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Comment by nobleach | Hacker News Reader

As someone who purchased (early adopted) the Ryzen 5 2400g APU a couple of days after release, I regret every bit of it. We still don't have any motherboards that support it well. I've heard the ASUS boards do okay but they have to be flashed to a new BIOS version (with a different processor in the socket). I'm glad that folks like the hype, but the reality is just terrible.

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> I regret every bit of it.

Why make a statement without even one item of support as to why you regret it?

The ASUS board problem sounds inconvenient, to say the least, but the way your phrased it implies it doesn't effect you in particular.

Comments on a popular online electronics retailer's website seem to be positive for this model.

I'm pretty sure he regretted it because "[w]e still don't have any motherboards that support it well."

What does that mean exactly?

No, I've heard good things about the ASUS. The ASRock (which is what I bought) is absolutely terrible. I regret buying the ASRock because I now have a computer that freezes constantly. It's not related to processor load or heat. It simply just doesn't work well at all. Sometimes an hour, sometimes 5 minutes....

I'm hoping I'm phrasing this well enough.

FWIW I am running a two week old Ryzen 5 2400G and ASRock Fatal1ty X370 Gaming-ITX/ac setup with rock solid stability under Windows 10. I did end up having to run my 3200MHz memory at 2933Mhz to avoid some issues. This is the max memory speed the CPU supports anyways so I don't consider it a large loss. The ASRock published memory QVL agrees with my finding that 3200MHz isn't stable with the specific memory I'm using. See https://www.asrock.com/MB/AMD/Fatal1ty%20X370%20Gaming-ITXac...

What ASRock model are you using? Are you sure the culprit is the CPU or motherboard and not another component?

I'm running the micro-atx AB350M Pro4 AM4. One can never be TOO sure that it's not something else, but I've run it on one stick of ram, with no other peripherals (removed WiFi PCIe card) and the problem persists. Still, the single stick of ram is the best it's ever run. I'd love to run at 2933, but it "seems" to freeze even more at those speeds. I hate that this is all non-scientific anecdotal evidence. That seems to be right in line with everything else over at the ASRock forums.

As an owner of an x360 Raven Ridge Envy, I'm also having similar issues. GPU Drivers on Raven Ridge seem to be borked at the moment.

I'm running Win10, default drivers (which seem to be 17.7 GPU drivers). HP Envy x360 laptop CANNOT upgrade to more recent drivers.

Have you tried updating to 18.3 or later GPU drivers?? Raven Ridge is allegedly all the same die, so I wouldn't be surprised if the iGPU drivers between both of our systems have a similar issue.

But yeah, its looking to me like Raven Ridge (the iGPU parts) still have some warts. The pure CPU Ryzen parts had warts too when they were released, but they were fixed much more quickly.

I'll give updating the GPU drivers a shot and report back this evening. It's now become my "I'll try anything" setup.

Yeah, its a shame too. As long as my laptop doesn't crash, its actually kind of awesome.

But crashing makes it unable to do any kind of "serious" work. Nothing breaks a workflow like a forced unexpected reboot.

This "crashing" issue seems to be isolated to Raven Ridge. I've seen a lot of complaints about it here and there online. There was an obscure crash on Pinnacle Ridge CPUs (1800x, Threadripper, and EPYC) on Linux, but it was allegedly fixed months ago.

So based on my experience and research, it seems like Raven Ridge needs to be avoided. Its drivers just aren't good enough for prime time yet. Let me know if you're able to successfully update to something newer.

Oddly, wiping the thing out and installing with a brand new download of Windows 10 from MS's site has done wonders. My old install media was pretty old. I haven't installed a single external driver for anything this time around and it hasn't crashed. My Vega video driver was even recognized. I'm gonna let it run for a day or so before declaring any victory. Fun side note, I JUST placed an order for an ASUS mobo to replace this one.

I built a standard (non gfx) Ryzen to replace my old back up box, and it's been 99% fine. The only issue is the slow POST time, but that's an MSI thing and not a Ryzen thing.

The rollout of new mainboards and Zen+(non gfx integrated) CPU's should be a lot smoother than their initial effort since they've all had a year to learn from their mistakes.

The launch of Ryzen G was undoubtedly botched, but AMD did offer a CPU loan program for anyone who needed it:

https://www.pcgamer.com/amd-will-lend-you-an-older-processor...

Isn't that for updating the bios on a board that won't boot with a Ryzen in the socket? It's a 10 day loan.

That's why you typically wait to be 'second best' when new tech hits the market. In the current climate 'early adopter' should actually be interpreted as 'beta tester'.

Other than the BIOS issue I have had no problems with the Ryzen 5 2400G. I have an ASRock board. I tried running Warframe on only the APU but I think I need more memory which is very expensive so I put in an GTX 650.

If memory prices go down I should be able to use it with only the processor.

I did 16gigs of 3200. Be careful as the processor will only support 2400 or 2600Mhz (I can't remember off the top of my head) I don't mind the actual layout or operation of the BIOS. I did have to upgrade it to recognize my M2 NVMe. I've just been trying anything I can to get the thing stable.... to no avail.

The first generation Ryzen 7 rollout was a bit of a mess as well. What with the (understandably) immature BIOSes, and tons of people RMAing CPUs to be replaced due to the segfaulting issue.

AMD seem gaffe-prone. See also the pre-launch hype vs reality of Vega in the gaming space.

And there is still this: https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=196683

Fist gen ryzen desktop had the same sot of teething troubles ever CPU has tbh, but they were somewhat moe publicised and a little bigger (not huge but bigger) due to the cleanroom design.

I bought a 2400G with a motherboard[0] a day after release. It surprised me that the board came with a compatible BIOS out of the box. (I was thinking that I might have to take my 1800X out of my main rig to flash it.) I built the machine for a friend, and he's been doing some light gaming on it (with a discrete GPU). I ask him every now and then how it's doing, and he says there are no problems.

[0]: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E1681315...

I got a Ryzen 7 1800X machine from Dell and regret it. It crashes with different BSOD error codes from time to time. A great benchmark is useless if it can't be used smoothly.

I wouldn't blame the CPU as much as I would blame Dell. I have had a Threadripper 1950x (2 Ryzen 7 1800X on the same chip IIRC) since launch day and have not had any stability issues (unless I try to overclock it over 4GHZ - but that's my own fault/doing.)

Updating BIOS is a common thing for newly released CPUs. Things like that are expected if you're building the PC yourself.

But needing a different chip in the socket? That’s definitely not common and for many not even possible.

Sure, was the same thing for my AMD FX cpu.

Edit: I bought a cheaper cpu on Amazon and after the BIOS update for the new CPU I sent it back.

AMD offered a kit to update the BIOS, basically they sent a previous generation CPU to flash the BIOS.

On the other hand, with new Intel CPUs you would need new mainboards... ^__^;

Yes, and kudos to AMD for even doing it. But, it's a two week from acceptance into the program to delivery (in some cases - a week in others).

I've built a lot of machines, and I've never had to update BIOS just to get a standard CPU working.

You tend to if you use a motherboard with an older chipset with a newer generation CPU using the same socket (and it hasn't already been updated at the factory).

Intel example: Using a 7th generation Kaby Lake CPU on a 6th generation Skylake chipset motherboard. Example of required BIOS update: version 1.F https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/support/Z170-A-PRO

I clearly remember my i5 4690 wasn't supported by z87 motherboards unless you flashed with another CPU.

As I was building a new rig, I just ordered a z97 instead.

Also yeah, it was my fault for not properly checking before buying 4690+z87 combo, but not that weird...

what would a good motherboard support bring ? (open question)

Processor support? Voltages set reasonably. Just a decent burn in period before sending it out the door. Currently I'm running an ASRock B350M Pro4... and I can't keep that thing running more than 30 minutes. It's not high load that causes the freezing. It's just terrible on every front.

erf, damning indeed

I got it running on asrock ab350 gaming-itx/ac issues found so far:

- No dual screen support (the board has 2xHDMI 1.4). The fix is in firmware 4.51A which is still in beta

- When installing debian needed to use vga=771 in the console

- X11 would freeze a few times but with Linux 4.15.0-2-amd64 that issue seem to have been fixed

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