X670E was the flagship chipset when AMD launched the AM5 socket in 2022. Every X670E board has a PCIe 5.0 graphics slot, at least one PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot, CPU overclocking and the extra connectivity of a two-chip design. X870E replaced it in 2024, which makes X670E older stock on a socket that is still current. Older stock on a current socket is where reductions on high-end boards tend to appear. See the X670E deals page for what is available.
Cheapest X670E boards right now
All 11 X670E motherboards, with price drops and price history
Where X670E sits
AM5 arrived with four chipsets: X670E, X670, B650E and B650. The X670 pair use two chipset chips linked together, where the B650 pair use one. Two chips give the board maker more PCIe 4.0 lanes, SATA ports and USB ports to share out. The E, for Extreme, adds the guarantee that both the graphics slot and an M.2 slot are PCIe 5.0.
The successor, X870E, is a refresh of the same two-chip design. The main change is that USB4 became compulsory.
Key specifications
| Feature | X870E | X670E | X670 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | 2024 | 2022 | 2022 |
| Chipset chips | Two | Two | Two |
| CPU overclocking | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| PCIe 5.0 graphics slot | Required | Required | Not guaranteed |
| PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot | Required | Required | Board dependent |
| USB4 | Required | Optional, varies by board | Optional, varies by board |
The PCIe 5.0 lanes come from the processor. The chipset's own lanes are PCIe 4.0, and the whole chipset connects to the CPU over a PCIe 4.0 link that all its devices share.
Compatible CPUs and memory
X670E supports Ryzen 7000, Ryzen 8000G and Ryzen 9000 processors, with DDR5 memory only and EXPO or XMP profiles. CPU and memory overclocking are both allowed. AMD has said AM5 is supported through 2027 and beyond.
X670E boards were designed for Ryzen 7000. Ryzen 9000 support came through BIOS updates released in 2024. A board that left the factory before then and has not been updated may not start with a Ryzen 9000 chip fitted. Most boards at this level have a BIOS flashback button that lets you update from a USB stick with no processor installed, but confirm it on the listing. BIOS updates and CPU compatibility walks through the process.
Early AM5 BIOS versions were also slow to train memory on first start and less tolerant of fast DDR5 kits. Updating the BIOS is worth doing on any X670E board, whichever processor you fit.
X670E against X870E and X670
Against X870E: the PCIe 5.0 guarantees and the two-chip layout are the same. X870E guarantees USB4; on X670E only some boards have it. X870E boards are also newer, so they tend to have WiFi 7 where X670E boards of 2022 mostly have WiFi 6E, and they run Ryzen 9000 from the first BIOS. If you do not need USB4, a reduced X670E board gives up very little.
Against X670: the same two-chip connectivity, but X670 does not guarantee a PCIe 5.0 graphics slot. Since current graphics cards lose nothing noticeable at PCIe 4.0 x16, the practical gap today is small. Do you need PCIe 5.0 has the detail.
What varies by board
- M.2 slots. X670E boards often have four, but the count, and how many are PCIe 5.0, differs.
- Lane sharing. On some boards a second PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot takes lanes from the graphics slot and drops it to x8. The manual has a table.
- USB4, WiFi version and Ethernet speed. All board features.
- Power delivery. Generally strong at this tier, but it still ranges from adequate to far more than any desktop chip needs. See VRMs explained.
- Size. Mostly ATX, with some E-ATX boards that will not fit every case.
Who should buy X670E
Buy X670E if you want high-end connectivity, such as several NVMe drives, add-in cards and plenty of USB, and you find a board reduced well below its X870E equivalent. It suits a Ryzen 9 workstation or a gaming build you expect to keep for years. At or near X870E prices, buy the newer board.
If your build is one graphics card and two SSDs, none of this extra connectivity will be used, and a B650 or B850 board will perform the same.
Buying older stock and Warehouse boards
X670E boards were expensive at launch, so an opened or returned one can be a large saving in pounds. The risk is the socket. AM5 puts its 1,718 contact pins on the board, and a bent pin is the first fault to look for on any opened AM5 board. Read are Amazon Warehouse motherboards worth it, and inspect the socket before fitting anything.
What to check on the listing
- That it is X670E and not X670; the names differ by one letter.
- A BIOS flashback button.
- M.2 count, and how many slots are PCIe 5.0.
- Whether the board has USB4, if you want it.
- Form factor, especially for E-ATX boards.
Current reductions are on the X670E deals list, each measured against the board's own price history.
Questions people ask
Does X670E support Ryzen 9000 processors?
Yes, after a BIOS update on boards that still carry an early BIOS. Boards with a BIOS flashback button can be updated without a processor fitted.
What is the difference between X670E and X670?
Both use two chipset chips and both overclock. X670E guarantees PCIe 5.0 for the graphics slot and an M.2 slot. X670 guarantees PCIe 5.0 at most for an M.2 slot, depending on the board.
Is X670E still worth buying?
It can be, when reduced. It has the same PCIe 5.0 guarantees and two-chip connectivity as X870E. What you give up is guaranteed USB4 and the newer WiFi usually found on X870E boards.
Do X670E boards have USB4?
Some do. USB4 was optional on X670E and became compulsory only with X870E and X870, so check the port list of the specific board.