Updating BIOS To Fix CPU MicroCode

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spree01

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Jun 3, 2016
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Hey



In order to fix the CPU microcode, you need to update your BIOS. I'm not saying I'm going to do it, however I'd like to know how easy/hard it is. I have never done a BIOS update before. All I can see is "CAUTION CAUTION, BIOS UPDATE IS RISKY CAUTION" which really makes me freak out, on the other hand having a security flaw on my computer also makes me nervous as hell. So, how do I perform a BIOS update? And how necessary is the BIOS update, in a normal PC user perspective?



Motherboard: Motherboard - Gigabyte Z270 Gaming K3



I appreciate any help, and also any opinions if a BIOS update is the right for me or not.



-Thanks
 
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Hi, thanks for all your answers. I used the @bios utlity version, since I do not have a USB stick right now. Using the "download from gigabyte server" only gave me the F8 BIOS version (which is not the newest) so I had to manually download the latest one, and update from that. Everything works, I have the same FPS in these tested games: The Division, Tomb raider, GTA V, Wildlands. I have not tested any other game.
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mazboy

mazboy

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Dec 28, 2017
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I've never had a BIOS update bork on me...yet...but I almost never, ever do them. The whole Spectre and Meltdown problem is going to bring this to a head. My Dell just did an automatic firmware/bios update. It went fine. It is my understanding that Asus is working on the same thing.

The problem is going to be all of us who build our own. I have 2 other home-built Win10 boxes (ASRock and MSI motherboards) and two Linux boxes (Yeah, they're affected, too) (MSI and Gigabyte). I, personally, am going to wait on any BIOS upgrades until I am satisfied that the upgrades are both stable and viable (that is, they actually protect against Spectre and Meltdown). I expect that to take a minimum of 6 months. Until then, firewalls and anti-virus software, not to mention being very, very careful out there...
 
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geofelt

geofelt

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Oct 9, 2006
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More modern motherboards like yours have better recovery from failed flashes.

It is a relatively easy procedure.
Use the usb method, and not a windows based method.
You are less exposed to a internet interruption.
Read the motherboard manual until you are comfortable with the procedure.

A big key is patience. It may look like nothing is going on for a while. 5 minutes perhaps.
Do not be tempted to interrupt the flash.

It used to be that a failed flash would brick your motherboard.
New motherboards will have some sort of fall back recovery options.

I personally will wait for quite a while until whatever bugs get ironed out.
The security flash works in concert with windows updates, and that, I think is subject to change.
Such a combo of hardware and software changes need very good testing.

After all, how long has this been out and how many attacks have we heard about?
Some of the problems require hands on access to your pc. That is something I am not worried about.
 
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TJ Hooker

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Apr 15, 2014
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The biggest risk is losing power while flashing the BIOS, resulting in a corrupt BIOS and a bricked motherboard. So you generally don't want to flash the BIOS during a storm, or without a UPS if you live somewhere with unstable power.

That being said, your mobo has a dual BIOS. So if one is corrupted, it should just flip to the other and your PC should be fine.

As far as how to do it, it's pretty easy. Download the BIOS from your mobo's support page on Gigabyte's site. Extract the files (if applicable). Copy them to a flash drive (may need to be formatted as FAT32). Enter the BIOS, find the BIOS update utility, and select the BIOS on the flash drive.
 
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spree01

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Jun 3, 2016
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Hi, thanks for all your answers. I used the @bios utlity version, since I do not have a USB stick right now. Using the "download from gigabyte server" only gave me the F8 BIOS version (which is not the newest) so I had to manually download the latest one, and update from that. Everything works, I have the same FPS in these tested games: The Division, Tomb raider, GTA V, Wildlands. I have not tested any other game.
 
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Solution
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spree01

Honorable
Jun 3, 2016
189
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10,695


Hi, thanks for your answer. I used the windows application @bios utility. Everything works fine, I now have the F9B BIOS version. :)
 
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spree01

Honorable
Jun 3, 2016
189
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10,695


Hi, thanks for your answer. I used the windows application @bios utility. Everything works fine, I now have the F9B BIOS version. :) (btw it took about 2 minutes for it to be complete)
 
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spree01

Honorable
Jun 3, 2016
189
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Hey, updating BIOS on gigabyte was very easy, however I understand your point. Me, personally will sleep better using the firmware patch for spectre. But if you wanna wait 6 monthes, you go for it! 99% sure you wont get hacked or anything.
 
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Grieferr

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Apr 6, 2017
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I was exactly like you, i was reading that there are risks of killing my motherboard e.g. if my system close for any reason when i am updating my bios. I want all my computer drivers to be up to date, so i tryed it out. I watched a video on how to do that and that seemed very easy to me. I downloaded the update, putted it in my flash drive, restarted my computer gone to bios advanced mode, to tools and ez flash. I have asus motherboard. All i want to tell you is that there is no problem doing that.
 
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