMOS jumper
- 1 BIOS programmer pin
- 1 diagnostic card PIN
For LAN, Colorful leverages the RTL-8126 CG 5GbE LAN solution, while an MT7925 WIFI7 solution is bundled with it with Bluetooth 5.4 capabilities.
The motherboard comes with the following I/O connectors:
- 2 USB 2.0 interfaces
- 4 USB 3.2 Gen 1 5 Gbps Type-A interfaces
- 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 10 Gbps Type-C interface
- 1 USB 4 40 Gbps Type-C interface (supports video output, up to 4K 60Hz resolution)
- 1 DP 1.2 interface, up to 4K 60Hz resolution
- 1 HDMI 2.0 interface, up to 4K 60Hz resolution
- 1 5G network interface
- 2 Wi Fi 7 antenna interfaces
- 5 audio interfaces (audio input/output/microphone)
- Fiber optic audio output interface
- 1 BIOS update button
For testing, I used the Ryzen 9 9950X CPU, which was sent to us by AMD on a range of X870E and X870 motherboards.
AMD 800-series "AM5" Motherboard Test Platform:
| Processors | AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D |
|---|---|
| Motherboard | ASRock X870E Taichi OCF (v1.03) MSI MAG X870E Tomahawk MAX WIFI (7E84v1A10) Gigabyte X870E AORUS Master X3D ICE (F4) ASRock X870 Taichi Creator (3.40) ASRock PG X870 Nova WIFI (3.30) ASRock X870 Livemixer WIFI (3.31) Colorful CVN X870 ARK Frozen V14 (BIOS 1011) MSI MAG X870E Tomahawk WIFI (7E51v1A24) MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WIFI (7E59v2A3) MSI MPG X870E EDGE TI WIFI (7E59v1A2) MSI MPG X870E Carbon WIFI (7E49v1A12 AGESA 1.2.0.2) ASRock X870E Taichi (3.08 AGESA 1.2.0.2) ASRock X870E Taichi LITE (3.08 AGESA 1.2.0.2) ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi (3.08 AGESA 1.2.0.2) AORUS X870 ELITE WIFI7 ICE (F3B AGESA 1.2.0.2) |
| Power Supply | FSP Hydro G 1200W PSU |
| Solid State Drive | Crucial T700 2 TB Gen5 SSD |
| Memory | T-Force Delta RGB DDR5-7200 (CL34 2 x 16 GB) |
| Video Cards | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition |
| Cooling Solutions | Arctic Liquid Freezer III 420mm AIO |
| OS | Windows 11 64-bit |
Our test rig includes the Crucial T700 2 TB Gen5 SSD that boots up our main OS. In addition to these, we are running an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition graphics card and an FSP Hydro G 1200W PSU. For this specific review, we used the T-Force Delta RGB DDR5-7200 memory kit running at CL34 timings.
3DMark CPU Profile Benchmark
Instead of producing a single number, the 3DMark CPU Profile shows you how your CPU's performance changes and scales with the number of cores and threads used. The 3DMark CPU Profile has six tests that help you benchmark and compare CPU performance for gaming and other activities.
3DMark CPU Profile (Max Threads) (Higher is Better)
Blender
Blender is a free and open-source 3D creation suite. It supports the entirety of the 3D pipeline—modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing and motion tracking, and even video editing and game creation.
Blender 2.8 (Lower is Better)
Cinebench 2024
Cinebench 2024 utilizes the power of Redshift, Cinema 4D's default rendering engine, to evaluate your computer's CPU and GPU capabilities. Cinebench 2024 is designed to accommodate a broad range of hardware configurations, while it seamlessly supports x86/64 architecture (Intel/AMD) on Windows and macOS.
Cinebench 2024 (Higher is Better)
Cinebench R23
Cinebench is a real-world cross-platform test suite that evaluates your computer’s hardware capabilities. Improvements to Cinebench Release 20 reflect the overall advancements to CPU and rendering technology in recent years, providing a more accurate measurement of Cinema 4D’s ability to take advantage of multiple CPU cores and modern processor features available to the average user.
Cinebench R23 (Higher is Better)
CPU-Z
CPUz is a freeware that gathers information on some of the main devices of your system such as the Processor name and number, codename, process, package, cache levels, Mainboard, chipset, Memory type, size, timings, and module specifications (SPD), and Real-time measurement of each core's internal frequency, memory frequency.
CPU-z (Higher is Better)
Geekbench 6
Geekbench 6 is a cross-platform benchmark that measures your system's performance with the press of a button.
Geekbench 6 (Higher is Better)
HandBrake
HandBrake is a tool for converting video from nearly any format to a selection of modern, widely supported codecs.
Handbrake (Higher is Better)
PCMark 10
PCMark 10 is a complete PC benchmarking solution for Windows 10. It includes several tests that combine individual workloads covering storage, computation, image and video manipulation, web browsing, and gaming. Specifically designed for the full range of PC hardware from netbooks and tablets to notebooks and desktops, PCMark 10 offers complete Windows PC performance testing for home and business use.
PCMark 10 (Higher is Better)
POV-Ray
The POV-Ray package includes detailed instructions on using the ray tracer and creating scenes. Many stunning scenes are included with POV-Ray, so you can start creating images immediately when you get the package.
POV-Ray 3.7 (Higher is Better)
SuperPI
Super PI is used by many overclockers to test the performance and stability of their computers. In the overclocking community, the standard program provides a benchmark for enthusiasts to compare “world record” pi calculation times and demonstrate their overclocking abilities. The program can also be used to test the stability of a certain overclock speed.
SuperPi 32M (Lower is Better)
WinRAR
WinRAR is a powerful archive manager. It can back up your data and reduce the size of email attachments, decompress RAR, ZIP, and other files downloaded from the Internet, and create new archives in RAR and ZIP file formats.
Winrar (Lower is Better)
V-Ray Render Benchmark
V-Ray Benchmark is a free, standalone application to test how fast your system renders. Three custom-built test scenes are also included to put each V-Ray 6 render engine through its paces.
V-Ray 6 (Higher is Better)
Battlefield V
Battlefield V brings back the action of the World War 2 shooter genre. Using the latest Frostbite tech, the game does a good job of looking gorgeous in all ways possible. From the open-world environments to the intense and gun-blazing action, this multiplayer and single-player FPS title is one of the best-looking Battlefield titles to date. The game was tested at max settings at 1440p.
Battlefield V (2K)
Battlefield V (2K) PBO+CO
DOOM Eternal
DOOM Eternal brings hell to Earth with the Vulkan-powered idTech 7. We test this game using the Ultra Nightmare Preset and follow our in-game benchmarking to stay as consistent as possible.
DOOM (2K)
DOOM (2K) PBO+CO
GTA V
GTA V is one handsomely optimized title for the PC audience. It's scalable across various PC configurations and delivers an impressive frame rate. Rockstar did an amazing job with the PC build of GTA V, and it comes with a large array of settings that can be configured by PC gamers. We tested the title at 1440P with everything set to Ultra and 4x MSAA.
GTA V (2K)
GTA V (2K) PBO+CO
Metro Exodus
Metro Exodus continues the journey of Artyom through the nuclear wasteland of Russia and its surroundings. This time, you are set over the Metro, going through various regions and different environments. The game is one of the premier titles to feature NVIDIA’s RTX technology and does well in showcasing the ray-tracing effects in all corners. The game was tested at Ultra settings with RTX settings turned off at 1440p.
Metro Exodus (2K)
Metro Exodus (2K) PBO+CO
Shadow of The Tomb Raider
Sequel to The Rise of the Tomb Raider, Shadow of the Tomb Raider is visually enhanced with an updated Foundation Engine that delivers realistic facial animations and the most gorgeous environments ever seen in a Tomb Raider Game. The game is a technical marvel and shows the power of its graphics engine in the latest title.
Shadow of The Tomb Raider (2K)
Shadow of The Tomb Raider (2K) PBO+CO
The AMD Ryzen 9000 CPUs come in the same two or three chiplet configurations as the Ryzen 7000 series, with one or two of which are the aforementioned AMD Zen 4 CCDs fabricated on the 4nm process node. Then we have the larger die around the center, the IOD, based on a 6nm process node. The AMD Ryzen 9000 CCD measures a die size of 70.6mm2 and features a total of 8.6 billion transistors per CCD. The IOD has a die size of 122m2 and features 3.4 billion transistors.
Scattered around the package are several SMDs (capacitors/resistors) that usually sit under the package substrate if we consider Intel's CPUs. AMD is instead featuring them on the top layer, and as such, they had to design a new kind of IHS, which is internally referred to as the Octopus.
Power Consumption (Stock System) Stress Test
Power Consumption (Stock) Gaming Test
Power Consumption (Stress PBO+CO) Cinebench Test
AMD's Ryzen 9000 Desktop CPUs utilize a brand new Zen 5 core architecture that is built on the 4nm process node; as such, these chips are designed to be extremely efficient. The chips feature gold-plated IHS for efficient thermal transfer.
Temperatures (Stock)
Temperatures (Stress PBO+CO) Cinebench Test
Colorful's CVN X870 ARK Frozen V14 takes a mainstream approach in value while offering some high-end features. The 17-phase VRM is ample for AMD's Ryzen 9000 Desktop CPUs, and the performance matches most of the X870/X870E offerings that we have in our test suite, which is a good first impression. The OC capability is also on par with the rest of the motherboards, especially the similarly priced MSI Tomahawk series.
In terms of features, the motherboard has three M.2 slots, all of which are cooled by heatsinks, including Gen5 support. WIFI7+BT5.4, along with 5GbE LAN, is also great, while the full list of USB options includes:
- 2x USB 2.0 (Rear)
- 4x USB 2.0 (Front)
- 4x USB 3.2 5 Gbps Type-A (Rear)
- 2x USB 3.2 5 Gbps Type-A (Front)
- 1x USB 3.2 10 Gbps Type-C (Rear)
- 2x USB 3.2 10 Gbps Type-C (Front)
- 1x USB 4 40 Gbps Type-C (Rear)
The motherboard comes with a 256M BIOS, support for up to 192 GB capacities, and up to 8200 MT/s DDR5 speeds. In terms of design, the motherboard offers a visually pleasing white aesthetic with a clean print on the front that doesn't go too much into the gamer or RGB aesthetic, which would please a lot of builders. Pricing is also strong with the motherboard retailing for less than $250 US in various Asia-Pacific outlets. Availability in other regions is up for debate since we didn't find it on any major retailers such as Amazon, Newegg, etc, but the Colorful CVN X870 ARK makes for a perfect mainstream option for AM5 builders based on its design, looks, and feature set in this specific price range.
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