New(er) Motherboard - x570 chipset support?

[BBro]

Introduction

I tried to build PC basing on HCL but unfortunately I bought used, corrupted AM4 Gigabyte x470 motherboard and I need to pick new.

Another ones in HCL are quiet “outdated” and I’d like to build PC usable, as long as it’s possible, that’s why I decided to pick x570 chipset and AMD Ryzen 7 3800X now (TBH I decided that way mostly because of that I’ve bought processor for previous motherboard, so I need to adjust my choices for it).

I’m going through manuals of couple motherboards but there are too less information to say - ok I’m 100% sure Qubes will work.

Question 1 - compatibility

Could You help me find out if they are ok?

1. Asus Prime x570-p
2. Gigabyte x570 gaming x
3. Gigabyte x570 UD

Using CTRL+F “SVM” and “IOMMU” I found out in both there are both of them but how do I check RVI support?

Question 2 - What is exactly RVI?

On wikipedia there is: (…)AMD Opteron CPUs beginning with the Family 0x10 Barcelona line, and Phenom II CPUs, support a second generation hardware virtualization technology called Rapid Virtualization Indexing (formerly known as Nested Page Tables during its development), later adopted by Intel as Extended Page Tables (EPT).

As of 2019, all modern Zen-based AMD processors support AMD-V.

The CPU flag for AMD-V is “svm”. This may be checked in BSD derivatives via dmesg or sysctl and in Linux via /proc/cpuinfo .[19] Instructions in AMD-V include VMRUN, VMLOAD, VMSAVE, CLGI, VMMCALL, INVLPGA, SKINIT, and STGI.

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So if I understood correctly, all 2019 support second generation of virtualization called RVI even if it’s just called SVM or AMD-V in vendors manuals? Is it right, isn’t it?

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What do You think I should do? Maybe just ask official manufactures support?

Question 3 - another way

X570 isn’t supported? Do You think I should use different AM4 compatible chipset?

[BBro]

Bought, Tested, Reported

Gigabyte x570 Gaming X motherboard

Remarks UEFI mode doesn’t work on default settings, Installation workaround needed (Do not create sys-usb on first config, do it manually attaching one of usb-controllers in permissive mode, described in Qubes Docs). Integrated Graphics and TPM not tested (but present). Attachments Qubes-HCL-Gigabyte_Technology_Co___Ltd_-X570_GAMING_X-20201112-210824.yml (1.2 KB)

[warnersmith]

I can help you with your questions about building a PC for Qubes OS.

Question 1 - Compatibility

The good news is that all the motherboards you listed (Asus Prime x570-p, Gigabyte x570 Gaming X 5, Gigabyte x570 UD) should be compatible with Qubes OS and your AMD Ryzen 7 3800X processor. You found the right keywords (“SVM” and “IOMMU”) to confirm their functionality.

While manuals might not explicitly mention RVI support, it’s safe to assume modern AMD processors like yours (released in 2019) have it as part of the overall AMD-V virtualization technology.

Here’s how you can be extra sure:

Check the Qubes OS Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) for user reports on similar configurations. Look for entries with the same chipset (X570) and similar AMD Ryzen processors. While not a guarantee, positive reports from other users are a good sign.
Search online forums for specific user experiences with your chosen motherboard and Qubes OS.
Question 2 - RVI Explained

You’re right! RVI (Rapid Virtualization Indexing) is indeed the older term for what’s now known as Extended Page Tables (EPT) on Intel and AMD-V on AMD processors.

Modern Zen-based AMD processors like yours inherently support AMD-V, which includes features like RVI for nested virtualization. So, finding “SVM” in the motherboard manuals confirms AMD-V support, which implicitly includes RVI.

What to Do?

Prioritize HCL Reports: Focus on finding reports in the Qubes OS HCL closest to your chosen motherboard and CPU combination. These user experiences are the best indicator of real-world compatibility.
Consider Official Support: If HCL reports are scarce, contacting the motherboard manufacturer’s support might offer additional peace of mind. However, focus on core functionalities like IOMMU and AMD-V support, not specifically RVI.
Question 3 - Alternative Chipsets

X570 chipsets are generally compatible with Qubes OS. If you’re concerned about finding enough information, consider a more mature chipset like B550 which also supports your Ryzen 7 3800X and has a good track record with Qubes OS. Check the HCL for compatible B550 motherboards.

Ultimately, the best choice depends on your needs and budget. X570 offers more features like PCIe 4.0, but B550 might be sufficient and easier to find confirmed compatibility information for.