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(Image credit: Asus, Gigabyte, ASRock, MSI) AMD launched the B650 chipset back in 2022 as a budget alternative to the X670 motherboards for AM5. Like B450 and B550 before it, for many people it served as the more sensible entry point into the platform. With the release of Ryzen 9000 family, AMD succeeded B650 with B850 and rumors of the former soon being discontinued started to float around; this was later confirmed by the AMD as vendors would move to B850 and B840 production instead — a notion that's apparently been reversed according to Board Channels. Take all this information with a grain of salt as there has been no official announcement of the conclusion of the B650, never mind its sudden resurrection.
The post claims that the B650 chipset is here to stay, at least for the time being due to the DRAM crisis making new motherboard purchases undesirable. Being an older model, B650s are cheaper and more abundant, which will serve as a lifeline for PC builders hindered by rising memory costs. AMD reportedly wants to help alleviate some of the pressure the industry is facing by letting consumers still pick the more affordable option when it comes to motherboards. This means that AMD is asking board partners to expand production of the B650 to provide the affordable alternative given the current situation.
It's not all good news, though, since current data reflects a steep decline for motherboard sales in November. Apparently, only half as many boards were sold this past month compared to October, a trend that's expected to follow in December as well. Due to the AI boom causing RAM prices to skyrocket, demand for new motherboards has fallen through the floor, so newer options are even less likely to perform in the market.
AMD isn't increasing prices on CPUs, at least for now
Key considerations
- Investor positioning can change fast
- Volatility remains possible near catalysts
- Macro rates and liquidity can dominate flows
Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/motherboards/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/motherboards/amds-b650-chipset-isnt-going-anywhere-according-to-a-new-rumor-rising-memory-costs-and-softening-diy-demand-mean-the-transition-to-b850-may-take-longer-than-expected#main
- https://www.tomshardware.com
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Informational only. No financial advice. Do your own research.