Asus PRIME A320M-K upgrade guide: RAM, SSD and CPU

Lifecycle and support

A current model: sold new and supported.

Dates not listed haven't been published by the manufacturer or a reliable third party.

Memory (RAM)

The board has two full-size DDR4 DIMM slots (desktop DIMMs, not laptop SO-DIMMs), one per memory channel, and nothing is soldered. With a Ryzen or Ryzen/Vega APU on current firmware you can fit up to 64 GB total — that means two 32 GB modules, filling both slots. With a 7th Gen A-series or Athlon X4 processor the limit is 32 GB total.

The sources disagree here, and it's worth knowing: the 2017 user manual says 16 GB per module (32 GB total), while Asus's current spec page allows 32 GB modules and 64 GB total. The difference reflects later BIOS support for bigger modules rather than a hardware change, so treat 64 GB as the practical ceiling and check the QVL if you want 32 GB sticks validated.

There are only two slots, so any later upgrade means replacing both sticks. Mismatched sizes still work, but the memory above the size of the smaller module runs single-channel, which costs you performance. If possible, buy a matched kit.

For speed: Ryzen processors run DDR4-2666/2400/2133 natively, and 2933/3000/3200 are 'overclocked' speeds reached through a DOCP profile in the BIOS. A320 boards cannot overclock the CPU, and higher memory speeds depend heavily on the kit and the CPU's memory controller — for 3200 MT/s, buy a kit listed on the QVL. With a 7th Gen A-series or Athlon X4 you're limited to DDR4-2400 and below.

Registered/server memory will not work. This board takes unbuffered modules only. ECC memory works with Ryzen (support varies by CPU); with 7th Gen A-series and Athlon X4 chips, use non-ECC.

Buying tip: pick a two-stick kit of unbuffered DDR4 at the speed your CPU supports, matching CAS latency and preferably from the same product line, and check Asus's QVL if you want the safest bet at 2933–3200.

Buying tips

• Buy a matched pair — two slots means no room to add later.
• For 2933–3200 MT/s, choose a kit on Asus's QVL and enable DOCP in the BIOS.
• Unbuffered only — skip registered ECC/server memory.
• With a 7th Gen A-series/Athlon X4, don't pay for speeds above DDR4-2400.

Storage (SSD and hard drives)

There is one M.2 Socket 3 (M key) that accepts 2242, 2260 and 2280-length drives. What it supports depends on the CPU installed: with a Ryzen or Ryzen/Vega APU you get PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe or SATA M.2 drives; with a 7th Gen A-series or Athlon X4 the socket is SATA-only, so an NVMe drive won't run at full capability. Check which processor is in the board before buying an M.2 SSD.

On top of that there are four SATA 6 Gb/s ports for 2.5-inch SSDs or hard drives, with RAID 0/1/10 support. How many drives you can mount, and any 2.5-inch thickness limit, is down to your case — the motherboard doesn't define that.

Asus doesn't publish a per-drive capacity limit. The validated parts list shows drives up to 512 GB tested, but that's a validation list rather than a ceiling, so larger modern drives are expected to work; just confirm against owner reports for the exact model you want.

Buying tip: any 2280 NVMe drive is the natural fit if you have a Ryzen CPU. Measure your case before buying 2.5-inch drives, and remember that an NVMe drive is wasted money if the board currently has an A-series or Athlon X4 processor.

Buying tips

• NVMe needs a Ryzen CPU — with A-series/Athlon X4 the M.2 socket is SATA only.
• 2280 is the most common length; 2242 and 2260 also fit.
• Check your case's drive bays and thickness allowance before ordering 2.5-inch drives.
• No official capacity cap — larger drives should work, but check reports for your exact model.

Processor (CPU)

The AM4 socket takes AMD Ryzen processors from 1st, 2nd and 3rd Gen, Ryzen with Radeon Vega Graphics, Athlon with Radeon Vega Graphics, 7th Gen A-series and Athlon X4 — up to 8 cores, according to the manual. Some compatibility listings also name Ryzen 5000, but the documentation here supports up to 3rd Gen Ryzen, so check Asus's CPU support list for the exact chip you have in mind before buying.

BIOS version matters. Ryzen 3000 support arrived through later BIOS/AGESA updates, and a board bought earlier may ship with firmware too old for a Ryzen 3000 chip. There's no confirmed CPU-less BIOS flashback on this board, so verify the installed BIOS first — or have an older AM4 processor available to flash with. Updating the BIOS before you swap is the safe route.

TDP is the other watch-out. Asus doesn't state a maximum processor TDP for this board, and it's a 65 W-class design. Hotter 95–105 W parts aren't confirmed to work well here, so stick to the support list and prefer 65 W chips.

Finally, remember that A320 does not support CPU overclocking. If you want to tune clocks you'd need a different chipset — though memory DOCP profiles still work.

Buying tips

• Confirm the chip is on Asus's CPU support list, especially for Ryzen 3000 and anything newer.
• Update the BIOS before removing your old CPU; keep the old chip until the board boots.
• Prefer 65 W processors — high-TDP parts aren't confirmed for this board.
• Don't buy an unlocked chip expecting to overclock it on A320.

How to upgrade

Before you start

• Back up anything important and note your current BIOS version.
• Shut down, switch the PSU off and unplug the power cable.
• Ground yourself to avoid static damage to the parts.
• Open the case — see the owner's manual for the exact disassembly steps for your chassis and board.
• Install the part, close the case and reconnect the power.
• Start the PC and check that the BIOS/UEFI reports the new memory, drive or CPU correctly, then install or update drivers where needed.

Steps

1. RAM upgrade
   Back up, power off and unplug, then ground yourself and open the case (see the owner's manual for details). Seat both DIMMs firmly in the two slots, close the case, and check in the BIOS that the total capacity and speed are recognised. If you bought a faster kit, enable its DOCP profile in the BIOS.
2. SSD upgrade
   Back up, power off and unplug, ground yourself and open the case. Fit the M.2 drive in the socket (2242/2260/2280 all fit) or connect a SATA drive to one of the four SATA ports, then close the case. Check the BIOS sees the drive, and confirm it's running in the mode your CPU supports — NVMe needs a Ryzen processor.
3. CPU upgrade
   Back up and note your BIOS version first. If you're moving to a Ryzen 3000 chip, update the BIOS before removing the old CPU. Then power off and unplug, ground yourself, open the case, swap the processor, close the case, and check the BIOS reports the new model and runs normally.

Good to know

• Mixed-size memory runs partly single-channel.
• NVMe requires a Ryzen CPU.
• Ryzen 3000 needs a later BIOS; older stock may need an older AM4 CPU to flash.
• The 2017 manual (32 GB) and current spec page (64 GB) disagree on maximum memory.
• No CPU overclocking on A320; high-TDP 95–105 W processors aren't confirmed.

Frequently asked questions

How much RAM can the Asus PRIME A320M-K take?

Up to 64 GB (2 × 32 GB) with a Ryzen or Ryzen/Vega APU on current firmware, or 32 GB with a 7th Gen A-series/Athlon X4. The 2017 manual lists 32 GB as the maximum; the current spec page allows 64 GB, so check which BIOS version you're on if you plan to use 32 GB modules.

Does the PRIME A320M-K support NVMe?

Yes, but only with a Ryzen or Ryzen/Vega APU installed. With a 7th Gen A-series or Athlon X4, the M.2 socket is SATA-only and an NVMe drive won't work at full capability.

Which CPUs fit the PRIME A320M-K?

AM4 chips: 1st–3rd Gen Ryzen, Ryzen with Radeon Vega Graphics, Athlon with Radeon Vega Graphics, 7th Gen A-series and Athlon X4. Some listings also name Ryzen 5000, but the documentation here covers up to 3rd Gen Ryzen — check the CPU support list first. Also note that a BIOS update is needed for Ryzen 3000 on older stock.

Can I overclock on this board?

No. The A320 chipset doesn't support CPU overclocking. Memory DOCP profiles do work, so you can still run faster DDR4 (up to 3200 MT/s with a suitable kit and Ryzen CPU).

Does it support ECC memory?

With Ryzen processors, unbuffered ECC memory is supported (support varies by CPU). With 7th Gen A-series/Athlon X4, use non-ECC. Registered or server memory won't work at all.

How many SSDs and hard drives can I connect?

One M.2 drive (2242/2260/2280) plus four SATA 6 Gb/s drives, with RAID 0/1/10 available. How many you can physically mount depends on your case.

Official documents and references

• Asus PRIME A320M-K — official technical specifications
  Current memory, storage and CPU support figures.
• PDF Asus PRIME A320M-K — user manual (PDF)
  Installation instructions and original memory specifications.
• PDF Asus PRIME A320M-K — memory QVL (PDF)
  Validated memory kits, useful for 2933–3200 MT/s.
• PDF Asus PRIME A320M-K — validated devices report (PDF)
  Tested M.2 and SATA drives.