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ASUS’s January 30, 2026 AM5 beta BIOS wave introduced more than a routine AGESA update. Selected ROG, TUF Gaming, ProArt, and Prime motherboards received AGESA ComboAM5 PI_Pre1.3.0.0 together with a new Bank Refresh Mode control for DDR5.
The setting changes how the Ryzen memory controller schedules DRAM refreshes. That matters for security because ASUS’s newer Mixed mode is consistent with AMD’s mitigation for the Phoenix DDR5 Rowhammer research—but it also means that an old, manually tuned memory profile may no longer be stable. Users running EXPO with aggressive tRFC1, tRFC2, or tRFCsb values should treat the BIOS update as a new memory-tuning baseline, not as a drop-in replacement.
.CMO profile blindly, and retest or rebuild their tune.What ASUS changed
The original release wave, dated January 30, 2026, covered selected ASUS AM5 boards using the X870, X670, B850, and B650 chipsets. ASUS’s changelogs identify two related changes:
AGESA ComboAM5 PI_Pre1.3.0.0, described as improving security, stability, and JEDEC memory compatibility.- A user-facing Bank Refresh Mode option that exposes the memory-controller policy previously associated with
M_Ordering.
This is not primarily a CPU performance upgrade. The practical change is the refresh policy used by DDR5, including which refresh timings are active. ASUS explains the implementation in its Bank Refresh Mode technical article, while AMD documents the security background in security bulletin AMD-SB-7048.
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Do not confuse the January beta with the latest BIOS
PI_Pre1.3.0.0 is ASUS’s label for a pre-release AGESA branch leading into the later 1.3.0.0 family. It should not be treated as proof that the build is identical to a final ComboAM5 PI 1.3.0.0 release.
ASUS support histories show a progression roughly like this:
- Earlier boards commonly used AGESA 1.2.7.0.
- January and February 2026 interim or beta BIOS files introduced
ComboAM5 PI_Pre1.3.0.0. - Later February and March releases moved to
ComboAM5 PI 1.3.0.0a. - Subsequent releases moved to
1.3.0.1,1.3.0.1b, and1.3.0.1b Patch A.
For example, the ROG Crosshair X870E Hero support history lists BIOS 2004 with PI_Pre1.3.0.0, beta BIOS 2102 with 1.3.0.0a, and BIOS 2103 with 1.3.0.0a. Other ASUS support pages show later 1.3.0.1b and Patch A branches.
Therefore, the January 30 BIOS is best understood as the first broad rollout of this behavior, not as the universal BIOS that every owner should install now. Always use the support page for the exact board model and region. BIOS numbers are not interchangeable between motherboards.
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The release covered selected models rather than every ASUS AM5 motherboard. The original list included boards from the following families:
- ROG Crosshair X870E and X670E
- ROG Strix X870, X870E, X670E, B850, B650, and B650E
- TUF Gaming X870, X870E, X670E, B850, B650, and B650E
- ProArt X870E, X670E, and B650-family boards
Representative original BIOS numbers included:
| Platform family | Representative original BIOS | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| X870/X870E | 2004 | Some models used 1626 or 0606 instead. |
| B850 | 1626 | Verify the exact model before downloading. |
| X670/X670E | 3513 | Some models used 3826. |
| B650/B650E | 3826 | Availability and release date varied by model. |
Examples recorded on ASUS support pages include:
- ROG Crosshair X870E Hero BIOS 2004, dated January 30, 2026.
- ROG Strix X670E-F Gaming WiFi BIOS 3513, dated January 30, 2026.
- ProArt X870E-Creator WiFi BIOS 2004, dated January 30, 2026.
- TUF Gaming X870-Plus WiFi BIOS 1404, dated January 8, 2026, on the pre-1.3 branch shown for that board.
- TUF Gaming B650-E WiFi BIOS 3826, dated February 13, 2026, on the pre-1.3 branch shown for that board.
These are examples, not a safe universal download list. Use ASUS’s product selector and confirm the complete model name, such as whether the board is a WiFi, E, or non-E variant.
What Bank Refresh Mode actually controls
DRAM must periodically refresh its memory cells. DDR5 supports several refresh command paths, and each path has different timing behavior. Micron’s DDR5 technical explanation distinguishes the conventional all-bank refresh command, same-bank refresh, and fine-granularity refresh.
- All-bank refresh, or
REFab: the conventional path, which requires the relevant banks to be idle during the refresh operation. - Same-bank refresh, or
REFsb: refreshes a corresponding bank in each bank group while allowing other banks to remain available. - Fine Granularity Refresh: uses a shorter refresh cycle but schedules refreshes more frequently.
The important timings are:
tRFC1: the conventional all-bank refresh cycle timing.tRFC2: the fine-granularity all-bank refresh timing.tRFCsb: the same-bank refresh timing.
Bank Refresh Mode is consequently a memory-controller policy, not a simple RAM speed switch. It determines which refresh behavior the controller may use and which refresh timings are actually enforced.
Mode translation: old control versus new ASUS label
Earlier ASUS BIOS manuals exposed the underlying control as M_ORDERING, with values such as NORM, STRICT, and RELAXED. ASUS’s newer interface presents the choices as Normal, Fine Granularity, and Mixed. The mapping below follows ASUS’s technical explanation and forum documentation.
| ASUS menu label | Underlying policy | Primary refresh behavior | Timings that matter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal Mode | M_Ordering = NORM |
Legacy-style conventional all-bank refresh | tRFC1 |
| Fine Granularity Mode | M_Ordering = STRICT |
Fine-granularity all-bank refresh | tRFC2; tRFCsb is generally not active |
| Mixed Mode | M_Ordering = RELAXED |
Combines all-bank and same-bank refresh behavior | tRFC2 and tRFCsb |
The exact menu wording can vary by motherboard and BIOS revision. On affected builds, the option is generally located at:
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Advanced Mode
→ Ai Tweaker
→ DRAM Timing Control
→ Bank Refresh ModeOn older BIOS versions, look for M_ORDERING with the values Auto, NORM, STRICT, and RELAXED. ASUS says the user-facing name was changed to Bank Refresh Mode on February 5, 2026.
What Auto means
Auto is version-dependent. On newer ASUS AM5 BIOS behavior, Auto generally follows AMD’s newer relaxed or Mixed default. Older BIOS builds could treat Auto as Normal instead. Do not infer the active behavior from the word Auto alone; check the BIOS generation and, if necessary, verify the resulting timings with a tool such as ZenTimings.
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Why this is connected to Phoenix and Rowhammer
Rowhammer is a class of DRAM attack in which repeatedly accessing carefully chosen rows can disturb neighboring memory cells and cause bit flips. If an attacker can turn those bit flips into changes in security-sensitive data, the result can potentially include privilege escalation.
The Phoenix research team reported testing 15 SK hynix DDR5 DIMMs and observing bit flips on all 15 tested modules. Their evaluation demonstrated privilege escalation on a production desktop system, with the shortest demonstrated exploit taking approximately 109 seconds and the average taking 5 minutes 19 seconds. Those are experimental results from the researchers’ test setup—not a guarantee that every DDR5 module, Ryzen system, or consumer PC has the same exposure.
The research also found that on-die ECC did not automatically prevent the demonstrated bit flips from accumulating. The researchers’ Phoenix publication page explains both the findings and their limitations. Google’s publication record is available through its Phoenix research listing.
AMD’s AMD-SB-7048 security brief says Phoenix demonstrated bit flips capable of privilege escalation and that susceptibility varies with the DRAM device, vendor, technology, and system settings. AMD supplied updated Platform Initialization packages that allow OEMs to enable Mixed Refresh Mode, which AMD describes as an existing DRAM workaround for Rowhammer-style attacks.
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- AMD initially published the security brief on September 15, 2025.
- ASUS published its AM5 memory-refresh explanation on January 16, 2026.
- ASUS released the broad
PI_Pre1.3.0.0BIOS wave on January 30, 2026. - AMD updated AMD-SB-7048 on February 23, 2026 with Ryzen mitigation information involving Mixed Refresh Mode.
It is reasonable to say that ASUS’s Bank Refresh Mode changes are consistent with AMD’s DDR5 refresh-mode mitigation. It is not justified to claim that ASUS publicly confirmed every January 30 beta file as a direct, one-to-one Phoenix patch. ASUS’s own changelogs use broader wording such as improved security, and ASUS links the feature explanation to AMD’s bulletin.
This is also not the same as saying that every home user faces an easy remote attack. The demonstrated technique requires substantial local control and system-specific conditions. The security benefit is nevertheless the reason ASUS and AMD treat Mixed Refresh Mode differently from the legacy Normal path.
Why an old stable memory overclock can fail
A memory profile can be stable because the old BIOS never exercised some of the values stored in the profile. After the update, the controller may use a different refresh path and enforce timings that were previously irrelevant.
A typical migration problem looks like this:
- An overclocker tunes a DDR5 kit under the old all-bank behavior, primarily optimizing
tRFC1. - The new BIOS selects Mixed mode.
tRFC2andtRFCsbnow affect actual operation.- One or both values are too tight for the module, capacity, rank layout, frequency, temperature, or voltage.
- The computer fails memory training, produces WHEA errors, crashes applications or games, or fails a long memory test despite booting normally.
The BIOS may not have made the memory kit intrinsically worse. It changed the assumptions under which the profile was tuned.
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ASUS specifically warns that values previously ignored may become active under Mixed mode. Its continuity guidance is to begin with tRFC1 = tRFC2, then retest. That is a conservative starting point, not a guaranteed value for every DIMM. In Mixed mode, tRFCsb must also be tested separately.
Normal, Fine Granularity, or Mixed?
Mixed Mode: the security-oriented default
Mixed mode corresponds to M_Ordering = RELAXED. It permits the controller to use same-bank refresh along with all-bank refresh, so both tRFC2 and tRFCsb can become relevant.
Choose or retain Mixed mode when:
- Security is more important than preserving an old timing profile unchanged.
- You want the newer AMD- and ASUS-described refresh behavior.
- Your memory kit is stable after conservative retuning.
- The computer handles sensitive data or operates in a shared environment.
Mixed does not guarantee a performance improvement. It changes the refresh schedule and may reduce the lockout imposed on unaffected banks, but it also requires the memory controller and DIMMs to work with the corresponding timing path.
Normal Mode: useful for diagnosis, but with a security trade-off
Normal mode preserves the legacy-style behavior and keeps tRFC1 as the main refresh timing. It may be the easiest way to confirm that a post-update failure is caused by the new refresh policy.
However, ASUS identifies Normal mode as carrying the security weakness addressed by the newer Mixed behavior. It should not be selected casually just because an old overclock boots there. A reasonable use is temporary diagnosis while rebuilding a profile. Keeping it permanently is a conscious security trade-off for a low-risk personal system, not the default recommendation.
Fine Granularity Mode: a tuning option, not a universal winner
Fine Granularity mode corresponds to M_Ordering = STRICT and uses the fine-granularity all-bank path. It can be useful for controlled memory testing when Mixed mode is unstable but you want to remain on the newer AGESA branch.
There is no universal faster or slower setting. Results depend on the memory IC, DIMM capacity and rank layout, frequency, timings, voltage, workload, and motherboard. ASUS community testing found that Normal could provide more consistent gaming results in some tests, while Relaxed or Mixed could improve selected synthetic bandwidth or latency results. The reported differences were workload-dependent and generally small; this is community testing rather than an independent benchmark establishing a universal winner.
Should you install the beta BIOS?
| User profile | Practical recommendation |
|---|---|
| Running JEDEC defaults | Use a mature current BIOS unless you need a specific fix. There is no reason to chase the original beta simply for performance. |
| Using EXPO without manual timing changes | Update only after checking the exact board changelog and preparing for longer memory training and possible settings changes. |
| Aggressive DDR5 overclocker | Treat the update as a new tuning baseline. Record all values and do not restore the old profile blindly. |
| Security-sensitive workload | Prefer the newer Mixed behavior and relax refresh timings as needed for stability. |
| Competitive benchmarker | Test Normal, Fine Granularity, and Mixed separately, while documenting the security trade-off of Normal. |
| ECC-UDIMM workstation with Ryzen 9000 | Read the board’s warning before updating. ASUS documents a 5200 MT/s ECC-UDIMM limit with Ryzen 9000 from AGESA 1.3.0.0 onward. |
| BitLocker or device encryption enabled | Back up the recovery key and suspend protection before flashing. |
| Currently stable on an older BIOS | Consider waiting for a mature newer release rather than installing the original beta solely for a version number. |
The security choice and the overclocking choice are related but not identical. A user can stay on a newer AGESA branch, keep Mixed mode, and retune the refresh values without reverting the entire BIOS.
Important ECC-UDIMM limitation
ASUS support pages warn that, starting with AGESA ComboAM5 PI 1.3.0.0, ECC-UDIMM memory speed will be limited to 5200 MT/s when paired with Ryzen 9000-series CPUs.
This is separate from Bank Refresh Mode and may matter more to a workstation owner than the new menu option. The warning is ASUS-documented and should not be generalized to every CPU, board, or memory configuration without checking the exact support page. The TUF Gaming X870-Plus WiFi BIOS history is one example of ASUS’s documentation.
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Prepare before flashing
- Identify the exact motherboard. Record the complete model name and current BIOS version. Do not use a file just because its number matches another ASUS board.
- Check the support history. Prefer a later mature BIOS over the original
PI_Pre1.3.0.0beta when one is available and its fixes are appropriate for your system. - Record the memory configuration. Save frequency, EXPO or manual voltage, primary timings,
tRFC1,tRFC2,tRFCsb, memory-controller settings, and any related voltages. Take photographs if necessary. - Do not rely on an old
.CMOfile. ASUS warns that profiles created on older BIOS versions may cause problems with AGESA 1.3.0.0 BIOS builds. - Prepare recovery media. Use a reliable FAT16 or FAT32 USB drive, and download the correct BIOS file. If the board supports BIOS FlashBack, identify the designated port and button before starting.
- Protect BitLocker. Locate and save the recovery key, then suspend BitLocker or Windows device encryption before the firmware update. Resume protection after the new BIOS boots reliably.
- Use stable power. Do not flash during a power outage or when the system is otherwise unreliable.
How to update with ASUS EZ Flash 3
For a system that boots normally, ASUS’s recommended in-UEFI route is:
- Download the BIOS for the exact motherboard model from ASUS Support.
- Extract the downloaded archive.
- Copy the board’s
.CAPfile to a USB drive formatted as FAT16 or FAT32. - Reboot and press Delete to enter UEFI.
- Press F7 to switch to Advanced Mode.
- Open Tool and choose ASUS EZ Flash 3 Utility.
- Select the USB drive and the correct
.CAPfile. - Confirm the displayed BIOS information.
- Do not power off, reset, or remove the USB drive while the update is running.
- After the reboot, enter UEFI again and press F5 to load defaults before rebuilding the memory tune.
ASUS’s official EZ Flash 3 procedure specifies the FAT16/FAT32 requirement and warns against interrupting the flash. ASUS also documents general BIOS-update precautions and BitLocker preparation.
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How to use BIOS FlashBack if the board will not POST
BIOS FlashBack is available only on supported motherboard models. It can update firmware without entering UEFI and is useful when the board powers on but does not display or boot normally.
- Use a USB drive with a single FAT16 or FAT32 partition.
- Download the BIOS file for the exact board.
- Run ASUS BIOSRenamer if the board requires a specific filename.
- Copy the renamed
.CAPfile to the root of the USB drive. - Insert the drive into the motherboard’s designated BIOS FlashBack port.
- Shut the computer down but leave the power supply connected.
- Hold the BIOS FlashBack button for approximately three seconds.
- Wait for the FlashBack LED to finish its cycle. Do not remove power or the USB drive during the process.
A wrong board file, wrong filename, wrong USB port, incompatible formatting, or an interrupted power supply can cause FlashBack to fail. Follow the board-specific instructions in ASUS’s BIOS FlashBack guide.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Retune DDR5 after the update
The safest approach is to establish a known-good baseline before attempting the old overclock again.
- Enter UEFI after flashing and load defaults with F5.
- Boot once at JEDEC defaults. Confirm that the system can complete several normal and cold boots.
- Enable EXPO without manually tightening secondary timings.
- Confirm that the system remains stable before changing refresh values.
- Inspect Bank Refresh Mode. On newer BIOS versions, Auto will generally follow the newer Mixed behavior, but verify rather than assuming.
- If using Mixed mode, start with conservative
tRFC2andtRFCsbvalues. - For continuity with ASUS’s guidance, a starting point is
tRFC1 = tRFC2. This is not a guaranteed final value. - Test cold boots, long memory loads, and the applications or games that previously exposed instability.
- Only after the baseline is reliable should you retune frequency, voltage, primary timings, and secondary timings.
Do not interpret a successful POST as proof of stability. A profile can boot and still produce WHEA errors, application crashes, game crashes, or failures during extended memory testing. Tight refresh timings that worked in Normal mode may need to be relaxed in Mixed mode.
Recovery when the new BIOS is unstable
If Windows boots but crashes
- Enter UEFI and load defaults with F5.
- Temporarily disable manual memory timings.
- Boot at JEDEC defaults or use EXPO only.
- Set Bank Refresh Mode to Auto or another conservative test mode.
- Check whether failures disappear before rebuilding the profile.
- Re-enter refresh timings gradually, testing after each meaningful change.
If Mixed mode is stable at conservative values but fails with the old profile, the likely issue is not that the BIOS cannot use the memory kit; it is that one or more previously irrelevant or overly tight refresh values no longer work.
If the system is stuck training or will not POST
- Allow one or more complete memory-training cycles before intervening. The first boot after a BIOS update can be unusually long.
- Power the system down fully if it remains stuck.
- Clear CMOS according to the motherboard manual.
- Boot at defaults with the memory overclock removed.
- Use BIOS FlashBack if the board supports it.
- If considering a rollback, confirm that the exact target BIOS supports downgrade. Some later ASUS releases explicitly state that rollback is not supported.
Common symptoms include POST code C5, repeated training, a blank display, cold-boot-only instability, WHEA errors, and crashes that occur only under sustained memory load.
If BitLocker asks for a recovery key
A firmware update can change measurements used by device encryption and trigger a recovery prompt. Enter the saved recovery key if necessary, then verify that the system boots normally. For future updates, suspend BitLocker or device encryption before flashing and resume it after confirming the new firmware and memory settings.
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Should you revert to an older BIOS?
Rollback is an option only when ASUS supports it for that particular board and BIOS branch. Do not assume that every later BIOS can be downgraded. Some release notes explicitly state that rollback is unsupported.
Reverting may restore the old timing semantics and make a known-good overclock boot again, but it also removes the newer AGESA changes and the security-oriented refresh behavior. If the goal is only to recover stability, first try loading defaults and rebuilding the memory profile on the newer BIOS. Use Normal mode as a diagnostic comparison rather than automatically treating it as the permanent solution.
What the update means for performance
ASUS’s official changelogs emphasize security, stability, and JEDEC compatibility rather than a guaranteed performance gain. Bank Refresh Mode can alter latency, bandwidth, refresh overhead, and consistency, but the direction and size of the change depend on the workload and memory configuration.
DDR5 same-bank refresh can reduce the access lockout for unaffected banks, while its more frequent scheduling introduces a different timing requirement. That is why a synthetic benchmark may favor one mode while a game or application favors another. Small benchmark differences should not be presented as a universal reason to disable the security-oriented Mixed behavior.
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- Security-oriented refresh behavior where practical.
- Only then, fine-grained benchmark optimization.
Current status and practical recommendation
The January 30, 2026 PI_Pre1.3.0.0 wave was the beginning of the change, not the endpoint. ASUS support pages subsequently show 1.3.0.0a, 1.3.0.1, 1.3.0.1b, and 1.3.0.1b Patch A branches, with release dates, beta status, and rollback rules varying by board.
If your system is running at stock settings, install a mature current BIOS only when its board-specific notes and fixes justify the update. If you are an overclocker, save your settings and expect to retest the entire memory configuration. If security is the priority, keep the newer Mixed behavior and tune around it rather than reverting immediately to Normal.
The key point is simple: Bank Refresh Mode changes the conditions under which DDR5 timings operate. The update can improve the platform’s security posture, but it can also expose weaknesses in a memory profile that was stable only because the old BIOS used a different refresh path.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does AGESA PI_Pre1.3.0.0 equal final AGESA 1.3.0.0?
No. ASUS uses PI_Pre1.3.0.0 for a pre-release branch. Later BIOS histories moved through 1.3.0.0a, 1.3.0.1, 1.3.0.1b, and Patch A branches. Check the exact motherboard support page rather than treating the labels as interchangeable.
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Not blindly. ASUS warns that older .CMO profiles may cause problems with AGESA 1.3.0.0 BIOS builds. Load defaults, enable EXPO or enter the values manually, and rebuild the profile while testing tRFC1, tRFC2, and tRFCsb.
Does Mixed Mode guarantee better gaming performance?
No. Mixed Mode is primarily the newer security-oriented refresh behavior. ASUS community testing found workload-dependent results: some tests favored Normal for consistency, while others favored Relaxed or Mixed. Differences are not a universal performance justification for disabling Mixed.
Does Bank Refresh Mode completely fix Phoenix Rowhammer?
That claim is too broad. AMD describes updated PI packages that enable Mixed Refresh Mode as a mitigation for the Phoenix-related DDR5 Rowhammer issue. ASUS links its Bank Refresh Mode explanation to that mitigation, but ASUS has not publicly documented a one-to-one confirmation that every January 30 beta file was a complete Phoenix fix.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: ASUS’s January 30, 2026 AM5 beta BIOS wave introduced a meaningful DDR5 refresh-policy change alongside AGESA PI_Pre1.3.0.0. Mixed mode is the security-oriented choice, but it can make tRFC2 and tRFCsb matter to a memory profile that previously relied mainly on tRFC1. Check your exact board’s current BIOS page, prepare BitLocker and recovery options, load defaults after flashing, and retune memory rather than restoring an old profile unchanged.
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