ASRock seems to be on the verge of admitting that the failures of AMD Ryzen 9000 processors, in particular the 9800X3D model, are linked to its Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO) settings and memory compatibility problems. These problems have led to boot failures and, in some cases, permanent destruction of the CPU and/or motherboard. For the time being, this is not an official statement from Asrock, so we must keep a certain distance from this information. It should be noted, however, that until now, the brand had been claiming that its motherboards were in no way to blame, and that the problems were due to CPU voltage and incompatibilities with certain RAM kits. Asrock even went so far as to talk of ‘misinformation’ for those who made a link between the problems and its motherboards.
In OFF, ASRock admit they screwed up?
Things seem to be taking a turn for the better with a Youtuber’s discussion (video below) with the Asrock team at Computex. Here again, we’re talking about an exchange reported only by the former, so we’re still cautious. Having himself experienced the premature end of life of his 9950X3D, he sought answers. Asrock told him they had now identified the cause. It stems from the amperage (current) supplied to the processor by AMD’s PBO technology. Precision Boost Overdrive uses an algorithm that dynamically adjusts the clock frequency for optimum performance, depending on factors such as temperature, power, current and workload. The problem is said to be limited to ASRock’s high-end and mid-range motherboards.
ASRock has reportedly configured Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO) settings a little too high on its mid-range and high-end AM5 motherboards. These settings now seem to have been identified as the main reason for Ryzen 9000 processor failures.
In response, ASRock has released a BIOS update. We’ll now have to wait for an official response from the brand. Should this happen, it would open the door to compensation claims and other proceedings that could have a serious impact on the company. For our part, we’d like to point out that, while Asrock cards do indeed feature regularly in the cases reported here and there, they are not the only ones.
