A 6-core CPU could work but might struggle with demanding tasks like gaming or rendering.
A 6-core CPU could work but might struggle with demanding tasks like gaming or rendering.
It varies based on your requirements. My setup has an i9-13900k and it doesn’t mean encoding videos with Flowframes or upscaling won’t strain the CPU. Six cores could suffice, though performance will be noticeably slower. I used a quad-core i5-4670k, which wasn’t enough for Minecraft even at low settings, but after upgrading everything except the GPU, I achieved solid FPS of 32 chunks on my server. The server runs around 24 GB RAM while playing alone. It’s tough to say definitively, but some might consider certain tasks demanding more than expected.
It seems the BIOS upgrade isn't much of a change, mainly offering a slight boost over the 2600. You'll likely need at least the 3600, and ideally the 5600. According to ASRock's site, you'll have to install 1.8 first.
I understand this can be really tricky to figure out. My AM4 motherboard is trying to load BIOS 1.4, which seems like the initial release. Checking the ASRock support site for the ASRock B450 Pro 4 shows the update steps are unclear. If you need help figuring out the correct sequence to install the latest BIOS, that could save you money and avoid buying a new board.