Question What are the exact steps please for upgrading the BIOS for a CPU upgrade ?

[Tomidie]

I am DANG nervous about doing this bios upgrade. I want to make sure im doing EVERYTHING right so i dont brick my mobo as i do not think it's a recoverable one. I have a few specific questions, but I also need a complete and detailed guide to go from a Ryzen 7 1800X to a Ryzen 7 5900X. Here are the questions:

1. I found conflicting reports on this. after each bios update, do I boot up and login to windows? or do I restart and then do the next update ?

2. When do I clear CMOS. How, EXACT steps, do I clear CMOS successfully ?

3. Do I clear CMOS after EVERY update or just once ?

4. Do i use a flash drive to do the BIOS updates or is there some other method ?

5. When do I put the CPU in ?

Please be as specific as possible with your guide, including common pitfalls. while im a fairly advanced user (I am able to install DDWRT to my modem), I do not have any knowledge in this area. I have included all specs in case any concerns arise or additional information im not aware of is needed.

Here are the specs:
Mobo: ASRock Taichi X370 with BIOS Version: P3.0 (Bridge)
CPU: Ryzen 7 1800X
GPU: NVIDIA RTX 2080
RAM: 32GB 2333Mhz Dual Channel DDR4


Thank you very much in advance

 

[punkncat]

Why are you looking to update the BIOS on that rig?

The 1800X and the X370 motherboard are native.

 

[Tomidie]

Why are you looking to update the BIOS on that rig?

The 1800X and the X370 motherboard are native.

I am upgrading from the 1800X to the 5900X which as far i was can tell requires P. 7.30 to be compat with Zen 3 cpus

 

[logainofhades]

Your best option is to consult your motherboard manual, for the correct way to do bios updates, and for CMOS reset. Asrock will also have notes on their bios download page, if you need to install a certain revision prior to the latest revision. You do not need to login to windows at any point for bios updates. I do a CMOS reset only after a bios update.

 

[Lafong]

a complete and detailed guide

Have you downloaded and read whatever instructions may or may not be available on the Asrock website?

I'd expect any such instructions to be somewhat cryptic and vague, but I'd at least look.

 

[punkncat]

I am upgrading from the 1800X to the 5900X which as far i was can tell requires P. 7.30 to be compat with Zen 3 cpus

Pay very close attention with that Taichi in that it has a couple of "bridge BIOS" that have to be installed in order or will brick the board. The official guide will tell you that as you near the 3xxx to 5xxx jump in BIOS revisions that it drops support for 1xxx. This could be an issue if you don't happen to have a 2xxx or 3xxx available to you. This issue revolves around a BIOS chip that was too small to retain 1xxx support with the new firmware.

 

[Tomidie]

Pay very close attention with that Taichi in that it has a couple of "bridge BIOS" that have to be installed in order or will brick the board. The official guide will tell you that as you near the 3xxx to 5xxx jump in BIOS revisions that it drops support for 1xxx. This could be an issue if you don't happen to have a 2xxx or 3xxx available to you. This issue revolves around a BIOS chip that was too small to retain 1xxx support with the new firmware.

i appreciate the concern on that, but i did already confirm it still works with limited function (just enough to still boot) from a few other accounts, so i dont need a 2 or 3 thankfully. I do know about bridging as well, those two are the very few things i actually know.

Your best option is to consult your motherboard manual, for the correct way to do bios updates, and for CMOS reset. Asrock will also have notes on their bios download page, if you need to install a certain revision prior to the latest revision. You do not need to login to windows at any point for bios updates. I do a CMOS reset only after a bios update.

The full update? or each one? mine requires a specific path to follow that takes like 5 or 6 different updates.

Have you downloaded and read whatever instructions may or may not be available on the Asrock website?

I'd expect any such instructions to be somewhat cryptic and vague, but I'd at least look.

I have and they are extremely vague at best as you mention, there's a bunch of information in them that others have advised againest, such as the version path it recommends as one of the them is bad. (though i think that one has been removed from thier bios page)

I more need the process instructions itself. I dont know what to do and when. i've done a lot of googling already and there is just so much conflicting info. so i figured the best place to ask is here as usually it has people with more knowhow than just your average reddit or the mobo manual.

 

[Lafong]

I've seen it recommended to clear cmos AFTER updating the BIOS. Right here on this forum, by a well known participant.

I have no idea how necessary that is. I can tell you that I have updated a BIOS only 2 or 3 times in my life and I cannot recall clearing cmos at any time.

Vague, non-specific, and entirely laughable "instructions" are part and parcel of the entire PC industry. It's always been the case and there are no flattering reasons for it. I don't expect that to change.

 

[Tomidie]

I've seen it recommended to clear cmos AFTER updating the BIOS. Right here on this forum, by a well known participant.

I have no idea how necessary that is. I can tell you that I have updated a BIOS only 2 or 3 times in my life and I cannot recall clearing cmos at any time.

Vague, non-specific, and entirely laughable "instructions" are part and parcel of the entire PC industry. It's always been the case and there are no flattering reasons for it. I don't expect that to change.

You understand my conundrum then. I've seen people say do it before, and i've seen before say do it after, I've also seen people say do it after each one. So im entirely confused on which it is. I wouldn't be doing this if i didn't have to, bios updates scare me.

 

[CountMike]

I've seen it recommended to clear cmos AFTER updating the BIOS. Right here on this forum, by a well known participant.

I have no idea how necessary that is. I can tell you that I have updated a BIOS only 2 or 3 times in my life and I cannot recall clearing cmos at any time.

Vague, non-specific, and entirely laughable "instructions" are part and parcel of the entire PC industry. It's always been the case and there are no flattering reasons for it. I don't expect that to change.

More and more BIOS versions do not require CMOS reset before or after flashing it. Resetting CMOS when required means that power must be right off the MB either by turning off switch at PSU or pulling the plug. First stage is by shorting CMOS clearing contacts on the MB or depressing button if it has one. Second stage is to take CMOS battery out for few minutes but that also resets the clock and may not be necessary.
After new BIOS version is flashed it's at defaults and copied to CMOS so not always needed to reset but wouldn't hurt anyway.
When looking for new BIOS file, must make sure it's compatible for EXACT MB including it's version. Downloaded BIOS files are usually in .ZIP format and have to be unzipped and some even renamed, placed on a USB formatted to Fat32. Some MBs may have one special usually USB 2 port. BIOS usually rejects any file that is not exact one for that MB so main danger is in losing power during flashing which may take several minutes without any indication. Always give it time and do not restart or cut power even if screen is black for some time.

 

[CountMike]

I must have done way over 1000 BIOS flashes since 1980's and even saved some some bricked ones all by being methodical, patient and following instructions to a T because some have own nuances and methods changed with times. This new BIOS-es are piece of cake comparing to early ones that have dedicated SW for doing it. Many new-ish MBs even have a button and option to re-flash BIOS even without CPU and RAM.
BIOS EEPROMs also have more space so all kinds of safeties can be programmed in it including UEFI which is actually a program.

 

[logainofhades]

I've seen it recommended to clear cmos AFTER updating the BIOS. Right here on this forum, by a well known participant.

I have no idea how necessary that is. I can tell you that I have updated a BIOS only 2 or 3 times in my life and I cannot recall clearing cmos at any time.

Vague, non-specific, and entirely laughable "instructions" are part and parcel of the entire PC industry. It's always been the case and there are no flattering reasons for it. I don't expect that to change.

I have had boards that refused to POST, if I didn't reset CMOS, after update. I just do it now, just to save a step.

The full update? or each one? mine requires a specific path to follow that takes like 5 or 6 different updates.

I would probably do it after the first and last update only, unless it doesn't post in between the other updates.

 

[Tomidie]

More and more BIOS versions do not require CMOS reset before or after flashing it. Resetting CMOS when required means that power must be right off the MB either by turning off switch at PSU or pulling the plug. First stage is by shorting CMOS clearing contacts on the MB or depressing button if it has one. Second stage is to take CMOS battery out for few minutes but that also resets the clock and may not be necessary.
After new BIOS version is flashed it's at defaults and copied to CMOS so not always needed to reset but wouldn't hurt anyway.
When looking for new BIOS file, must make sure it's compatible for EXACT MB including it's version. Downloaded BIOS files are usually in .ZIP format and have to be unzipped and some even renamed, placed on a USB formatted to Fat32. Some MBs may have one special usually USB 2 port. BIOS usually rejects any file that is not exact one for that MB so main danger is in losing power during flashing which may take several minutes without any indication. Always give it time and do not restart or cut power even if screen is black for some time.

Gotcha, this is useful info. thank you.

I must have done way over 1000 BIOS flashes since 1980's and even saved some some bricked ones all by being methodical, patient and following instructions to a T because some have own nuances and methods changed with times. This new BIOS-es are piece of cake comparing to early ones that have dedicated SW for doing it. Many new-ish MBs even have a button and option to re-flash BIOS even without CPU and RAM.
BIOS EEPROMs also have more space so all kinds of safeties can be programmed in it including UEFI which is actually a program.

Yah, im glad im doing this at a decade where instant flash is a thing. Though i did confirm the asrock taichi x370 has no such failsafes. it's a fairly older board at this point. I am frankly surprised it even is compat with a vermeer.

I have had boards that refused to POST, if I didn't reset CMOS, after update. I just do it now, just to save a step.



I would probably do it after the first and last update only, unless it doesn't post in between the other updates.

I will do just that then, thank you

I guess the only major question I still want answered is whether or not to boot into the computer between updates, or should I go into bios, update, restart, go into bios after update, then do the next one each time until it's at P7.30, then boot full into windows.