Why amd ryzen is a great option over intel

Intel and AMD have opted for two very different strategies with their new processors. AMD released a dozen Ryzen processors on the new AM4 platform, along with the A320, B350, and X370 chipsets throughout 2017. In that same year, Intel released two new series of desktop processors, the Kaby Lake and the Coffee Lake, using both different platforms with 200 and 300 series chipsets respectively.

AMD motherboards support more generations of processors than Intel

Intel could have maintained Coffee Lake compatibility with 200 series motherboards, but they deliberately blocked it by forcing users to buy a new motherboard if they wanted to make the leap from Kaby Lake to Coffee Lake. Intel typically maintains compatibility between motherboards and processors for only two years, something very different from AMD, who launched Ryzen on the AM4 platform in 2017, claiming that they plan to maintain compatibility until at least 2020.

That means that first-generation AM4 motherboards will support multiple generations of processors in the same socket, so A320, B350, and X370 motherboards should be compatible for third-generation Ryzen processors slated for launch in 2019. Although AMD It continues to launch new chipsets, they are not mandatory, which means that whoever bought a B350 motherboard last year for 80 euros will maintain compatibility with the released processors for at least three years.

We recommend reading our post about AMD Ryzen 5 2600X Review in Spanish (Complete analysis)

At this point, keep in mind that the motherboard may be compatible, but if the manufacturer does not offer a BIOS update, it will do no good. The problem arose with the launch of the second generation Ryzen as people started trying to pair them with B350 motherboards that had not been factory updated, thankfully AMD has taken steps to benefit consumers by offering starter kits to be able to update the BIOS for the use of a new processor.

Maintain your motherboard = less expense on components

It is impossible for manufacturers to add support for the CPUs that they are going to launch in the future, thus it is expected that some users will have problems with the third generation Ryzen processors again, when trying to mount them with a first-class AMD motherboard or Second generation that does not come factory updated for the new chips. This situation could force AMD to take a similar strategy to Intel's in the future, forcing consumers to purchase a new motherboard more frequently. Hopefully this doesn't happen.

Request your kit to update the BIOS of your motherboard

AMD may continue to offer starter kits, but there are other solutions to come from motherboard manufacturers. Asus has created a solution called "USB BIOS Flashback" that allows you to update the BIOS without the need for a compatible processor. For this method you only need the 24-pin power cable connected to the motherboard and a USB stick with the required BIOS update. Just plug the USB storage device into the USB BIOS Flashback port on the motherboard, press and hold the USB BIOS Flashback or ROG Connect button for three seconds and an LED will start flashing indicating that the BIOS is updating, once finished the process, the light will remain steady.

Unfortunately, Asus only offers this feature on its more premium motherboards and none of its B350 models supports it. This feature is something AMD could work with its partners to make it a standard Ryzen feature.

If you doubt it is a great opportunity for AMD to earn an excellent image for users with Ryzen, something that could help the company increase its market share over the next few years. Do you think AMD is a better platform than Intel? or on the contrary… Do you like the annual socket change by Intel avoiding backwards compatibility?

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