In about three weeks, AMD's recently announced Ryzen 3000 XT processors, including the Rzyen 9 3900XT, Ryzen 7 3800 XT, and Ryzen 5 3600 XT, will be available. Prior to their retail debut, at least two motherboard manufacturers are preparing BIOS updates optimized for the new chips.

These "XT" models are still based on AMD's current generation Zen 2 architecture. The number of cores, threads, cache array, and TDP ratings are unchanged compared to the regular "X" models. However, the XT models have faster clocks (100-200 MHz) and, according to AMD, single-threaded performance has been improved by up to 4%.

Existing socket AM4 motherboards that support the X version will also support the XT model, and in at least some cases will not require a BIOS update. Gigabyte confirms this in a recent statement. [Gigabyte motherboards can support 3rd generation AMD Ryzen XT series processors without a BIOS update, but based on its claim to provide users with a better product experience, Gigabyte RD immediately after receiving the new BIOS code Relative validation was initiated.

The BIOS update is based on AMD's latest AGESA code, which is essentially a reference code that AMD provides to its hardware partners to build their own custom firmware. According to Gigabyte, the latest code enhances the "compatibility and reliability" of Ryzen XT series CPUs and motherboards, while "increasing the performance and overclocking capabilities of the latest processors." Therefore, it is recommended that you apply the latest BIOS if you intend to use Ryzen XT CPUs, whether you need it or not.

Gigabyte has already released several BIOS updates. Here is the list: [If you have a B550 Aorus Master and B450M Aorus Elite, please apply the F3 BIOS update; if you have a B450M H, please apply the F2 update. Compatible BIOS updates can be found by visiting the product page for your motherboard model and clicking on the support link at the top.

MSI will also be providing updated BIOS files starting at the end of June. While the company does not explicitly state that it is not required to run the XT chip, it does state that the updated firmware file is "primarily optimized for the new Ryzen CPUs. It also includes "several significant improvements," including memory optimizations and several bug fixes.

If you own an MSI motherboard, the best way to keep track of the situation is to bookmark the company's announcement page. This page lists a number of motherboards and will be updated with links to new BIOS releases over time.

ASRock, Asus, and Biostar have yet to announce BIOS updates specific to the Ryzen 3000 XT series, but are expected to do so in the coming weeks.

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