MSI Delivers AMD X570 And B550 Microcode Updates In Preparation For Ryzen 5000 Zen 3 CPUs

by Brandon Hill — Wednesday, September 30, 2020, 02:05 AM EDT

AMD's next-generation Ryzen 5000 processors are just around the corner, and are highly anticipated by enthusiasts. Motherboard manufacturers are not only preparing to launch a new generation of flagship motherboards to support these new processors [likely X670-based), but they are also trying to ensure that their existing AM4 motherboards support the new processors.

MSI revealed today that it is pushing out the AMD Combo PI V2 version 1.1.0.0 BIOS for a wide range of motherboards. As of now, MSI says that the BIOS will be supported across its X570, B550 and A520 based motherboards. According to the company, the update will be pushed out in four phases; the first of which is available now for X570 and B550 based motherboards. The supported motherboards are listed below:

X570 Motherboards

MPG X570 GAMING PRO CARBON WIFI
MEG X570 GODLIKE
MEG X570 ACE
MEG X570 UNIFY
MAG X570 TOMAHAWK WIFI

B550 Motherboards

MPG B550 GAMING PLUS
MPG B550 GAMING CARBON WIFI
MAG B550 TOMAHAWK
MPG B550 GAMING EDGE WIFI
MAG B550M MORTAR WIFI
MAG B550M MORTAR

You can find the download links for each of the motherboards here. The second phase will kick off in mid-October and will include additional X570 and B550 motherboards. The third phase, which will occur towards the end of October, will see a beta release of the BIOS pushed out to A520 motherboards. Also in late October, MSI will make the final production V2 1.1.0.0 BIOS available for X570 and B550 motherboards. Unfortunately, MSI's timeline doesn't provide any guidance for when the production A520 BIOS files will be available, but we'd assume that it would be some time in November.

As for what's included in the V2 1.1.0.0 update, this is what MSI is detailing (emphasis ours):

Optimized compatibility for AMD Ryzen 3000-Series and Ryzen 4000 G-Series Desktop Processors and future AM4 socket processors
Solve some specific OC failure issues
Update SMU module
Optimized DDR4 memory overclocking solution

While all of these are greatly appreciated additions/fixes, we're most interested in the "future AM4 socket processors". AMD announced earlier this month that its next-generation Ryzen 5000 processors based on the new Zen 3 “Vermeer” architecture will be unveiled on October 8^th. We've already seen the processors leaked in 8-core/16-thread Ryzen 7 5800X and 12-core/24-thread Ryzen 9 5900X guise, and we're expecting up to a 20 percent uplift in instructions per clock (IPC).

Ryzen 5000 processors will be based on an enhanced 7nm process node and should bring higher base/boost clock speeds. And according to AMD, Ryzen 5000 will “[take] our PC gaming and content creation leadership to new heights.”

Tags: AMD, MSI, (nasdaq:amd), x570, zen 3, b550, a520, ryzen 5000

Brandon Hill

Brandon received his first PC, an IBM Aptiva 310, in 1994 and hasn’t looked back since. He cut his teeth on computer building/repair working at a mom and pop computer shop as a plucky teen in the mid 90s and went on to join AnandTech as the Senior News Editor in 1999. Brandon would later help to form DailyTech where he served as Editor-in-Chief from 2008 until 2014. Brandon is a tech geek at heart, and family members always know where to turn when they need free tech support. When he isn’t writing about the tech hardware or studying up on the latest in mobile gadgets, you’ll find him browsing forums that cater to his long-running passion: automobiles.

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