ASRock Motherboards Exhibit Variable SoC Voltage, Peaking at 1.27V; Potential Risk for Ryzen 9000 CPU Damage

In a recent exploration, Bryan from Tech Yes City has conducted tests on AMD’s Ryzen 7000 and 9000 series processors paired with various motherboards, highlighting significant differences in SoC (System on Chip) voltage supply, particularly with ASRock motherboards.

Insights from Tech Yes City’s Analysis on ASRock Motherboards and Ryzen 9000 CPU Failures

Reports regarding malfunctioning Ryzen 9000 CPUs, especially the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, have been circulating without definitive explanations for these failures. Bryan’s investigation may be pivotal in unraveling the underlying causes of these CPU failures, which could provide users with a better understanding of the issue.

Recently, Tech Yes City reported on the failure of his Ryzen 9 9950X CPU when mounted on an ASRock X870 Steel Legend motherboard. This incident is one of many, with nearly 200 documented cases of Ryzen 9000 CPUs failing, predominantly shared on platforms like Reddit.

Through his tests, Bryan discovered that ASRock motherboards exhibit a unique behavior in how they supply SoC voltage compared to their competitors. The SoC voltage represents the operational voltage required by the CPU’s SoC section, which is normally stable. However, the ASRock X870E Taichi Lite, with a Ryzen 9800X3D onboard, displayed significant fluctuations in SoC voltage during testing.

ASRock X870E Taichi Lite Ryzen 9800X3D SoC

While the voltage variances are minor, it is noteworthy that the upper limits exceeded the recommended thresholds, soaring past 1.250V and nearing 1.270V. In contrast, other motherboard manufacturers maintain a more stable SoC voltage close to the optimal level of 1.20V, with only the ASUS X870E Crosshair Hero deviating slightly with an additional 50 mV for enhanced stability.

This persistent voltage fluctuation on ASRock boards could lead to lasting damage to the CPUs, a concern substantiated by previous cases. It’s essential to recognize that the CPU essentially dictates its required SoC voltage, indicating that the synergy between the CPU and motherboard is critical in these failures.

Further investigation is warranted to explore whether this is the sole contributor to CPU damage. ASRock may need to address this issue through future BIOS updates. Meanwhile, users concerned about potential damage can take preemptive measures by enabling the Uncore Voltage setting within their BIOS.