Fixing Windows Boot Issues with Ryzen 4000G/5000G APUs on A520 Motherboards and 2x 32GB Memory Configurations

An unusual boot issue in Windows may arise when employing specific RAM configurations, particularly for users of Ryzen 4000G or 5000G APUs.

Windows Boot Issues with 64 GB or Higher RAM on Ryzen 4000G/5000G APUs: Two Solutions

Experiencing boot failures with Windows is increasingly common when installing high-capacity RAM in systems, especially those with an entry-level configuration. These problems tend to escalate when all available memory slots on the motherboard are filled with large-sized RAM sticks.

This complexity intensifies due to various factors such as differing memory speeds, timings, and motherboard memory compatibility. Such issues are especially prevalent with APUs, like the Ryzen 4000G and 5000G series from the Zen 2/Zen 3 families, which come with integrated graphics, eliminating the need for a dedicated GPU.

AMD Ryzen 4000G APU — The iGPU in Ryzen 4000G and 5000G APUs may cause boot failures with high-capacity RAM.

When these processors are paired with an AMD A520 motherboard—an entry-level chipset designed for AM4 sockets—users might find it challenging to increase their RAM beyond 64 GB. Although A520 motherboards list support for more than 64 GB, compatibility problems emerge specifically with Ryzen 4000G and 5000G processors when utilizing high-capacity 32 GB DDR4 modules in a dual 32 GB configuration.

This RAM setup can overwhelm the system, leading to Windows facing initialization issues with the iGPU when more than 64 GB of RAM is configured. This problem persists even if users operate the RAM at standard clock speeds without adjusting BIOS settings.

Fortunately, there are two primary remedies for this issue. As suggested by Dospara, users can either incorporate a discrete graphics card or implement specific adjustments within the BIOS.

BIOS settings screen — Adjusting BIOS settings can resolve boot problems.

The first solution involves financial investment in a discrete graphics card. However, the second option requires navigating to Advanced PCI Configuration and Advanced AMD CBS in the BIOS, where users can disable the “Above 4G Decoding” setting found under Advanced → PCI Configuration → Above 4G Decoding. Additionally, adjusting the “UMA Frame Buffer Size”to “4G” and setting “UMA_SPECIFIED” under iGPU Configuration in AMD CBS → NBIO Common Options → GFX Configuration can also be helpful.

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