Major problem: Zen 3 motherboard BIOS issues (UPDATE: FIX DISCOVERED! 1933MHz WORKS)
Major problem: Zen 3 motherboard BIOS issues (UPDATE: FIX DISCOVERED! 1933MHz WORKS)
Issue first reported on reddit which I can verify. I have a 5600X and B550 tomahawk There is an issue with the BIOS resulting in XMP profiles above 3200 dropping silent WHEA errors and hitting latencies upwards of 100ns NO stability impact, but MAJOR performance hit. I have replicated the issue. In addition I lost all control of my RAM RGB. Reported here: As such, IMO any benchmarks W/ MSI motherboards AND XMP profiles above 3200 should NOT be regarded as accurate. MSI is reportedly aware
You were aiming for a 5600x with a B550 tomahawk, but the setup didn’t work out as planned.
It seems they helped you, but there were some issues in the short term. I believe once this becomes public enough, MSI will be able to resolve it.
I experience similar issues too, especially after three failed attempts in a row. Their handling of the customer complaint will likely shape how I view them going forward. Mistakes happen, but when they repeat and ignore valid concerns... that’s unacceptable. The situation was clear from the MSI coverage video. I own a B550 Tomahawk, X470 Gaming Plus Max, and B450i Gaming plus AC, but those won’t be my final choice. This is the final reason I’m deciding to stop.
Adjusted various parameters manually above 3200+ MHz to check for connection with stock XMP profiles or auto motherboard settings. Problem continued regardless of changes. Planning to rest now. Tomorrow I’ll test reverting to 3600 to confirm if it’s a Zen 3 issue or a broader BIOS problem (noted I updated both 5600X and BIOS at once). For safety, I’ll skip the 11-4 BIOS update on Zen 2 or older devices.
Updated version 2: Installed 3600, fully functional. The problem appears to be limited to Zen 3, but I’d still steer clear of BIOS upgrades until a patch is released. Also, I reached out to Hardware Unboxed on Twitter, who shared their use of MSI motherboards in benchmarks. They mentioned they’re using an AMD-provided BIOS, not MSI’s version, and it’s not publicly accessible. They also confirmed the same results with an ASUS Aorus after retesting. So, benchmarks on MSI boards should be reliable as long as they use the AMD BIOS (only shared with vetted reviewers who received pre-launch samples). I’d also check other sources to verify reviews on MSI boards. Hopefully, the patch is coming along without major issues.