MSI B850 Tomahawk - A couple of questions

[silverwerewolf.102152b02d3]

Hi, how are you? I have a few questions about configurations and certain aspects of this motherboard. I built the PC a month ago and so far everything works perfectly — EXPO profile is enabled, and everything runs great. Boot times and everything else are super fast, just like with Intel systems. (9800x3d 6800xt 32gb 6000mhz cl30)

Now, I have a few questions:

1. Is there any downside to disabling fTPM in the BIOS? I'm using Windows 10, and I already disabled it, but I wanted to know if there's any reason not to.

2. What does "EZ LED Control" manage? Does it control the RGB lights on the motherboard, or does it control the debug LEDs (RAM, CPU, Boot, etc.)?
Since this motherboard doesn't have RGB, can I disable it, or would that also disable the useful debug LEDs?

3. I also disabled the iGPU (even so, about half a gig of RAM is still reserved for hardware (?)) and the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth since I use Ethernet.

4. I also noticed that the motherboard NEVER did any memory training, not even on the very first boot. It always booted instantly, with or without the EXPO profile — just as fast as my previous Intel system, people always complain about slow boot times on am5 but it never was my case, weird.

5. I never removed the other SSD heatsinks from the motherboard. I just have one M.2 drive in the main top slot, and that's it. Is it okay to leave the other heatsinks in place even if there’s nothing installed in those slots? Will the thermal pads degrade from the heat of the PC, or is it safe to leave them there?

6. I also had a strange issue with the audio — it sounded like it had an echo or was muffled — but it only happened once and it only fixed by disconnecting and connecting the 3.5mm plug of the headset again. I updated the BIOS afterward and it never happened again.

7. Right now, the only thing I notice is that some voltages in HWiNFO64 show spikes when they shouldn't. For example, VSOC jumps from 1.2V to 1.28V, and the same happens with VDD_MISC, etc.
From what I've seen, it seems to be a sensor reading bug, so it’s nothing serious.
If I want to set voltages manually — for example, setting VSOC manually to 1.15V instead of the stock 1.2V — which BIOS menu should I use? AMD Advanced or Overclocking? I understand it should be the second one, according to what I read on Reddit. Same question for the negative curve in Curve Optimizer.

Thanks!!

 

[plutomate]

1. Is there any downside to disabling fTPM in the BIOS? I'm using Windows 10, and I already disabled it, but I wanted to know if there's any reason not to.

I don't see any downside enabling it. Why disable? It's gonna be mandatory for win11 anyway.

2. What does "EZ LED Control" manage?

It turns off the onboard LED including those connected to RGB header I believe. The option for debug LED should be EZ debug LED control or indicator LED control something like that.

3. I also disabled the iGPU (even so, about half a gig of RAM is still reserved for hardware (?)) and the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth since I use Ethernet.

Does reserve memory size change before and after you disable iGPU?

4. I also noticed that the motherboard NEVER did any memory training

You gonna be the first person i've seen that complains about fast boot time.

or is it safe to leave them there?

No need to touch it, leave it that way.

I updated the BIOS afterward and it never happened again.

ok?

which BIOS menu should I use? AMD Advanced or Overclocking?

Always overclocking under OC menu, not advanced menu. Those 2 section can conflict with each other, one is fine tuned by MSI while the other is just a migrate from AMD source code

 

[silverwerewolf.102152b02d3]

I don't see any downside enabling it. Why disable? It's gonna be mandatory for win11 anyway.

I don't care about windows 11, and is not obligatory for windows 11 ltsc i think. I prefer less bloat running on the background/bios.

It turns off the onboard LED including those connected to RGB header I believe. The option for debug LED should be EZ debug LED control or indicator LED control something like that.

Ok so no point of having it on cus the mobo doesnt have rgb leds

Does reserve memory size change before and after you disable iGPU?

Yup, it was 2gb before, now 0.5gb, but it's still a lot... my intel build used 0.1gb for hardware reservation

You gonna be the first person i've seen that complains about fast boot time.

I didn't, i was just curious cus everyone complains about that and it wasn't my case. Its too good to be true xd

No need to touch it, leave it that way.

Great!

Always overclocking under OC menu, not advanced menu. Those 2 section can conflict with each other, one is fine tuned by MSI while the other is just a migrate from AMD source code

Noted!

Thanks for all your anwers, really !

 

[zotta.vla15dc02ea]

vsoc shouldn't jump that high. can fluctuate, but just a tiny bit ( in my case 1.210-1.212 although it's set by expo at 1.2 in bios). you can set it manually though anyway. and in case it's a hwinfo64 bug, update hwinfo to latest release.

 

[silverwerewolf.102152b02d3]

vsoc shouldn't jump that high. can fluctuate, but just a tiny bit ( in my case 1.210-1.212 although it's set by expo at 1.2 in bios). you can set it manually though anyway. and in case it's a hwinfo64 bug, update hwinfo to latest release.

yup it still happens with 8.26, but i just checked hw monitor and in that software the vsoc stays put.
So it must be some issue with the sensors on hwinfo

 

[silverwerewolf.102152b02d3]

I don't see any downside enabling it. Why disable? It's gonna be mandatory for win11 anyway.

It turns off the onboard LED including those connected to RGB header I believe. The option for debug LED should be EZ debug LED control or indicator LED control something like that.

Does reserve memory size change before and after you disable iGPU?

You gonna be the first person i've seen that complains about fast boot time.

No need to touch it, leave it that way.

ok?

Always overclocking under OC menu, not advanced menu. Those 2 section can conflict with each other, one is fine tuned by MSI while the other is just a migrate from AMD source code

Hey sorry, i setted vsoc to 1.15v at the OC menu (not advanced). but, i should use on vsoc voltage "override mode" or "amd overcloking mode"?
Im currently using override mode
Thanks!

 

[autotech21200]

You have fast boot times because you are on Windows 10. Memory training is a windows 11 thing.

 

[silverwerewolf.102152b02d3]

You have fast boot times because you are on Windows 10. Memory training is a windows 11 thing.

Lol really? I never saw someone saying is a windows 11 thing only.
So another HUGE reason not to change to crap11
What's the reason anyways that w11 needs memory training and w10 doesnt?

Edit: no... is isn't w11 exclusive... like i thought

 

[autotech21200]

It has to do with the new security issues required in windows 11. Mainly the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0.

 

[autotech21200]

No, Windows 10 does not include a built-in "memory training" feature like some BIOS/UEFI interfaces do. Memory training is a process that occurs during system initialization, especially with newer memory standards like DDR5, to optimize memory performance. It's a BIOS/UEFI function, not an operating system feature.

 

[autotech21200]

So you are right not a windows 11 it is actually caused by the new requirements for windows 11 mainly as stated above.

 

[plutomate]

memory training has nothing to do with specific OS. it's a process during system boot to ensure system stability.
Or if your memory training is not what i'm thinking.