Threadripper 1950x Gigabyte Board - should I BIOS update?

[liberty610]

Hey all,

I am currently running a Threadripper 1950X setup with the Gigabyte Aorus Gaming 7 board. My current setup can be seen here at PC Parts Picker:

https://pcpartpicker.com/b/BqHhP6

I am currently running my board with BIOS version F2(k) without any issues. I usually don't change BIOS versions if everything is running correctly, but with Threadripper being a newer platform, I am curious if there is any benefits to updating the BIOS. On Gigabyte's website, the latest BIOS version is F3j with the description of 'Update AGESA 1.0.0.5'. My F2 version has AGESA 1.0.0.3 patch 4 in it. Are there any benefits of updating the BIOS? Or should I just leave well enough alone? I have read other forums where people sometimes have issues with these updates, but it seems some what mixed...

 

[finitekosmos]

To be honest, if you dont have a specific issue and aren't planning an upgrade, I really wouldn't bother. BIOS patches can include things like CPU microcode updates that address other issues, and they can also improve your motherboards support capabilities along with eliminating hardware and device latency, and implementing corrections, improved memory support and of course new CPU support too.

If you were interested in the upcoming refresh for Threadripper it will be worthwhile upgrading your motherboard BIOS ahead of the release of the new CPU range. But if you aren't going to upgrade and you are happy with your system and how it performs I wouldn't worry.

 

[Shektron]

The AGESA updates are mostly RAM-related, so if your memory is not running at the speed you want it to, you could try updating the BIOS to see if you can attain a higher speed on your specific kit. I doubt the update will increase CPU-related performance, however.

 

[liberty610]

Thanks for the replies, guys. I am interested in the Threadripper 2, but there is of course a little while before that is released. I am going to wait and see what the overall reviews on it are. I do some light video editing, so I am always looking to reduce render times ha. Not even sure if current boards will be able to run TR2 even with bios/firmware updates. There are mixed reports about that right now. I'll hold off on the BIOS updating for now.

As far as ram speed goes, I have the Trident Z ram Quade channel 32gn kit from G.Skill with XMP on. CPU-Z says my DRAM frequency is 1596.2 MHz. Ram specs are not my strong suite, so I am not sure what the speed is overall, but I don't have any issues with performance.

 

[Shektron]

If you're running dual channel(probably are), then the displayed speed gets doubled, so your effective speed is around 3200 MHz, and there's really nothing better to be had at this point(with an AMD system), not practically at least. Stick with the current BIOS IMO.

 

[liberty610]

Thanks so much guys. I'll stick with current bios for now then!