AMD has officially ended production of its popular B650 chipset, marking the beginning of a transition period that will see the company focus entirely on its newer 800-series motherboard solutions. The B650 chipset, which launched in 2022 as one of the first AM5 socket options, has been a cornerstone of AMD's midrange motherboard ecosystem for nearly three years.
B650 Chipset Timeline
- 2022: B650 chipset launched alongside AM5 platform
- 2022-2025: Supported Ryzen 7000 and 9000 series processors
- 2025: Production officially discontinued
- Q2 2025: Expected peak inventory clearance period
- Q3 2025: B650M variant stock depletion projected
- Q4 2025: Anticipated B850 price reductions
Production Halt Confirmed by Chinese Tech Forum
According to reports from Chinese tech forum Bobantang, AMD has informed its board partners that B650 chipset production has ceased. The forum, which has previously provided accurate information about product discontinuations including NVIDIA's RTX 3060, claims that AMD has entered what it calls the digestion stage for remaining inventory. This transition marks a significant shift in AMD's AM5 platform strategy as the company prepares to make the B850 chipset its primary midrange offering.
Extended Inventory Clearance Timeline Expected
Despite the production halt, consumers won't see an immediate shortage of B650 motherboards. AMD and its manufacturing partners maintain substantial inventory levels that are expected to sustain market availability well into the second quarter of 2025. The B650M variant, which targets micro-ATX form factors, is projected to remain available even longer, with stock potentially lasting through the third quarter. This extended timeline provides ample opportunity for system builders and consumers to secure B650-based motherboards before they disappear entirely from retail channels.
B850 Chipset Positioned as Direct Successor
The discontinuation aligns with AMD's push toward its 800-series chipsets, particularly the B850, which serves as the direct replacement for the B650. Both chipsets utilize the same underlying ASMedia PROM21 chip architecture, but the B850 offers enhanced features including native PCIe Gen 5.0 support that was previously exclusive to the B650E variant. This consolidation simplifies AMD's product lineup while ensuring that budget-conscious consumers still have access to modern connectivity options.
AMD AM5 Chipset Architecture Comparison
| Chipset | PCIe Gen 5.0 Support | Target Market | Production Status | Expected Stock Depletion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B650 | No (B650E variant only) | Budget/Midrange | Discontinued | Q2-Q3 2025 |
| B650E | Yes | Midrange | Discontinued | Q2-Q3 2025 |
| B850 | Yes | Budget/Midrange | Active | N/A |
| X670 | No | High-end | Active | Unknown |
| X670E | Yes | High-end | Active | Unknown |
| X870 | Yes | High-end | Active | N/A |
| X870E | Yes | Flagship | Active | N/A |
Market Impact and Pricing Implications
The B650's discontinuation could trigger significant price adjustments across the AM5 motherboard market. Currently, B850 motherboards typically retail for above USD 200, making them considerably more expensive than many B650 options. Industry observers expect that increased B850 adoption will eventually drive prices down, particularly in the fourth quarter of 2025, making PCIe Gen 5.0 capabilities more accessible to mainstream users. The B650's popularity on platforms like PCPartPicker, where it dominated AM5 motherboard selections, demonstrates the significant market gap that competitive B850 pricing could fill.
Legacy Support Continues for Existing Users
Existing B650 motherboard owners need not worry about immediate obsolescence. The chipset continues to support both Ryzen 7000 and 9000 series processors, including high-end variants like the X3D models. This ongoing compatibility ensures that B650 systems remain viable for current and future AMD processor generations, even as new motherboard production shifts to the 800-series platform.