AMD has now confirmed that it is ending the production of its B650 chipset. This won’t be a huge surprise if you’ve been watching tech news. Rumours last week suggested the B650 was reaching its end-of-life (EOL) phase, and now the move is official. Though production has stopped, don’t panic—you’ll still be able to get your hands on B650 motherboards for a while yet.
Why the B650 is being phased out
The B650 chipset was launched in 2022 alongside AMD’s Ryzen 7000 processors. It was a mid-range option for gamers and PC builders looking to balance price and performance. But now, AMD is moving forward with its plans for the future. The B850 chipset is set to replace the B650 and is designed to work with the upcoming Zen 6 processors.
According to industry reports, production of the B650 stopped at the end of the first quarter of this year. However, there’s no need to rush just yet. Many retailers and manufacturers still have large stocks of B650 motherboards, so you’ll likely be able to buy them well into 2025. Some brands are expected to keep selling B650 boards until the end of next year.
This transition isn’t just about ending one chipset and starting another. It’s also expected to bring price drops. AMD appears to be lowering the cost of B850 boards in the fourth quarter of this year to make them more attractive. So, while B850 boards are still more expensive than B650s, that gap could shrink soon.
What’s next for other chipsets?
With the B650 making its exit, it’s also expected that other chipsets in the 600 series will be phased out. While AMD hasn’t confirmed the next ones, the entry-level A620 is a likely candidate. On the higher end, the X670 and X670E chipsets are also on the chopping block. These will likely be replaced by the newer X870 and X870E models, which have more modern features and better support for future processors—even though they’re pretty similar in many ways.
Everything will work fine if you’re using a Ryzen processor with a 600-series board. However, it’s worth considering that not all current motherboards will support future Zen 6 chips. Entry-level models, in particular, might not be compatible with next-generation CPUs, which means an upgrade could be necessary sooner than expected.
What you should do next
If you plan to build or upgrade your PC in the next few months, now is a good time to consider your options. With B650 boards slowly disappearing and B850 prices expected to drop, you’ll need to decide whether to stick with what’s available now or wait for newer hardware at a better price.
PC integrators will also likely snap up the remaining B650 stock to create budget-friendly systems for the second half of the year. If you’re shopping for a pre-built PC, expect several configurations using these boards, especially while supplies last.
In summary, AMD is clearing the way for its next generation of chipsets and processors. While it may be the end of the road for the B650, it also signals the beginning of a more powerful and efficient future for AMD systems.
