Searching for suitable CPU/GPU options for A520 chipset motherboards
Searching for suitable CPU/GPU options for A520 chipset motherboards
Hello everyone! What are the best options for upgrading the CPU and GPU on A520 motherboards? Which high-performance chipsets fit well with a low-profile heatsink and lack PCIe 4.0? I’m planning to assemble a new PC and currently have a Ryzen 3 3300X/3600 plus RTX 2060. Later I aim to upgrade to Ryzen 5 5600X/5800X and an RTX 3000 series or newer GPU. This board should support those changes? Should I consider replacing the motherboard later? I’m thinking of buying the TUF-GAMING-A520M-PLUS board. It has one GPU slot, 1m² NVMe SSD, four SATA 4 drives, and a DIMM slot. My budget is tight, so I can reduce the motherboard cost now. I need to plan upgrades. That’s why I’m reaching out.
I don't see any reason why you couldn't put a 5950X in an A520 board, as long as it supports the power draw, which it seems most do. Yes the lower end boards don't have the high end VRM configuration you'd typically expect on a higher end board, but if you're not overclocking I don't see why that matters. A cursory look at a vendor's CPU support list supports this. You may see a fraction more power usage as the VRMs may have less power efficiency, or experience more load per choke, but we're talking a few watts at the very worst. If there's any A520 boards which can't take the 105W chips, I'd wager they're an exception rather than the rule.
I’d just invest the extra 40 dollars in a better B550 board. The A520 boards have weak VRM, making it risky to fit a 5950X—heat problems and poor performance are likely. The A520M should work with a 5600X, though going higher isn’t ideal. I’d recommend upgrading to a more capable board and if it’s out of reach, opt for a cheaper CPU like the 3100 or consider a used GPU instead of the overpriced 2060, especially since new cards are arriving. Or simply be patient and wait for mid-tier options to become available.
I’d be open to considering it if not for the wide differences between A520 and B550 boards, I think it hinges more on the board itself than just the platform. Looking at the A520M-PLUS with its 8 chokes and improved VRM compared to the more expensive Gigabyte B550M S2H, it’s hard to suggest a recommendation based only on the platform. The A520M-HDV is definitely the most affordable, but even the budget Gigabyte A520M-S2H performs quite similarly in terms of power delivery to most B550 boards.
Absolutely, the options are quite diverse. I completely understand that, but it's clear the a520 isn't meant for high-end systems since it uses a budget chipset. You're more likely to discover suitable boards within the b550 range, depending on the situation.
Thanks for the feedback. People often recommend B450 mobos, similar to A520, but they’re priced the same. Which one do you think is better in that price range? In Turkey, prices jump from 40$ to 80$ due to taxes, which is quite high. That’s why I’m leaning toward a more affordable option. 5600x seems suitable for future upgrades. For cooling, I’m curious about improving the VRM setup. Should I look into better motherboards or opt for a cheaper CPU? At least I don’t need to change the board. Regarding GPUs, is there a way to work with high-end models using budget mobos?