Should I upgrade my BIOS?

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  1. Posts : 312
    Windows 7 Professional SP1 x64 (OEM)
       #1

    Should I upgrade my BIOS?


    Hi guys,

    I was just checking driver downloads from the ASUS website to see if there were any updates.

    Upon running Speccy, I found out I have BIOS 212. There is a BIOS 223 available. Following is the changelog from my current BIOS version to the latest:

    BIOS 223
    1.Fix system may hang if press power button immediately after plugging AC in.
    2.Fix OS led not light after resume from deep S3.

    BIOS 219
    Support i3-2370

    BIOS 218
    Firmware Change

    BIOS 213
    Support new CPU i7-2670

    BIOS 212 (CURRENT)
    Optimize Asmedia USB3


    I have not performed a BIOS update before, because it required floppy disks back in the day and it could be quite the process, so I stayed away from it.

    My driver CD came with a "Windows BIOS Flash Utility V2.31.1", which should allow a more convenient updating of the BIOS while in the Windows environment.

    So far, things appear to be fine, eventhough my BIOS is quite outdated.

    Would you suggest to proceed with the update or should I leave it be? Why so?

    Advice is much appreciated. Thanks.
    Last edited by kathy025; 13 Jan 2014 at 09:26.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 2,497
    Windows 7 Pro 64 bit
       #2

    The BIOS should not be updated unless the update addresses a specific problem you are having. If the update fails, which can happen even if you do everything right, your system may be unbootable. Recovery from that often requires physical replacement of the BIOS chip.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 7,379
    Windows 7 ultimate x64
       #3

    Hi Kathy,

    First thing I will suggest, If you are not sure or comfortable in updating BIOS yourself, DO NOT attempt to do it. Because, if something goes wrong, your PC might not work at all. You might want to contact some professional or ask your buddies who has done this before.

    If you are sure, then YES updating BIOS can be very helpful.

    Follow this.

    download the file to the USB Drive.... save the file to the root of the USB (if it is Zipped.. unZIPit)

    Attach the USB to the system before boot...

    While Boot goto the BIOS.... on the last option ... there has a Utilities call Asus EZ Flash
    or something like that refer to your MB Manuel..

    choose use BIOS file in the USB .... and it will update....
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 31,242
    Windows 11 Pro x64 [Latest Release and Release Preview]
       #4

    My personal criteria when it comes to BIOS updates is " if it ain't broke ...". as you say yourself you do not notice any particular issues with your system that is purported to be fixed by the update concerned.

    You could check each of the intermediate BIOS updates between yours and the latest, (if any) and check to see if they contain anything specifically beneficial to your system.

    Some updates do provide more than just bug-fixes, such as updates to support new hardware, which should be installed, if you have installed or intend to install this newer hardware, otherwise, again, I would err on the side of caution

    Just my personal thoughts but hope they help, in all cases ensure that the upgrade process has some form of "Roll Back" facility so that should you discover issues after update you can return to your current stable system
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 312
    Windows 7 Professional SP1 x64 (OEM)
    Thread Starter
       #5

    LMiller7 said:
    The BIOS should not be updated unless the update addresses a specific problem you are having. If the update fails, which can happen even if you do everything right, your system may be unbootable. Recovery from that often requires physical replacement of the BIOS chip.
    I will surely keep this in mind. Will replacement of the BIOS chip affect the OEM license tied to my mobo? This just got me curios.

    archer said:
    download the file to the USB Drive.... save the file to the root of the USB (if it is Zipped.. unZIPit)

    Attach the USB to the system before boot...

    While Boot goto the BIOS.... on the last option ... there has a Utilities call Asus EZ Flash
    or something like that refer to your MB Manuel..

    choose use BIOS file in the USB .... and it will update....
    I do faintly remember an EZ Flash Ulility when I was tweaking my BIOS settings around a month back. I will double check of its presence shortly and confirm. This is a very useful tip, thanks.

    Barman58 said:
    You could check each of the intermediate BIOS updates between yours and the latest, (if any) and check to see if they contain anything specifically beneficial to your system.
    I have updated the first post to include changelog from my version to the latest. Do you believe anything is of great significance there?

    Meanwhile, I will install the Windows BIOS Flash Utility to see if it has some sort of a rollback feature and report back, that was a good call.

    For now, I'm only gathering information. Your responses are much awaited and I will let you know should I ultimately decide to update or not.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 19,383
    Windows 10 Pro x64 ; Xubuntu x64
       #6

    Will replacement of the BIOS chip affect the OEM license tied to my mobo?
    No, it has no effect on that. I updated my BIOS on my ASUS X54C to solve a reboot issue, and my Windows 7 Professional OEM licence wasn't affected in the least.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 312
    Windows 7 Professional SP1 x64 (OEM)
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Thanks, Golden.

    << UPDATE >>
    1) There is a Start Easy Flash utility in BIOS.
    2) There is no rollback feature in WinFlash. It only pops out a warning about updating and prompts to browse for the BIOS file.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 4,566
    Windows 10 Pro
       #8

    Also most decent motherboards now a days offer some kind of rollback feature where you can plug a flash drive in with a bios file and roll back to a previous version.

    I don't think you should always jump the gun to do a bios update, but for the most part it seems you do not need to worry about doing it as much as before.

    My motherboard bios has been updates several times for stability reasons. I have updated it for those, and have noticed slightly better performance and such. So it is worth it sometimes.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 1,846
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64, & Mac OS X 10.9.2
       #9

    in my many years as a system builder and well just being a geek who likes to tinker I have only ever updated a bios once.

    that was to fix/make something compatible. As back in the day my Asus mobo needed a bios update to suppport core 2 quad.

    apart from that its an if it aint broke dont fix it kind of thing in my eyes.

    nothing on that list of fixes would be essential unless youre buying an i7 2670 any time soon.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 312
    Windows 7 Professional SP1 x64 (OEM)
    Thread Starter
       #10

    andrew129260 said:
    Also most decent motherboards now a days offer some kind of rollback feature where you can plug a flash drive in with a bios file and roll back to a previous version.
    In my previous experience with flashing firmware on mobile phones, there was what was called a "sticky firmware", wherein you cannot downgrade once that firmware was flashed. You cannot flash a lower version firmware and you can only flash higher version firmware from that point on.

    Just to confirm, is there such a "sticky" condition with laptop/PC mobos?
    Or can we always safely flash lower to higher back and forth?

    badger906 said:
    nothing on that list of fixes would be essential unless youre buying an i7 2670 any time soon.
    Thank you for your input.
      My Computer


 
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