Question about updating Bios

[jaytrl]

I bought an Asrock  X370 Killer SLI/ac mobo. Asrock recommends users to NOT update their bios if the system starts, but many people recommend to always update the bios before installing windows. What is your opinion? I appreciate it. Thank you

[Oshino Shinobu]

If there's nothing wrong and there isn't a specific feature added by a BIOS update that you need/want, then I'd avoid updating the BIOS. 

 

Unless your board has a BIOS Flashback type feature which allows the BIOS to be updated/installed, even if the current one is corrupted, I would only update the BIOS when it's necessary to fix an issue you're having or for a specific feature. 

[jaytrl]

1 minute ago, Oshino Shinobu said:

If there's nothing wrong and there isn't a specific feature added by a BIOS update that you need/want, then I'd avoid updating the BIOS. 

 

Unless your board has a BIOS Flashback type feature which allows the BIOS to be updated/installed, even if the current one is corrupted, I would only update the BIOS when it's necessary to fix an issue you're having or for a specific feature. 

Well it's a new mobo. I'm building a PC from scratch.What if the update it comes pre-installed in is very outdated? 

[Oshino Shinobu]

Just now, jaytrl said:

Well it's a new mobo. I'm building a PC from scratch.What if the update it comes pre-installed in is very outdated? 

X370 as a platform isn't old enough to have a very outdated BIOS. 

 

As I said, if you don't have any issues, I'd advise not updating the BIOS. You can check the release notes for the BIOS updates since the installed version to see if there's anything you specifically need. If there's not, just leave it as it is. 

[jaytrl]

Ok. quick question: let's say the mobo is one update behind, will I encounter any issues before or after installing the OS, if the mobo hypothetically had any issue? sorry if this question makes no sense to you, i'm a noob. and thank you for your help

[TrigrH]

8 minutes ago, Oshino Shinobu said:

If there's nothing wrong and there isn't a specific feature added by a BIOS update that you need/want, then I'd avoid updating the BIOS. 

 

Unless your board has a BIOS Flashback type feature which allows the BIOS to be updated/installed, even if the current one is corrupted, I would only update the BIOS when it's necessary to fix an issue you're having or for a specific feature. 

No, this is ryzen the you NEED to update the BIOS early releases are not even fully stable.

6 minutes ago, jaytrl said:

Well it's a new mobo. I'm building a PC from scratch.What if the update it comes pre-installed in is very outdated? 

It IS very outdated, update the bios.

2 minutes ago, Oshino Shinobu said:

X370 as a platform isn't old enough to have a very outdated BIOS. 

Yes it is.

[jaytrl]

2 minutes ago, TrigrH said:

No, this is ryzen the you NEED to update the BIOS early releases are not even fully stable.

It IS very outdated, update the bios.

Yes it is.

Well this is the link to Asrocks bios/drivers update page for the particular mobo I bought. question: what is the "DOS"  file?

 

http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/X370 Killer SLIac/#BIOS

[Oshino Shinobu]

1 minute ago, TrigrH said:

No, this is ryzen the you NEED to update the BIOS early releases are not even fully stable.

Then it needs updating as it's an issue. I would class instability as "wrong", so it would justify an update as I said in previous posts. 

 

I'd check the BIOS version before updating. Depending on when the board was made, it may have a recent version.

[TrigrH]

1 minute ago, jaytrl said:

Well this is the link to Asrocks bios/drivers update page for the particular mobo I bought. question: what is the "DOS"  file?

 

http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/X370 Killer SLIac/#BIOS

ignore that, get a USB stick, take everything you need off it, format it fat 32, put the file INSIDE this zip: http://asrock.pc.cdn.bitgravity.com/BIOS/AM4/X370 Killer SLIac(3.10)ROM.zip

on the USB.

 

Plug usb in the back of the PC, not the case. Head into the bios and open up instant flash.

[jaytrl]

Ok. just to clarify, don't unzip the file. just put the file as is into the USB after the download completes? 

[TrigrH]

1 minute ago, jaytrl said:

Ok. just to clarify, don't unzip the file. just put the file as is into the USB after the download completes? 

Quote

 put the file INSIDE this zip

unzip it, it should be a single file anyway

[jaytrl]

Just now, TrigrH said:

unzip it, it should be a single file anyway

ok. you've been very helpful. thank you

[Sanctorum]

Check what BIOS revision you're currently running and check to make sure that the newest BIOS revision works with your motherboard before updating. Asrock motherboards in particular have had issues with BIOS updates, and a lot of people have bricked their Asrock mobo's trying to update to a new BIOS that wasn't actually even stable. Remember, you could brick your mobo.

[TrigrH]

1 minute ago, Sanctorum said:

 a lot of people have bricked their Asrock mobo's trying to update to a new BIOS that wasn't actually even stable

since when? source?

[jaytrl]

1 minute ago, Sanctorum said:

Check what BIOS revision you're currently running and check to make sure that the newest BIOS revision works with your motherboard before updating. Asrock motherboards in particular have had issues with BIOS updates, and a lot of people have bricked their Asrock mobo's trying to update to a new BIOS that wasn't actually even stable. Remember, you could brick your mobo.

well i'm going to download the latest bios update for the exact mobo off of the OEM's website.why would the OEM put up a bios update for a particular mobo if it isn't compatible. no offense, this is a legit question I would like an answer to. i'm a noob

[Sanctorum]

3 minutes ago, TrigrH said:

since when? source?

Since Asrock have been putting out BIOS'.

2 minutes ago, jaytrl said:

well i'm going to download the latest bios update for the exact mobo off of the OEM's website.why would the OEM put up a bios update for a particular mobo if it isn't compatible. no offense, this is a legit question I would like an answer to. i'm a noob

Yes, but check on forums etc that people have installed the BIOS successfully. Mistakes are made.

 

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-3408153/bios-update-asrock-ab350-pro4.html

http://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4725&title=asrock-ab350-pro4-fails-to-post-with-22-bios

 

It's not only with Asrock, Gigabyte put out a BIOS for their AM4 boards not too long ago and many users reported their mobo's bricked after installing that BIOS, it was mainly people with AB350 Gaming(1) boards AFAIR.

[jaytrl]

2 minutes ago, Sanctorum said:

Since Asrock have been putting out BIOS'.

Yes, but check on forums etc that people have installed the BIOS successfully. Mistakes are made.

 

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-3408153/bios-update-asrock-ab350-pro4.html

http://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4725&title=asrock-ab350-pro4-fails-to-post-with-22-bios

 

It's not only with Asrock, Gigabyte put out a BIOS for their AM4 boards not too long ago and many users reported their mobo's bricked after installing that BIOS, it was mainly people with AB350 Gaming(1) boards AFAIR.

understood. thanks for the warning

[TrigrH]

2 minutes ago, Sanctorum said:

Since Asrock have been putting out BIOS'.

Yes, but check on forums etc that people have installed the BIOS successfully. Mistakes are made.

 

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-3408153/bios-update-asrock-ab350-pro4.html

http://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4725&title=asrock-ab350-pro4-fails-to-post-with-22-bios

 

It's not only with Asrock, Gigabyte put out a BIOS for their AM4 boards not too long ago and many users reported their mobo's bricked after installing that BIOS, it was mainly people with AB350 Gaming(1) boards AFAIR.

A bios update is only going to fail id you do something wrong or have a power outage, and by the sounds of things this was only an issue on the release bioses.

[Sanctorum]

Just now, TrigrH said:

A bios update is only going to fail id you do something wrong or have a power outage

Lmfao, that's not true. There's plenty of reasons a BIOS update could fail. User error or a power outage are the most likely, but not the "only" way.

1 minute ago, TrigrH said:

and by the sounds of things this was only an issue on the release bioses.

Did you actually read the sources? BIOS version 2.2 from Asrock was not their release BIOS. It's also not the only revision that had issues, just the main one AFAIR. 

[TrigrH]

3 minutes ago, Sanctorum said:

Lmfao, that's not true. There's plenty of reasons a BIOS update could fail. User error or a power outage are the most likely, but not the "only" way.

Did you actually read the sources? BIOS version 2.2 from Asrock was not their release BIOS. It's also not the only revision that had issues, just the main one AFAIR. 

both sources are 1 specific mobo which the OP doesn't even have...

[Sanctorum]

3 minutes ago, TrigrH said:

both sources are 1 specific mobo which the OP doesn't even have...

So? That makes it not a valid source? What a stupid argument. You asked for sources to back up my claim, I gave you them. How many BIOS' have you actually updated?

[TrigrH]

14 minutes ago, Sanctorum said:

So? That makes it not a valid source? What a stupid argument. You asked for sources to back up my claim, I gave you them. How many BIOS' have you actually updated?

The source is valid, the claim isn't. Since its only from a single motherboard which has these issues. No need to brand all asrock bios updates as super dangerous or something lol.

I've done hundreds of bios updates and several on asrock boards for personal use, not that it matters. Ive never seen instant flash fail, I cant say the same for windows or DOS methods thats for sure.

[Sanctorum]

4 minutes ago, TrigrH said:

The source is valid, the claim isn't. 

Stupidest contradiction I've ever seen in my life. How can my claim not be valid if I've literally proven it with two sources?

5 minutes ago, TrigrH said:

Since its only from a single motherboard which has these issues. No need to brand all asrock bios updates as super dangerous or something lol.

I never said all Asrock BIOS updates are "super dangerous". It's not a single motherboard, the articles I linked just happen to be for an AB350 Pro4. Here you go though;

Oh wow, would you look at that? Weird, huh?

8 minutes ago, TrigrH said:

I've done hundreds of bios updates and several on asrock boards for personal use, not that it matters. 

I was kidding, I don't care.

[TrigrH]

10 minutes ago, Sanctorum said:

I never said all Asrock BIOS updates are "super dangerous". It's not a single motherboard, the articles I linked just happen to be for an AB350 Pro4. Here you go though;

It was a beta bios that isn't even available for download anymore ofc those are going to have an added level of risk, OP isnt going to brick his board with the latest version, ryzen is much more stable now.

[Sanctorum]

25 minutes ago, TrigrH said:

It was a beta bios 

What a surprise, more excuses.

26 minutes ago, TrigrH said:

that isn't even available for download anymore ofc those are going to have an added level of risk

Updating BIOS ANY TIME has a level of risk, that's why there are warnings EVERYWHERE about doing BIOS updates. 

27 minutes ago, TrigrH said:

OP isnt going to brick his board with the latest version

Says you. Which means literally nothing. That's a VERY stupid claim to make because I guarantee you EVERY SINGLE TIME any one has bricked their motherboard, it's been with the latest BIOS revision. Okay, 99% of the time, maybe not every single time.

28 minutes ago, TrigrH said:

ryzen is much more stable now.

This means literally nothing and has nothing to do with BIOS revisions/updates. I never once said anything about the stability of Ryzen. What I said was;

"a lot of people have bricked their Asrock mobo's trying to update to a new BIOS that wasn't actually even stable. Remember, you could brick your mobo."

and I was correct, it's completely factual, I then even went on to supply 3 sources that back up my claims.