MSI MAG B550 TOMAHAWK Update Or Not

[HavocWolf]

Hello guys i want to ask you if i need to update bios MSI MAG B550 TOMAHAWK to make work the amd 9 5900x or is not needed to update and will work fine the 5900x Thank you!

[Julien, cut it out.]

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/support/MAG-B550-TOMAHAWK#support-cpu

Compare the BIOS version.

In general, BIOS updates are recommended for Ryzen systems unless they drop support for your CPU.

[HavocWolf]

Автор сообщения: Bananarama

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/support/MAG-B550-TOMAHAWK#support-cpu

Compare the BIOS version.

In general, BIOS updates are recommended for Ryzen systems unless they drop support for your CPU.

so the best is to do bios update before i put the 5900x to the motherboard?

[Grimy_RIck]

Автор сообщения: sspegasus

Автор сообщения: Bananarama

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/support/MAG-B550-TOMAHAWK#support-cpu

Compare the BIOS version.

In general, BIOS updates are recommended for Ryzen systems unless they drop support for your CPU.

so the best is to do bios update before i put the 5900x to the motherboard?

Yes i would update to latest bios before inserting new CPU, waiting on my 5900x at the moment, i updated my bios a couple weeks ago so it is ready.

[HavocWolf]

thank you for answers guys!

[Illusion of Progress]

Going by my own motherboard BIOS (different than yours), where version 0805 (AGESA version 1.0.0.2) does not support Zen 3 but version 1002 (AGESA version 1.0.8.0) does, you want a BIOS with AGESA version 1.0.8.0 or thereabouts, or higher. On your boards, BIOS version 7C91vA3 (maybe A2) seems to when that was implemented, and the timeline of mid-August lines up. Version 7C91vA4 is the latest non-Beta version for your board.

The above is entirely speculation on my part but it's probably close. If in doubt, update to the latest BIOS, but there have been unfortunately some teething issues with recent BIOS/AGESA versions for some users (me being one) resulting in random restarts/WHEA errors.

Some boards may have a feature that enables them to flash the BIOS without a CPU and/or RAM connected. In my case, Asus calls it Flash Back. I'm guessing this is what the "M-Flash" is on the product page for your motherboard. So you should be okay flashing to the latest version proactively, as you have a route back if a newer version causes you issues.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

You still must update the BIOS on any modern motherboard, as it addresses things like security holes, memory settings and compatibility, CPU micro-code, etc. Just avoid a Beta BIOS unless it is truly a must to use for your config. And avoid updating past a point where it could be worse for your config. Such as using say a B450/X470 board with a 1st gen Ryzen, as you do not want the latest BIOS if using older CPU because the newer micro-code would focus on the latest gen CPU and may cause issues if an older CPU is installed/running in the board as a every-day use system type of config.

[Illusion of Progress]

Normally I'd agree, but with my latest experience, "if it isn't broke, don't touch it" is what I'm going with for myself when it comes to BIOS, at least with AMD right now. Newer AGESA versions are indeed giving certain users issues, and I have issues on the latest BIOS but no issues on one three versions back. I'll give a new(future) one a try later, but right now I have issues on new ones.

That said, in OP's case, there is the option to flash back if any issues occur so there's no real harm trying the latest by default.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Users get such issues usually because they aren't on the very latest Win10 and they also are not wiping out all their drivers and redoing with the latest ones; which are all a must after updating to latest BIOS on a Ryzen system.

[Illusion of Progress]

It's not an issue with Windows or drivers, it's with recent BIOS (AGESA version, more specifically) causing stability issues for both Zen 2 and Zen 3 users on some configurations.

Anyway, OP has a route back if things go bad. I was just clarifying that if OP's current BIOS has support for Zen 3, it might be worth trying to stick with that, and seeing how it goes, and THEN updating if there's issues. Sometimes, the less variables you change at once, the better.

[HavocWolf]

thank you guys for the answers today i have done the bios update without the cpu. ( i will get the cpu in 3-4 days) so i will see if the update have work i hope all will be good.

In one moment while I was updating the bios without cpu for 1 sec the power to the motherboard have stop and turn on (like a reset) after the red light get off this means the update was successful? this happened after 4-5 mims