What's happening with the Ryzen 9800X3D problem?
What's happening with the Ryzen 9800X3D problem?
I was considering using this build, but after reading about approximately 100 instances of this CPU failing—and receiving alerts against turning on EXPO or PBO—I’m beginning to question whether it’s too dangerous to proceed now. Have the most recent BIOS updates addressed this problem? Are there any steps I can take to lower the chances of failure? If avoiding EXPO means I can’t run memory at 6000 MHz, that would really diminish the platform’s value for me. If this issue remains common or unresolved, I might decide to forgo the upgrade altogether. I’d rather avoid the trouble and the risk of hardware issues. Information I’ve gathered so far: Views: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hh23RsLYXYU View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDX0l5kaYsc&t=3s Specs: PCPartPicker Part List: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/CdPBHW CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D 4.7 GHz 8-Core Processor ($472.02 @ Amazon) CPU Cooler: ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 77 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($84.99 @ Amazon) Motherboard: MSI MAG X870 TOMAHAWK WIFI ATX AM5 Motherboard ($295.00 @ Amazon) Memory: Corsair Vengeance 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory ($127.99 @ Amazon) Storage: Samsung 990 Pro 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME SSD ($169.99 @ Abt) Video Card: Asus TUF GAMING OC GeForce RTX 5080 16 GB ($1599.99 @ ASUS) Case: be quiet! Light Base 900 FX ATX Full Tower Case ($259.89 @ Amazon) Power Supply: Corsair HX1200 Platinum 1200 W (80+ Platinum Certified Modular ATX) ($459.99 @ Amazon)
The situation has been somewhat clarified through various articles and discussions. There were BIOS updates addressing memory compatibility problems, which seems to be the primary reason for the CPU failures. It appears the system can't function properly without working memory. Numerous reports indicate that these BIOS updates resolved repeated memory training issues. Excluding the earlier explosive CPUs linked to launch problems—primarily due to PBO BIOS settings on motherboards and excessive power draw through certain pins—the new issue was a more subtle failure. Despite this, considering the global scale of hundreds of affected units, the impact remains relatively minor compared to the volume sold.
There are still instances where the CPU fails despite the latest BIOS updates, though it seems the recent changes are making a small difference. As eximo mentioned, these failures remain a minor fraction of the total motherboards produced.
You should check if your setup supports the 9800x3d card and ensure the latest BIOS and microcontrollers are installed.
My previous R7 9800X3D stopped working a few days ago. I think the issue came from the EXPO profile and the outdated BIOS. My motherboard is an MSI MPG 870E EDGE TI WIFI, and the BIOS hasn’t been updated. After assembling the PC, I turned on EXPO right away and set the curve optimizer to -28 for all cores. It functioned well for about three to four weeks until one day when the PC powered on, the processor failed. Now I’ve received a new R7 9800X3D to replace the dead unit and updated the BIOS to the latest version (7E59v1A41). I hope this doesn’t repeat, and that MSI has addressed the problem. It’s also advised to upgrade your BIOS when building a PC with Ryzen 7 9800X3D, as it won’t worsen further. At the very least, if your R7 9800X3D crashes even after an updated BIOS, you’ve likely encountered a failed processor setup.