Ryzen 5 9600X failures raise concerns for AMD’s Zen 5 platform
Reports suggest Ryzen 5 9600X processors may fail unexpectedly, especially on ASRock B650 and X870 motherboards, raising questions about Zen 5 voltage management and long-term reliability.
In this specific case, incidents are more frequent when the processor is paired with motherboards from ASRock. Leaks suggest that the issue may be related to improper power management while the system is idle or under lower-voltage loads, something that could degrade the silicon within a matter of weeks.
At a time when the Zen 5 architecture should already be firmly established as the most recommendable option over Intel, these kinds of problems cast doubt on the reputation of one of AMD’s most sought-after flagship products. Meanwhile, buyers are left in a state of complete uncertainty as they wait for an official statement from the company clarifying the origin of these worrying electrical failures.
Problems with the Ryzen 9600X: symptoms and affected motherboards
The news is based on a series of testimonies found on Reddit, all of which follow a very troubling pattern. Systems built around the Ryzen 5 9600X work correctly at first, but after a short period of time they stop booting altogether, with no possible recovery. When the components are inspected, users discover that the processor is completely unusable, and in extreme cases, slight burn marks can be seen on the contacts of the LGA-1718 socket.
What is most concerning is that these incidents are concentrated on ASRock motherboard models, especially the B650 and X870 series. This has led experts to suspect that the issue lies in the VRM, or voltage regulation module, or alternatively in an overly aggressive BIOS configuration that does not respect the processor’s thermal limits.
Even so, unlike what happened with the 9800X3D, where installation errors attributed to users were initially speculated, in the case of the 9600X these failures appear to occur without any unusual conditions. They also happen without any kind of overclocking. As a result, experts are pointing to a very clear scenario: a transient voltage spike that occurs right at startup or after waking from sleep mode. If it is confirmed that ASRock’s firmware is supplying voltage beyond the 1.3 V recommended by AMD, this would imply a massive motherboard revision effort. As an emergency measure, it could even require BIOS updates to limit the system’s power delivery capabilities.
The industry’s response
Given the scale of the reports, both AMD and ASRock have already begun their initial investigations to replicate the issue in their laboratories. However, if you are using this specific combination of motherboard and processor, the first recommendation is to avoid beta BIOS versions and to continuously monitor voltages using tools such as HWInfo. It is also crucial to ensure that SoC voltage remains below safe limits, since Zen 5’s 4 nm architecture is extremely sensitive to electrical fluctuations. It appears that the shadow of the issues that affected the 9800X3D lineup is once again looming over the Taiwanese company, which now has to prove that its AM5 platform remains the most reliable option in the consumer market.
At a time when component prices are at historic highs, losing a next-generation processor due to an issue beyond the user’s control represents a greater risk than ever. Until any official verdict is issued, caution remains the user’s best ally.
Journalist with a solid career path that began in 2020. Since then, my professional work has always been closely connected to the technology sector. My academic background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from New York University (NYU), which laid the foundation for everything that followed. I later earned a Master’s degree in Creative Writing from Stanford University, and my passion for artificial intelligence led me to complete the course “Google AI for Anyone.”
My central passion is video games, which is why I also completed a postgraduate program in eSports Journalism. The key to my work is always seeking a critical, and above all, well-grounded perspective to understand how technology is shaping a new world that is just around the corner
