AMD’s newest GPUs might face an unforeseen issue with motherboards.
AMD
Component manufacturers continually enhance their protocols, and AMD is no exception. The well-known brand, recognized for its graphics cards, is moving its latest 9000 series GPUs to the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) firmware standard. This transition marks a departure from the traditional pre-boot BIOS setup that has long been the standard method for executing various system functions.
PC World highlighted that many computer enthusiasts might view UEFI and pre-boot BIOS as interchangeable. However, AMD explained in its support documentation that it is adopting UEFI as the exclusive firmware standard for its graphics cards, including the Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT, for several reasons. These reasons encompass enhanced security, compatibility with diverse interfaces, accelerated firmware updates, support for large hard drives, compatibility with new PC hardware, Windows Secure Boot support, and quicker shutdown, startup, sleep, and resume times.
While AMD stands firmly by its decision, some PC users may face challenges, particularly if they are still operating on Windows 10 with an older motherboard. PC World pointed out that most computers over a decade old should have motherboards that support UEFI. Nevertheless, many Windows 10 users appear to prefer staying with the legacy OS until after October 14, 2025, when Microsoft plans to cease support for that operating system.
The publication noted that statistics from the gaming platform Steam show over 40% of users are using PCs running Windows 10, potentially putting them at risk of hardware incompatibility with Windows 11. According to Steam’s data, there is no reliable way to verify whether a PC motherboard is compliant with UEFI or still adheres to BIOS.
This move may be AMD’s attempt to encourage a transition to Windows 11. However, the reports suggest that users can opt to upgrade their PC motherboards while continuing to use Windows 10. Still, users resistant to change may face more encouragement to leave behind the legacy software. Notably, Microsoft has indicated intentions to charge for Extended Security Updates (ESU) for those who continue using Windows 10 past its end-of-service date.
Fionna Agomuoh is a Computing Writer at Digital Trends, covering a variety of topics in the computing sector, including…
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