ASUS has started pushing out a new beta BIOS update for its X870E and X870 motherboard lineup, and it comes with a notable tease: added support for an upcoming AMD Ryzen processor that hasn’t officially landed yet. The update is built on the AGESA 1300a firmware branch, and ASUS notes that this beta may later be promoted to a stable release on its main support pages.
If you’re watching the AM5 platform closely, this is the kind of BIOS update that usually arrives right before new CPUs hit store shelves. ASUS is also outlining a rollout pattern, with X870E and B850 boards expected to get updated first this week, followed by X670E and B650 models in the week after. For builders and upgraders, that’s a strong hint that broader AM5 compatibility is being prepared across multiple chipset generations.
So what “future CPU” is ASUS enabling? Based on what’s known right now, two likely candidates stand out.
One possibility is the Ryzen AI 400 series. AMD has already announced the Ryzen AI 400 APU family and confirmed there will be consumer boxed SKUs. These chips are expected to deliver up to 8 Zen 5 CPU cores and up to 8 RDNA 3.5 integrated GPU cores, all within 65W TDP configurations. In practical terms, that could make Ryzen AI 400 a very appealing drop-in upgrade path for users who want a modern all-in-one processor with stronger integrated graphics than previous “G” series options. It would also represent a clear step forward versus Ryzen 8000G, which is based on Zen 4 and RDNA 3.
The other potential match is the rumored Ryzen 9 9950X3D2. Previous talk around this chip suggests it could arrive with dual 3D V-Cache CCDs, enabling up to 128MB of X3D cache and up to 192MB of total cache, paired with 16 cores and 32 threads. It was expected by some to appear alongside the Ryzen 7 9850X3D, but so far AMD hasn’t released it. If this is the CPU the BIOS is preparing for, it could signal that AMD is getting ready to expand its high-end 3D V-Cache desktop lineup again—something performance enthusiasts and gamers tend to watch closely.
Whichever processor ends up being the target, the end result is the same: the AM5 ecosystem looks set to gain more options, whether that means next-gen APUs with Zen 5 and improved integrated graphics, or a new flagship-grade X3D chip focused on pushing performance through massive cache.
Here are the ASUS X870E/X870 motherboards listed as receiving this beta BIOS update:
ROG CROSSHAIR X870E HERO BETA BIOS 2103
ROG CROSSHAIR X870E HERO BTF BETA BIOS 2103
ROG CROSSHAIR X870E DARK HERO BETA BIOS 0703
ROG CROSSHAIR X870E APEX BETA BIOS 2103
ROG CROSSHAIR X870E EXTREME BETA BIOS 2103
ROG CROSSHAIR X870E GLACIAL BETA BIOS 0703
ROG STRIX X870-A GAMING WIFI BETA BIOS 2103
ROG STRIX X870-A GAMING WIFI S BETA BIOS 2103
ROG-STRIX X870E-A GAMING WIFI7 NEO BETA BIOS 0703
ROG STRIX X870E-E GAMING WIFI BETA BIOS 2103
ROG STRIX X870E-E GAMING WIFI7 NEO BETA BIOS 0703
ROG STRIX X870E-H GAMING WIFI7 BETA BIOS 2103
ROG STRIX X870E-H GAMING WIFI7 HATSUNE MIKU EDITION BETA BIOS 2103
ROG STRIX X870E-H GAMING WIFI7 S HATSUNE MIKU EDITION BETA BIOS 2103
ROG STRIX X870-F GAMING WIFI BETA BIOS 2103
ROG STRIX X870-H GAMING WIFI7 S BETA BIOS 2103
ROG STRIX X870-I GAMING WIFI BETA BIOS 1644
TUF GAMING X870E-PLUS WIFI7 BETA BIOS 2103
TUF GAMING X870-PLUS WIFI BETA BIOS 1644
TUF GAMING X870-PRO WIFI7 W NEO BETA BIOS 1644
PROART X870E CREATOR WIFI BETA BIOS 2103
As with any beta BIOS, it’s worth remembering that these builds can include early compatibility changes and may not be as fully polished as stable releases. Still, for users eager to stay ready for the next wave of Ryzen CPUs on AM5, this update is a strong sign that something new is approaching.
