MB Bios Update

[boooysti]

Recently I got a MSI B450M Pro-VDH motherboard and I was browsing the MSI drivers for it. There were the normal ones and the BIOS updates which was to be expected. However, I have a Ryzen 3 2200g in it and was wondering if I actually need to flash it. On the website it says recommended, online it says to only do it if you really need it, and some people say always do it. What are your thoughts? The CPU is 2nd Gen (I think...?), so the mobo automatically should support it right? I'm waiting on an SSD and wifi chip, so I haven't even powered the system on BTW. No data to risk losing except the motherboard which doesn't have flashback. 

[Master Disaster]

Personally I always keep mine updated but the sensible answer is only update if you have a bug or issues. Basically if it isn't broke then don't try to fix it.

 

With that said I always recommend users to flash the latest version available whenever they boot a new board for the first time. First release BIOSes tend to be very buggy.

[boooysti]

3 minutes ago, Master Disaster said:

Personally I always keep mine updated but the sensible answer is only update if you have a bug or issues. Basically if it isn't broke then don't try to fix it.

 

With that said I always recommend users to flash the latest version available whenever they boot a new board for the first time. First release BIOSes tend to be very buggy.

There's only been 5 updates according to the website and one of them says to update chipset before updating BIOS, and the only thing I don't understand is that it updates 'AGESA code'. I don't really know what that even means

[Master Disaster]

12 minutes ago, boooysti said:

There's only been 5 updates according to the website and one of them says to update chipset before updating BIOS, and the only thing I don't understand is that it updates 'AGESA code'. I don't really know what that even means

Ahh yes, I forgot about AGESA code.

 

Basically AGESA code is AMDs Ryzen microcode. Think of it like updating the BIOS that's built into the CPU (that's not entirely accurate but close enough without adding confusion). AGESA code will fix bugs that exist at the CPU level and as such it is important that if you see a BIOS update contains an AGESA update then you should do it.

 

When updating BIOSes always grab the latest version, no need for sequential updates.

 

The technical answer would be the AGESA code updates are stored in the UEFI and are used to override the microcode built into the CPU so technically you're not updating the CPU however you are because it's running on the new microcode from the UEFI instead of the CPU built in one (I hope that makes sense).

[boooysti]

3 minutes ago, Master Disaster said:

Ahh yes, I forgot about AGESA code.

 

Basically AGESA code is AMDs Ryzen microcode. Think of it like updating the BIOS that's built into the CPU (that's not entirely accurate but close enough without adding confusion). AGESA code will fix bugs that exist at the CPU level and as such it is important that if you see a BIOS update contains an AGESA update then you should do it.

 

When updating BIOSes always grab the latest version, no need for sequential updates.

Now I know that I need the Drivers for LAN, chipset, etc. but what about the "Utilities section". Its under support for my motherboard, but I don't think even half of the things actually work with it. Like the Mystic Light, MSI Live, and a few others. It also has Realtek Audio, but isn't that default with a clean Windows 10 install?

[Master Disaster]

1 minute ago, boooysti said:

Now I know that I need the Drivers for LAN, chipset, etc. but what about the "Utilities section". Its under support for my motherboard, but I don't think even half of the things actually work with it. Like the Mystic Light, MSI Live, and a few others. It also has Realtek Audio, but isn't that default with a clean Windows 10 install?

You actually might not TBH though it is recommended to install the latest drivers from the manufacturers website. Always install the Realtek driver because it will come with the Realtek Configuration utility that Windows doesn't.

 

As for utilities? You can ignore them. Personally for my Asus board the only one I use is Aura sync for my RGB.

[boooysti]

10 minutes ago, Master Disaster said:

You actually might not TBH though it is recommended to install the latest drivers from the manufacturers website. Always install the Realtek driver because it will come with the Realtek Configuration utility that Windows doesn't.

 

As for utilities? You can ignore them. Personally for my Asus board the only one I use is Aura sync for my RGB.

Okay and one last thing I think. Alot of people say to flash BIOS before installing windows, but it says to install the newest chipset drivers before updating past the second BIOS update. So am I actually supposed to do it after installing windows instead of what some people recommend?

 

Also can I use the same fat32 8GB USB for the windows install and BIOS Update?

[Master Disaster]

43 minutes ago, boooysti said:

Okay and one last thing I think. Alot of people say to flash BIOS before installing windows, but it says to install the newest chipset drivers before updating past the second BIOS update. So am I actually supposed to do it after installing windows instead of what some people recommend?

 

Also can I use the same fat32 8GB USB for the windows install and BIOS Update?

I've never heard of needing to update drivers to flash a BIOS, I see no reason why you couldn't update the BIOS then install Windows and install the updated chipset drivers. I think that warning is for users with existing installs and doesn't apply to fresh installs.

 

Yes that's fine, drop the BIOS file on the root of the flash drive after you created the installer, boot to UEFI, launch Q Flash, navigate to the flash drive, select BIOS file and flash then install Windows followed by drivers.