ASRock have updated the BIOS a few times since my last update from version 1.70 to 2.05. The main reason for the changes is to support IB chips but also to tweak the Virtu on chip video (which I use on my second monitor).

 

The guys over at the ExtremeSystems forums are raving about the stability and overclocking ability of this new BIOS version (with SB chips) and I wonder what your opinion is of me updgrading. Should I leave what is working alone or upgrade to the latest and greatest ?

I would upgrade to the latest. The only bad thing about upgrading is the fact it will wipe out all of your BIOS settings including any that you might have saved in the Profile section. I upgraded to the latest on my P67 Deluxe board because it stated:

 

- Improves system stability.

- Improves memory compatibility.

- Supports new CPUs.

 

Those were important issues for me. It's easy to upgrade. I put mine on a flash drive and did it through the BIOS. You can do it in Windowed mode too, and I have done it via Windows, but I prefer doing it through the BIOS. Just make sure you take pictures of each page of your BIOS and save them to your flash drive. I have a laptop that I plug the flash drive into and it provides me all my BIOS settings so easy to set up the BIOS again.

 

Best regards,

Jim

Thanks Jim,

 

Yes I do have photos of all pages but will double check to make sure!

 

 

 

Mark.

I always update to the latest when I see it, without real exceptions. But never go betas.

I actually elected to leave it alone because there are reports of some problems in the way ASRock has setup the update. You need to flash the BIOS and then leave the USB stick in and wait for the Intel MF update to take place. Some have reported this did not happen correctly and bricked their chip.

 

I am also confused on the order of updating the Intel Management software and the ASRock interface....which are required, do you do that before or after flashing the chip. Aparently you also need to update the VGA driver and again I am not sure if that is need given that I have a video card driver installed.

BIOS updates are a lot safer these days than they used to be. However, the same advice applies. Update if the new BIOS contains features you need, otherwise, don't update just for the sake of it. If there are claimed stability issues with the new BIOS, then wait until they are addressed I would say.

I am also confused on the order of updating the Intel Management software and the ASRock interface....which are required, do you do that before or after flashing the chip. Aparently you also need to update the VGA driver and again I am not sure if that is need given that I have a video card driver installed.

 

Hi Mark,

Here's a link that might help as it provides instructions for downgrading the BIOS (if the one you installed doesn't work for some reason) and information about updating the Intel ME firmware - http://www.overclock.net/t/1042186/asus-z68-series-information-thread-drivers-bioses-overclocking-reviews-updated-6-22. I never did update my Intel ME firmware but did install the latest software. That can be done at any time. The software is constantly updated by Intel. The reason I didn't update my Intel ME firmware is because it was not approved by ASUS. I really think you should update the BIOS. Like Martin said above, BIOS updates are a lot safter than in the past. I think the latest for your board is 3204 which improves system stability; enhance compatibility with some USB devices; and supports new CPU's. It's really rather simple to update through the BIOS update page in your BIOS and you have the USB flash drive so you should have no problems. The only issue I have found is the fact I have to go back in and set up my BIOS settings again but that's fairly easy if you have them written down or, like me, have a laptop you can use to bring up the pictures of each BIOS page.

 

I have never had a problem with the video card drivers and see no need to reinstall them. Maybe you might for the integrated graphics on your board/cpu. That can be done anytime as you have a standalone video card and that will not require an update once you update the BIOS. You can disable the integrated graphics in the BIOS so it's not even loaded at startup. Hope this helps.

 

Best regards,

Jim

I have actually updated the BIOS twice since buying the board and have the lasted update 1.70 installed prior to the one they released to accomodate the IB chips. I think I will wait until a future update and hope they clean up the install method to make things less complicated.