Unleash the Power of PCIe 4.0 on Your B450 Motherboard

Unleash the Power of PCIe 4.0 on Your B450 Motherboard

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. testing the PCIe Gen4 M.2 NVMe Drive
3. Updating the BIOS and Installing the Drive
4. Testing the Drive Speeds
5. Long-Term Stability Testing
6. AMD's Concerns about Gen4 Support on Older Chipsets
7. Conclusion

Introduction

Welcome to this article where we will be discussing the latest PCIe Gen4 M.2 NVMe drives. We will be testing the performance of the MP 600 from Corsair on a B450 motherboard. There have been claims that these motherboards can support Gen4 drives, but we will put those claims to the test. Let's dive in and see if these drives can deliver the promised speeds and if the B450 board is capable of supporting them.

Testing the PCIe Gen4 M.2 NVMe Drive

To test the performance of the MP 600 drive, we will be using a B450 motherboard. This particular board is the ASUS TUF B450-PLUS GAMING, which is a mid-range option. We will see if it can live up to its claims of supporting Gen4 drives. The MP 600 boasts speeds of 5,000 megabytes per Second for reads and 4,200 megabytes per second for sequential writes. We will compare these speeds to the Gen3 limit to evaluate its performance.

Updating the BIOS and Installing the Drive

Before we begin the testing process, it is essential to update the motherboard's BIOS to ensure compatibility with the drive. We will use the ASUS easy flash 3 utility to install the latest BIOS version. Once the BIOS is up to date, we will proceed with installing the MP 600 drive, using the included heatsink to prevent thermal throttling.

Testing the Drive Speeds

With the drive and BIOS updated, we can now proceed to test its speeds. We will use Crystal Disk Mark to measure the sequential read and write speeds. The results will give us a clear picture of the drive's performance and whether it reaches the promised Gen4 speeds. We will compare these results to our previous tests on an X570 board with a Zen 2 chip.

Long-Term Stability Testing

To ensure the drive's reliability over extended periods, we will conduct long-term stability testing on the B450 motherboard. This testing includes transferring large files and monitoring the drive's performance over time. We will report our findings on Twitter for those interested in updates.

AMD's Concerns about Gen4 Support on Older Chipsets

AMD has expressed concerns about motherboard vendors Advertising Gen4 support on older chipsets. The issue lies in the lack of guaranteed compatibility and the variability in traces on these boards. While some boards may support Gen4 speeds, others may not. AMD is cautious about misleading consumers. Additionally, AMD may release BIOS updates that block Gen4 on older chipsets as part of their efforts to maintain system stability.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our testing confirms that the MP 600 PCIe Gen4 M.2 NVMe drive can reach its promised speeds on the B450 motherboard. The ASUS TUF B450-PLUS GAMING board, despite not being a high-end option, can support Gen4 drives. However, it is important to note that not all B450 boards will guarantee the same level of performance. Buyers should be aware of the potential variability in speed and check the compatibility of their specific motherboards before investing in a Gen4 drive.

Highlights:

• Testing the performance of the MP 600 PCIe Gen4 M.2 NVMe drive on a B450 motherboard.
• Updating the BIOS to ensure compatibility.
• Measuring speeds using Crystal Disk Mark.
• Long-term stability testing.
• AMD's concerns about Gen4 support on older chipsets.
• The ASUS TUF B450-PLUS GAMING board supports Gen4 speeds.
• Variability in performance across different B450 boards.

FAQ:

Q: Can a B450 motherboard support PCIe Gen4 drives? A: Yes, some B450 motherboards, such as the ASUS TUF B450-PLUS GAMING, can support Gen4 drives, but compatibility may vary across different boards.

Q: Are the advertised Gen4 speeds guaranteed on all B450 motherboards? A: No, advertised Gen4 speeds may not be achievable on all B450 motherboards. Variability in traces and overall hardware support can affect performance.

Q: Will AMD release BIOS updates to block Gen4 on older chipsets? A: There is a possibility that AMD may release BIOS updates to block Gen4 support on older chipsets in an effort to maintain system stability.