Users of Gigabyte equipped with the AMD B650 are reporting a significant change: the latest BIOS update is disabling support for PCIe 5.0 in the x16 slot. As a result, these cards now operate exclusively with PCIe 4.0according to the official specifications of the AMD for this chipset.
The novelty, initially highlighted by VideoCardzreveals that support for PCIe 5.0 is an exclusive feature of more robust models, such as the B650E or advanced AMD motherboards. Interestingly, several options B650 were launched with the technology working, even without official support, which is now being corrected by the manufacturer Gigabyte.
Fortunately, this change should not have a noticeable impact on the performance of most video cards current. The portal WCCFTech points out that PCIe 4.0 x16 already offers more than enough bandwidth for modern GPUs, including even the high-end options from the RTX 50 from NVIDIA. The real performance concern would only arise if the main slot connection was reduced from x16 to x8.
Although the removal of PCIe 5.0 may seem like a step backwards to some, the BIOS updates are vital not only for releasing new features, but above all for ensuring the security and stability of your hardware components. The latest version of Gigabyte BIOS, a F36for example, not only disables the PCIe 5.0but also fixes two important vulnerabilities, as detailed in its official description. This reinforces the importance of keeping your system up to date to ensure the security of your hardware.
For those who want to keep PCIe 5.0 in their B650 motherboardsThe alternative is simply not to upgrade to the BIOS F36remaining in the version F34. It's important to note that the most recent update 'skipped' the F35 version due to identified problems, with F36 being the immediate replacement to resolve these issues and ensure greater stability. Carefully weigh up the pros and cons before making your decision.
It is essential to understand that support for PCIe 5.0 in B650 boards was never officially approved by AMD for this chipset, appearing to have been a manufacturing "accident". Therefore, there was a real possibility of bugs, instabilities and compatibility problems when using this unofficial technology. Perhaps Gigabyte was correcting an unintentional "feature" that could compromise the user experience.
A user of the renowned forum Chiphellknown as Hugable carrot, commented on the situation, corroborating the idea that decommissioning aims at stability and compliance with the specifications of the AMD:
"(...) there were a lot of complaints in the first half of the year about cards running on 5.0," said Hugable carrot. He added that "The motherboard manufacturer shouldn't be blamed for something that isn't their fault", indicating that removing unofficial support could be a proactive measure to avoid future problems and bring the product into line with the factory specifications of the company. AMD.
In short, the GigabyteAlthough it removes a feature that many users may have taken advantage of, it aims to comply with the specifications of the AMD and ensuring greater stability and security for their products. Users of Gigabyte B650 motherboards need to weigh up whether to keep an unofficial feature with potential risks or upgrade to a safer, more stable version based on official specifications.
The decision is yours: security and stability, or an unofficial resource with possible risks? Share your opinion and questions on the subject in the comments below!
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