Question Motherboard May Need a BIOS Update. Should I Still Get It?

[curiousnewcomer]

Hi,

I am building a PC for the first time. I like the MSI Pro Z690-A WiFi DDR4 ATX LGA1700 Motherboard. I saw it listed as the best value Z690 mobo on a Gamers Nexus video.
PC Part Picker is telling me...

• Warning: The MSI PRO Z690-A WIFI DDR4 ATX LGA1700 Motherboard supports the Intel Core i7-12700K 3.6 GHz 12-Core Processor with BIOS version 7D25v11. If the motherboard is using an older BIOS version, upgrading the BIOS will be necessary to support the CPU.

I've seen a few videos and read a couple articles talking about the hazards/pros and cons of updating bios (may brick motherboard if something goes wrong; update only if necessary, etc.). I've never done anything inside of a BIOS, so naturally, it looks difficult. Like I said, I chose the MSI board because of its rating in a YouTube video I watched, despite being a fanboy of Asus boards. Should I still get it? It says "IF the motherboard is using an older BIOS version...", so that means the mobo either could or could not come with the correct version, 7D25v11? I guess I could get an Asus Prime Z690-P WiFi D4 ATX LGA1700 Motherboard, which is also in the video and doesn't have any warnings on pcpp, but I'd like the MSI one. I am also open to the Asus TUF GAMING Z690-PLUS WiFi D4 ATX LGA1700 Motherboard, or any others anyone else might suggest. Thank you in advance.

Here is the pcpp list: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/W7jFKp

 

[Why_Me]

Hi,

I am building a PC for the first time. I like the MSI Pro Z690-A WiFi DDR4 ATX LGA1700 Motherboard. I saw it listed as the best value Z690 mobo on a Gamers Nexus video.
PC Part Picker is telling me...

• Warning: The MSI PRO Z690-A WIFI DDR4 ATX LGA1700 Motherboard supports the Intel Core i7-12700K 3.6 GHz 12-Core Processor with BIOS version 7D25v11. If the motherboard is using an older BIOS version, upgrading the BIOS will be necessary to support the CPU.

I've seen a few videos and read a couple articles talking about the hazards/pros and cons of updating bios (may brick motherboard if something goes wrong; update only if necessary, etc.). I've never done anything inside of a BIOS, so naturally, it looks difficult. Like I said, I chose the MSI board because of its rating in a YouTube video I watched, despite being a fanboy of Asus boards. Should I still get it? It says "IF the motherboard is using an older BIOS version...", so that means the mobo either could or could not come with the correct version, 7D25v11? I guess I could get an Asus Prime Z690-P WiFi D4 ATX LGA1700 Motherboard, which is also in the video and doesn't have any warnings on pcpp, but I'd like the MSI one. I am also open to the Asus TUF GAMING Z690-PLUS WiFi D4 ATX LGA1700 Motherboard, or any others anyone else might suggest. Thank you in advance.

Here is the pcpp list: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/W7jFKp

If this build will be used for gaming you could cut cost on the board, cpu, cooler and SSD thus allowing you to size up on your video card. btw it's near impossible to brick these newer boards.

 

[ötzi]

BIOS 7D25v11 was released in Dec 2021, latest version is 7D25v17. I would be surprised if the motherboard is shipped with v11 (or lower) but non the less if you want zero risk, get a motherboard where the CPU is supported without a BIOS update. Even though it's more difficult to brick a board and flashing the BIOS is childs play on modern motherboards, you will still need to have a (second) supported CPU to do a BIOS flash with.

 

[Vic 40]

Even though it's more difficult to brick a board and flashing the BIOS is childs play on modern motherboards, you will still need to have a (second) supported CPU to do a BIOS flash with.

This motherboard supports "" USB Bios Flashback" so no cpu required to update the bios.

 

[curiousnewcomer]

If this build will be used for gaming you could cut cost on the board, cpu, cooler and SSD thus allowing you to size up on your video card. btw it's near impossible to brick these newer boards.

Yes, it will be used for gaming. And occasionally streaming to friends over Discord.
I don't mind going for a cheaper (still good-quality) AiO or air cooler. I play a lot of Destiny 2, Valorant and Warzone, so I figure the CPU should be an i7-1200K. I don't want the best-of-the-best (expensive), but the closer I can get to that, the better. My budget is $2000 - $2500, excluding peripherals. I've removed the 2nd 2 TB SSD. Thought I would need it for more games since I run out of space so easily (1 TB with ~140 GB free, currently), but 4 TB is overkill. Does this look better? Still trying to figure out the motherboard issue.

 

[curiousnewcomer]

This motherboard supports "" USB Bios Flashback" so no cpu required to update the bios.

Does that mean it would be an easier process to update the bios? From a video I watched, I would just have to download the bios to a USB, plug it in, and press the bios flashback button?

 

[egda23]

Does that mean it would be an easier process to update the bios? From a video I watched, I would just have to download the bios to a USB, plug it in, and press the bios flashback button?

Yes, exactly

 

[curiousnewcomer]

Yes, exactly

Thank you. That does seem like child's play lol.

 

[curiousnewcomer]

I forgot to add: what makes it more difficult to brick a board these days? Better fail-safes?

 

[DRagor]

I forgot to add: what makes it more difficult to brick a board these days? Better fail-safes?

USB flashback. Old days you could only update BIOS from within meaning you need working BIOS in first place to update it. With USB flashback you don't need the BIOS to be working, it can be fully bricked and you still can update it to unbrick it (unless the cause of brick is physical failure of BIOS die).
Of course cheap boards still do not have this ability.

 

[Why_Me]

Yes, it will be used for gaming. And occasionally streaming to friends over Discord.
I don't mind going for a cheaper (still good-quality) AiO or air cooler. I play a lot of Destiny 2, Valorant and Warzone, so I figure the CPU should be an i7-1200K. I don't want the best-of-the-best (expensive), but the closer I can get to that, the better. My budget is $2000 - $2500, excluding peripherals. I've removed the 2nd 2 TB SSD. Thought I would need it for more games since I run out of space so easily (1 TB with ~140 GB free, currently), but 4 TB is overkill. Does this look better? Still trying to figure out the motherboard issue.

This cpu down below uses less power and creates less heat than the 12700K yet it nets similar results. That Gigabyte board comes with two M.2 SSD heatsinks along with EZ flash bios. Low profile RAM so it doesn't impede the cpu cooler, etc ... What I would be looking at is a case that comes with at least two front intake fans instead of the single intake fan that the NZXT case in your build comes with. I'll use this Lian Li case as an example.

https://www.newegg.com/black-lian-li-lancool-ii-performance-atx-mid-tower/p/2AM-000Z-00086
LIAN LI LANCOOL II MESH C PERFORMANCE $119.99

https://www.newegg.com/evga-supernova-850-g6-220-g6-0850-x1-850w/p/N82E16817438212
EVGA SuperNOVA 850 G6 850W 80+ Gold Modular Power Supply $104.99

https://www.newegg.com/gigabyte-aorus-z690-gaming-x-ddr4/p/N82E16813145347
GIGABYTE Z690 GAMING X DDR4 $209.99

https://www.newegg.com/intel-core-i7-12700f-core-i7-12th-gen/p/N82E16819118359
Intel Core i7-12700F $312.96

https://www.amazon.com/DeepCool-AK620-High-Performance-Dual-Tower-Dissipation/dp/B09CSXS3X4
DeepCool AK620 CPU Cooler $64.99

https://www.newegg.com/corsair-32gb-288-pin-ddr4-sdram/p/N82E16820236596
CORSAIR Vengeance LPX DDR4 3600MHz 32GB (2x16GB) CL18 $104.99

A better look at those components.

Lancool-II-Mesh-Performance

<h2>Born to push the limits</h2> LANCOOL II MESH Performance features a mesh front panel and mesh bottom left shroud panel, honeycomb vent design and built-in PWM fans, ensuring bountiful airflow delivered to your components while the system runs at peak performance. <span...

lian-li.com

https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/Z690-GAMING-X-DDR4-rev-10#kf

https://global.deepcool.com/product...-High-Performance-CPU-Cooler/2021/13067.shtml

https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/deepcool-ak620-review

DeepCool AK620 Review

DeepCool looks to assert dominance with its latest dual-tower air cooler, the AK620. Featuring an accommodating height of just 160 mm, it fits where other large coolers won't—all while packing serious performance with clean and stylish looks.

www.techpowerup.com

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/u...2700f-processor-25m-cache-up-to-4-90-ghz.html

i7 12700 / 12700F gaming benchmarks.

 

[ötzi]

This motherboard supports "" USB Bios Flashback" so no cpu required to update the bios.

My bad, I stand corrected...

 

[Vic 40]

Does that mean it would be an easier process to update the bios? From a video I watched, I would just have to download the bios to a USB, plug it in, and press the bios flashback button?

Need to unpack the file first and then copy to the usb stick, with some manufacturers one needs to rename the bios as well so make sure to read the instructions carefully. Is probably an instruction video from MSI themselves to be found.

 

[curiousnewcomer]

This cpu down below uses less power and creates less heat than the 12700K yet it nets similar results. That Gigabyte board comes with two M.2 SSD heatsinks along with EZ flash bios. Low profile RAM so it doesn't impede the cpu cooler, etc ... What I would be looking at is a case that comes with at least two front intake fans instead of the single intake fan that the NZXT case in your build comes with. I'll use this Lian Li case as an example.

https://www.newegg.com/black-lian-li-lancool-ii-performance-atx-mid-tower/p/2AM-000Z-00086
LIAN LI LANCOOL II MESH C PERFORMANCE $119.99

https://www.newegg.com/evga-supernova-850-g6-220-g6-0850-x1-850w/p/N82E16817438212
EVGA SuperNOVA 850 G6 850W 80+ Gold Modular Power Supply $104.99

https://www.newegg.com/gigabyte-aorus-z690-gaming-x-ddr4/p/N82E16813145347
GIGABYTE Z690 GAMING X DDR4 $209.99

https://www.newegg.com/intel-core-i7-12700f-core-i7-12th-gen/p/N82E16819118359
Intel Core i7-12700F $312.96

https://www.amazon.com/DeepCool-AK620-High-Performance-Dual-Tower-Dissipation/dp/B09CSXS3X4
DeepCool AK620 CPU Cooler $64.99

https://www.newegg.com/corsair-32gb-288-pin-ddr4-sdram/p/N82E16820236596
CORSAIR Vengeance LPX DDR4 3600MHz 32GB (2x16GB) CL18 $104.99

A better look at those components.

Lancool-II-Mesh-Performance

<h2>Born to push the limits</h2> LANCOOL II MESH Performance features a mesh front panel and mesh bottom left shroud panel, honeycomb vent design and built-in PWM fans, ensuring bountiful airflow delivered to your components while the system runs at peak performance. <span...

lian-li.com

https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/Z690-GAMING-X-DDR4-rev-10#kf

https://global.deepcool.com/product...-High-Performance-CPU-Cooler/2021/13067.shtml

https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/deepcool-ak620-review

DeepCool AK620 Review

DeepCool looks to assert dominance with its latest dual-tower air cooler, the AK620. Featuring an accommodating height of just 160 mm, it fits where other large coolers won't—all while packing serious performance with clean and stylish looks.

www.techpowerup.com

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/u...2700f-processor-25m-cache-up-to-4-90-ghz.html

i7 12700 / 12700F gaming benchmarks.

Thank you very much, I like a lot of the changes you made.

The only thing is that sometimes my WiFi can get spotty so I have to use a hotspot or something, and the Gigabyte board you linked doesn't come with wireless (that I can see). I will probably go with the Asus Prime board that I mentioned in the original post.

I found a Fractal Design Torrent case that is said to have great airflow and provides nice front and bottom dust filters. I gather a lot of dirt/dust/debris in the house from my three dogs, so I think filters are necessary. It's just that it looks like such a big case (could just be my imagination cuz it says it's a mid tower atx) that it would benefit more from water cooling to take up more space, and I'm also not sure how a top-mounted PSU will work out. Any precautions I should be aware of regarding large case size + seemingly taking up little space, and a top-mounted PSU? I haven't found anything too bad from a couple of google searches.

I've also added an additional 1 TB SSD, just in case. I will probably keep my steam games on that SSD, and then other games/programs on the 2 TB SSD. I care more about my steam games, and I think keeping them on their own SSD will help me run them faster?

I'll stick with the i7-12700K for the integrated graphics, just in case.

Updated pcpp list

 

[DRagor]

The only thing is that sometimes my WiFi can get spotty so I have to use a hotspot or something, and the Gigabyte board you linked doesn't come with wireless (that I can see).

Gigabyte is interesting case here because almost each their board model has version that has WiFi - specs are same just one version has WiFi and other don't. And unfortunately Z690 Gaming X is one of those few that don't have WiFi version.

 

[curiousnewcomer]

Hi again guys. A friend of mine just told me to make sure my RAM will be compatible with my mobo by checking the RAM company's qvl list on their site. PCPP doesn't say anything about the CORSAIR Vengeance LPX DDR4 3600MHz 32GB (2x16GB) CL18 being incompatible with my mobo in the notes at the bottom. When I go to check Corsair's site for compatibility (searching by motherboard), I can't find that particular memory. What does it mean? Is pcpp wrong?

 

[DRagor]

When I go to check Corsair's site for compatibility (searching by motherboard), I can't find that particular memory

However it does list CMK16GX4M2D3600C18 which is same model just lower capacity. Besides QVL list are not so much important for Intel as they are for AMD.

 

[curiousnewcomer]

However it does list CMK16GX4M2D3600C18 which is same model just lower capacity. Besides QVL list are not so much important for Intel as they are for AMD.

That's good to know, thank you. Why are they not as important for Intel, though?

 

[DRagor]

That's good to know, thank you. Why are they not as important for Intel, though?

Because Intel CPU are much less picky about RAM. Generally as long as we speak lower speeds any RAM should work with Intel CPU.