https://www.techpowerup.com/246100/msi-drops-first-hint-of-amd-increasing-am4-cpu-core-counts AMD could be working on the next cycle of core-count increases for the mainstream-desktop platform. Motherboard maker MSI may have dropped the first hint that AMD is bringing >8 cores to the socket AM4 mainstream-desktop platform by mentioning that its upcoming motherboards based on the AMD B450 chipset support 8-core "and up" CPU in a marketing video. Looks like that video has been pulled off youtube. The CPUs will be backwards compatible with 400 series chipsets which means the consumer won't have to buy a new motherboard unless they want new or additional chipset features.