AMD Budget Builds: Users Report Common Issues

Owners of budget AMD Ryzen systems are encountering computer boot-up issues, particularly when installing 64GB of RAM.

A Fix for Memory Problems on Certain AMD Systems

The latest AAA games are pushing the boundaries, often requiring more than 16GB of RAM to run smoothly. This means even users with older or more budget-friendly PCs are looking to upgrade their memory. However, it appears that users with specific, cost-effective AMD systems might face a frustrating hurdle when trying to do so.

Reports are surfacing from owners of AMD Ryzen 4000G and Ryzen 5000G series processors, when paired with AMD A520 motherboards, who are experiencing difficulties booting their computers. This problem arises specifically when installing two 32GB RAM modules, even though the chipset officially supports up to 64GB of RAM. The issue persists even without activating AMD Expo profiles.

What’s causing the boot-up trouble? The issue seems tied to how the system initializes its integrated graphics processor, often called the IGPU.

Two main solutions are emerging to tackle this PC boot problem. The most straightforward, albeit more expensive, fix is to install a dedicated graphics card into a PCI Express slot.

BIOS Reconfiguration as a Solution

Fortunately, a workaround exists within the system’s BIOS settings. While the exact names of these settings can vary slightly between motherboard manufacturers, the general steps are consistent. For ASUS motherboards, for instance, users should restart their computer and enter the UEFI.

Inside the UEFI, navigate to the Advanced tab, then PCI configuration. Here, disable the option labeled “Above 4G Decoding.” Next, locate the AMD CBS menu, followed by NBIO Common Options, and then GFX configuration. Within this section, adjust the “UMA Frame Buffer Size” setting to “UMA_SPECIFIED.”

After applying these changes, your PC should successfully boot, even with 64GB of RAM installed. While a BIOS update from motherboard manufacturers could theoretically address this, budget platforms like the A520 chipset sometimes receive updates less frequently.

• Budget AMD systems (Ryzen 4000G/5000G on A520) can face boot issues with 64GB RAM.
• The problem is linked to the integrated graphics processor (IGPU) initialization.
• Solutions include adding a dedicated graphics card or adjusting BIOS settings.
• Key BIOS adjustments involve disabling “Above 4G Decoding” and setting “UMA Frame Buffer Size” to “UMA_SPECIFIED.”