With the new Summit Ridge Zen coming next year, it is certain that the AM4 platform will undergo some changes. At the moment, the program is available through OEMs but in 2017, traditional retail channels will accommodate the platform.
Currently, there are four different chipsets that are available for the AMD motherboards but it is the X370 variant that is emerging as the user's choice. In fact, gaming enthusiasts have been expecting this high-end item.
For starters, general specifications for all AM4 boards focus on the highly-acclaimed DDR4 switch and the 2400-Mhz speed. With an efficient APU in place, high-performing graphics processors can run effectively due to an extra bandwidth. This bandwidth is supported by the PCl-Express (PCle) lane which is considered as the only chip that supports multi-GPU functionality. Larger data will be accommodated through the PCle if the RAM gets its space fully occupied. Specifications also include the USB 3.1 Gen 2, NVMe and the SATA Express.
The AMD X370 is an ultimate treat for individuals who want robust platforms. The processors provide a 40 percent IPC boost over Excavator and aloft efficiency. The chipset will be supporting the CrossFire and SLI configurations in Zen CPUs. There is only a couple of PCle 3.0 x 16 slots but the number of lanes can be expanded by using a PLX chip. In order to save costs on the PLX, add-in boards (AIB) such as ASUS or MSI are replacement options.
Compared to the mainstream chipset, the AM4 B350, the X370 gets an edge with the fine-grained overclocking controls. Better Graphical User Interface (GUI) will be installed by AMD for efficient management of the BIOS functions which will translate to effective overclocking. Currently, those using the Bristol Ridge series of processors benefits greatly from the unlocked multiplier of the AM4 platform. It is anticipated that the same approach will be possible with the release of the Zen in 2017.
