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What does the E stand for in X670E?

Published in Motherboard Chipsets 3 mins read

In the context of AMD chipsets, the "E" in X670E stands for Extreme. This designation signifies a more robust and feature-rich version, particularly concerning its PCIe Gen 5 lane allocation, compared to the standard X670 chipset.

Understanding the "Extreme" Designation

The "Extreme" designation primarily refers to an enhanced allocation of PCIe Gen 5 lanes. PCIe Gen 5 is the latest generation of the Peripheral Component Interconnect Express standard, offering significantly increased bandwidth. This is crucial for high-performance components like next-generation graphics cards and NVMe solid-state drives (SSDs).

The "E" versions of AMD's chipsets, such as the X670E and B650E, are engineered to provide more dedicated PCIe Gen 5 lanes, enabling superior connectivity for cutting-edge hardware.

Key Differences in PCIe Gen 5 Lane Allocation

The most significant distinction that earns the "Extreme" moniker is the number of dedicated PCIe Gen 5 lanes available:

  • X670E vs. X670: The X670E chipset offers a substantial 20 dedicated PCIe Gen 5 lanes, whereas the standard X670 chipset provides only 4 Gen 5 lanes. This allows the X670E to support multiple high-bandwidth Gen 5 devices simultaneously, including a Gen 5 graphics card slot and several Gen 5 M.2 slots for NVMe SSDs.
  • B650E vs. B650: Similarly, the B650E provides 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, a significant upgrade from the B650, which offers no dedicated Gen 5 lanes.

This increased lane count in the "Extreme" versions ensures that users can fully leverage the performance capabilities of the latest hardware, making them ideal for high-end gaming rigs, content creation workstations, and other demanding applications where data throughput is critical.

AMD Chipset Comparison: PCIe Gen 5 Lanes

To illustrate the difference, here's a quick comparison of these AMD AM5 chipsets:

Chipset PCIe Gen 5 Lanes Primary Use Case
X670E 20 Designed for high-end, enthusiast builds requiring maximum PCIe Gen 5 connectivity for both GPUs and NVMe SSDs.
X670 4 Suitable for high-performance builds with some Gen 5 capability, often relying more on Gen 4 for secondary slots.
B650E 20 An excellent choice for mid-range to high-end builds seeking strong Gen 5 support for at least one GPU and/or NVMe SSD.
B650 0 Optimized for mainstream builds, typically sufficient for Gen 4 components, offering a balance of features and cost.

Why PCIe Gen 5 Matters for "Extreme" Performance

PCIe Gen 5 effectively doubles the bandwidth of PCIe Gen 4, delivering 32 GT/s (gigatransfers per second) per lane, which translates to approximately 4 GB/s per lane. For an x16 slot, commonly used for graphics cards, this means a theoretical bandwidth of 64 GB/s. For high-speed NVMe SSDs, Gen 5 enables incredible read/write speeds, significantly reducing loading times and improving overall system responsiveness for data-intensive tasks.

The "E" in X670E therefore highlights its capability to unlock the full potential of next-generation components, making it a premium choice for users who demand the absolute best in terms of speed, expansion, and future-proofing their systems.