A520M vs B450M | Best Budget AM4 Chipset for Gaming (2025)

If you’re planning to build a budget gaming PC in 2025 choosing the right motherboard is extremely important.

A520M vs B450M are two popular AM4 chipset options that are budget friendly but they differ significantly in performance compatibility and future upgrade potential.

We’ll compare both chipsets based on real world usage, gaming performance and features so you can choose the best motherboard for your needs.

Table of Contents

A520M vs B450M: A Basic Chipset Overview

A520M supports newer Ryzen CPUs with no overclocking, while B450M offers wider compatibility and CPU overclocking for budget gamers.

What is A520M?

A520M is a newer chipset that supports Ryzen 3000 and 5000 series CPUs but it does not support overclocking. It’s designed for basic users who want a simple PC build with minimal features.

What is B450M

B450M is relatively older but offers more versatility. It supports Ryzen 1000 through 5000 series CPUs (with BIOS updates) and also allows overclocking. This makes the B450M a popular choice among DIY builders and gamers.

Gaming Performance: Is B450M Better?

For gaming B450M clearly performs better. It allows overclocking, which helps unlock the full potential of Ryzen CPUs. In heavy titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Call of Duty: Warzone, you can get noticeable FPS boosts with some CPU tweaking.

Since the A520M vs B450M lacks overclocking, gaming performance is somewhat limited. It’s fine for casual gaming but not ideal for power users.

CPU Compatibility and Upgrade Options

The biggest advantage of the B450M is its wide CPU support. It is compatible with Ryzen 1000 2000 3000 and 5000 series processors including popular APUs like Ryzen 3200G and 2200G.

In the comparison of A520M vs B450M, A520M only supports Ryzen 3000 and 5000 series CPUs, so using older or used CPUs may lead to compatibility issues.

Feature Comparison: Ports Expansion and VRMs

When it comes to features B450M offers more flexible options:

More USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
Extra M.2 slots (in some models)
Better VRMs and cooling solutions
Enhanced audio chips (in some models)

A520M provides only basic connectivity, one M.2 slot limited USB ports and no multi GPU support. It’s suitable for basic builds only.

Build Quality and Brand Support

Brand wise B450M boards are more mature. They offer stronger thermal design and power delivery systems. Larger heatsinks and better VRMs make them reliable for long gaming sessions.

In the A520M vs B450M comparison, brands like Gigabyte, MSI, and Asus offer B450M models with better firmware support and more BIOS tuning options, which are limited on A520M boards.

Price to Performance Ratio: Best Value in 2025

A520M is slightly cheaper but the price difference is usually just $10 $20. For that small difference B450M gives you wider CPU support, overclocking capabilities and better connectivity.

For a gaming or multitasking build this extra investment is absolutely worth it especially if you’re planning future upgrades.

VRM Design and Thermal Performance

In the A520M vs B450M debate B450M motherboards generally have stronger VRM setups offering better power delivery especially during overclocking or long gaming sessions.

Many B450M boards also include larger heatsinks, which help maintain lower temperatures. In contrast A520M boards use simpler VRMs with smaller or no heatsinks making them less suitable for high performance tasks.

BIOS Support and Update Process

B450M boards require a BIOS update to support Ryzen 5000 series CPUs. Most brands like MSI, ASUS, and Gigabyte provide clear instructions or BIOS Flashback options, which allow updating BIOS without a CPU.

In the A520M vs B450M comparison A520M boards come ready for 3000/5000 series CPUs without BIOS update hassle but their BIOS options are more limited.

RAM Speed and Compatibility

Both A520M vs B450M support DDR4 RAM, but B450M boards usually support higher memory speeds, especially when paired with Ryzen 3000/5000 CPUs.

B450M also offers better XMP profile handling, allowing easy memory overclocking. A520M is often limited to slightly lower RAM speeds and may not handle RAM overclocking as efficiently.

APU Performance Without a GPU

If you plan to use Ryzen APUs like 3200G or 5600G (which have built-in graphics), B450M is more flexible; it supports older APUs like 2200G and 3200G, while A520M does not support those APUs.

In the A520M vs B450M comparison, A520M only works with newer APUs like the 5600G, making it less ideal for builds that depend solely on integrated graphics.

Best Budget Motherboard Models in Each Chipset (2025)

Here are some recommended models:

B450M:

MSI B450M Pro-VDH Max
ASUS TUF B450M-Plus Gaming
Gigabyte B450M DS3H

A520M:

MSI A520M-A Pro
ASUS Prime A520M-K
ASRock A520M-HDV

These models are known for stability and good performance in their price range.

Real-World Benchmark Results

With a Ryzen 5 5600G, you may get:

On B450M (overclocked): 10–15% better FPS in games like GTA V or Warzone
On A520M (no OC): Stable performance but slightly lower average FPS
In apps like Blender or Adobe Premiere, B450M also performs better due to unlocked CPU performance.

Ideal Use Cases for A520M vs B450M

A520M: Office work, web browsing, basic editing, casual gaming
B450M: Gaming, streaming, content creation, overclocking, future upgrades
If you’re building a PC for parents, students or basic tasks, A520M is enough. For gamers and DIY users, B450M is the right choice.

PCIe Lane Support and SSD Speed

B450M supports PCIe 3.0 lanes, which is fast enough for most NVMe SSDs and GPUs.
A520M also uses PCIe 3.0 but may come with fewer M.2 slots or SATA ports. Neither supports PCIe 4.0, so for extreme SSD speeds, you’d need a B550/X570 board.

Motherboard Availability and Stock in 2025

As of 2025 B450M is still widely available due to its popularity and large production run. Brands continue to produce new batches or updated versions.

A520M is slightly less common and in some regions, might be limited to entry level or OEM only options. B450M has better availability and variety.

Final Thought

If you’re building a budget gaming PC in 2025 motherboard choice shouldn’t be based on price alone it should depend on performance and future upgradability too.

In the A520M vs B450M comparison, A520M is suitable for users who want a simple and basic system without the need for overclocking or advanced gaming features.

However, if you’re a gamer or planning to upgrade your PC in the future B450M is the better and more future proof choice.

With a little extra investment you get better CPU support, overclocking options and more reliable performance.

Both boards are useful in their own right, but for a long-term and performance-oriented build B450M is the smarter and more balanced option.