- 64MB chips on B850 and X870 boards may lack the space required for future CPU data.
- Zen 6 and Zen 7 will likely feature new memory controllers and complex designs that demand larger BIOS files.
- While AMD aims for long-term AM5 support, these hardware constraints could prevent current motherboards from running next-gen chips.
In the World of computing and technology, we always look forward to CES 2026, which will take place in a little over a week. There, Intel and AMD will announce new chip generations, as well as new products from all brands.
We know AMD will not announce a new generation of desktop PC CPUs, but it is important to note the flaws with the current generation, as motherboards with 64MB BIOS chips will have compatibility issues with future designs, such as Zen 6 and Zen 7.
While Intel changes platforms frequently, AMD keeps its own for 6-7 years, as we saw with AM4 and will see with AM5. AM5 arrived in 2022 alongside the Ryzen 7000 series; however, the Ryzen 9000 series took two years to come. These did not particularly impress in terms of performance and efficiency, but the X3D processors did, outperforming the previous generation and boosting AMD’s sales, widening the gap with Intel.
When we buy a new PC or upgrade an existing one with the latest components, we expect it to endure for many years, especially in today’s environment where computer prices are continually growing. While AMD claims that AM5 will last for more than five years, which appears to be the case, MLID is skeptical.
This is due to a very unique issue: the 64MB BIOS chips on B850 and X870 motherboards are the primary limiting factor, causing compatibility issues with future generations. It’s worth noting that, as Moore’s Law is Dead stated in a recent video, Zen 6 and Zen 7 will work with AM5, extending its lifespan even further.
While this is wonderful news, he is concerned about the 64MB limit of existing motherboards, as he expects Zen 6 will have similar issues with AM5 to what happened with AM4 and the Ryzen 3000 series. This is because Zen 6 will include a new memory controller, and the 64MB on the X870 and B850 motherboards may not be sufficient.
With AM4 and the Ryzen 3000 series, we discovered that some motherboards did not support the new CPUs, necessitating, at best, a BIOS update. If you weren’t so lucky, chipsets like the X370 and B350 have restricted BIOS capacity, affecting compatibility with future processors, and it appears that this will continue with the next generation.
Fortunately, there is still time to alter it, since, while we don’t have all the facts, if manufacturers know that more memory is needed, they can add larger-capacity BIOS chips or a Refresh version before it’s too late.
If Zen 6 was already problematic, Zen 7 will be considerably more so, as it introduces a new architecture, leading to a larger, more complex BIOS.
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[Editor-in-Chief]
Sajjad Hussain is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Tech4Gamers.com. Apart from the Tech and Gaming scene, Sajjad is a Seasonal banker who has delivered multi-million dollar projects as an IT Project Manager and works as a freelancer to provide professional services to corporate giants and emerging startups in the IT space.
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