Evaluate your options carefully before making a decision.
Evaluate your options carefully before making a decision.
I’m starting off with a bit of skepticism about putting too much effort into this. My USB 3 port on my B450 Tomahawk is still under warranty, so I was hoping for a replacement until the MAX version arrives. I know it’s essentially the same board but with more RAM capacity. The main differences seem to be older CPU support and a built-in visual BIOS—text-based bios are fine for me. I heard the larger BIOS size might enable Ryzen 4000 compatibility, which is important to me. I also noticed the B450 Gaming Pro Carbon AC was available at a similar price. My plan was to stick with that board, but then I got the thought that the carbon BIOS might already be at its limit, so I’d skip it and save the Athlon chips for later. My worry is whether the BIOS will hit its maximum capacity and if I’ll be stuck without upgrading to an 8-core Ryzen 4000 processor someday.
I reviewed your article. My advice is to stick with the motherboard until it comes back and you can use it. LOL, Ryzen 4000 series—keep counting your blessings. It’ll likely take 12 to 16 months before we see a Ryzen 4000 series. By December 2020 or mid-2021. The 450 board isn’t ideal with this new CPU technology. You won’t have PCIe 4.0 for your new card at that point, and you’ll lack several features like USB-C and other upgrades. If you’re planning the 4000, get the chipset that comes with it; otherwise, it’s not a smart choice to add an outdated chipset to a new 4000 processor. In short, hold onto what you have and don’t stress about the future. As I said earlier, when you need a 4000, upgrade your board first—don’t force an older one onto a new CPU. It’s similar to releasing the 9900k with an old chipset versus using the Z390 or Z390X in 2021. If you plan to upgrade later, do it right. Don’t let your old board drag you down. By the time you’re ready for a 4000, the new chipset will be available, and many people will focus on PCIe 4.0 and other features. So save money by waiting until the board is suitable before making the switch.
The Tomahawk already comes with a click BIOS. Its VRMs are decent, at least not bad compared to some alternatives. It seems you might want a USB hub if you need more ports, or hold off until the replacement arrives and then use it. Your decision is up to you. The Ryzen 4th generation isn't confirmed to be AM4 yet, according to what I know.
I was just wondering if that made sense. All your points are totally valid. I’m only beginning to understand everything now. The new OCD is catching up with me. Thanks! That was my initial thought before. If I ever need front USB ports, I’ll go to the back or use a hub. I have enough time and love experimenting, so changing a motherboard didn’t seem too hard—I thought it’d be fun at first, but it might feel like a chore later. I didn’t want to give it back until I heard maybe the BIOS offers better upgrade options, and then I figured that was okay.
Futurproofing for AM4 is still uncertain. The upcoming Threadrippers will use a different socket, possibly affecting the 4th generation Ryzen. I’d choose the Tomahawk or Pro Carbon based on cost, both are solid options. They should support an 8-core CPU all day.
Considering the uncertainty about whether the Ryzen 4th gen will use AM4, I recommend sticking with the Tomahawk. It’s the same motherboard I currently have, and I’m planning an upgrade next year to see if it meets my needs or if a newer board is required. I’m okay with this BIOS—it might feel a bit outdated compared to others, but since I spend a lot of time adjusting settings in BIOS, it should be manageable.