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Understanding BIOS updates

tinpanalley

tinpanalley

Golden Member
I'm sorry if this seems ridiculously obvious but if I go to the site for my motherboard and see a BIOS update (several months old) should I always be updating mine? I don't know why I don't pay as much attention to that as to other updates. I just happened to be updating a Windows tablet to go to Windows 10 which required me being on the latest BIOS and it occurred to me I hadn't checked the BIOS in a while for my desktop.
So is BIOS updating an obvious thing that one has to be responsible about? what about all other drivers for the system? How many of those does Windows already notify me about or update automatically?

Thank you!
 
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In my opinion you should only do an update when it fixes an issue you're having. While most updates are successful, I've seen a lot of cases where a system is "bricked" due to a failed update.

Some motherboards come with two BIOS so if one fails it can switch to the other. Makes updating less risky.

Drivers are similar but usually a lot less risky to update. If you're having issues or a new driver fixes a performance or security issue I would go ahead and do it. Just be sure you have a roll-back plan in case something goes wrong.
 
BIOS updates are one of those if it's not broke don't fix it kind of things. Most of them fix one single solitary issue. Read the note on it (and any others between it and your version). If it doesn't fix something you are concerned about (such as the Windows 10 requirement), don't bother. It's not worth the risk if it doesn't work (you could end up bricking your motherboard).

Drivers are more or less the same in my opinion. When I install Windows, I get the latest one from the manufacturer's website. I personally don't trust the ones that come from Windows Update. They have done more harm than good in my experience. For example, a few years ago, any computer to which I installed Synaptics from Windows Update would cause the touchpad to completely stop working. And definitely never install any generic automatic driver update software. All of them are malware.
 
Ok, cool. Thank you guys. That's what I thought I had once heard. It's just that I got a bit concerned because I'm apparently on version F2 from 2011 on my system and there've been, well, this many since then. Have a look.
 
Bios updates are generally along the lines of "if it ain't broke don't fix it" so if your system is running fine leave well enough alone. I, on the other hand, like the latest fixes on my systems so if I feel like the update adds value then I apply it.
 
Read the release notes and see if there are any compelling new features or fixes for issues that you have encountered or might likely encounter. I'll typically update a new board, especially if it comes with an early / first release, but once everything is running and stable, I don't touch it unless I have a reason.
 
I agree with the others, don't update your BIOS unless there is a specific need.

I've updated my BIOS when an update was required to support a new CPU.
 
I think it's usually good to update to latest BIOS. I always do regardless. Perhaps your CPU dies while you don't update & a replacement is not compatible because you don't have the newest BIOS.
 
IMHO it is a lot more important to keep updated for mobile devices. (laptops, surface, tablets)

Also the line is blurred for things like the Microsoft Surface line where "BIOS/Firmware" can also give you things like "Did we fix the Marvel Avastar wireless driver yet? Here is update number 39, derp"
 
I always find that mindset funny when it comes to desktops as it's the opposite on servers. Everytime I call HP or Dell for warranty service on a server, they tell me to update the firmware.
 
Jembo said:
I think it's usually good to update to latest BIOS. I always do regardless. Perhaps your CPU dies while you don't update & a replacement is not compatible because you don't have the newest BIOS.
Click to expand...

This is a good reason to keep the BIOS reasonably up to date. Or, you might simply upgrade to a newer CPU and forget about updating the BIOS and then wonder why it's not working.

However it's not necessary to update every time. If an update just fixes one specific issue that you're not experiencing, then pass. I usually update:
-When the release notes list support for new CPUs/hardware, or have useful fixes/improvements that apply to my system or might apply in the future, e.g. "Memory latency improved by 5%" or "Improved stability with Maxwell GPUs and 32GB RAM"

-When I'm having some weird, unexplained stability or performance issue, even if the release notes don't specifically mention that particular problem (to eliminate outdated BIOS as a cause)

-When it has been a long time (1+ years) since I updated
 
Jembo said:
I think it's usually good to update to latest BIOS. I always do regardless. Perhaps your CPU dies while you don't update & a replacement is not compatible because you don't have the newest BIOS.
Click to expand...

Since when do CPUs die?
 
Of all the bios updates I've done in my lifetime, I'd estimate maybe 500, only once has an update bricked a motherboard, and that was from attempting the bios manufacturer's generic Windows update software rather than following the motherboard manufacturer's recommended floppy-disk procedure.

Having a bios update brick a motherboard is an extremely rare situation to occur.
 
I have only tried to do a few BIOS updates. To be honest, it was mainly because the motherboard was crappy and never did work right.
 
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