Skip to main content
GIGABYTE A520M S2H Motherboard - Supports AMD Ryzen 5000 Series AM4 Processors, 4+3 Phase Pure Digital VRM, Up to 5100MHz DDR4 (OC), PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2, GbE LAN, USB 3.2 Gen 1

GIGABYTE A520M S2H Motherboard

Bottom line: The GIGABYTE A520M S2H Motherboard: Q-Flash Plus updates BIOS with no CPU, RAM, or GPU installed; main trade-off: A520 chipset means no PCIe 4.0 and no CPU overclocking.

Check price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, SpecPicks earns from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure →

Check price on Amazon → Compare to similar motherboards

By , Founder & Editor-in-Chief · Listing data updated

Mike Perry — Hardware researcher since 2014, focused on GPU performance across gaming, rendering, and local-LLM inference. Synthesises community benchmarks, manufacturer specs, and public forum data into actionable buying guides.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • ✓ Q-Flash Plus updates BIOS with no CPU, RAM, or GPU installed
  • ✓ 4+3 phase pure digital VRM with low RDS(on) MOSFETs
  • ✓ Three video outputs: HDMI, DVI-D, and D-sub for APU builds
  • ✓ NVMe PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slot for a fast boot drive

Cons

  • ✗ A520 chipset means no PCIe 4.0 and no CPU overclocking
  • ✗ Only 2 DIMM slots, capping future memory expansion
  • ✗ DDR4 only, so no upgrade path to AM5 Ryzen 7000+
  • ✗ GbE LAN tops out at 1 gigabit, no 2.5GbE

Manufacturer description

The GIGABYTE A520M S2H is a micro-ATX AM4 board built for budget Ryzen builds that don't need PCIe 4.0. It drops a Ryzen 5000, 5000 G-Series, 4000 G-Series, or 3000 Series chip into a socket backed by a 4+3 phase pure digital VRM with low RDS(on) MOSFETs, so a Ryzen 5 5600 or 5700G runs at stock clocks without thermal drama. Two DDR4 DIMM slots handle dual-channel ECC or non-ECC unbuffered memory and support overclocked kits up to 5100MHz. Storage gets an NVMe PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 connector for fast boot drives, and networking runs through GIGABYTE's 8118 gaming LAN with bandwidth management…

Related Products

Other products in this category you may like:

SpecPicks Verdict

SpecPicks scored GIGABYTE A520M S2H Motherboard using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the motherboards category. Compare with similarly-priced alternatives in the motherboards category before committing. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.

Common buyer scenarios for motherboards of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this board support Ryzen 5000 CPUs out of the box?

It supports Ryzen 5000, Ryzen 5000 G-Series, Ryzen 4000 G-Series, Ryzen 3000, and Ryzen 3000 G-Series processors. If a board ships with older firmware, Q-Flash Plus updates the BIOS without a CPU, memory, or graphics card installed.

How much RAM can I install, and what speeds work?

There are 2 DDR4 DIMM slots running in dual channel, supporting both ECC and non-ECC unbuffered memory. GIGABYTE rates memory support up to 5100MHz when overclocked.

Is there an M.2 slot for an NVMe SSD?

Yes. The board has one NVMe M.2 connector wired for PCIe 3.0 x4. A520 is a PCIe 3.0 platform, so PCIe 4.0 drives will run at 3.0 speeds.

Can I run a build with no graphics card?

Yes, if you pair it with a Ryzen G-Series APU. Video output runs through HDMI, DVI-D, or D-sub, and you can drive multiple displays from those ports.

Key Features

  • Supports AMD Ryzen 5000 Series/ Ryzen 5000 G-Series/ Ryzen 4000 G-Series and Ryzen 3000 and Ryzen 3000 G-Series processors
  • DDR4 dual channel ECC/Non-ECC unbuffered mode, 2 DIMM
  • Pure Digital 4+3 phase VRM solution with low RDS(on) MOSFET
  • Ultra-Fast NVMe PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 Connector
  • Exclusive GIGABYTE 8118 gaming network connection with bandwidth management
  • HDMI, DVI-D and D-sub ports for multiple display

Full Specifications

BrandGIGABYTE
Weight5000 g
USB 2.02
PlatformWindows
CPU ModelRyzen 3
CPU SocketSocket AM4
Model NameA520M S2H
Unit Count1 Count
Chipset TypeAMD A520
ConnectivityUSB
Model NumberA520M S2H
Built-In MediaCamera Body
Chipset FamilyAMD A520
Item Type Namepc motherboard
Mfr Part NumberA520M S2H
Number of Items1
Number of Ports1
Total Usb Ports6
Processor SocketSocket AM4
Total SATA Ports6
Full listing titleGIGABYTE A520M S2H Motherboard - Supports AMD Ryzen 5000 Series AM4 Processors, 4+3 Phase Pure Digital VRM, Up to 5100MHz DDR4 (OC), PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2, GbE LAN, USB 3.2 Gen 1

Ready to buy?

GIGABYTE A520M S2H Motherboard - Supports AMD Ryzen 5000 Series AM4 Processors, 4+3 Phase Pure Digital VRM, Up to 5100MHz DDR4 (OC), PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2, GbE LAN, USB 3.2 Gen 1 is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.

Check price on Amazon →

Related Motherboards

Keep exploring SpecPicks

Other buying guides

Browse the catalog

Editorial

More guides & deep dives from the SpecPicks archive

Browse all articles & guides →

More reviews from the SpecPicks archive

Browse all reviews →

Earliest SpecPicks reviews

Browse full archive →
GIGABYTE A520M S2H Motherboard - Supports AMD Ryzen 5000 Series AM4 Processors, 4+3 Phase Pure Digital VRM, Up to 5100MHz DDR4 (OC), PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2, GbE LAN, USB 3.2 Gen 1
View on Amazon →