Asus Prime B350M-A

General Specs

 * Socket: AMD AM4 Socket for AMD Ryzen™/7th Generation A-series/Athlon™ Processors
 * Tested Processors: AMD A8-A6-9500 (Bristol Ridge only for instal), Ryzen 2200 G
 * Date First Available:	2 March 2017
 * Form Factor: Micro ATX
 * Item model number: PRIME B350M-A/CSM
 * Processor Socket: AM4
 * Memory Technology: DDR4
 * Maximum Memory Supported: 64 GB
 * Number of USB 2.0 Ports: 2
 * Number of HDMI Ports: 1
 * Number of VGA Ports: 1

General Comments
Report by Martin Vieregg:

First, I failed booting from DVD. Some bootable CD and DVD were not recognized anymore. For a lot of CDs, I could solve the problem with a PCIe card with two SATA connectors. (Reading is no problem, only booting.) But the ArcaOS 5.0.1 DVD still refused work, all other (even older ones) worked fine. Via Bugtracker, I got the recommendation to wait for the bootable USB Stick. In February 2018, I got a beta version of 5.0.2, but first this did not work, too. The problem was: All AM4 boards do not have an USB 2.0 Controller (UHCI/EHCI) anymore, only XHCI (USB 3.0). On the rear side, there are green 2.0 and blue 3.0 connectors - a keyboard has to be plugged into the green ones, otherwise the BIOS does not recognize the keyboard. Nevertheless, the green ones are also controlled via the one XHCI controller which is not supported by ArcaOS at the moment. ArcaNoae told me to get the USB 3.0 support very soon (we are still waiting), but I decided to buy a PCIe USB 2.0 controller (StarTech). Now I could start the ArcaOS installation program the first time.

At the moment, there's a problem in the ArcaOS installation program (DOS memory problem) which occurs with Ryzen G, but not occurs with Bristol Ridge. So installation has to be made with Bristol Ridge processor which is also used to update the BIOS for the new Ryzen G processor.

The next subject was the problem, to get several OS into Coexistance. This was a hard work where I needed to instal the OS several times to find out the problems... The main problem was my assumption, that placing ArcaOS into a primary partition would be the easiest way which was completely false, because Windows changes all primary partitions, especially the OS/2 partitions with JFS format, because JFS has got the same partition id number (07) as Windows NTFS. But if you put ArcaOS into a logical volume, Windows does not matter.

Windows 10 64 bit could be installed without any problems.

The hardest problems I got with Windows 10 32 bit. Fist all worked fine, I could use it for some days, but after updating the BIOS I got massive malfunctions. Installing it new via DVD ends at the beginning in a Windows Bluescreen aspi.sys. I could not solve the problem yet. I hope that a future BIOS and/or Windows update fixes the problem.

On April 26 2018, LTS Ubuntu 18.04 has been available. I was quite sure that Ryzen and Vega graphics which is available now for one year gets supported without problems. But the first installation trial ended with corrupted screen output. The setting named "modern hardware, safe mode" in ArcaOS is the parameter "nomodeset" in Ubuntu. With this boot setting, I could install Ubutu in VESA mode. Then it was not difficult to load and install a new binary kernel. But temporary the computer freezes, it seems to be Alpha Software.

We are thinking that only with ArcaOS there are problems with new hardware. My experience with current hardware is quite different: Only the mainstram OS Windows 10 64 bit is really good supported, all other OS needs lot of manual work. The hardware manufacturers are thinking that they are only responsible for Windows 10 64 bit, for all other OS third party solutions are required.

The computer is really silent in idle state. The air stream from the power supply feels cold. The main noise source is now the additional HDD. I set a ticket for an idle functionality for OS2AHCI.ADD: https://mantis.arcanoae.com/view.php?id=1869

The difference between Bristol Ridge and Ryzen is distinctable in daily use, for example opening complex PDFs. Starting Firefox 38 1,5 seconds. Device driver worked all. Restrictions: Installation only with "modern hardware, safe mode". Behind Uniaud32.sys a parameter /A:1 is necessary. SMP and ACPI has to be installed after OS installation.

PANORAMA Graphics performance is really good: I can run 720p Videos with 25% processor load (1 processor) with good frame rate.

Here now the instruction for all who want to install comparible hardware:

Mainboard ASUS B350-M-A Processor AMD A8-A6-9500 (Bristol Ridge only for instal), Ryzen 2200 G CPU Fan XILENCE A404T SSD Samsung EVO 850 500 GB then I have a 2TB HDD and two DVD drives. (ebay) Startech USB controller 7x USB 2.0, PCI-E x1 (note: there are two different plates for default and flat PC cases) Power supply (low noise in idle state) not too much Watts because of less efficiency


 * 1) Plug Bristol Ridge processor. Put ArcaOS 5.0.2 stick into PCIe card. Do not plug in a second HD. Select "Modern hardware, safe mode" in the pre-instal menu. Start management console and Minilvm. Install Airboot later. Create 1 or 2 primary partitions for Windows (50 GB is useful). Place the logical partitions (ArcaOS, Linux, Data) at the end of the SSD. To be absolutely sure that Windows does not matter other partitions, generate only the primary Windows partitions.
 * 2) Install your Windows versions (I have one 32 and one 64 bit version of Windows 10). Do not install yet drivers for chipset and graphics!
 * 3) Make the BIOS update. This is needed for Ryzen G support. I bought a board where the BIOS is one year old.
 * 4) Make two logical partitions for ArcaOS (I have chosen 8 GB). Install ArcaOS twice, so you won't need the USB stick anymore for maintainance. Make the drive letters visible for both ArcaOS installations. (One C:, the other another letter). So you can maintain the one installation from the other. Select "Modern hardware, safe mode" in the pre-instal menu. Install Airboot now.
 * 5) Change the processor from Bristol Ridge to Ryzen G. (Oops, it is connected under the mainboard, do only fix the mainboard before with few screws.)
 * 6) Install Linux, also in a logical volume generated by Minilvm.
 * 7) Install Windows chipset / graphics driver after installing the Ryzen G processor.
 * 8) Install ArcaOS SMP kernel https://www.os2world.com/forum/index.php/topic,1759.0.html and newest ACPI driver (currently 3.23.09)

If you know exactly how to do it, you can make the work in 1/2 or at least 1 day.

One problem has been left: Minilvm shows a defective partition table after installing Ubuntu Linux. I will find a solution with DFSEE, I have already contact with the DFSEE author. I will report later - I have to backup the whole SSD before.


 * Sound and Network: Sound and Network did work without any additional instal. You have only to add /A:1 behind Uniaud32.sys in the Config.sys.
 * But it seems that there's now a conflict between SMP or ACPI and Sound. Sound worked fine with one processor, but now the beginning sound when booting gets repeated like an old 78rpm shellac disc with a scratch.

Hardware Manager Report

 * Asus Prime B350M-A Hardware Report

Links

 * Official Web Site
 * Forum Post