Flashing the BIOS

[Peter2003a]

I just bought a ASUS P4C800 Deluxe mobo and am wondering whether or not I should flash the bios before installing the OS. I read somewhere in a review of the board, that "it ran very well after a BIOS upgrade".
Surely a brand new board like that should have the most up-to-date BIOS version on it? If I do need to flash it, where should I get the newest version - the ASUS website doesn't mention it.

Help much appreciated,
Peter

 

[crisc]

I wouldn't suggest you flash anything if you don't even know if there's a problem! Even then, flashing the BIOS would be my last resort. If it's done incorrectly, your mobo will be rendered useless.

 

[Peter2003a]

OK thanks,

I will just leave it and if there is a problem - then I'll take action. I would like to know what the review meant by "it ran very well after a BIOS upgrade"??

Thanks anyway

 

[Dreamland]

Peter2003a -

If the board is *really* new (as in new model from manufacturer) then you may be reading a review from someone who got a pre-released model. They find a problem, tell the manufacturer, and have an updated BIOS sent directly to them. By time the board is generally available, manufacturers might have gone through several internal 'versions' of the BIOS that you will never know about or have access to.

If the reviewer mentioned a particular release ID with a date, then you might be able to tell how old/new yours is relative to that one. It's unlikely to be more than a few months either way if it's a P4C800. If they didn't mention version/date, then it's probably a pre-released one you don't have to worry about - yours would include whatever 'fix' the reviewer had.

As a general rule, BIOS updates fix a single or a very limited number of specific problems. If you don't have one of those specific problems, it's a waste of time to re-flash. The exception would be if an update mentions changes that affect overall stability and performance enhancement - these are relatively uncommon. The manufacturer may not come out and say everyone shoud upgrade to version XX, but will always mention something about performance and stability in the upgrade details if they are affected. They won't bury 'secret' undocumented performance or stability fixes in an update, so don't just apply every one hoping your computer might randomly run better.

The BIOS release history and 'fixes' they contain should be documented somewhere on the manufacturer's site. Overclockers using 'older' boards sometimes develop unofficial BIOS updates to fix isolated overclocking problems, but you shouldn't see anything like this for your board for a while. ASUS is pretty good about keeping their lists up-to-date, so your verison and any other ones released with that board should be listed. If ASUS does not mention any other versions for your board, then none were produced since the board was released to retail channels.

If your BIOS is a couple of versions behind but none of the items fixed by newer versions apply, then it's safe to ignore them. You can refer back to their site occasionally to see if upates exist and they apply to any specific issues you have.

 

[Peter2003a]

Thanks Dreamland - you have answered quite a few question I had.

Peter