A simple BIOS update of the motherboards makes them compatible with the latest generation of AMD processors.
In these times of COP26, the question of programmed obsolescence and, more generally, of the obsolescence of computer equipment is becoming increasingly clear. We won't talk here about smartphones, tablets or laptops, but "simply" about our so-called "desktop" machines, the basic PC. Indeed, only a few days ago, Intel proudly launched a new line of processors, Alder Lake, its 12th generation CPU. We won't talk about the performance of the beast here, but rather about the necessary change of its entire hardware environment to be exploited: the processor support - a LGA1700 socket - is new, so the motherboard has to be replaced and, in most cases, this will also mean replacing the RAM (for DDR5) and the ventilation system of the processor, because the LGA1700 socket has no dimensions at all like its predecessor, the LGA1200.
That's the problem. This LGA1200 was itself a replacement for the LGA1151 and was only two years old. Yes, Intel has set up a new platform during 2020 to introduce a support that it will of course continue to produce for a few more months (years?) but that already belongs to the past, that is replaced in its organization chart. One can no longer really speak of sustainable development or reasoned scientific progress with this kind of behavior.
Without talking about a paragon of virtue, AMD obviously has the easy part, even if it is not quite alone in making the necessary efforts. Introduced in March 2017, its AM4 socket was introduced to accompany the release of the first Ryzen processors, based on Zen cores. Four and a half years later, not only is the AM4 socket still running in AMD's "catalogs," but it is its primary support for so-called "desktop" machines. Thus, launched in November 2020, the Ryzen 5000 series processors still use this AM4 socket, which allows you to keep many components while upgrading / repairing your machine. But things are actually going further as two motherboard manufacturers have arranged for some of their products to be able to accept Ryzen 5000 series processors while integrating a new architecture based on Zen 3 cores.
Asus and Gigabyte have effectively rolled out new BIOSes for some of their A320 chipset-equipped motherboards. Released in early 2017, the A320 was only intended for Zen and Zen+ processors, but in recent months, several clever guys had managed to modify BIOSes to run on such motherboards: Asus and Gigabyte have somehow validated the method. It is now possible to install the most powerful and recent Ryzen - the 5950X with its 16 cores - on small motherboards like this Asus Prime A320-M K (pictured), which was launched more than four years ago and sells for just 65 euros.
