No clear reason to skip updating your profile.
No clear reason to skip updating your profile.
Hey there, so I just wrapped up my build yesterday. I’m running a Ryzen 5 3600 on an MSI B450M Mortar Max motherboard. I installed the latest Windows, got drivers for my RX 5600 XT, updated the chipset, and fixed the audio stuff. But I haven’t touched my BIOS yet. On my screen it shows the version as "E7B89AMS.260" and the build date is December 30, 2019. MSI says the latest BIOS is 7B89v27, released April 24, 2020. That’s about a week ago. I’m a bit worried updating it because I’ve heard it can cause problems, but others say it might help keep CPU temperatures down for these Ryzen 3000 chips. What do you think? Should I go ahead and update, or keep things as they are?
The latest BIOS updates the microcode to version 1.0.0.5 (agesa). You can find details about what this change does here: AMD Releases AGESA ComboAM4 1.0.0.5 Microcode | TechPowerUp If your system struggles to boot, it might be due to RAM with small memory chips; the new BIOS could help improve performance. The mention of "PCI-Express bus stability and interoperability" seems related to some users encountering blue screens with certain graphics cards when power-saving modes are activated. A Reddit user reporting a resolution on a 2070 Super suggests the update has resolved their issue. If this doesn’t apply, you may continue using the PC without concern. Consider waiting a week or two before updating again unless you notice further problems. Don’t rush updates unless you experience issues.
Updating is strongly advised since otherwise you're likely to encounter problems over time. Ensure your hardware runs with the newest BIOS and chipset drivers for smooth operation and to prevent the issues MSI often creates with their firmware. In short, it's simple and hassle-free. You also retain warranty coverage in case something goes wrong (I've never seen a BIOS update fail).
Unless there are specific problems with the motherboard, the standard guidance is actually different. Avoid updating the BIOS unless necessary, since it can sometimes malfunction without cause and damage your board. There’s no idea that problems arise over time; the BIOS included with a motherboard is tested and works reliably with compatible CPUs if used properly.