If you want to build a server or a cruncher for CPU projects only, a GPU is only needed to set up the system. Afterwards, it only consumes electricity, which can add up for something running 24/7. While server mainboards are designed to boot without GPU, as this is the typical use case for a server, not all consumer mainboards do. This is an overview, which mainboards with AMD’s AM4 socket for the popular Ryzen CPUs boot without GPU.
Works, either tested by myself, another reliable source, or multiple, independent sources
Is said to work, but not tested by myself and I don’t know how reliable the source is
does not work
| model | BIOS version | comment |
|---|---|---|
| ASRock A320M-DGS | ? | phoronix.com, you have to find the option in the BIOS to kill the F1 “Confirm no monitor connected” |
| ASRock AB350M | P3.10 | tested by myself |
| ASRock AB350 Pro4 | ? | |
| ASRock AB350M Pro4 | ? | reddit, level1techs.com, unraid.net |
| ASRock Fatal1ty AB350 Gaming K4 | ? | |
| ASRock Fatal1ty B450 Gaming-ITX | ? | Project Greenhouse, obviously runs without GPU according to pics |
| ASRock X370 Killer SLI | ? | |
| Asus Prime B350M-K | 4013 | tested by myself |
| Asus Prime B450-A | ? | See comment below |
| Asus Prime B450-Plus | ? | overclockers.co.uk |
| Asus ROG Crosshair VI Hero | ? | |
| Asus Strix X370-F | 1001 | reddit, does some “error beep” without a GPU, but works |
| Gigabyte B450 Aorus M | ? | |
| MSI B450I GAMING AC | ? | See comment below, said to work with custom BIOS, but not with official one |
| MSI X370 Gaming Pro Carbon | ? |
Does your mainboard boot without GPU or CPU with integrated GPU (APU)? Or can you confirm something in the table above? Your comment is appreciated, to enlarge the table!
Comments
SiegfriedWagner #
I have asked MSI technical support if MSI B450I GAMING AC support booting without GPU.
Here is their response:
Dear (my name and surname),
Thanks for contacting MSI technical support.
Regarding your concern, we are really sorry, there is no iGPU in this Ryzen 1400, so motherboard cannot support boot up without a GPU. But if want to use the PC without GPU installed, we can apply for a customized version of BIOS to support this feature, official bios version cannot support it.
Thanks for your cooperation in advance!
Best Regards,
MSI Technical Support Team
Yongjin Kim #
Hi there, I can confirm that ASUS Prime B450M-A boots headless. I came back here to leave this comment as a small contribution, since your detailed posts helped me a lot. Thanks!
Peter H #
Got a couple Asus B450 f gaming . They all work headless. Also msi Will support headless boot for all am4 boards i belive.
Roland F #
I confirm ASRock headless boot for ASRock B450M Pro4
(90-MXB8F0-A0UAYZ; Firmware: 4.30 2020/8/3)
Used for Linux Server. Board has Serial Port.
Thx for the data collection!
Anonymous #
Wanted to let you know that the “Gigabyte B450 Aorus M” does not seem to boot for the first time without a GPU installed. Will be installing a GPU soon to see if it boots headless after initial setup.
Transcoder #
Does anyone know if the ASRock DeskMini X300 supports headless?
They only advertise support for APUs…
An underclocked Ryzen 9 5950X (to fit the 65W budget) in that form factor would be a dream.
TitusKap #
I can confirm that the AsRock X570 Phantom Gaming 4S will also boot in headless mode after 5 warning beeps. I also got an email from Asrock support that suggests most of their boards will boot in headless mode but I can’t confirm that myself.
Since this blog seems to be focusing on low power hardware, a mainboard which needs a fan for it’s chipset might seem out of place, but since this was the only compiled list I found on this topic when researching, I wanted to add it nonetheless.
Valentin Leistner #
My ASUS ROG Strix B450-F Gaming with AMD Ryzen 5 3600 works fine for headless booting TrueNAS Core without a GPU installed
Deschoe #
ASRock Fatal1ty X470 Gaming-ITX/ac works headless in my freenas/truenas box. Bios 3.40
Anonymous #
Asus Prime B350 Plus. After initial setup works headless (truenas)
Anonymus #
I reached out to ASRock Support regarding the ASRock Fatal1ty B450 Gaming-ITX/ac and they said that all ‘recent’ ASRock Motherboards should boot without GPU although it might take longer to boot and the Motherboard would beep five times. At the moment I can not validate this as I still have an APU inside that server but there is another comment that states the same for another ASRock Motherboard.
Anonymous #
Heya, just came here to say that my ASRock x370 taichi boots fine without a GPU.
Jimmy #
Hi. I just tested a MSI B450 Gaming Plus MAX and you can use it without a GPU. In BIOS you must set “VGA Detection” to disabled.
Comment