The AMD A520 is an entry-level chipset that supports Ryzen 3000 processors based on the Zen 2 architecture (codename: Matisse). Unlike the AMD B550 and X570 chipsets, the A520 does not support PCIe 4.0 or overclocking. Motherboards with the A520 chipset support PCIe 3.0 and provide a reliable foundation for office and home users.
The Features of the MSI A520M-A Pro Motherboard at a Glance:
- DDR4 memory up to 3,200 MHz, with RAM-OC up to 4,600 MHz
- 1x M.2 slot with x4 PCIe 3.0 connection directly to the CPU
- 1x PCIe 3.0 x16 slot for the graphics card
- USB on the I/O Panel: 2x USB 2.0 / 4x USB 3.0 Type-A
- Internal USB connections: 4x USB 2.0 / 2x USB 3.0
- A total of 2x 4-Pin PWM headers for fans
The MSI A520M-A Pro in Detail:
The MSI A520M-A Pro is an A520 motherboard in a Micro-ATX form factor. For the graphics card, there is a PCIe 3.0 x16 slot available, which is directly connected to the Ryzen 3000 processor via 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes. Additionally, the motherboard offers a PCIe x1 slot for an extra expansion card.
Connections for Drives and Peripherals:
The Ryzen 3000 CPUs provide four PCIe lanes for direct NVMe SSD connectivity. This A520 motherboard uses these four lanes for a single M.2 slot to connect NVMe SSDs. Additionally, the A520 chipset provides four SATA 6G ports.
On the I/O panel, the MSI A520M-A Pro offers four USB 3.0 ports with Type-A connectors. USB 3.0 (or USB 3.2 Gen 1) achieves maximum speeds of 5 Gbps per port. Furthermore, there are two USB 2.0 ports and two PS/2 ports for mouse and keyboard. This A520 motherboard also features Gigabit LAN (Realtek RTL8111H), onboard sound (Realtek ALC892 Audio Codec), two PS/2 ports, and numerous internal headers. For the integrated graphics unit, the MSI A520M-A Pro provides HDMI and DVI outputs. Additionally, it supports RAM kits up to 4,600 MHz.
Colour
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Primary Colour
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Black
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Form Factor
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Motherboard formfactor
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Micro-ATX
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CPU
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CPU Manufacturer
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AMD
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CPU Socket
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AM4
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Motherboard
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Motherboard Chipset
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AMD A520
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Built-In I/O Shield
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Yes
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Memory
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Max. Memory
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64 GB
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Memory Type
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DDR4
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Memory Form Factor
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DIMM
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Max. Memory Speed (Standard)
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3200 MT/s
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Max. Memory Speed (OC)
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4600 MT/s
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EEC Support
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Yes
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Memory slots
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2x
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Wi-Fi & LAN
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LAN
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Yes
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Wi-Fi / Bluetooth
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No
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Cooling
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M.2 Heatsinks
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No
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VRM Heatsinks
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Yes
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Internal Ports
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CPU Power Supply
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1x 8-Pin
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USB 3.0 (internal) Header
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1
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USB 3.0 (internal) Possible Ports
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2
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USB 2.0 (internal) Header
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2
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USB 2.0 (internal) Possible Ports
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4
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Front Panel Audio Header
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Yes
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SPI TPM Header
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Yes
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External Ports
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USB 3.0 (external) Type A
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4
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USB 2.0 (external) Type A
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2
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Storage Ports
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M.2 PCIe 3.0 x2 & SATA 6G
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1
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SATA 6G (internal)
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4
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Back Connect
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Back Connect
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No
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Expansion Slots
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PCIe x16 slots (total)
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2
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Fan Header
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4 Pin Fan Connectors
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2
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Audio
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Soundchip
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Realtek ALC897
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Lighting
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Lighting / RGB
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No
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