We have not tested these products. This comparison is reasoned from manufacturer specifications, documentation and warranty terms. How we test
On this page
Firmware updates used to be genuinely risky and are now routine on current hardware. They are still not something to do without a reason.
When to update
Three reasons, and no others. The board does not recognise a processor newer than its firmware. A release note describes a fix for a problem you are actually having. The manufacturer has issued a stability or security update relevant to your configuration.
“A newer version exists” is not a reason.
The feature worth knowing about
Many current boards can update with no processor, no memory and no graphics card installed. You put the file on a memory stick, plug it into a specific labelled port, and press a dedicated button.
This exists precisely because the most common reason to update is a processor the board cannot yet boot, and it turns an awkward problem into a five-minute job. If you are buying a board, this feature is worth looking for.
The procedure
Format a memory stick, put the file on it, and follow the manufacturer’s stated method rather than a general one. Do not restart or cut power while it runs, even if it appears to have stopped: several minutes with no visible progress is normal.
If this machine is still being assembled rather than already running, our first PC build guide covers where a firmware update fits into that sequence. Afterwards, go back into the firmware and restore your settings. The memory profile in particular will very likely have reverted, and a machine quietly running at the conservative default speed is the most common aftermath of an otherwise successful update.
Free tool PC Build Compatibility Checker — Will your GPU, PSU, cooler and case actually fit together?Questions people ask
Do I need to update at all?
Only when you have a reason, and there are three good ones: the board does not recognise a processor newer than its firmware, there is a documented fix for a problem you actually have, or the manufacturer has issued a security or stability update that names your situation. Updating a working machine because a newer version exists is how working machines stop working. If everything runs correctly and no release note describes your hardware, leave it alone.
What happens if the power goes out during an update?
On an older board, you can be left with firmware that is half written and a machine that will not start, which historically meant replacing a chip or the board. Most current boards have protection against exactly this, either a second backup firmware copy that takes over or a dedicated recovery process. Check your manual for which your board has before you start, and if the machine is a desktop on mains power without a battery backup, do it at a time when the supply is stable.
Will an update reset my settings?
Almost always, yes, and this catches people out afterwards rather than during. Your memory profile in particular is very likely to return to the conservative default, which means the machine is quietly running slow memory again until you switch it back on. Note your settings before you start, or photograph the relevant firmware screens, and go back through them once the update is finished and the machine has booted successfully.