That all depends on the motherboard. The key factor here is the socket. If your motherboard uses an older AMD AM4 or Intel LGA1700 socket, for example, then you won’t be able to put a new AM5 (Ryzen 7000 and 9000) or LGA1851 (Intel Core Ultra 200) chip in it. However, CPUs are still available that use these sockets – you may just need to flash your motherboard BIOS to make sure it will recognise the new chip. Check out our guide to buying the best DDR4 CPU if you’re looking to upgrade your chip without having to buy a new motherboard and RAM.
Best motherboard 2026: top AMD and Intel CPU platforms tested | Club386AMD News AMD EXPO Ultra Low Latency RAM support debuts on Asus ROG Crosshair motherboard, thanks to new BIOS Though existing EXPO memory kits already tune frequency and latency settings, this new implementation goes further, tweaking even tertiary timings. …
… AMD motherboard shortlist MSI MEG X870E Godlike Best AMD overall MSI MEG X870E Ace Max Best AMD high-end Gigabyte X870E Aorus Pro Best AMD mid-range MSI MAG X870E Tomahawk Max WiFi Best AMD under £300 Sapphire Nitro+ B850A WiFi 7 Best AMD budget Asus ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi Best AMD mini-ITX I… …