The latest LTT video appears to contain an issue.
The latest LTT video appears to contain an issue.
In the video they talk about a motherboard for an $800 PC. Linus mentions it's compatible with Gen 5000, but without a BIOS update. I know this from a build I just did that was quite similar. He explained they chose a BIOS-compatible B450 board. But the MSI B450M PRO-VDH MAX doesn’t have a BIOS flashback button. That means a new AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D wouldn’t let you access the BIOS without an older CPU to boot from. The board does have M Flash, but it seems it won’t work as you can’t actually start in BIOS unless you have an older processor. From what I’ve seen online, I ended up getting a different board because of this problem. Am I mistaken? Could I have used it for my own build? Any advice would be appreciated.
I constructed this recently for a client with a B650 and 7500F. The unit included a 9000 series ready BIOS by default. Would you like me to suggest a similar setup?
It's typical for motherboards to include the latest BIOS at production. As long as the CPU update was released some time ago, it's reasonable to expect your purchased board supports the newer chip unless it's an outdated model with limited compatibility.
I actually started this project last month, but I halted the assembly and switched to a different motherboard after noticing a potential problem. I didn’t want to redo the entire build just to test my theory, fearing it might take too long if it didn’t work. Instead, I followed what I read online from @TatamiMatt.
Even though MSI states compatibility with only 3rd generation boards, there could be later support if the hardware was built after the required BIOS update for newer CPUs. This information is confusing—I wasn’t aware of such possibilities. The CPU requirements list mentions BIOS version B2 (released in 2019), which adds more complexity. Also, using the part list in PCPartPicker suggests a potential BIOS/cpu mismatch. I usually thought every board comes with the oldest available BIOS by default.
It's puzzling when a motherboard site claims compatibility with the standard Gen version at launch, yet this might shift based on production year. It seems rarely discussed or documented beforehand.
PCPartPicker displays that alert even when your chosen CPU isn't compatible with the original BIOS for that board. It's merely a caution, not a certainty. Updating the BIOS is usually required if the motherboard uses an outdated version. Most manufacturers aim to release updated BIOS before shipping, so older boards might still have the original version. However, newer models typically come with the latest support.
others have mentioned that when manufacturers release products, they might offer the newest BIOS available at that moment. additionally, when new chips are released, companies can update older models to be compatible. in the uk, with the introduction of the third generation ryzen, many brands promoted their older motherboards as ready out of the box for the new chips. you could usually tell they were compatible by checking a label on the box that said 'compatible with 3rd gen'—there was no separate model number or SKU. retailers typically highlighted this on their websites.
You haven't actually checked the BIOS version installed. All you need to do is install the CPU, RAM, and GPU, then connect to a monitor to see if it works and identify the BIOS. Manufacturers often label the sticker near the CPU with the BIOS version. I believe most modern MBs now include the latest BIOS, so this shouldn't be a major problem anymore—unless you're dealing with very old stock that hasn't been updated in years. It's worth noting that unless you find extremely outdated hardware, testing is usually unnecessary.