x570
x570
updates are necessary, yes you'd require a Zen 2 processor and a flash drive, unless your motherboard has a special option to flash without one. Which motherboard do you have? although AMD provides a boot kit for each generation of boards. When the second-gen Ryzen came along, you could borrow a CPU, and similarly with the third-gen Ryzen. I assume when the fourth-gen Ryzen launches, AMD will once more offer loaner CPUs if you reach out to customer support.
X570 requires a BIOS upgrade to accommodate the agesa code for Zen 2. Which board are you using? If your device includes a BIOS flashback feature, you might be able to refresh it without connecting the CPU.
The x570 motherboards with that feature are not specifically listed in my data. You may need to check manufacturer websites or reviews for models featuring this capability.
Many boards available, budget considerations for a board? The gaming advantage is somewhat limited, especially regarding VRM (if you're curious, it's 5 4C029N 5 4C024N doubled with IR 3598's). Are you restricted to this option? You might also explore some B550 boards, which can be quite solid.
For an MSI board, the X570 Tomahawk stands out as a top choice. It delivers strong performance for the CPU at a reasonable price, along with solid features for around $200. I usually advise keeping spending over $200 on a gaming PC motherboard, since B550 boards provide PCIe 4.0 support for NVMe drives and GPUs at a better cost. Are you in the United States?