MSI Releases BIOS Update for X670/B650 Series Motherboards: Reduce boot time by 50%

MSI has announced BIOS updates for the X670 and B650 series motherboards, which can reduce the time required for the boot process by 50%. After updating the BIOS, users need only enable the “Memory Context Restore” option within the BIOS to expedite the boot process; however, MSI has not divulged the specific technical details.

No user relishes enduring lengthy waits during the boot process, so any enhancement to boot speed will undoubtedly be well received. Many users who have opted for AMD’s new AM5 platform may share the sentiment that the time taken to boot and enter the system is somewhat excessive.

MSI conducted tests on a platform comprising an AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D processor, the company’s own MAG X670E Tomahawk WIFI motherboard, and two 16GB Kingston DDR5-6000 EXPO memory modules. The results showed that the boot time was reduced from 43 seconds to 22 seconds after the BIOS update, with the test duration calculated from pressing the power button to entering the Windows 11 desktop.

MSI asserts that a similar feature existed in previous BIOS versions, so this is not its first appearance. However, it was “not stable enough” in the past, rendering it practically useless in actual use. Users are advised to download the latest BIOS version from the official website.

Although MSI has not provided specific technical details for the “Memory Context Restore” feature, some users on related forums have revealed that it involves reusing EXPO memory configuration test/training/validation data during boot. Consequently, the boot time will not be shortened for the initial startup of a new system, immediately after setting EXPO memory overclocking, or following a BIOS reset.