AMD has issued a bulletin to provide support to users of its AM4 platform who are having difficulty booting a system equipped with one of the 2nd Generation Ryzen desktop processors. More specifically, a number of users have contacted AMD as they have bought one of the new Ryzen 5 2400G and Ryzen 3 2200G processors and paired it with an AM4 motherboard only to find its 'impossible' to get the system up and running.
In its description of the problem AMD seeks to soften the predicament by saying how the AM4 platform has been "designed to be a long life, fully featured, scalable solution with support for multiple processors, with varying capabilities." AM4 has been around since early 2017 so it is not surprising, it is inferred, that some newly released processors will cause operational wrinkles on boards without the latest BIOS. It is all down to the "rapid pace of innovation", says AMD - and who doesn't want that?
As seasoned PC builders would have already concluded, "the boot up issue likely means a system is running an early BIOS that does not have support for newer processors". This could easily happen with a new old-stock motherboard purchased, perhaps at a bargain price, used with a shiny new AMD Ryzen 5 2400G or Ryzen 3 2200G, for a new build.
First try these solutions:
Your location and what other computer parts you might have on your shelf determine the workaround you will have to take, if you find yourself in the above predicament. The easiest option, with little or no shoe-leather cost, is if you are installing the new 2nd gen Ryzen in place of an earlier processor - then you can make sure your motherboard BIOS is up to date before you switch to the new processor.
AMD would like you next to try and get an update from the retailer. It says "check with the retailer to see if they can facilitate the BIOS update at their location." That might or might not be convenient but will likely incur time/travel/postage costs. If the retailer isn't responsive, or it's just not an option for some reason, AMD suggests that next you should try the motherboard maker direct, who "will support affected end users with an RMA exchange for a compatible motherboard, upon request."
Boot kit solution, posted from AMD
Lastly, if the above options are exhausted AMD says it will "provide affected and qualified users a boot kit to perform the BIOS update on their motherboard". This free-of-charge service offered through AMD warranty services requires you to visit https://support.amd.com/en-us/warranty/rma and fill in the web forms with the description of the problem entered as 'Boot kit Required' (without quotes). Before you go to that page jot down your product name, part number, and serial number ready to be filled in.
The HEXUS experience
The Editor told me that he came face to face with the above failure to boot issue when he began testing one of the 2nd gen Ryzen processors on the Aorus AX370 Gaming 5. Luckily HEXUS does have a few first gen AMD Ryzen chips in the office, so it wasn't a great difficulty to pop one in to upgrade from the Gigabyte F8 BIOS to the latest F10 release (dated 8th Dec 2017, and since superseded by BIOS F20 and F21) for the board.
