Read that it helps keep the pc running at its best. Do you need to go to the website for the motherboard and download the bios and then run it? Does it then install automatically so when you turn your pc on, you can go to the bios and check that it is up to date?
Yes download it from the motherboard's site. Put it on a floppy and run it. Or press ALT-F2, depending on the motherboard, to let the Bios install it. Read the directions in the motherboard manual.
New bioses solve some problems. it is better to update only if it is a solution that you need.
If the power goes out during the bios update, you may need a new bios chip or the recovery CD that came with the motherboard.
In most cases, I recommend updating the BIOS right after you build your machine .... after that, it's most often a good idea to "leave well enough alone". However there are certain instances where a BIOS upgrade will have an actual effect on you. For example upgrading your CPU / RAM might require a new BIOS. In other cases a defect is discovered and a BIOS upgrade may be required toi support certain driver upgrades.
Once the initial upgrade "post build", I check for new BIOS's and see what the new BIOS does. If the latest version for example just adds support for a newer / faster CPU which I don't have, there's no real reason to install it.
Whereas a floppy (w/ new BIOS an flash program) has been the standard means fro doing this since the 1980's, most often today I do this thru Windows. This will of course depend on the MoBo manufacturer and whether they have a reliable means of doing so. But I have upgraded BIOS's using the Asus windows based upgrade tool about 16 or 16 times now with narry a hitch.
I have seen posts saying there may be some risk involved this way but I have yet to read a post saying they screwed something up this way. BTW, each time I have done this rather than choosing the "let the utility find the latest BIOS" option, I have always downloaded it first and used the "upload the BIOS using this file " option and pointing to where I put the file.
