Will updating B450 board for 5-series support remove 3-series support?

krooton · 18 Jan 2023 at 12:33

As titled really, does the BIOS update make both series work, or will the 5 series become the only compatible CPU type?

Zizilia · 18 Jan 2023 at 13:12

I recently upgraded from a 2 Series to a 5 with my B450 Tomahawk on the understanding that it was a one way trip. Think there were reddit discussions related to this. Not sure whether i could check in BIOS to see whether this was true.

Orcvader · 18 Jan 2023 at 14:01

Depends on the board, but usually it should retain support for at least the more popular 1/2/3 series. Check the BIOS update notes, it usually tells you if it removes support for certain older CPUs.

Tetras · 18 Jan 2023 at 15:04

I wouldn't expect any BIOS to need to drop Zen 2, but I've seen disclaimers about it being one way as Ziziliia mentioned, maybe because the AGESA isn't being updated or maintained for older CPUs?

Pulseammo · 18 Jan 2023 at 21:06

It can depend on the size of the BIOS chip whether it can fit the firmware for all of the CPUs or whether they had to trim it down. For instance I think on the Tomahawk boards it needed trimmed, which is why you get the Tomahawk "MAX" boards which had a larger bios installed on them (and I think a few other tweaks).

Best to read the patch notes for the bios in question?

What board is it?

Journey · 18 Jan 2023 at 21:12

krooton said:
As titled really, does the BIOS update make both series work, or will the 5 series become the only compatible CPU type?

No all boards will retain 3xxx support assuming you had it in the first place. I've upgraded many dozens of boards as a frame of reference.

Joxeon · 18 Jan 2023 at 23:54

They normally just drop support for the old Bristol ridge cpus but keep all Ryzen support.

Gray2233 · 18 Jan 2023 at 23:58

krooton said:
As titled really, does the BIOS update make both series work, or will the 5 series become the only compatible CPU type?

Look up the bios revision you're interested in using on the support section for your manufacturer, pretty much all of them will have a compatibility list per revision.

I doubt any would drop 3xxx support, regardless.

krooton · 19 Jan 2023 at 10:11

MSI Mortar MAX B450M, it came with 3xxx support out the box, currently BIOS version 2.8

BIOS 2C has the following notes:

Description:
- Updated AMD AGESA ComboAm4v2PI 1.2.0.0
- Optimized and support AMD Ryzen 5000 series processors.
- Optimized Resizable BAR (Re-Size BAR) function with NVidia Graphics cards.
- Improved AM4 processor compatibility

I can't see any specific mention of removal of support for the 3xxx series.

Joxeon · 19 Jan 2023 at 10:24

krooton said:
MSI Mortar MAX B450M, it came with 3xxx support out the box, currently BIOS version 2.8

BIOS 2C has the following notes:

Description:
- Updated AMD AGESA ComboAm4v2PI 1.2.0.0
- Optimized and support AMD Ryzen 5000 series processors.
- Optimized Resizable BAR (Re-Size BAR) function with NVidia Graphics cards.
- Improved AM4 processor compatibility

I can't see any specific mention of removal of support for the 3xxx series.

I’m pretty confident the B450 max boards support every generation of ryzen cpus on the latest bios.

Pulseammo · 19 Jan 2023 at 21:11

Joxeon said:
I’m pretty confident the B450 max boards support every generation of ryzen cpus on the latest bios.

Yeah I agree, one of the reasons the MAX boards came out was to put a large bios chip on them to hold bigger firmware with more CPUs.

None of the BIOS revisions for that board mention removal of CPUs and the compatibility chart doesn't mention any removals either.

I'd say you're good to go.