For the R10 Ryzen (which is sold with 3000 and 5000 series CPUs), you cannot downgrade from 5000 to 3000, and you cannot upgrade from 3000 to 5000. The motherboard either has the 3000 or 5000 microcode, but not both. However, as far as downgrades, I suspect that is due to the small 32 MB size bios flash rom chips not being large enough to cram it all in.
With prior Intel models you could downgrade, but not upgrade, eg., plug an 8th or 9th gen chip in the R8, while the R7 only took 8th gen chips. Same deal with HEDT and Area 51 R4/5.
Also note that the 10850k was never validated with Dell's z490 board, though if I recall I don't remember that requiring a separate update though it was released later during the 10th gen rollout so its possibly an issue.
Not necessarily, that's just the validated list (i.e. sold stock with the R12), others may work, but there are no guarantees. I'm not aware of anyone who has reported trying the one you mentioned who had either success or failure.
This is not supported. Someone tried this and reported back on here that it does not work. It's the same with the R10 Ryzen 5000. Someone else tried to boot with a Ryzen 3000 series and it did not work either.
Based on some discussions I had with someone else on here, I am thinking it has to do with the choice of available flash bios. As in, there's not enough flash ram available to include the CPU Microcode for both generations of CPU's.
That's just based on that conversation and the reason could be completely different, but 16 MB of flash ram is not going to hold a lot of BIOS data and does make that theory plausible.
Yeah, that was me on the 32MB flash rom chip discussion, that is a real barrier with AMD. Not sure it would be true with Intel cpus, and keep in mind Dell has historically allowed downgrades (but not upgrades) in these situations where the intel chipset is recycled. Of course it may very well result in a post failure. No guarantees.
Just out of curiosity, has anyone who installed the latest BIOS already attempted to see if the system now posts with a 10th gen Intel CPU?
I have tried so with the launch BIOS back then and it didn't work. Would be curious if it does now as some have mentioned the R12 is sold with 10th gen CPU's in some markets now."
Do keep in mind this was with the release bios, and they now apparently started selling the R12 with the previous generation CPU, so it might work now pending on the bios version, if they made that bios available again. (I think it was pulled at some point).
r72019
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June 20th, 2021 00:00
Don't know.
For the R10 Ryzen (which is sold with 3000 and 5000 series CPUs), you cannot downgrade from 5000 to 3000, and you cannot upgrade from 3000 to 5000. The motherboard either has the 3000 or 5000 microcode, but not both. However, as far as downgrades, I suspect that is due to the small 32 MB size bios flash rom chips not being large enough to cram it all in.
With prior Intel models you could downgrade, but not upgrade, eg., plug an 8th or 9th gen chip in the R8, while the R7 only took 8th gen chips. Same deal with HEDT and Area 51 R4/5.
DiscoveryChannel
2 Posts
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June 20th, 2021 00:00
I see
I came across this post https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware-Desktops/FAQ-Aurora-R12/m-p/7844516
Would a cpu not work if it's not on this list?
r72019
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June 20th, 2021 00:00
Also note that the 10850k was never validated with Dell's z490 board, though if I recall I don't remember that requiring a separate update though it was released later during the 10th gen rollout so its possibly an issue.
Rabbitdude
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509 Posts
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June 20th, 2021 02:00
Use of 10th gen is not possible on the R12 unless Dell releases a bios update that allows it
r72019
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June 20th, 2021 06:00
"Would a cpu not work if it's not on this list?"
Not necessarily, that's just the validated list (i.e. sold stock with the R12), others may work, but there are no guarantees. I'm not aware of anyone who has reported trying the one you mentioned who had either success or failure.
Vanadiel
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June 20th, 2021 10:00
This is not supported. Someone tried this and reported back on here that it does not work. It's the same with the R10 Ryzen 5000. Someone else tried to boot with a Ryzen 3000 series and it did not work either.
Based on some discussions I had with someone else on here, I am thinking it has to do with the choice of available flash bios. As in, there's not enough flash ram available to include the CPU Microcode for both generations of CPU's.
That's just based on that conversation and the reason could be completely different, but 16 MB of flash ram is not going to hold a lot of BIOS data and does make that theory plausible.
r72019
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June 20th, 2021 11:00
I don't recall seeing anything new since this question was last asked three days ago.
https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware-Desktops/Aurora-R12-CPU-GPU-upgrades/m-p/7898106
Yeah, that was me on the 32MB flash rom chip discussion, that is a real barrier with AMD. Not sure it would be true with Intel cpus, and keep in mind Dell has historically allowed downgrades (but not upgrades) in these situations where the intel chipset is recycled. Of course it may very well result in a post failure. No guarantees.
Vanadiel
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June 20th, 2021 12:00
It was an older thread. I remember reading it. Can't find it with the search function.
Found it: R12 to R11
"10th gen compatibility
Just out of curiosity, has anyone who installed the latest BIOS already attempted to see if the system now posts with a 10th gen Intel CPU?
I have tried so with the launch BIOS back then and it didn't work. Would be curious if it does now as some have mentioned the R12 is sold with 10th gen CPU's in some markets now."
Do keep in mind this was with the release bios, and they now apparently started selling the R12 with the previous generation CPU, so it might work now pending on the bios version, if they made that bios available again. (I think it was pulled at some point).