Check compatibility for helpFatal1ty AB350 Gaming-ITX/ac & R7 3800x
Check compatibility for helpFatal1ty AB350 Gaming-ITX/ac & R7 3800x
I'm working on improving my SFF PC. I have the ASRock Fatal1ty AB350 Gaming-ITX/ac board and a Ryzen 5 1600 (https://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/Fatal1ty AB350 Gaming-ITXac/index). I updated the BIOS to version 5.7 and confirmed the system runs with the 1600 installed. After swapping in the 3800x, the CPU fan activates briefly when power is pressed, then the GPU fan turns on, but the CPU fan stays off while the GPU stays on. The heat sync reached a high temperature without fans running, so I unplugged it to avoid damage. Once I reinserted the 1600, it booted quickly and started the OS, placing the 3800x in. This time the fans ran at full speed and the system loaded normally.
However, when I upgraded to BIOS 6.0, the 1600 still didn’t boot properly—only half-speed fans worked and there was no video for half an hour until I unplugged it. After reinserting the 1600 and updating to BIOS 6.5, it finally connected to the OS with the 3800x and kept the fans at full speed. Still, it didn’t boot successfully.
The motherboard doesn’t have any postcode indicators, no speaker header, no status LED, and there’s no debug mention in the manual. I don’t have another board to test the new CPU. I was planning to buy an X570 iTX3 from ASRock, but it went on sale at Newegg and was sold out when I got home. I really need an X570 with Thunderbolt for my SFF PC to become portable with a dock. Is my CPU selection wrong? Are ASRock’s QVL listings accurate? Any suggestions on how to test further?
Use the 3xxx CPU for up to five minutes, letting the system run even if it appears inactive or the board restarts. If unsuccessful after five minutes, consider resetting the BIOS by removing the battery and disconnecting the power supply from the mains, then try alternative solutions.
The motherboard accommodates the 3800X, and the VRM can manage the CPU at default configurations. Are you using the heatsink provided with the Ryzen 1600 or the one from the 3800X? Remember, the Ryzen 1600 has a 65W TDP, whereas the 3800X is 105W. Have you verified that the BIOS was updated successfully? Can you access the BIOS and ensure it’s running version 6.0 or higher?
I didn't capture an image after the update to version 6.5, yet the system booted into the BIOS and ran the OS with the 1600 driver installed alongside the new BIOS. I'm using the Noctua NH-L9a CPU cooler.
Checking stability during idle in BIOS is normal. The 3800X has a 105W TDP rating, so it’s designed for that power level. If it’s overheating, the system may enter safety mode. Using the included cooler should help maintain proper temperatures.
I managed to start the system using another GPU connection, but it's only running at 50% performance.
There are some interesting issues here. It seems odd how this occurs. The PCI-E lanes come from the CPU, which might be linked to differences between first-gen and third-gen Ryzen models, as well as the motherboard’s layout or routing. Not much is clear...