Motherboards

[AndrewTaylor1999]

What motherboard should I use for a Ryzen 5 3600 and RX580, I have a few picked out and they don't really look like they're much of a diference other than the $75-115 price gap. What should I look for? I know the PCIe x16s, RAM slots, AM4 Sockets, what CPU's the motherboard can hold, but is there anything else I should take into consideration? Thanks!!! 

[Mnky313]

5 minutes ago, AndrewTaylor1999 said:

What motherboard should I use for a Ryzen 5 3600 and RX580, I have a few picked out and they don't really look like they're much of a diference other than the $75-115 price gap. What should I look for? I know the PCIe x16s, RAM slots, AM4 Sockets, what CPU's the motherboard can hold, but is there anything else I should take into consideration? Thanks!!! 

I would get at least a b450 chipset, the higher chipsets are more expensive but have more features. Look for a board that has the things you want (# of PCIe slots, # of USB ports, etc.) with a B450, X470 or X570 chipset (it's usually in the product name or description.  Keep in mind if you get anything except X570 you will need to update the BIOS to support Ryzen 3000 (a pretty easy process on most boards)

[AndrewTaylor1999]

Just now, Mnky313 said:

I would get at least a b450 chipset, the higher chipsets are more expensive but have more features. Look for a board that has the things you want (# of PCIe slots, # of USB ports, etc.) with a B450, X470 or X570 chipset (it's usually in the product name or description.  Keep in mind if you get anything except X570 you will need to update the BIOS to support Ryzen 3000 (a pretty easy process on most boards)

What do you mean USB ports? I don't know much about motherboards, from what I see X570 is way above my budget even at the lowest price, how would I go about finding out how to update the BIOS? 

[AndrewTaylor1999]

5 minutes ago, Mnky313 said:

I would get at least a b450 chipset, the higher chipsets are more expensive but have more features. Look for a board that has the things you want (# of PCIe slots, # of USB ports, etc.) with a B450, X470 or X570 chipset (it's usually in the product name or description.  Keep in mind if you get anything except X570 you will need to update the BIOS to support Ryzen 3000 (a pretty easy process on most boards)

I don't se anything about USB ports under the specs, what would it be under? 

[SpookyCitrus]

6 minutes ago, AndrewTaylor1999 said:

What do you mean USB ports? I don't know much about motherboards, from what I see X570 is way above my budget even at the lowest price, how would I go about finding out how to update the BIOS? 

You install the bios update on a USB drive (Flashdrive) then you plug the USB drive into the motherboard on the back into a USB port then in the bios you flash the new update onto the board so it can support the new processor, however B450 boards will need to be updated manually so if you want a budget one you will need to use an older processor to get into bios. The nicer more expensive B450 boards have a bios flash utility built in that can be done without a CPU installed but they are usually the $140 plus models.

[SpookyCitrus]

2 minutes ago, AndrewTaylor1999 said:

I don't se anything about USB ports under the specs, what would it be under? 

USB ports. The ports you plug the mouse and keyboard into or a flashdrive...

[Mnky313]

Just now, AndrewTaylor1999 said:

What do you mean USB ports? I don't know much about motherboards, from what I see X570 is way above my budget even at the lowest price, how would I go about finding out how to update the BIOS? 

Most boards support a feature called USB Bios Flashback (Allows you to download an update and flash it via USB without a CPU in the board.  X570 is very expensive because it's the new high end, other options should work just fine after the update.
If you google the name of the board and Ryzen 3000 usually a link to the manufacturer's website comes up with a download for the updated BIOS (usually a .ROM file)
Take that file and follow the instructions on the manufacturer's website to update.
 

1 minute ago, AndrewTaylor1999 said:

I don't se anything about USB ports under the specs, what would it be under? 

Look at an image of the back of the board, it's just the ports on the back.
 

[AndrewTaylor1999]

Just now, SpookyCitrus said:

USB ports. The ports you plug the mouse and keyboard into or a flashdrive...

I know what USB ports are .... But I am not familiar about USB ports on the motherboard itself as I know I don't plug my mouse directly into my motherboard

[SpookyCitrus]

3 minutes ago, AndrewTaylor1999 said:

I know what USB ports are .... But I am not familiar about USB ports on the motherboard itself as I know I don't plug my mouse directly into my motherboard

Most motherboards come with at least 4 on the motherboard, B450 and newer usually have 6 total. The motherboard has to have bios flashback or else you will need an older 2000 series CPU to do the update. If you can't afford one with bios flashback(usually it's the higher end models that have it) or don't have access to a 2000 series cpu to do the update most computer repair/service shops can do it for either pretty cheap or even free.

[pApA^LeGBa]

Take a look at MSI Boards, they have Max Versions out now, with the BIOS for Ryzen 3000, that is also used on the X570 boards, already on it. The MSI B450 Tomahawk Max looks like it´s good. I see this one suggested a lot in PC Forums. Not sure about other brands with the new BIOS.

[AndrewTaylor1999]

10 minutes ago, Mnky313 said:

Most boards support a feature called USB Bios Flashback (Allows you to download an update and flash it via USB without a CPU in the board.  X570 is very expensive because it's the new high end, other options should work just fine after the update.
If you google the name of the board and Ryzen 3000 usually a link to the manufacturer's website comes up with a download for the updated BIOS (usually a .ROM file)
Take that file and follow the instructions on the manufacturer's website to update.
 

Look at an image of the back of the board, it's just the ports on the back.
 

So if the board has USB Bios Flashback, I would not need an older version of AMD? This is my first computer build and I don't have any old CPU chips 

[AndrewTaylor1999]

Just now, pApA^LeGBa said:

Take a look at MSI Boards, they have Max Versions out now, with the BIOS for Ryzen 3000, that is also used on the X570 boards, already on it. The MSI B450 Tomahawk Max doesn´t seem to bad. I see this one suggested a lot in PC Forums. Not sure about other brands with the new BIOS.

How do I see if the tomahawk has the updated bios? 

[pApA^LeGBa]

If it has "Max" in the name it is with the new BIOS.

[AndrewTaylor1999]

Just now, pApA^LeGBa said:

It has "Max" in the name.

Oh I apologize, I read your initial statement wrong. I for some reason thought it was "most" Max versions have the updated BIOS. Thank you!!! 

[Mnky313]

1 minute ago, AndrewTaylor1999 said:

How do I see if the tomahawk has the updated bios? 

It does:

You need to flash Bios V17, let it reboot. Then shut it down and flash V18.

If it's the tomahawk max you don't need to update it, it comes with the update.

[AndrewTaylor1999]

21 minutes ago, Mnky313 said:

It does:

You need to flash Bios V17, let it reboot. Then shut it down and flash V18.

If it's the tomahawk max you don't need to update it, it comes with the update.

Thank you so much!! Greatly appreciate it.