When building a powerful and efficient PC using AMD's Ryzen 5 1600 AF processor, selecting the right motherboard is crucial. With our experience as PC builders, we understand the importance of finding a compatible motherboard for a CPU. In addition, we understand the necessity of choosing one that offers the desired features. In this article, we will discuss the chipsets compatible with AMD's Ryzen 5 1600 AF. Our analysis and breakdown will help you make an informed decision to optimize your system's performance.
Furthermore, we researched the available motherboard options and have curated a list of our Recommended Motherboards
for the Ryzen 5 1600 AF below. This will simplify the decision-making process for you, making it easier to choose the right motherboard for your needs. Keep in mind that OEM-only chipsets that are not available on retail motherboards are outside the scope of this article.
Which Chipsets Are Compatible With the Ryzen 5 1600 AF Processor?
For AMD's Zen+-based Ryzen 5 1600 AF processor, you'll need a motherboard with an AM4 socket and a compatible chipset.
Motherboards for AMD processors are made with chipsets provided by AMD. Each chipset offers a unique set of capabilities. However, motherboards must explicitly support features and capabilities for you to use them. Verify that a motherboard supports the features and capabilities you desire.
Ryzen 2000-series CPUs, which includes the Ryzen 5 1600 AF, are compatible with all 300 and 400-series consumer chipsets, and the X570 500-series chipset. Supported chipsets include the X570, X470, B450, X370, B350, and A320.
The X570 is our recommended chipset for the Ryzen 5 1600 AF CPU, as it provides the most functionality and the ability to upgrade to a newer AM4 CPU in the future.
Note that the Ryzen 5 1600 AF CPU only supports PCIe 3.0.
500-Series Chipsets
| X570 | |
|---|---|
| Release Date | July 2019 |
| CPU Overclocking | Yes |
|
PCIe Slots via Processor See Exceptions: MAX, 1, 2, 3 |
One x16 + One x4 at PCIe 4.0 speeds or Two x8 + One x4 at PCIe 4.0 speeds |
|
PCIe Lanes via Chipset See Exceptions: MAX | Up to 16 lanes at PCIe 4.0 speeds |
| USB 3.2 Gen 2x1 (10 Gbps) | Up to 12 |
| Total USB | Up to 16 |
| SATA 3.0 Ports | Up to 14 |
| RAID | 0, 1, 10 |
MAX The maximum supported PCI-Express version for the Ryzen 5 1600 AF CPU is PCIe 3.0.
1 PCIe 4.0 requires a Zen 2 or newer processor.
2 "G" CPUs: One x8 + One x4 at PCIe 3.0 speeds.
3 A-Series CPUs: One x8 + One x2 at PCIe 3.0 speeds.
- Find Zen+ X570 Motherboards on Amazon (affiliate link).
400-Series Chipsets
All PCIe or M.2 slots connected via the 400-series chipsets will run at PCIe 2.0 speeds.
| X470 | B450 | |
|---|---|---|
| Release Date | March 2018 | March 2018 |
| CPU Overclocking | Yes | Yes |
|
PCIe Slots via Processor See Exceptions: MAX, 4.0 |
One x16 + One x4 or Two x8 + One x4 at PCIe 3.0 speeds |
One x16 + One x4 at PCIe 3.0 speeds |
|
PCIe Lanes via Chipset See Exceptions: MAX | Up to 8 lanes at PCIe 2.0 speeds | Up to 6 lanes at PCIe 2.0 speeds |
| USB 3.2 Gen 2x1 (10 Gbps) | Up to 2 | Up to 2 |
| Total USB | Up to 18 | Up to 14 |
| SATA 3.0 Ports | Up to 10 | Up to 6 |
| RAID | 0, 1, 10 | 0, 1, 10 |
MAX The maximum supported PCI-Express version for the Ryzen 5 1600 AF CPU is PCIe 3.0.
4.0 PCIe 4.0 speeds may be supported for CPU lanes on some motherboards, with a BIOS update and CPU that supports PCIe 4.0.
- Find Zen+ X470 Motherboards on Amazon (affiliate link).
- Find Zen+ B450 Motherboards on Amazon (affiliate link).
300-Series Chipsets
When using motherboards with a 300-series chipset, all PCIe or M.2 slots connected via the chipset will run at PCIe 2.0 speeds.
The A320 chipset does not support overclocking Zen+-based CPUs.
| X370 | B350 | A320 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Release Date | February 2017 | February 2017 | February 2017 |
| CPU Overclocking | Yes | Yes | Pre-Zen CPUs Only |
|
PCIe Slots via Processor See Exceptions: MAX |
One x16 + One x4 or Two x8 + One x4 at PCIe 3.0 speeds |
One x16 + One x4 at PCIe 3.0 speeds |
One x16 + One x4 at PCIe 3.0 speeds |
|
PCIe Lanes via Chipset See Exceptions: MAX | Up to 8 lanes at PCIe 2.0 speeds | Up to 6 lanes at PCIe 2.0 speeds | Up to 4 lanes at PCIe 2.0 speeds |
| USB 3.2 Gen 2x1 (10 Gbps) | Up to 2 | Up to 2 | Up to 1 |
| Total USB | Up to 18 | Up to 14 | Up to 13 |
| SATA 3.0 Ports | Up to 10 | Up to 6 | Up to 6 |
| RAID | 0, 1, 10 | 0, 1, 10 | 0, 1, 10 |
MAX The maximum supported PCI-Express version for the Ryzen 5 1600 AF CPU is PCIe 3.0.
- Find Zen+ X370 Motherboards on Amazon (affiliate link).
- Find Zen+ B350 Motherboards on Amazon (affiliate link).
- Find Zen+ A320 Motherboards on Amazon (affiliate link).
Recommended Motherboards for the Ryzen 5 1600 AF
Best Value Motherboard: ASUS TUF Gaming X570-Plus Wi-Fi
Our recommended value motherboard to pair with the Ryzen 5 1600 AF is the ASUS TUF Gaming X570-Plus (Wi-Fi):
- Check the latest price of the ASUS TUF Gaming X570-Plus (Wi-Fi) Motherboard on Amazon (affiliate link).
-
Through our analysis and research, we found that the ASUS TUF Gaming X570-Plus Wi-Fi motherboard offers an impressive range of features designed to enhance your gaming experience. With PCIe 4.0 support, you can enjoy fast data transfer rates, giving you a competitive edge. The motherboard's support for up to 128 GB of DDR4 memory ensures smooth multitasking and responsive performance at a lower price than DDR5. This motherboard has the X570 chipset.
We found that the ASUS TUF Gaming X570-Plus Wi-Fi motherboard offered superior connectivity as well. Its 1 Gbps Ethernet port enables speedy file transfers, surpassing typical home internet speeds. 802.11ac Wi-Fi provides fast wireless connections, making online gaming and streaming seamless. Plus, Bluetooth 5.2
support allows convenient music streaming to Bluetooth headphones.We also appreciated the plentiful storage options with the ASUS TUF Gaming X570-Plus Wi-Fi. It features two x4 NVMe M.2 slots
(PCIe 5.0 speeds for one of the M.2 slots) and Four SATA 6 Gb/s ports, allowing for efficient storage and quick access to your games, applications, and media. Its USB 3.2 Gen 2 slots also offers 10 Gbps USB speeds.Overall, we concluded that the ASUS TUF Gaming X570-Plus Wi-Fi motherboard strikes a balance between performance and functionality, offering an exceptional gaming experience. With its advanced features and versatile connectivity options, this motherboard is a reliable choice for gamers looking to elevate their gameplay.
ASUS AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus (Wi-Fi) Check Price on Amazon Amazon Affiliate Link
Best Feature Motherboard: MSI MAG X570 TOMAHAWK WIFI
Our recommended feature-rich motherboard to pair with the Ryzen 5 1600 AF:
- Check the latest price of the MSI MAG X570 TOMAHAWK WIFI Motherboard on Amazon (affiliate link).
-
Through our analysis and research, we found that the MSI MAG X570 TOMAHAWK WIFI motherboard offers an impressive range of features designed to enhance your gaming experience. With PCIe 4.0 support, you can enjoy fast data transfer rates, giving you a competitive edge. The motherboard's support for up to 128 GB of DDR4 memory ensures smooth multitasking and responsive performance at a lower price than DDR5. This motherboard has the X570 chipset.
We found that the MSI MAG X570 TOMAHAWK WIFI motherboard offered superior connectivity as well. Its 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port enables speedy file transfers, surpassing typical home internet speeds. Wi-Fi 6 provides fast wireless connections, making online gaming and streaming seamless. Plus, Bluetooth 5.2
support allows convenient music streaming to Bluetooth headphones.We also appreciated the plentiful storage options with the MSI MAG X570 TOMAHAWK WIFI. It features two x4 NVMe M.2 slots
(PCIe 5.0 speeds for one of the M.2 slots) and Four SATA 6 Gb/s ports, allowing for efficient storage and quick access to your games, applications, and media. Its USB 3.2 Gen 2 slots also offers 10 Gbps USB speeds.Overall, we concluded that the MSI MAG X570 TOMAHAWK WIFI motherboard strikes a balance between performance and functionality, offering an exceptional gaming experience. With its advanced features and versatile connectivity options, this motherboard is a reliable choice for gamers looking to elevate their gameplay.
MSI MAG X570 TOMAHAWK WIFI Check Price on Amazon Amazon Affiliate Link
AMD Ryzen 5 1600
Check Price on Amazon
Amazon Affiliate Link
Learn More About the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 AF
- Motherboard: Choosing the Best Motherboard for AMD's Ryzen 5 1600 AF
- Chipset: Which Chipsets Work With AMD's Ryzen 5 1600 AF CPU?
- Cooler: Choosing the Best CPU Cooler for AMD's Ryzen 5 1600 AF
- Power Supply: Choosing the Best Power Supply for AMD's Ryzen 5 1600 AF CPU
- RAM: Best RAM for the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 AF CPU
- TDP: What Is the TDP of the Ryzen 5 1600 AF CPU?
- Gaming: Is the Ryzen 5 1600 AF CPU Good for Gaming?
Other Considerations When Building a PC
Want to brush up on other new technologies to consider when building a computer? Check out these articles:
- Cases:
- CPUs:
- The Best CPUs for Gaming
- Which Intel and AMD CPUs Support PCIe 5.0?
- Which Intel and AMD CPUs Support PCIe 4.0?
- LGA 1700 CPU List
- LGA 1200 CPU List
- Look up an Intel or AMD CPU on TechReviewer for related recommendations:
- The Best CPUs for Gaming
- CPU Coolers:
- Storage:
- Memory:
- PCI-Express:
- Motherboards:
- Graphics Cards:
- Power Supplies:
- Keyboards:
- Monitors:
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