Odigo
Gawd
- Joined
- Apr 22, 2002
- Messages
- 806
Do you bother to update the BIOS if the only documented change is a CPU Microcode update?
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Only if I have a problem to fix.
I always update to the latest official BIOS version available at the time I get a motherboard on the bench or for a system build. After that, I only update BIOS versions as needed. IE, the BIOS offers some feature or improvement I want to take advantage of or there is a fix for something that I'm dealing with. Beyond that I do not unnecessarily update BIOS versions. I am especially reluctant to do so on boards that are so shitty they don't work with default/automatic settings out of the box.Do you bother to update the BIOS if the only documented change is a CPU Microcode update?
I always update to the latest official BIOS version available at the time I get a motherboard on the bench or for a system build. After that, I only update BIOS versions as needed. IE, the BIOS offers some feature or improvement I want to take advantage of or there is a fix for something that I'm dealing with. Beyond that I do not unnecessarily update BIOS versions. I am especially reluctant to do so on boards that are so shitty they don't work with default/automatic settings out of the box.
I've also seen BIOS updates break things like PCIe spread spectrum which is required for things like storage controllers to work. I've also seen it totally break OROM loading with multiple GPU's and storage devices in the system. If it ain't broke, don't fix it certainly applies. People are often wrongly under the impression that BIOS updates will magically add performance or make their systems better overclockers down the line. In the two and a half decades I've been an enthusiast, I have rarely ever seen any significant performance gains from BIOS updates. The few cases I have were with things like the 680i SLI reference boards which didn't work right in the first place and those updates came at a cost. Fried memory modules, broken PCIe device compatibility and so on.Yeah, it really sucks when something was working, then you update BIOS and now it no longer does.
I had this happen on a Supermicro server board once.
They had two of the PCIe slots reversed in the BIOS menu where you set PCIe bifurcation. I had figured this out in troubleshooting when I originally set the system up years prior, but had of course forgotten about this by the time I flashed the BIOS.
The new BIOS (which mitigated Spectre/Meltdown) "fixed" the reversed PCIe slots, and suddenly one 8x device was running only in 4x mode, and one of my 16x m2 risers only had one of its 4 m.2 drives visible to the system.
It caused some frustrating downtime.
And that's SuperMicro. They are MUCH better with this stuff than any of the consumer/gamer brands are.
People are often wrongly under the impression that BIOS updates will magically add performance or make their systems better overclockers down the line. In the two and a half decades I've been an enthusiast, I have rarely ever seen any significant performance gains from BIOS updates.
There is rarely any benefit to updating your BIOS and there is always that risk of bricking the board.I guess I'm living life in the fast lane like James Dean. I update to the latest bios risking it all lol.
Agreed.There is rarely any benefit to updating your BIOS and there is always that risk of bricking the board.
I do everyone I notice a new bios. I never once bricked a board from a flash in 30 years.
I do every time I notice a new bios. I never once bricked a board from a flash in 30 years.
To be fair I've been doing it for any potential improvement in RAM stability etc (not that I have any issues but just in case I don't know what I would be missing out without the update since the patch notes are not detailed) because I have double sided kit with 64GB kit because I do see in the patch notes stuff about memory tuning etc. But yeah most of the time it is rare to see a benefit unless it's something specific.There is rarely any benefit to updating your BIOS and there is always that risk of bricking the board.
Yea doing it preemptively is definitely risky. I don't know why it's so temping to slap the new bios in. It's like if I know the new bios is out, I want it. Maybe it's the false feeling of satisfaction that I've taken "care" of my rig. Not gonna lie though I do get a rush of nervousness when Installing itAgreed.
It comes down to risk/benefit.
There is a small (but not negligible) risk that a flash goes wrong, and you brick it. And even though that can usually be recovered, it is usually a huge pain in the ass, up to and including sending the board to the manufacturer to be re-flashed.
It's a risk that is worth taking if you are having a problem you need to fix, but if everything is working, I'd just leave well enough alone.