What is AM5?
AM5 (Socket AM5) is the AMD desktop CPU socket that succeeded AM4, introduced with the Ryzen 7000 series. It's an LGA (land grid array) socket with 1718 contacts. The big physical change from AM4 is where the pins are: on AM5 the pins are in the motherboard's socket and the CPU has flat contact pads, the opposite of AM4.
AM5 vs. AM4
| Feature | AM4 | AM5 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket type | PGA, 1331 pins on the CPU | LGA 1718, pins in the socket |
| Memory | DDR4 only | DDR5 only |
| PCIe | Up to 4.0 | Up to 5.0, depending on chipset and board |
| CPUs | Ryzen 1000 to 5000 series, Athlon | Ryzen 7000 series and later |
| Memory profiles | XMP, often renamed DOCP or similar | AMD EXPO, plus XMP on many boards |
Installing an AM5 CPU
- Leave the plastic socket cover on until the CPU goes in; it protects the socket pins.
- Open the lever and the metal load plate.
- Line up the triangle on the CPU corner with the triangle on the socket and set the CPU straight down without sliding it.
- Close the load plate and lever. Remove the socket cover if it hasn't popped off, and keep it.
- Apply thermal paste and mount the cooler. Many AM4 coolers also fit AM5.
Because the pins are now on the board, a dropped CPU or a careless install damages the motherboard's socket rather than the processor.
Things to know when building on AM5
- DDR5 only: DDR4 modules won't fit. Check the board's QVL for high-speed kits.
- Slow first boot: after a CPU or memory change, the board trains the memory and the first boot can take much longer than usual with a black screen. Give it time before assuming it's dead.
- BIOS version: boards made before a CPU series came out may need a BIOS update to run it.
- Integrated graphics: most AM5 Ryzen CPUs include basic integrated graphics, so the board's video outputs usually work without a graphics card. Some models leave it out, so check the CPU.
- PCIe 5.0: which slots run at PCIe 5.0, if any, depends on the chipset and board.
For the CompTIA A+ exam
Core 1 (220-1201) objective 3.5 covers AMD and Intel CPU socket types under motherboard compatibility. Tie AM5 to DDR5 and LGA, and AM4 to DDR4 and PGA. If a question pairs an AM5 board with DDR4 memory or an AM4 CPU, that's the incompatibility.