Help with updating BIOS (without visual input)

[BuffNuggets]

Specs:

- AMD Ryzen 5 3600

- EVGA GTX 1660Ti

- Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 32GB (2x16) 3200MHz 

- ASUS ROG Crosshair VI Hero (WiFi AC) 

- Corsair RM650x 80+ Gold Certified 

- 500GB Kingston Nvme m.2 SSD

 

So I’ve just built my first ever PC using the components listed above. I read before building that I would need to install a BIOS update for the motherboard by downloading the latest BIOS from asus.com, transfer the update to a flash drive, and reformatting a USB Flash drive to FAT32 in order to push the update without seeing the BIOS. This is my issue though, I have no visual display at all, therefore I cannot see anything about the BIOS. The only information I’m given is from the on board error read out, that has a continuous “8” on it. I’ve learned that this means it needs BIOS update. 

 

I believe my issue is that when I download the update from asus.com, I’m only given 2 files. A BIOSrenaming tool and a CAP file. The CAP file is the one that needs to be pushed, but I cannot get it to work. Here’s a screen grab of what I get when I download the zipped file from ASUS: https://imgur.com/a/vnNR9Eg

 

I’ve been at this for 4hr now and I’m out of ideas as to how to fix this. For anyone wondering; my motherboard does not have any visual display ports, only an optical. I have my graphics card plugged into the motherboard as well as the power supply (fans are running). If anyone has questions that might help with an answer, please ask them!! 

[RGProductions]

I do believe you need a cpu to update the bios but I could be wrong, I think AMD has loaner CPUS for that 

[RGProductions]

As in a cpu supported by your current bios

[BuffNuggets]

1 minute ago, RGProductions said:

As in a cpu supported by your current bios

I checked to make sure the Ryzen 5 3600 would be compatible, I didn’t see anything that would indicate it wouldn’t be compatible anymore. Or are you referring to the laptop that I’m downloading the update from?

[RGProductions]

18 minutes ago, BuffNuggets said:

I checked to make sure the Ryzen 5 3600 would be compatible, I didn’t see anything that would indicate it wouldn’t be compatible anymore. Or are you referring to the laptop that I’m downloading the update from?

I could be wrong, but I meant that the motherboard you are updating must have a compatible (read- first gen zen) CPU installed in it to update the bios, not your 3600, which will only work once the bios is updated.

[Daniel Z.]

31 minutes ago, RGProductions said:

I could be wrong, but I meant that the motherboard you are updating must have a compatible (read- first gen zen) CPU installed in it to update the bios, not your 3600, which will only work once the bios is updated.

@BuffNuggets

On some Asus boards including the Crosshair VI Hero, one of the USB ports can be used to update the BIOS without a CPU installed. Go into the manual and check which one. Download the BIOS version you need onto a USB drive and plug it into the specified port, and press the flashback button. The USB has to be FAT32 formatted

[alyen]

Looks like ASUS ROG Crosshair VI Hero (WiFi AC)  has a feature called USB BIOS FLASHBACK so no CPU is needed.

https://rog.asus.com/technology/republic-of-gamers-motherboard-innovations/usb-bios-flashback/