Consider what features matter most to you and pick the MOBO that aligns with those needs.
Consider what features matter most to you and pick the MOBO that aligns with those needs.
Hello! Hope everyone is doing well during these times. I'm planning to enhance my current potato PC setup. I'm also considering building another one if I can find good deals on parts. I've been looking into B450 motherboards recently because I can't afford anything higher than B450 models. Should I choose the MSI B450 Gaming Pro Carbon AC or the MSI B450 Tomahawk Max? Are there any notable differences or upgrades with the Gaming Pro? The price gap is around $20. P.S. It's disappointing that these boards don't support Ryzen 4000 series, but upgrading from an A320 board and a Ryzen 3 2200G seems worthwhile.
Checking the 3300x now, I'm still unsure when components will arrive nearby. Thinking about the Ryzen 3600 and 2600, but for now I'll keep my APU on that board. I've also customized it to run at 3.9GHz using Ryzen Master only—tried in the BIOS but didn't work. I have an A320 board with a B350 chipset; I can't change the voltage or do undervolting, so I'm stuck with auto settings.
I recommend holding off on the MOBO and continuing to use the A320. In the future, if you decide to upgrade to a newer CPU—such as the 4000 or 5000 series—you could benefit from that change. AMD has mentioned no support for the 4000 series yet, but they might release BIOS updates later, similar to what happened with the A320 for the 3rd generation Ryzen. Some manufacturers, like MSI, have promised continued support for upcoming generations on their sites, which could include the 4000 series. I’m not sure how AMD will handle this, but it seems a lot of team members are frustrated about the B450 being phased out for the 4000 series. We should hope they maintain that support. If they do withdraw it, there would be no future protection for the B450 setup. It makes more sense to wait for the B550 and pair it with a 3300X, ensuring you stay protected. Since AMD releases new chips regularly, upgrading after about two years is likely what you’ll want, just as you’re planning now. Upgrading the motherboard isn’t necessary right now—it won’t boost performance. If budget allows, consider a Ryzen 3 3300X with an A320 chipset and updated BIOS, and then switch to B550 later.
If this mobo gives up just buy another A320 . There is another speculation going around, 5000 series might get new socket alltogether as AMD said back in 2016 that they will keep support for AM4 till 2020 and we are here.I do not think so after buying 3300x you would upgarde to 4000 series which would be releasing in october 2020 or so. You can either wait for 4000 series which will let you game with good fps for 2 years at least if you are casual gamer with b550 which will cost you more money or just buy 3300x and keep on running with same MOBO and save money for 5000 series or 6000 cuz . Amd might release ddr5 ram as well with 5000 series.
I just read about the 550s and DDR5 support. I think I could go with a B450 board, but who knows what changes come next. Another thing to think about is GPU costs. Since I’m using an APU right now, I’m unsure which card to pair—maybe something around 3600/2600 or 3300. I’m also thinking about the RX 580; is it still worth it for those chips?
Rx 580 fits well within a $150 to $200 range. You can find it starting around $169 for a new one. If you want to boost performance, consider the B450 model—especially the carbonn AC variant, which adds only about $20 extra but still supports OC and OC-AIO. A more affordable B450 will cover basic needs without extra features, letting you save money on the motherboard. This savings can then be redirected toward NVMe drives or high-capacity SSDs, significantly improving your build’s speed. If you already have a CPU around $120 (for 3300X) or a GPU worth upgrading to an 1660 Super for about $240, investing in the CPU makes more sense. Spending over $100 on memory isn’t wise since your processor is already priced at that level.
I understand your point. Paying a bit more often brings better value. Gaming AC and Tomahawk Max suit those who want 3600x or 3700x configurations. If you're planning around 3300x, B450m Pro4 would also work well since it offers better VRM compared to some entry-level B450 motherboards and is available for around $70. Plus, you're checking out the A320—see this video for more info: https://youtu.be/lkyCmigcEcQ