AMD's 'Ryzen Burnout' Fixes Reportedly Plagued With Bugs

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By Aaron Klotz
published

The bugs keep getting worse for AMD's AM5 platform.

Ryzen 7000X3D
(Image credit: AMD)

According to a report by HardwareLuxx, AMD's latest AM5 AGESA microcode update 1.0.0.7 — intended to fix Ryzen 7000's burnout issues — is plagued with bugs. Even worse, 1.0.0.7 doesn't appear to have all the latest fixes and only features safer SoC voltage limitations. On the bright side, AMD is reportedly testing a new 1.0.9.0 update internally that is rumored to have all of these fixes intact, but this still means Ryzen 7000 users could be left waiting months for a complete fix.

If you're unfamiliar with the recent Ryzen burnout catastrophe, check out our previous coverage here. In short, user reports have cropped up revealing dead Ryzen 7000 CPUs that melted in their sockets due to SoC voltages operating at unsafe voltages (which is specified as anything over 1.3v right now), and bugs surrounding AMD's CPU temperature control system, which can cause Ryzen 7000 CPUs to go a beyond its safe thermal specifications.

But sadly, Ryzen 7000 users will have to wait several more months before receiving the full list of fixes unless motherboard vendors implement a workaround. Apparently, AGESA 1.0.0.7 does not feature any bug fixes for the CPU thermal control system and only incorporates the new AMD-regulated SoC voltage limitation of 1.3v. However, HardwareLuxx says it doesn't know if the fix is already implemented into the patch. The tech outlet has asked AMD about the issue but has not received a response yet.

All we know is that other reports indicate AGESA 1.0.0.7 doesn't have these fixes in place, including a recent Reddit post showing a Ryzen 9 7950X running at over 110 degrees Celcius with a beta BIOS featuring the new microcode update. So it does not seem like the thermal bug fixes are in place. However, we can't confirm if the thermal issues are BIOS related or related to the AGESA microcode update, so take these reports with a grain of salt until we get official confirmation from AMD.

Asus/AMD AGESA 1.0.0.7 1410 beta bios bugs from r/Amd

Nonetheless, AGESA 1.0.0.7 reportedly has other bugs, in the form of memory compatibility issues surrounding the new 48GB DIMMS where transfer speeds are limited to just 4400MHz when all four slots on an AM5 motherboard are used. But thankfully the issue only surrounds 192GB capacities as far as we know, and HardwareLuxx reports that it tested AGESA 1.0.0.7 itself with dual channels 16GB, 32GB, and quad channel 64GB kits and had no issues.

Overall, the situation regarding AGESA 1.0.0.7 is a bit messy, since we don't have official confirmation from AMD regarding the fixes or bugs surrounding the update. However, based on the report from HardwareLuxx as well as other user reports, it seems like this microcode update is a mess and not stable. Thankfully as we mentioned earlier, AMD is reportedly developing a new microcode update, AGESA 1.0.9.0, which will hopefully fix all these issues in the future.

Aaron Klotz
Aaron Klotz
Freelance News Writer

Aaron Klotz is a freelance writer for Tom’s Hardware US, covering news topics related to computer hardware such as CPUs, and graphics cards.

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46 Comments Comment from the forums
  • In short, user reports have cropped up revealing dead Ryzen 7000 CPUs that melted in their sockets due to SoC voltages operating at unsafe voltages (which is specified as anything over 1.3v right now), and bugs surrounding AMD's CPU temperature control system, which can cause Ryzen 7000 CPUs to go a beyond its safe thermal specifications.
    I have had no further issues since rebuilding with a new CPU and mobo on April 23rd and updating to a new BIOS on April 28th which locked SOC voltage at 1.3v. EXPO has been enabled the entire time.

    Still waiting on the AGESA update.

    On the bright side, AMD is reportedly testing a new 1.0.9.0 update internally that is rumored to have all of these fixes intact, but this still means Ryzen 7000 users could be left waiting months for a complete fix.
    It is what it is. I'm not going to not use my PC.
    Reply
  • Metal Messiah.
    This means that EXPO has been limited and the only way to enjoy faster memory speeds is to use the older AGESA firmware.

    As of now, both the "PROCHOT Control" and "PROCHOT Deassertation Ramp" toggles that were available in the oldest versions of AGESA for AM5, are not available in the latest production AGESA.
    Reply
  • A Stoner
    This is my first AMD build, and I have to say, if I end up with a burned out computer after spending effectively as much on this one RIG as I spent on my last 3 intel builds, it is going to be a massive black eye for AMD.
    Reply
  • setx
    User on Reddit being stupid with BIOS settings now warrants an article? At least read the comments to that post...

    Actual users have positive response to new BIOS with AGESA 1.0.0.7: yes, many old overclocking settings are unstable, but after finding new ones it's the same performance with less voltages and power consumption.
    Reply
  • A Stoner said:
    This is my first AMD build, and I have to say, if I end up with a burned out computer after spending effectively as much on this one RIG as I spent on my last 3 intel builds, it is going to be a massive black eye for AMD.

    It's my first AMD build since the Athlon XP 1800+ in 2001 with a GeForce3 and Windows XP.

    My CPU and board already failed and as mentioned above were replaced. I'm not salty about it at all... it didn't cost me a nickel. All I lost was a Saturday afternoon of gaming.

    This PC is an absolute beast of a machine... and I'm looking forward to many years of use. I could have went Intel like I have for the last 20 years... but nah... AM5 is new and a solid upgrade path with great thermals. LGA 1700 is EOL.

    The choice was easy.
    Reply
  • InvalidError
    Looks like Zen 4's launch was almost as badly bungled up as the original Zen's.

    If you care about long-term reliability, avoid buying first-gen anything as much as possible. Just like cars, avoid buying first-gen new frame, engine, transmission, etc.
    Reply
  • TerryLaze
    setx said:
    User on Reddit being stupid with BIOS settings now warrants an article? At least read the comments to that post...

    Actual users have positive response to new BIOS with AGESA 1.0.0.7: yes, many old overclocking settings are unstable, but after finding new ones it's the same performance with less voltages and power consumption.
    The article was warranted by AMD thinking that it was warranted to make a new AGESA.....

    The reddit post and comments just show how much confusion there is because of naming schemes the companies use.
    So this person set values manually but because he used PBO instead of PB, which most people will probably not even realise that it's not the same thing, the settings weren't applied and there was no message telling them so.
    Reply
  • bit_user
    I'd have expected these sorts of issues to be sorted, by now, but this is exactly why I don't jump on a new platform, right away.

    HardwareLuxx reports that it tested AGESA 1.0.0.7 itself with dual channels 16GB, 32GB, and quad channel 64GB kits and had no issues.
    The kit might be sold as "quad-channel", but the client processors only have support for two DIMM-level channels. "quad-DIMM kits" would avoid the potential for confusion.
    Reply
  • InvalidError said:
    Looks like Zen 4's launch was almost as badly bungled up as the original Zen's.

    If you care about long-term reliability, avoid buying first-gen anything as much as possible. Just like cars, avoid buying first-gen new frame, engine, transmission, etc.

    I usually do that... but not in this case. Still... no regrets here. Even with growing pains the time to jump ship was now.

    The thermals are great too.
    Reply
  • Zerk2012
    TravisPNW said:
    All I lost was a Saturday afternoon of gaming
    Most people have to order parts and would of been down much longer.
    Reply