Question about updating my ASUS BIOS.

I hope this is the correct forum to post this ...

I am wondering if it is ok and/or advisable to update my bios, and which method is the best / easiest way to do it.
Currently, I am running v18.01 which is about 4 versions old. I was thinking of flashing the newest version:

ROG STRIX Z790-A GAMING WIFI D4 BIOS v21.02

Should I just do it through the current bios screen at POST or should I put it on a USB (renamed) and flash from the USB port
in the rear of the MB. Or is it possible to flash from within Windows itself ? Please see my spec's bellow and Thank You !!

BIOS Date: 12/08/2023
BIOS Version: 1801
UEFI BIOS: Capable

Motherboard Model: ASUS ROG STRIX Z790-A GAMING WIFI
Motherboard Chipset: Intel Z790 (Raptor Lake-S PCH)

Intel ME Version: 16.1, Build 2307, Hot Fix 30
WINDOWS.11 PRO 23H2

Hi @THiBOR69,

What I've written below is what works for me and isn't intended to be hard and fast advice that anyone else must follow.


Re carrying out Bios updates, they should never be done via Windows. I have an Asus z790 board and use the Flashback functionality on the rear of the motherboard. Using the flash utility in bios also works for me. In my experience the Flashback method for me has been the most failsafe method.

I usually update bios every 2nd release from Asus or if the bios update release notes mention something that gives me a very good reason to update immediately i.e. a key new feature or significant bug fixes. I updated using the previous bios (2002) and 2102 doesn't have changes listed by Asus that I think are critical for my PC. So I'm not going to update.

@THiBOR69


I usually use a USB stick to flash the BIOS, from within the BIOS.
ASUS calls it... ASUS EZ Flash3


I pretty much agree with the post just above.
Generally, I wait to flash the BIOS until the BIOS description lists a reason to do so. I never use a beta BIOS.
I update the motherboard chipset drivers... every time a new non-Beta version is released.

The rest of the motherboard drivers, or the vid card driver, I generally leave alone unless there is a specific reason to update them.
As @Marcus Vinicus said... NEVER flash the BIOS from within Windows. That's just dangerous. ^^

Ghot said:

@THiBOR69


I usually use a USB stick to flash the BIOS, from within the BIOS.
ASUS calls it... ASUS EZ Flash3


I pretty much agree with the post just above.
Generally, I wait to flash the BIOS until the BIOS description lists a reason to do so. I never use a beta BIOS.
I update the motherboard chipset drivers... every time a new non-Beta version is released.

The rest of the motherboard drivers, or the vid card driver, I generally leave alone unless there is a specific reason to update them.
As @Marcus Vinicus said... NEVER flash the BIOS from within Windows. That's just dangerous. ^^

Click to expand...

Ok thank you both for the tip's. Let me ask you one more thing, the flash drive (USB stick) that holds the new bios, should it be formatted as MBR or GPT and should it be FAT32 also ?

Thanks again.

THiBOR69 said:

Ok thank you both for the tip's. Let me ask you one more thing, the flash drive (USB stick) that holds the new bios, should it be formatted as MBR or GPT and should it be FAT32 also ?

Thanks again.

Click to expand...

FAT32
And you'll probably have to rename the BIOS as well.
You should get a BIOS re-namer tool, with the BIOS file.



Here's your motherboard manual, and your BIOS manual...




NOTE: ASUS, in the past 5 years or so, has been making the BIOS manuals for more than one motherboard at a time. So the model may be slightly different, but it will be the correct BIOS manual.

I always use the USB Flashback port for BIOS updates on my Asus boards. Never had a problem.

As far as whether you should. There are no security updates that I can see. I believe there are some reported issues with some overclocking performance with these updated BIOS too. If you are not having issues, I would just skip this. There are Intel Management firmware updates included in the BIOS upgrade, and you cannot roll them back, even by flashing back to an earlier BIOS.

I had odd issues upgrading from bios version 1801 to any newer version, lots of memory issues. I have an Asus z790 ProArt Wi-Fi motherboard, so you might be lucky

@THiBOR69

For your motherboard... all BIOS versions from 1801 onward update intel ME to version 16.1.30.2307
So... you're already on... intel ME version 16.1.30.2307, so don't let that bother you.

Read the BIOS descriptions (for any other notes), and then decide if you "need" to flash the BIOS.

I have an Asus Z790 board and always flash from within the BIOS using the EZFlash option and a USB stick containing the BIOS update in a standard USB port (I have no BIOS flash port). Note your previous BIOS settings will not be restored if you have some non-default settings nor can I always load my settings stored on a USB stick. Therefore be sure to keep a written record of your preferred BIOS settings. I always wait a few weeks after Asus issue a new BIOS update just to ensure a rogue BIOS has not been issued.

Doesn't Asus have a program to do it for you? They used to have. You run their program, they find the latest bios update and sort out the flashing.

Edit - apparently not.

I also use the EZflash option in the BIOS with a USB stick and have been successful every time.

The easiest is through ASUS EZ Update that is part of the ASUS AI Suite 3 and the latest version of which can be found under the Utilities section on this page here:

hdmi said:

The easiest is through ASUS EZ Update that is part of the ASUS AI Suite 3 and the latest version of which can be found under the Utilities section on this page here:

ROG STRIX Z790-A GAMING WIFI D4 - Support

www.asus.com

Click to expand...

That requires the installation of bloatware usually best avoided.

I don't update the BIOS unless I am dealing with an issue that the BIOS update addresses.
If my computer is working correctly, why update. For example, many BIOS updates deal with supporting addition CPU's.
Just my opinion.

As others have said EZFlash and usb drive with new bios on it. Bios FlashBack options initially became available for users with a motherboard bios that would not work with a newer CPU. The only way to update the motherboard bios was to use an older cpu. The bios flashback functionality fixed that issue. It also has the ability to help recover from a failed bios flash where only those motherboards with dual bios were capable of.

You only need to rename the bios if using the FlashBack option. IMO

And btw I have the same motherboard running latest bios.

The motherboard has a built in BIOS flash feature. Don't over think it. Just use the built-in feature.

pbcopter said:

I don't update the BIOS unless I am dealing with an issue that the BIOS update addresses.
If my computer is working correctly, why update. For example, many BIOS updates deal with supporting addition CPU's.
Just my opinion.

Click to expand...

The download section [for the specific motherboard model in question] on Asus official website does make the clear distinction between critical and optional BIOS updates in the descriptions. If it's a critical update, then no matter if the computer appears to be working correctly, I'll grab the update. (For my new laptop the latest BIOS was a critical, performance related update.)

BamaInArk said:

As others have said EZFlash and usb drive with new bios on it. Bios FlashBack options initially became available for users with a motherboard bios that would not work with a newer CPU. The only way to update the motherboard bios was to use an older cpu. The bios flashback functionality fixed that issue. It also has the ability to help recover from a failed bios flash where only those motherboards with dual bios were capable of.

You only need to rename the bios if using the FlashBack option. IMO

And btw I have the same motherboard running latest bios.

Click to expand...

As @badrobot just explained, it has a built-in BIOS flash feature, which is precisely what I was referring to: EZ Update. On other motherboards from Asus, it's EZ Flash 3, but as the Q&A in the documentation that I linked to also explains, at the bottom of the page,

Q&A:

Q: Why can't find EZ Update in the 600 series motherboards in ASUS Official website?

A: In the 600 series motherboards, only ROG STRIX Z690–A GAMING WIFI D4/ ROG STRIX B660-A GAMNG WIFI D4/ ROG STRIX B660-A GAMNG WIFI support EZ Update.

The other 600 series motherboards will no longer support EZ Update, please refer to [Motherboard] ASUS EZ Flash 3 - Introduction to update BIOS.