MSI Z390-A Pro board secured with the processor
MSI Z390-A Pro board secured with the processor
I've got a MSI z390-a pro built with a 9700f. The board seems to be locked to that CPU, and I've tested other CPUs like 8700, 9400f, and 8600k. Only the 9700f works. I started troubleshooting by downloading and updating the latest BIOS (it was from 2019). After the update, other CPUs still wouldn't connect. I reset the CMOS several times before and after the update, disabled FPTM and secure boot settings, even tried disabling hardware features. The motherboard case is damaged, and I spent a lot of time trying to remove it without breaking it. It's really frustrating. If anyone knows how a board can be tied to a CPU in this way—without any BIOS changes—I'd love to hear your thoughts. Could there be a jumper or something similar I'm missing? That sounds like it might be the only real option.
This setup may have unique configurations or limitations on the motherboard. They could offer better understanding and might suggest fixes. Look for BIOS modifications It's likely others faced the same problem and developed a custom BIOS file that could enable CPU compatibility.
It's using the newest BIOS from MSI's site for the consumer Z390-A Pro. Updated it today to fix the problem. This isn't caused by a custom prebuilt vendor BIOS.
It seems like a confusing setup with an unclear problem. There were issues with a Foxconn G41 board that only worked stably on the E8600, and other CPUs caused it to freeze even after stability tests. Trying a BIOS like Biostar T41 helped temporarily, but it wasn’t as reliable as the G31. It might be best to go with a board that includes the correct CPU for smoother performance.
I've reviewed the stock bios from prebuilt, going back to 2019 and checking MSI's site. The 9700f is newer than the 8600k and 8700, so upgrading or downgrading won't make much difference. The 9400f and 9700f belong to the same generation, meaning the 9400f should work if it prevents older Gen issues, but it doesn't.
I'd attempt this only if there wasn't a removed screw securing the motherboard in the Cyberpowerpc case. The flat top screw now has a rounded finish, and I spent an hour using pliers or scissors to try pushing it out, but couldn't manage. Now I'm considering drilling and realize the risk of damaging the board if I hit a screw is high.
It was essentially what I ended up doing. I'm still wondering about the reasons, but it's no longer an issue now.