EFI Updates

mgilbert wrote: I know a lot of you are wondering the same things I am, so I'll ask... I have an X370 Gaming K4 motherboard, running Corsair RAM rated at 3,000 MHz.  It was on the QVL, but will only run at 2,400 MHz.  Part number - CMK16GX4M2B3000C15. I was able to obtain EFI version 1.70 directly from the ASRock servers, through the EFI.  Interestingly, that version is not posted anywhere on ASRock's website.  So my first question is... Why isn't the website being kept up to date regarding EFI updates??? In fact, it has been many days since anything new was posted.  Most manufacturers are posting regular EFI updates, almost daily. So, my second question is... When can we expect an EFI update that will enable our memory to run at its specified speed? Can a moderator, or anyone, get us answers to these questions???

I can answer a question or two, the others are beyond my capability to answer.

Regarding your 3000 speed memory, it was learned a few weeks ago from AMD (I wish I had the original source... lost that link, but we' provide it for you) that the Ryzen memory controller (part of the processor) does not support DDR4 3000 and 3200 speed memory. The Ryzen memory controller does not support the "memory dividers" for 3000 and 3200 speed memory. Please do not blame mother board manufactures for AMD not making things like this clear from the start.

You may have seen in your board's Memory QVL, that 3000 speed memory will be reduced to 2933. While there is no specification for 3200 speed memory, I believe that will also run at 2933. If the Ryzen memory dividers cannot be changed or subject to an override of some kind, 2933 is the best speed we can get from DDR4 3000 and 3200 memory.

http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/Fatal1ty%20X370%20Gaming%20K4/index.asp#Memory

Another factor about Ryzen memory support, is its preference for using a Command Rate (CR) of 1T. With the few existing platforms that support DDR4 memory (Intel's X99, 100 and 200 series chipset/processor boards), a CR of 2T is the universal standard, and using 1T on those platforms is difficult or impossible at higher speeds. This means using the XMP profiles on the existing DDR4 memory will not provide optimal settings for a Ryzen system. Manually setting the memory parameters is the best current practice for Ryzen systems.

Regarding why a UEFI version was not posted on a board's web page, but available via other means, I don't know the reason(s) for that.

Regarding the rate or frequency of UEFI updates, I don't know anything about that.

I took a quick look at the UEFI/BIOS updates for a major mother board manufacture. The GA-AX370-Gaming K7 board has two UEFI versions posted, F2 dated 2/20/17, and F3b dated 3/14/17. The GA-AX370-Gaming 5 has three UEFI versions available, F3 dated 2/13/17, F4 dated 2/20/27, and F5d dated 3/14/17. Do you consider that "almost daily"?


Edited by wardog - 27 Mar 2017 at 9:30pm

I'd also like to know. I've been refraining from updating through that method since I can't find any documentation on what 1.6 and 1.7 even do.

Edited by murakume - 27 Mar 2017 at 4:48am