A tiny BIOS chip lurks inside each pc, sitting in your motherboard to breathe life into your system once you press the ability button. It not solely powers your PC, however helps shield it, too—as evidenced by AMD’s choice to work with companions to push out crucial BIOS updates for AM5 motherboards after new Ryzen 7000 X3D chips began actually (although sometimes) burning out.
BIOS stands for primary enter and output system, and the BIOS chip initializes all the opposite units in your PC, just like the CPU, GPU, and motherboard chipset. However a few years in the past, motherboard producers—in partnership with Microsoft and Intel—launched a alternative for conventional BIOS chips dubbed UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface).
Virtually each motherboard transport at present has a UEFI chip reasonably than a BIOS chip (UEFI is a Home windows 11 system requirement, in truth), however they each share the identical core goal: getting ready the system as well into the working system. That mentioned, most individuals nonetheless name the UEFI the “BIOS” due to the familiarity of the time period.
Why you need to (or shouldn’t) replace your BIOS
Understanding your UEFI is necessary so you’ll be able to perceive how (and if) to benefit from the function updates and bug fixes that include the BIOS updates provided by motherboard producers.
New chip and motherboard platforms typically obtain quite a few BIOS revisions early of their lifecycle, to work out bugs.
Your motherboard probably makes use of no matter firmware revision the motherboard producer was on again when it was constructed. Over the lifespan of a motherboard, producers launch new firmware packages or BIOS updates that may allow help for brand new processors and reminiscence, or clear up generally reported bugs. For years, the one actual motive to replace to a more moderen firmware revision, nevertheless, is to unravel a bug in your UEFI or to swap in a CPU that’s newer than your motherboard.
Some folks prefer to frequently examine for and replace their UEFI firmware packages simply to remain updated. At one time, this was thought-about a dangerous follow, on condition that the firmware updating course of can probably brick your motherboard in the identical approach that flashing a customized ROM on to Android cellphone can brick the system. It’s finest to not replace your UEFI firmware except there’s something particular that the up to date firmware gives that you simply want.
That mentioned, you most likely need to keep on high of BIOS updates in the event you’re on a chip or motherboard platform that’s contemporary out of the gates—witness these crucial BIOS updates for AMD’s contemporary AM5 motherboard platform talked about above. Residing on the bleeding edge typically requires diligence.
Methods to replace your PC BIOS
Be sure to again up your crucial knowledge earlier than trying a BIOS replace! These updates alter core elements of your PC and its important to have backups if something goes flawed.
1. Discover your present BIOS model: Earlier than you improve your BIOS, be sure to’re truly putting in a brand new model. The best technique to discover your BIOS model is to open up the System Data app by typing msinfo into the Home windows search bar. Within the window that opens, your BIOS model ought to present up on the best, below your processor velocity. Document your model quantity and date, then evaluate it to the most recent model obtainable in your motherboard’s help web page on the producer’s web site.
2. Enter the UEFI BIOS: Whenever you boot up your PC, you’ll see textual content that informs you which ones button to press to enter the UEFI BIOS. Press it! (The precise button wanted, and the design of each motherboard’s precise UEFI management panel differs, so these directions will likely be extra guideposts than step-by-step directions.)
3. Boot into the UEFI management panel (when potential): Though not all motherboards provide this function, on sure fashions you’ll be able to boot into the UEFI management panel and use a built-in replace utility to hook up with the web and flash the most recent firmware from the manufacture’s server. This extraordinarily good function makes updating to newer firmware revisions as painless as potential.
The method is a little more concerned for motherboards that don’t help this function.
4. Discover the most recent BIOS replace out of your motherboard’s help web page: Go to your motherboard’s help web page on the producer’s web site. The newest BIOS replace must be within the help and downloads part.
5. Obtain and unzip the BIOS replace file
6. Switch replace file onto a USB flash drive
7. Reboot your pc into the UEFI management panel
8. Launch the UEFI’s firmware replace instrument or flashing instrument and again up your PC’s present firmware to your flash drive: This protects you in case one thing goes flawed.
9. Use the identical UEFI utility to pick the brand new firmware picture you saved on the flash drive: Operating the firmware replace utility ought to take simply a few minutes, however be certain to not shut off your PC throughout this course of. That is crucial.
10. As soon as the flashing course of finishes, restart your pc: Your up to date PC BIOS is able to rock.
Some producers provide utilities that may replace your UEFI chip from immediately inside Home windows by operating an .exe file, however we strongly advocate utilizing one of many two strategies above to keep away from any issues.
Once more, updating your PC’s BIOS can present many advantages, nevertheless it’s necessary to know the dangers. Don’t contact it if there isn’t a transparent, compelling motive to replace your UEFI firmware. That mentioned, if you wish to drop in a more moderen CPU into an older motherboard, then it’s clear {that a} BIOS replace lies in your future.
Up to date at Might 1, 2023 to reference AMD’s BIOS updates for AM5 motherboards.
