Upgrade Bios Concerns

Hey,

As far as i can tell i got one shot at this based on current info.
It is not Dual Bios, as best as I can tell, so there's no going back if i brick the board.

I have used App "CPUZ" to check my current motherboard info;

I have an MSI Brand with AM4 socket

==
Model: "B450M PRO-VDH MAX ( MS-7A38 )"
To the right of that in its own text box "8.0" revision number maybe?

Chipset "AM4 | Ryzen SOC | Rev.00
Southbridge "AMD | B450 | Rev. 51
LPCIO "Nuvoton | NCT6795

==

BIOS
Brand: American Megatrends Inc.
Version: B.70 - AMD - AGESA - Combo-AM4 1.0.0.6
DATE: 06/10/2020

==

Reason for Bios update =

Purchased the latest AMD Ryzen 6 cores - 5600XT CPU (on sale)
NOTE
To save everyone's time, please don't ask me am i sure about that?
Its not an AMD - Rx 5600XT "GPU" with a similar identifier
The CPU was released late last year at the end of October, the mobo homepage says its compatible.

I'm of the understanding, you cant just load up the latest bios onto a FAT32 USB drive, use the bios flash utility, wait for the file to load and flash to complete. Oh no, its never that easy, lol.

I think I read somewhere, when considering a Ryzen 5700x cpu upgrade a year or back, that you have to upgrade to another Bios versions along the way, Is that correct? Vaguely recall something about another one or two bios, before the latest, as not all the Bios feature updates are carried forward? So the same would apply to this AM4 Ryzen 5600XT cpu to then?

Are there any reliable ways to back up my existing bios, say to another usb flash drive?
So i can attempt recovery if something goes bad during the Bios update process.

Thanks in advance and sincerely appreciate any time and information on how to successfully proceeded, the correct method and any prerequisite bios update info i'll need to do, before updating to the latest one of 2025.

 

Ummm, did you check your user guide for your motherboard? It clearly shows how to update the BIOS. If you don't have the manual you can download a copy from the MSI webpage for your motherboard where I note, it shows in Red, links to instructions for upgrading the BIOS. I would follow MSI's instructions.

FWIW, I have flashed/updated the BIOS over the years on more motherboards than I can count. Only twice have they failed to the point I could not recover with a simple reboot and each were over 25 years ago. The first was when a co-worker tripped over the power cord in the middle of the flash. The second was when Mother Nature tossed a lightning bolt at the transformer supplying power to the shop during the middle of the flash.

Lessons learned?

1. Always have a good back up of any data you don't want to lose.
2. Never flash during a thunder storm.
3. Ensure power cables are not tripping hazards.
4. ALWAYS use a "good" UPS with AVR when flashing. ​

 

Hey.

Thanks for your input, I am trying to gather some real world experience and advice from people that've done it. Before going through documentation, it might save me from "gotchas".
As you may know from working in a professional environment, its not totally uncommon for documentation to be out of date or more rarely out and out wrong or not well translated.
+
It would never hurt to have a back up of your P.C bios, if possible.

System i got was a project someone gave up on, so i got a couple of boxes put none tthe documentation or extra psu cables etc.

 

Actually, it is quite common. And that is not necessarily the makers fault but just the simple fact IT is industries within industries - all advancing at their own rates. For this reason (besides printing costs) it is typically best to rely on and refer to the on-line version of documentation as it likely is the most current and hopefully, most accurate.