Ever since AMD's Ryzen 3000 series processors launched, you might be wondering if your old AM4 motherboards support them.

In short, yes. The 3rd Generation Ryzen (3000-series) CPUs still use the AM4 socket, same as 1000/2000 series, which means you can upgrade your CPU to experience higher performance and better multi-core efficiency without having to upgrade your motherboard. However, your motherboard will need a BIOS update.

In this article, we’ll cover the following:
- Beta BIOS overview – who should update BIOS and how to get it?
- How to update your BIOS? Flash BIOS Button & M-Flash
 

Beta BIOS Overview

After you update to the beta BIOS, you might notice that the user interface is completely different compared to the version you had before the update.

Long story short, the limited BIOS ROM size made this necessary. We simplified the Beta BIOS interface to support as many processor models as we could, without exceeding the BIOS ROM. Although beta BIOS is a Click BIOS version (GSE Lite) with lower graphics and fewer icons than Click BIOS 5, you won’t lose access to any MSI exclusive features such as A-XMP, M-Flash, and Smart Fan Control.

Only the user interface looks different. Not the functionality!

   

Who should update to Beta BIOS?

If you’ve already purchased a 3000-series AMD Ryzen CPU without upgrading to an X570 motherboard, you have to update to the beta BIOS before switching to your new processor.

On the other hand, if you haven't made your decision yet and are waiting for more third-party tests and reviews, you don’t need to update to the beta BIOS immediately.

The processor support information for the new Beta BIOS is listed below:
All the Beta BIOS listed here, for 400 Series you can download from Support page, too.


* RAID will be supported in the next BIOS update for all older AM4 motherboards except those with an A320 chipset.

 

How to update BIOS?

Before you can enjoy the improvements that 3rd Generation Ryzen CPUs offer on older motherboards, you need to update your BIOS. There are two ways for you to update BIOS – regardless of whether you want to switch to the new beta BIOS or roll back to an older version.
 

Flash BIOS Button

The MSI exclusive feature - Flash BIOS Button simplifies BIOS flash process by a small button on rear IO. This is featured on most MSI 400-series motherboards.
Prepare a USB drive with BIOS files, plug it into the dedicated USB port, and push the Flash BIOS button. The motherboard will flash the new BIOS within minutes. You don’t need to install a CPU, RAM, or a graphics card to update your BIOS thanks to this feature.

If you're unfamiliar with flashing BIOS, this tutorial should help you: https://youtu.be/iTkXunUAriE


List of older MSI AM4 (300 and 400-series) motherboards featuring the Flash BIOS Button:
   
 

What if my board doesn't feature Flash BIOS Button?

No sweat! All MSI motherboards feature M-Flash, an easy update feature in Click BIOS 5, which makes BIOS updates straightforward. You should be able to find it in both Easy mode and Advanced mode of the BIOS.

Prepare a USB drive with the BIOS update files, insert into the dedicated USB port, reboot with your previous generation processor, and go to M-Flash in the BIOS screen. Please note: You’ll need an older AMD CPU to perform this update.

If you don't have access to an older, supported AMD CPU for your motherboard and also don't have a motherboard with the Flash BIOS button, you’ll have to contact AMD for a boot kit. More details here: https://www.amd.com/en/support/kb/faq/pa-100#faq-Short-Term-Processor-Loan-Boot-Kit

Once your BIOS updates, you can go ahead and replace your older processor with a new 3rd Gen Ryzen processor.

Here's an M-Flash video tutorial to help you get going: https://youtu.be/LRyFMf0D9Lc