Question Ryzen 5 5600X on MSI MAG B550 TOMAHAWK - - - instability worsened after BIOS adjustments ?

Feb 2, 2025
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Hi everyone,

I’m an IT Technician troubleshooting a Ryzen 5 5600X build that’s experiencing persistent BSODs and freezes. Initially, the system would freeze and BSOD after a few days of uptime, mostly at low load.

We made some adjustments in the BIOS that had reportedly helped others, but instead of stabilizing the system, the BSODs are now happening within minutes of booting, making things worse.

I’m reaching out to see if anyone has insights into what’s going on and potential fixes.

System Specs:​

  • Motherboard: MSI MAG B550 TOMAHAWK (MS-7C56)
  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
  • RAM: DDR4 3200MHz (16-20-20-39 via XMP, 2x8GB kit)

What We Changed:​

  1. CPU Core Voltage
  2. Switched to Offset Mode and applied +0.0125V, raising total core voltage slightly for stability.
  3. CPU NB/SoC Voltage
  4. Changed to Offset Mode with +0.0125V, increasing total SoC voltage to ~0.9945V.
  5. RAM Settings
  6. Enabled A-XMP Profile 1 for DDR4 3200MHz operation.Set FCLK Frequency to 1600MHz (1:1 ratio with DRAM).

Current Problem:​

After applying these changes, the system’s behavior worsened instead of improving:

  • Previously, it would freeze/BSOD after a few days of uptime, usually at low load.
  • Now, after these changes, it freezes and BSODs within minutes of booting, even under light workloads, suggesting an instability issue caused by the new settings.

What We’ve Ruled Out:​

RAM: Passed MemTest86 without errors.
Storage: Passed CHKDSK and SMART checks.
Temperatures: Stay below 80°C under load.
Drivers & BIOS: Updated to the latest versions.

What I’m Asking:​

  • Are these voltage settings making things worse? Should we try alternative values?
  • Does this behavior suggest a hardware fault (CPU, motherboard, PSU)?
  • Any other BIOS settings we should tweak before considering an RMA?
We’re reaching the point where an RMA might be necessary, but I’d love to hear from those who’ve dealt with similar instability before taking that step.

Any suggestions or insights would be greatly appreciated—thanks in advance!
 
Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

Are these voltage settings making things worse? Should we try alternative values?
Why are you even needing to tinker with voltages? What is the state of the platform while on stock values/voltages?

Motherboard: MSI MAG B550 TOMAHAWK (MS-7C56)
What BIOS version are you on for your motherboard?

RAM: Passed MemTest86 without errors.
after 10 passes?

Temperatures: Stay below 80°C under load.
Taxed by what?

System Specs:

Motherboard: MSI MAG B550 TOMAHAWK (MS-7C56)
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
RAM: DDR4 3200MHz (16-20-20-39 via XMP, 2x8GB kit)

When posting a thread of troubleshooting nature, it's customary to include your full system's specs. Please list the specs to your build like so:
CPU:
CPU cooler:
Motherboard:
Ram:
SSD/HDD:
GPU:
PSU:
Chassis:
OS:
Monitor:
include the age of the PSU apart from it's make and model. BIOS version for your motherboard at this moment of time.

a Ryzen 5 5600X build that’s experiencing persistent BSODs and freezes.
Pass on .dmp files for us to take a look at as well.
 
Last edited:
There are no certain specifications for under or over clocking a system while expecting to maintain reliability.
Any changes made which differ from default settings will always require thorough system testing to ensure system stability.
Yes, the voltage offsets are likely making things worse.