Seeking a substitute for the Dead B550 steel part.
Seeking a substitute for the Dead B550 steel part.
If the pricing aligns then the Tomahawk stands out as a solid choice. It lacks features that would make daily use easier, but it delivers strong performance. I’m used to US prices where the Steel Legend is more affordable and matches the B550 Taichi’s cost, which is clearly a better option. The 5GHz band caps single-rank performance, while 4GHz reaches dual-rank limits. At 3400MHz (adjusting for UMC quality), it can push into quad-rank territory.
Living in a developing country can be challenging at times—I haven’t used the postcode on my Steel Legend and found it to be pretty irrelevant, probably because I’m not using it much. I own three USB devices connected to the back of my motherboard, including a hub for convenient access on my desk, which is why I don’t mind it. Most of my USB connections are either thumb sticks or serial converters, so I don’t require high-speed ports from them.
To achieve better IMC the higher the threshold, so you wouldn't be shocked to reach 4400 in a 4x8 with a 5500 and x470 fatal1ty. This is especially true with micron rev e. Now deciding between d9vpp or c9bjz. Generally, single rank tends to hit the ceiling first, focusing on the weight rather than IMC depending on how heavy they are to move. The mentioned rev e isn't limited by IMC because it's straightforward, but the board will likely struggle once you exceed 4600. Dual rank is usually constrained by both board design and IMC; I rule out both with a 5500 being Cezzano, so the main concern is IMC and x470 fatalty being the top priority. Lightening the load via rev e helps, though I expect I'll hit the board limit first since 4x8 isn't exactly easy to run. Quad rank is possible but offers no real performance gain over dual, plus extra stress on IMC. Unfortunately, stuck with it for 128GB starting from 32GB and up—ICS are server-only.
I purchased the Tomahawk but overlooked a question: can it start without a GPU (headless)? I previously asked about this in another thread, but no one provided a clear response, so I had to investigate myself. I’m able to test again without issues and can return the motherboard if needed, but it would be simpler if someone confirmed it doesn’t support headless booting. Looking online, I found reports that MSI boards don’t allow headless startup: while some claim it’s possible after an update, others advise checking with experienced users first.
Verifying the update succeeded. The main drawback is that the integrated RGB LEDs cannot be turned off via UEFI, requiring third-party tools instead.