BIOS - update or not?

therealdippy · 17 Dec 2021 at 14:04

About 10 years ago I built a gaming PC and a home server. They both have a similar mobo - ASUS P8Z68Vgen3 & P8Z68Vpro and have the same LGA1155 Intel CPU: The gaming PC has an i7-2600K and the server an i3 2100T. I have now built a new gaming PC so the old one is redundant. It is time to upgrade the server (OS from WHS2011 to WSE2016) so I plan to also give it the CPU and memory from the old gaming PC.

But first I am wondering if I should update the mobo BIOS. It currently has version 3203 which supports the i7. On the ASUS website there is not much information about the new versions, and at face value it seems that 3304 and the latest 3603 had something to do with Intel Rapid Storage Technology. For version 3402 ASUS mentions improved system stability, "enhance compatibility with some USB devices", and update to CPU support.

Now initially I decided that of course I should update to the latest BIOS, but then I saw in the ASUS manual that they recommend not updating it unless there is an issue. I have certainly had no issues with the server for the last 10 years and the CPU change does not require a BIOS update. Is the risk that significant? I guess I have only ever done a few BIOS updates over the years but I have never had a problem. But bricking my server mobo would be a pain, so should I leave it as-is and only consider an update if I find problems after completing the upgrade?

dave28 · 17 Dec 2021 at 14:11

I did it recently and it was very scarey, the PC looked like it was going through a looping cycle of death but it turned it it was just doing its thing and worked properly.

I think if you do it correctly then it should be fine.

CrimsonAvenger · 17 Dec 2021 at 14:13

if there is nothing to gain and you have no issues currently I'd leave as is.

Joxeon · 17 Dec 2021 at 16:22

Would just drop the chip in if already supported, if it ain't broken don't fix it etc.

Drazhen · 20 Dec 2021 at 17:09

I have never had a problem with a bios update, I am not sure how tiny is the chance of any of it going wrong, but I am starting to think it is often overestimated.

therealdippy · 4 Jan 2022 at 12:55

Closing the thread for the benefit of any future BIOS worriers. After checking that I could remove the heatsink in the gaming machine without damaging the CPU I put it back to try a BIOS update. From the BIOS screen I used Asus EZ Flash which I think is a firmware utility (i.e. not DOS or Windows) and the update was problem-free. Boosted with this confidence I just did the same on the server and again problem-free BIOS update. So I'll go with @Drazhen that the risks are overstated. Now for the CPU transplant...