The motherboard supports the CPU
The motherboard supports the CPU
Depending on the system, it might let him refresh it using a USB stick
Confirm with the seller about the motherboard's compatibility with 3rd gen Ryzen right away. If not, a BIOS update might be necessary, which I’m unsure about. Consider using a B450 board that’s advertised as 3rd gen compatible, since MSI ‘Max’ models have the newest BIOS for 3rd gen Ryzen support. Note that USB BIOS updates are usually available only on premium boards.
They likely provide a boot kit for older CPUs when upgrading the BIOS.
He could easily pick up an affordable athelon 500ge for around fifty dollars, which would be sufficient.
Yes, there are CPUs and motherboards designed for full compatibility. Check manufacturer specifications or use compatibility tools to ensure a perfect match.
I concur, I was highlighting that AMD included a boot kit with the AM4 Ryzen launch.
Using b450, the second-gen Ryzen comes ready out of the box. If you have extra cash, you could purchase an Atmelon 500GE for the BIOS update and return it later—I'll keep you posted. Note that the 500GE doesn't recognize NVMe drives, so you might need a SATA option unless you already have one.