I am reaching out for guidance regarding an urgent issue with my PC build. Recently, the motherboard of my system (ASUS X570 Dark Hero) has failed

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I hope this message finds you well. My name is vibin, and I am reaching out for guidance regarding an urgent issue with my PC build. Recently, the motherboard of my system (ASUS X570 Dark Hero) has failed, and unfortunately, this specific model is unavailable in my country. The only available option is the ASUS ProArt Creator B550 motherboard.

Here are the relevant details of my current PC configuration:

CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
GPU: NVIDIA RTX A5000
Storage: 980 PRO 4TB (Primary) + 980 PRO 2TB (Secondary)
RAM: 128GB (4 x 32GB, 3600MHz, G.SKILL)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D15
Primary Software: Blender for architectural rendering and animation work
As I rely heavily on this system for continuous rendering tasks (often lasting for 5+ days), I have several questions and concerns regarding the new B550 motherboard and how best to set up my system for optimal performance.

Key Questions and Concerns:
Trusting the B550 for Heavy Workloads:
Can the ASUS ProArt Creator B550 motherboard handle 5+ days of continuous heavy rendering work without issues, given the demanding nature of my projects in Blender? I want to ensure it can perform reliably under load, similar to the X570.

M.2 Slot Configuration and Performance:
The B550 motherboard only supports one PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot (for the first M.2 drive), while the second M.2 slot supports PCIe 3.0. I plan to install the 980 PRO 4TB in the PCIe 4.0 slot for the operating system (OS) and software, while the 980 PRO 2TB will be used for project files and work assets.

How should I arrange my storage drives to optimize performance? Should I install the OS and software on the PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot, and reserve the PCIe 3.0 M.2 slot for project files and renders? Will this configuration impact the speed and efficiency of my workflow, particularly for continuous rendering tasks?

Rebuilding the PC on the B550 Motherboard:
Could you please provide a step-by-step guide on how to properly rebuild my PC on the B550 motherboard? This includes recommendations for optimal system setup and any potential adjustments I may need to make for ensuring maximum performance and stability.

I trust your expertise in helping me make the right decisions regarding my system setup. Your advice is highly appreciated, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Best regards,
Vibin

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Yes, this should be no problem whatsoever. The ProArt is built for this type of workflow.

I would say do the opposite. OS require fast Random times and quick bursts of a handful of times, while projects are stored sequentially. Therefore it is most probably advantageous to have your projects on a 4.0 drive.

In practice, this will matter very little though, we are talking maybe a few minutes over the course of a week. As long as it is PCIe 3.0 or higher, you’re good to go.

Well, it is fairly simple:

  1. Unplug the computer from a wall and hold down the power button to drain the computer of any residual electricity.
  2. Remove any GPUs and other PCIe cards from the motherboard. The x16 cards require you to loosen up a latch.
  3. Disconnect all wires connected to the motherboard.
  4. Unscrew the motherboard.
  5. Unpack your new motherboard and place it on top of your motherboard box.
  6. Carefully remove the RAM sticks one by one, and insert them into the new motherboard.
  7. Carefully remove the two m.2 drives, and insert them into the new motherboard.
  8. Unscrew the CPU cooler and remove it from the CPU.
  9. Remove the CPU.
  10. Clean the mounting surfaces with rubbing alcohol.
  11. Install the CPU, making sure that the arrow is in the correct place.
  12. Apply a generous amount of thermal paste to the CPU, though not too much. The size of a pea should do it.
  13. Fasten the CPU cooler to the board. If you need to screw it on, do not tighten the screws one at a time - screw a couple of turns on one, then the diagonally opposite, then the other pair, then back to the first pair. This is to apply as much of even pressure as possible.
  14. Put the new motherboard back into the case, and tighten the screws.
  15. Reconnect all cables and PCIe expansion cards and boot it up. It should post.
  16. Once it posts, put the lid back on.

Here is a good video explaining it better:

Finally, while I do understand you are not made of money… Perhaps now is a good excuse to move to AM5? Here is an equivalent AM5 system core courtesy of PCPartPicker, but it will be more expensive than just replacing the motherboard on your current system. It is implied you will reuse your current cooler, PSU, GPU and SSD parts. You’d have to do all of the above regardless of course, and it is a +45% CPU boost which is nice, but it is not a mind-blowing upgrade.

PCPartPicker Part List

Type Item Price
CPU AMD Ryzen 9 9950X $594.99
Motherboard Asus ProArt X870E-CREATOR WIFI $479.99
Memory Corsair Vengeance 4x32 GB DDR5-5600 CL40 $419.99
Total $1494.97

Hope that helped! :slight_smile:

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After the rebuild boot and run memtestx86 for several passes. Logic being that when the mobo died it may have taken out the memory and possibly the cpu.

So don’t be surprised if you still have issues after the mobo replacement!

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Thank you so much for your valuable advice and information. It will really help me understand how to rebuild my PC with a B550 motherboard. I have one more question:

Can the second M.2 PCIe 3.0 slot on the ASUS B550 Creator motherboard use a PCIe 4.0 adapter? How do I install this adapter, and will adding a PCIe 4.0 adapter affect the performance of my GPU (RTX A5000)?

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@VB1 i edited the OP because the title was a bit long.
and removed the mail adress you added.

Anyways does the board has to be an Asus?
Or is that pretty much the only available (brand) option in your country?

Because boards like the Asrock X570E Taichi are also pretty good.
However the Asus pro art B550 creator will also work fine.
It just will have a little bit less connectivity features compared to the Dark Hero.

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“Thank you for the information on building my PC with a B550 motherboard. Could you please guide me on the steps to take after building the PC, including proper BIOS preparation and whether BIOS updates are necessary? I’d appreciate any help with these details.”

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Yes, and no.

Yes, you can use a PCIe 4.0 device in a PCIe 3.0 slot.

No, you will not get 4.0 speed on a 3.0 interface, only 3.0 speeds.

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Could you please guide me on the steps to take after building the PC, including proper BIOS preparation and whether BIOS updates are necessary? I’d appreciate any help with these details.”

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BIOS updates pre-Windows/Linux install should not be necessary at all. Here is how you would do it though, if you are worried:

Of course, given the feature rich BIOSes we have today, with them basically being mini-OSes in their own right, I really recommend you keep your BIOS updated. This can be done with a utility downloaded on Asus website.