Gigabyte launches new B450 AM4 boards in 2025 — seven years after the chipset debuted

Gigabyte has introduced two new motherboards built around the Socket AM4 platform and the B450 chipset, which originally launched back in 2018 ahead of the Ryzen 3000 series based on Zen 2. The move is surprising in the post-Zen 6 era, following AMD's recent introduction of the Venice lineup last month, but it appears the company sees a market for budget-friendly options on the aging platform.

In practice, there is just one actual board — the GIGABYTE B450M-D3HP — along with a variant featuring built-in Wi-Fi 6E. Both are Micro-ATX Socket AM4 motherboards with fairly modest specifications: a 4+2 phase VRM design, DDR4 memory slots supporting speeds up to 2667 MT/s, a single M.2 slot wired to PCIe 3.0 x4 (the second M.2 slot runs at PCIe 2.0 x2), and Gigabit LAN rather than 2.5-Gigabit Ethernet. The CPU support list covers everything up to the Ryzen 9 5950X, though pairing that flagship with a 4+2 phase power delivery system seems risky — it will likely work, but enthusiasts would be cautious.

The boards do come with some notable features. Q-Flash Plus support is included, which means the BIOS can be updated without a CPU installed, a useful safeguard in case AMD decides to release even more Socket AM4 processors down the line. There are also three display outputs on the rear I/O, which is an interesting choice for AM4, since only the "G" series processors feature integrated graphics. A USB Type-C connector is present as well, but it takes the form of an internal header, so users will need to route it to a case port to actually use it. Finally, the boards include three addressable RGB LED strip headers plus a fourth non-addressable one for those who want to customize their builds.

Pricing has not been announced yet, but the boards are expected to be remarkably affordable, which is likely their main selling point. With DDR4 memory prices dropping and plenty of older AM4 CPUs still available on the secondhand market, Gigabyte seems to be betting on users who want to build a cheap, functional system without moving to a newer platform. The combination of a proven chipset, essential modern features, and a low expected price could make these boards an attractive option for budget-conscious builders.