MSI adds Kombo Strike feature to its B550 and X570 BIOS to boost Ryzen 7 5800X3D performance

MSI has released new BIOS versions for its AMD X570 and B550 chipset-based motherboards.
The fresh firmware adds more customization options for Ryzen 7 5800X3D processors.
These chips officially do not support manual overclocking, however, some motherboard manufacturers go for various tricks, allowing to raise CPU frequency.Image source: MSIMSI has released beta BIOS for its AMD X570 and B550 chipsets with Kombo Strike feature.
At the moment, it is hard to say what exactly the benefit of this feature is - the company itself does not talk about it in detail.
The description to the new BIOS version only mentions \"improved Ryzen 7 5800X3D performance\".
At the moment we know that Kombo Strike has three operating modes and an option to turn it off.
Probably the third mode provides the biggest performance boost for the processor.
It is quite possible that MSI has found a way to change the CPU power consumption level.
Officially this setting is locked out for the CPU as well as the others which aim to overclock.
Corresponding beta BIOS versions with Kombo Strike have been released for X570S Unify, Ace, X570 Godlike, B550 Unify X, B550 Unify, B550 Gaming Edge WiFi, B550I Gaming Edge MAX WiFi and B550M Mortar mainboards.
After installing the new BIOS version, the Kombo Strike feature can be found under Overclocking/Advanced CPU Configuration.
Keep in mind that this is a beta firmware version and therefore errors and general system instability are possible during its operation.Note that MSI is releasing the second BIOS version with additional settings for Ryzen 7 5800X3D within a week.
The previous version adds CPU offset, Precision Boost Overdrive and Curve Optimizer.
The new beta BIOS also adds CPU Offset Voltage setup.
It is intended for enthusiasts who want to experiment with the settings of the operating voltage indicator of the chipRyzen 7 5800X3D.
But it is recommended to be used only by experienced users who know what they are doing.MSI is not the only motherboard manufacturer who tries to expand the possibilities of changing Ryzen 7 5800X3D settings.
For example, ASUS has also included new features in their latest firmware versions that work on all Ryzen 5000 series processors, including the Ryzen 7 5800X3D.
Because of this, some owners of these chips were able to overclock them to a frequency above 5 GHz at the official maximum of 4.5 GHz.

MSI added Smart Access Memory support to Ryzen 3000 CPUs in latest BIOS update for AMD B550 and X570 motherboards

AMD announced last week that it will extend Smart Access Memory (SAM) support to the Ryzen 3000 series processors. The technology allows CPU to use whole graphics card memory array, which can help to achieve up to 16% performance boost in some games. MSI was the first motherboard manufacturer to provide SAM support for Zen 2 chips on their motherboards.

The motherboard manufacturer announced that it has released new versions of AMD 500-series motherboards BIOS, based on new protocol AGESA COMBO PI V2 1.2.0.1, which adds support for Smart Access Memory for Ryzen 3000-series CPUs. The company also reported that the new version of AGESA has fixed an issue with the Layer 3 cache memory bandwidth of Ryzen 5000 processors in the AIDA64 test.

Before upgrade

After upgrade

Smart Access Memory requires AMD motherboard based on 500 series chipset, AMD Ryzen 3000 or Ryzen 5000 series processor, as well as Radeon RX 6000 series graphics gas pedal. The list of MSI motherboards which received SAM support can be found below: The new versions of AGESA COMBO PI V2 1.2.0.1 BIOS for MSI mainboards are already available for download and installation from the manufacturer's official website;

AMD will improve system stability on Ryzen 5000 systems with the release of AGESA 1.1.9.0 libraries

AMD has confirmed that new version of AGESA 1.1.9.0 library will be available soon. On this new version manufacturers will be able to create new versions of microcode BIOS for their motherboards, supporting AMD Ryzen 5000-series CPUs.

As pointed out by AMD, AGESA 1.1.9.0 includes support for Modern Standby S0i3 in Windows 10, improved overall system stability, and the stability of the Infinity Fabric bus (FCLK) at up to 2000MHz. In addition, the new protocol version adds support for X570 chipset based motherboards using passive cooling system.

New AGESA 1.1.9.0 BIOSes are coming in January and February for @AMD Ryzen 5000 Series processors. Changes: ✅ Win10 s0i3 support ✅ Stability tuning for 1800-2000MHz FCLK (OC) ✅ Support for passive X570 motherboards ✅ General stability improvements pic.twitter.com/7wNyZk028H & ; AMD Ryzen (@AMDRyzen) January 5, 2021

It has also been pointed out that the latest BIOS firmware releases for Ryzen 5000 series processors will begin in January and will continue in February of this year.

AMD does not plan to support Ryzen 5000 on X370 boards, but ASRock disagrees

As you know, AMD decided to support Ryzen 5000 processors with Zen 3 architecture on 400-series chipsets, under public pressure, though it was not originally planned. Comments from company's representatives say that this trick won't work with the 300-series chipsets. But there are reasons to believe that ASRock will do it in its own way.

The popular Japanese blogger KOMACHI ENSAKA found out that unofficial alpha versions of BIOS P6.61 are available for ASRock X370 Taichi and X370 Professional motherboards, which provide support for Vermeer and Renoir processors. The former belong to the Ryzen 5000 family, the latter came out some time ago as part of the Ryzen 4000G family with integrated graphics. These BIOS versions are dated December 8 this year and can not be found on official ASRock website, but they are already available on some computer-related websites.

Image source: Twitter, KOMACHI ENSAKA

It is quite dangerous to flash the alpha BIOS into the motherboard you bought with your own money, that's why ASRock board owners are recommended to wait for the results of practical experiments that will not only demonstrate the compatibility of Ryzen 5000 processors with these motherboards, but also confirm that there are no serious problems with system stability. The ability of ASRock motherboard based on AMD A320 chipset to support Ryzen 5000 processors has already been proven in practice, so this precedent allows us to hope for the successful outcome of this new initiative. What is most interesting is that in their comments to Tom’s Hardware website AMD representatives confirmed that the company has no intention to officially support Ryzen 5000 processors on AMD 300 series chipset-based motherboards. So, all attempts to do so may come either from motherboard manufacturers or individual enthusiasts who modify BIOS at their own risk.

Biostar boards on the AMD B550 and X570 have received Smart Access Memory support. Models on the AMD B450 and X470 are as follows

Biostar reported that its AMD 500 series motherboards have received support for Smart Access Memory (SAM) technology. The technology allows the Ryzen series CPU to access the full amount of video memory in discrete Radeon graphics gas pedals at once. Thanks to this in some games it is possible to get an additional increase in performance.

To get support for Smart Access Memory (SAM) technology, the manufacturer offers to download and install a new version of the BIOS for their motherboards:

Biostar Racing X570GT8; Biostar Racing X570GTA; Biostar Racing X570GT; Biostar Racing B550GTA; Biostar Racing B550GTQ; Biostar B550MH; Biostar A520MH; Biostar B550M-SILVER.

In addition, Biostar explained how to activate SAM in motherboard firmware. To do this, it is necessary:

Log in to BIOS; Go to the laquo tab; Advanced settings» (Advanced); Select the laquo option; PCI Subsystem Settings»; Enable «Above 4G Decoding» and «Re-size BAR Support» Press F10 on the keyboard to save settings and reboot.

The company also promised to release new versions of BIOS with Smart Access Memory (SAM) support for AMD 400-series chipset-based motherboards this month. The latest models from the manufacturer include: Racing X470GT8, Racing X470GTA, Racing X470GTQ, Racing X470GTN, X470MH, X470NH, Racing B450GT3, Racing B450GT, B450MX, B450MHC, B450MH and B450NH.

ASRock implemented AMD Smart Access Memory technology in Z490 Taichi LGA 1200 board

ASRock has released a beta BIOS for the Z490 Taichi motherboard with support for technology that allows the CPU to access the full amount of discrete graphics gas pedals' video memory at once. ASRock technology is called Clever Access Memory. In essence, it is the same technology that AMD introduced for motherboards on the 500 series chipset & ; Smart Access Memory (SAM).

AMD's SAM technology can currently only work with Radeon RX 6000 graphics gas pedals, as only they can take advantage of the Resizable BAR (Base Address Registers) feature, which is part of the PCI Express interface specifications. Future support for Resizable BARs for GeForce graphics cards will also be added by NVIDIA. According to Wccftech, enabling Resizable BAR in beta BIOS for ASRock Z490 Taichi board really does improve performance in games. The source tested in the Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.

Image Source: Wccftech

The test game system used an Intel Core i7-10700K processor, two DDR4-266 memory modules and a Radeon RX 6800 XT graphics card. With the active function in the first game, performance increased by 3.3%, in the second & ; by 11.5%.  

Shadow of the Tomb Rider with Clever Access Memory active.

Result with Clever Access Memory off

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla with active Clever Access Memory

Result with Clever Access Memory off

The source also provided screenshots demonstrating how to activate Clever Access Memory in beta BIOS of ASRock Z490 Taichi motherboard.

ASUS has promised to equip the boards with AMD B450 and X470 support for Ryzen 5000 in a couple of weeks.

Good news for owners of ASUS motherboards based on AMD X470 and B450 chipsets. Taiwan manufacturer via Twitter confirmed that it will soon release new versions of BIOS based on AGESA 1.1.8.0 microcode, which will provide support for new Ryzen 5000 series processors.

The company indicated that the new firmware versions will be released in the coming weeks.

⚡️ News Flash! ⚡️ ASUS 400-series motherboard BIOSes updates (AGESA 1.1.8.0) for AMD Ryzen 5000-series CPUs will drop in a couple of weeks! #Zen3 #Ryzen5000 #X470 #B450 pic.twitter.com/fEygfSXHlK & ; ROG Global (@ASUS_ROG) November 18, 2020

The day before ASRock Company ASRock introduced new beta BIOS versions for its motherboards on B450 chipset with support for new AMD Vermeer processors on Zen 3 architecture. However, ASRock has new versions of microcode based on the earlier version of AGESA 1.1.0.0 protocol. The manufacturer also plans to provide appropriate support for motherboards based on AMD X470 chipset. The release of special BIOS versions supporting new processors based on Zen 3 architecture by the old boards seems to have started earlier than expected. Earlier, many manufacturers announced that they will release new versions of the microcode only in January next year, when AMD will present a special version of the AGESA protocol to initialize new Ryzen 5000 processors. According to the resource Wccftech, some manufacturers have confirmed that the new AMD processors based on Zen 3 in the future will also be able to work with boards based on the 300-series chipset AMD (A320 and X370). Special BIOS versions will also be released for them. Indirect confirmation of this has been observed only recently. For example, the 12-core Ryzen 9 5900X « started raquo; on the old budget board ASRock A320, apparently due to the beta version of the new firmware.

ASRock motherboards based on AMD B450 received support for Ryzen 5000 processors

Taiwanese company ASRock reported that its motherboards based on the chipset AMD B450 now support the new processors Ryzen 5000. Owners of these boards, the manufacturer recommends to visit its official website, where you can download the latest version of the BIOS.

This new version of the microcode contains instructions allowing old motherboards to work with new AMD chips. Unfortunately, the manufacturer hasn't reported anything yet about whether the new motherboards ASRock  based on the AMD X470 chipset. However, we dare to assume that this will also happen in the foreseeable future. The names of ASRock motherboards based on AMD B450 chipset and the required BIOS version adding support for Ryzen 5000 processors can be found in the table below.

Image Source: VideoCardz

Recall that some other motherboard manufacturers also confirmed that their products based on the logic of AMD 400 series will be able to work with the new Ryzen 5000 series processors. For example, in January next year special BIOS versions with support of new chips will be received by ASUS, Biostar and MSI boards. Earlier it was also reported that Gigabyte provided compatibility of boards on AMD X470 and B450 with Ryzen 5000 processors.