AMD CPU Sockets List 2026: AM4, AM5, sTR5 and More

AMD currently sells desktop processors on one mainstream socket, AM5, with the older AM4 socket still alive through budget and value chips such as the Ryzen 5 5600 and Ryzen 7 5700X3D. High-end desktop and workstation parts use sTR5 (Threadripper 7000 and 9000), and servers use SP5 and SP6. The socket on your motherboard decides which processors, memory type and coolers you can use, so it is the first thing to check before any CPU upgrade.

This guide lists every AMD socket that matters in 2026, groups them by market, explains what each one supports, and shows how to match a processor to a board without guesswork. Facts about pin counts, memory types and supported families come from AMD’s own product documentation and the widely cited WikiChip socket tables.

Our top picks

Top pickAMD RYZEN 7 9800X3D 8-Core

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Also greatAMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D 16-Core Processor

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Also greatAMD Ryzen™ 5 9600X 6-Core

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Also greatAMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D 8-Core

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Quick Reference: AMD CPU Sockets at a Glance

Two details in the table trip people up. First, AM4 is a pin-grid array, meaning the pins are on the processor, while AM5 is a land-grid array, meaning the pins are in the motherboard socket and the processor has flat contacts. Second, sTR5 and SP6 share a pin count but are electrically incompatible, as are TR4 and the server socket SP3. Physical fit never guarantees compatibility.

AM5: The Current Mainstream Socket

AM5 launched in September 2022 with the Ryzen 7000 series and is the only mainstream AMD desktop socket still receiving new processors. It is a 1,718-contact LGA design that supports dual-channel DDR5 memory exclusively, so no DDR4 modules will work on any AM5 board. Every AM5 platform offers PCIe 5.0 for at least the graphics slot or storage, depending on the chipset tier.

Chipsets and what each tier means

• A620: the entry tier. It keeps AM5 CPU support but limits overclocking and PCIe lane counts, and it suits budget builds with 65W processors.
• B650 and B850: the mainstream tier for most gamers. B850 carries a PCIe 5.0 graphics slot as standard and is the newer of the two.
• B650E and X670E: guarantee PCIe 5.0 for both the graphics slot and at least one M.2 slot.
• X870 and X870E: the newest enthusiast chipsets, with USB4 required on the board and PCIe 5.0 for both graphics and storage in a mandatory configuration.
• B840: a newer low-cost entry chipset for budget builds with Ryzen 9000 chips.

Processor families on AM5

• Ryzen 7000 (Zen 4): the first AM5 generation, including the Ryzen 5 7600X, Ryzen 7 7700X, Ryzen 9 7950X and the cache-stacked Ryzen 7 7800X3D.
• Ryzen 8000G (Zen 4 APUs): processors with strong integrated graphics such as the Ryzen 7 8700G and Ryzen 5 8600G, aimed at small builds without a discrete GPU.
• Ryzen 9000 (Zen 5): the Ryzen 5 9600X, Ryzen 7 9700X, Ryzen 9 9900X and Ryzen 9 9950X, plus the 3D V-Cache models Ryzen 7 9800X3D and Ryzen 9 9950X3D.
• EPYC 4004 and 4005: entry server chips that reuse the AM5 socket for small servers and workstations.

AMD stated at Computex 2024 that AM5 would support new processors through 2027 and beyond, and coverage of Computex 2026 reports that the commitment has been extended to at least 2029. Company documents also point to the next Zen generation remaining on AM5. That makes AM5 the safest long-term choice for anyone buying a new platform in 2026, because a board bought today will probably accept at least one future processor generation after a BIOS update.

Cooler compatibility on AM5

AM5 uses the same 54 x 90 mm mounting hole pattern and the same #6-32 backplate threads as AM4, and the processor height was kept close to AM4 so most coolers still fit. The catch is that the AM5 backplate is not removable because it also holds the CPU retention frame. Coolers that rely on their own backplate hardware need a manufacturer upgrade kit. Check your cooler’s compatibility list for AM5 before reusing it.

AM4: Still Relevant for Budget and Upgrade Builds

AM4 debuted in 2016 with the original Ryzen 1000 series and received new processors for nearly a decade, which is unusually long for a desktop socket. It uses a 1,331-pin PGA package and DDR4 memory. Chips range from the first-generation Ryzen 5 1600 to the Ryzen 5000 series, including the Ryzen 5 5600, Ryzen 7 5700X, Ryzen 7 5800X3D, Ryzen 7 5700X3D and Ryzen 9 5900XT. Ryzen 5000G desktop APUs and budget Athlon chips also fit.

AM4 chipset ladder

• A320, B350 and X370 were the first generation. They often need a BIOS update before Ryzen 5000 will boot, and some have small flash chips that cannot hold the newest microcode.
• B450 and X470 are the second generation and the best-known sweet spot for Ryzen 5000 upgrades, because most vendors published a compatible BIOS.
• A520, B550 and X570 are the third generation, with B550 and X570 adding PCIe 4.0 for the graphics slot and primary SSD.

The practical rule for AM4 is simple: before buying a Ryzen 5000 chip, open the motherboard vendor’s CPU support list, find your exact board revision, and confirm a BIOS version that lists your processor. If the board predates support and you cannot boot with an older CPU to flash it, a few vendors offer BIOS flashback buttons or loan-CPU programs that solve the problem.

Why AM4 is still worth buying into

For gaming at 1080p and 1440p with a mid-range GPU, a Ryzen 7 5700X3D on a B550 board with DDR4-3600 remains a strong budget option because the stacked cache helps frame rates in many games. DDR4 memory is cheaper than DDR5 in most markets, so the whole platform stays in the budget tier. The trade-off is that AM4 is a dead end: no new processors are coming, and PCIe 5.0 is unavailable.

Threadripper Sockets: TR4, sTRX4 and sTR5

AMD’s high-end desktop line has changed sockets more often than its mainstream line. Each generation of Threadripper used a different socket, and none of them are cross-compatible.

TR4 (2017)

TR4 supported the first and second generations of Threadripper (1000 and 2000 series) on the X399 chipset, with quad-channel DDR4 and 64 PCIe 3.0 lanes. It is physically identical to the server socket SP3 but not electrically compatible with it.

sTRX4 (2019)

The third-generation Threadripper 3000 series used sTRX4 with the TRX40 chipset. It has the same pin count as TR4 but a different pin layout, so a Threadripper 3970X cannot be installed in an X399 board, and a 2990WX cannot be installed in a TRX40 board. The Threadripper PRO 3000WX and 5000WX workstation chips used a separate socket paired with the WRX80 chipset.

sTR5 (2023)

The current Threadripper socket has 4,844 contacts and supports DDR5 with up to eight memory channels on the workstation tier. It carries two chipsets:

• TRX50: the enthusiast platform with quad-channel DDR5 and up to 80 PCIe 5.0 lanes.
• WRX90: the workstation platform with octa-channel DDR5 and up to 128 PCIe 5.0 lanes.

Threadripper 9000 (Zen 5) went on sale in July 2025 as a drop-in upgrade for the same boards, needing only a firmware update. Per AMD’s specifications, the HEDT models include the 64-core Threadripper 9980X, the 32-core 9970X and the 24-core 9960X. The workstation line includes the 96-core Threadripper PRO 9995WX. Non-PRO chips only work on TRX50, while PRO 9000WX chips work on both TRX50 and WRX90 but are limited to four memory channels on TRX50.

Server Sockets: SP3, SP5 and SP6

EPYC server processors use their own sockets. They are rarely relevant to home builders, but they appear in used-hardware listings and workstation conversions.

• SP3: 4,094 contacts, used by EPYC 7001, 7002 and 7003 series (Zen 1 to Zen 3) with DDR4.
• SP5: 6,096 contacts, introduced in November 2022 with EPYC 9004 (Genoa) and continued for EPYC 9005 with up to twelve DDR5 channels.
• SP6: a smaller 4,844-contact variant for EPYC 8004 (Siena) with fewer memory channels, targeted at power-efficient edge servers.

Used SP3 boards and EPYC 7000 chips are a popular budget route for home labs, but they require server-style cooling, registered ECC memory and often non-standard case mounting.

Legacy Desktop Sockets: AM3+, FM2+ and Earlier

Before Ryzen, AMD’s desktop line used a patchwork of sockets. They matter only if you are repairing or reusing an old PC.

• AM2 and AM2+: 940-pin sockets for DDR2-era Athlon 64 X2 and Phenom processors.
• AM3: 941 pins and DDR3 support for Phenom II and Athlon II; many AM3 chips also work in AM2+ boards.
• AM3+: 942 pins, built for FX processors such as the FX-8350 and FX-9590. AM3+ boards accept most AM3 chips, but FX chips do not fit older AM3 boards.
• FM1, FM2 and FM2+: APU-focused sockets (905, 904 and 906 pins) for A-series chips such as the A10-7850K. FM2+ boards accept FM2 chips, but not the other way around.
• AM1: a compact 721-pin socket for low-power Athlon and Sempron chips like the Athlon 5350.

None of these platforms receive modern BIOS updates, DDR4 or DDR5 support, or NVMe boot on most boards. They are worth keeping only as hobby machines.

Which AMD Socket Should You Buy Into? A Decision Matrix

How to Identify Your Socket Before Buying

1. Read the processor name. Ryzen 1000 to 5000 chips (and Ryzen 5000G) are AM4. Ryzen 7000, 8000G and 9000 are AM5. Be careful with similar numbers: a Ryzen 5 8500G is AM5, while an older Ryzen 5 5600G is AM4.
2. Check the motherboard chipset. Chipset names such as A320, B450, B550, X470 and X570 indicate AM4. A620, B650, B850, X670 and X870 are AM5.
3. Use system information in Windows. Open System Information (msinfo32) for the CPU name, then look up the socket on the manufacturer’s product page.
4. Look at the CPU itself. If you can see it, a processor with visible pins on the underside is AM4 or older. A flat processor with gold contacts is LGA, meaning AM5.
5. Confirm BIOS support. Even on the right socket, an older board may need a BIOS update. Search for your exact board model plus the processor name on the vendor’s support page.

Worked Example: Upgrading a Ryzen 5 2600 Build

A player with a Ryzen 5 2600, a B450 board and 16 GB of DDR4-3200 wants more frame rate. The socket is AM4, so there are two realistic paths.

• Path A, stay on AM4: update the BIOS to a Ryzen 5000-compatible version, then install a Ryzen 7 5700X3D or Ryzen 5 5600. The existing cooler, RAM and board are reused. The spend is limited to the chip, and the gain in games is large when the GPU is mid-range.
• Path B, move to AM5: buy a new board, DDR5 memory and a processor such as the Ryzen 5 9600X. This costs more but opens PCIe 5.0, DDR5 bandwidth and future upgrades through the extended AM5 roadmap.

The rule of thumb is that if your budget is limited and your GPU is not a flagship, Path A gives the best performance per spend. If you plan to keep the PC for five or more years or buy a high-end GPU, Path B avoids hitting the platform ceiling.

Common Socket Mistakes to Avoid

• Assuming the same pin count means compatible. TR4 versus sTRX4 and sTR5 versus SP6 are physical matches but electrically different.
• Buying a Ryzen 5000 chip for a first-generation AM4 board without checking BIOS. Without a compatible BIOS, the PC may not post.
• Reusing a cooler without checking the bracket. AM5’s fixed backplate breaks some AM4 coolers.
• Buying DDR4 for AM5. AM5 boards accept only DDR5 and the slots are keyed differently.
• Ignoring power limits. Fast AM5 processors can draw considerably more power than most AM4 chips, so confirm that the board’s voltage regulation and the power supply are sized accordingly.
• Mixing Threadripper PRO and non-PRO boards. Non-PRO Threadripper chips work only on TRX50, not WRX90.

AM4 vs AM5 vs sTR5: Platform Comparison

Frequently Asked Questions

What socket does the Ryzen 7 9800X3D use?

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D uses the AM5 socket, like every Ryzen 9000 series processor. It works on A620, B650, B850, X670 and X870 boards, though some older boards need a BIOS update first. It requires DDR5 memory.

Can I use an AM4 cooler on AM5?

Often yes, because AM5 keeps the same mounting hole spacing as AM4. However, the AM5 backplate cannot be removed, so any cooler that depends on its own backplate needs a vendor-supplied AM5 bracket kit. Always check the cooler maker’s compatibility page.

Is AM4 still worth buying in 2026?

For a budget gaming build or an upgrade of an existing Ryzen system, yes. Chips like the Ryzen 5 5600 and Ryzen 7 5700X3D deliver strong gaming performance with inexpensive DDR4 memory. For a new long-term build, AM5 is the better choice because it will keep receiving processors.

Are Threadripper chips compatible with AM5 boards?

No. Threadripper uses sTR5 and needs a TRX50 or WRX90 workstation board. AM5 boards use a different socket with a different contact layout and memory configuration, so neither fits the other.

How long will AMD support AM5?

AMD originally promised support through 2027 and beyond, and reporting on its Computex 2026 comments says the roadmap now extends to at least 2029. Zen 6 desktop processors are expected on the same socket. These commitments describe new processors, not unlimited BIOS support for every board, so check your vendor’s update policy.

What is the difference between PGA and LGA sockets?

On a PGA socket such as AM4, the pins are on the processor and fit into holes on the board, so bending a pin is a risk when installing the chip. On an LGA socket such as AM5, the pins are in the motherboard socket and the processor has flat pads, shifting the risk to the board. Handle LGA sockets carefully and never touch the contacts.