The new ASRock BIOS has just rolled out, delivering better optimizations for both CPU and memory. Hopefully, this should mitigate the burning of Ryzen 9000 CPUs on ASRock motherboards.
ASRock 800-Series Motherboards Receive Latest BIOS 3.40, Featuring Better System Stability and Enhanced CPU Operation
Today, ASRock released a brand new BIOS version for some of its 800 series motherboards. As seen on support pages for several B850 and X870 models, the new BIOS offers optimizations that should mitigate the problems with the Ryzen CPUs, particularly, Ryzen 9000 series, which have died the most on ASRock motherboards. The BIOS version 3.40 release notes state improved memory compatibility and system stability, as well as enhanced CPU operating stability.
The exact changes in the BIOS are officially unknown, but hopefully, this should be in accordance with AMD's guidelines for the Ryzen 7000/9000 CPUs. Recently, AMD claimed that most of the deaths of Ryzen 9800X3D and 9000 series CPUs in general are caused by the ODM BIOS non-compliance and urged users to update their motherboard BIOSes to the latest versions. However, despite updating to the latest BIOSes, users still witnessed burnt CPUs on ASRock motherboards.
While burnt Ryzen CPUs have also been reported on motherboards from different vendors, ASRock motherboards remain the number one killer. ASRock has been rolling out the latest BIOSes for months now and while the burnt CPU cases seem to have slowed down, they haven't been mitigated completely. The latest BIOS 3.40 is probably the only one to feature an update for enhanced CPU stability, but previous BIOSes did work on various CPU optimizations, such as boot issues and PBO.
As far as the changes in the BIOS 3.40 are concerned, one user has reported that the VSOC behavior has been changed. The LLC (Load-Line Calibration) for SOC is now fixed to Level 3, which used to be at Auto by default. Moreover, it appears that the VDDCR_SOC voltage is now "fixed" at 1.2V, and it is now in "Fixed Mode" too. So, looks like the new BIOS will prevent the SOC voltage going over 1.2V, which should reduce the risk of degradation and damage.
News Sources: @unikoshardware, Reddit
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