ASUS B550 E-Gaming BIOS issues – old MB Bios, avoiding Zen2 upgrade
ASUS B550 E-Gaming BIOS issues – old MB Bios, avoiding Zen2 upgrade
The title clearly describes the situation well. Recently I purchased an ASUS B550 E-Gaming PC in preparation for upcoming Ryzen processors. My goal is to upgrade to a 5900X (or possibly 5950X if I can manage to find another 250 dollars). Before the Zen3 announcement, I already had the motherboard, so it doesn’t currently support Zen3 via BIOS. There’s a Flash Button available, though—I’m unfamiliar with it, so here are some questions: Do I need a flash drive with the BIOS installed? Should the motherboard be powered on? Are there any other requirements? (For instance, does the CPU have to be physically in the socket or can it just be empty? Is RAM necessary? Can I use a 24-pin connector and simply press Flash?) How likely is it that I might cause damage and end up with a bad result? Are there any guides or reports about this process? Extra RGB question: The build will include both the motherboard and a GPU from ASUS (both ROG models). The fans are Corsair LL120 RGBs, which I think look better than QL120s. They perform worse in terms of static pressure, CFM, and sound quality at higher prices... According to Corsair’s official specs. Am I correct that iCUE now supports ASUS ROG devices? Would it be best to use Corsair RAM for RGB control, or is compatibility through iCUE possible on this configuration? (I’m planning to use Trident Z RGB since it’s available at 4000 MHz). Would I prefer to install CAM right away and then remove it, or keep it active? If there are significant benefits, I’d likely go with CAM plus iCUE. Thanks for your help! It’s really tough to find reliable info on RGB software compatibility.
I completed the process yesterday on my MSI B550 Tomahawk by following the manufacturer's instructions. 1. Downloaded the latest supported ROM from the MSI website. 2. Formatted a flash drive to FAT32. 3. Renamed the downloaded BIOS file to MSI.ROM 4. Placed the file on a USB drive. 5. Inserted it into the designated USB port. 6. Pressed the Q-Flash button and waited for the stop blink to cease. Initially, only MB, PSU, and Case cables were connected. The procedure should be similar for ASUS boards as well—just refer to the manual.
1: Alright, just turn on the board and insert the USB stick with the newly formatted BIOS into the designated slot. Press the button and wait for the process to complete.
2: Partially... iCue manages only the motherboard's RGB and GPU settings (had to verify, appears it was quietly updated this summer). Other components won't work without compatible adapter cables. I use an adapter from my 2080ti water block to Corsair.
3: It’s best to use one ecosystem for simplicity. Fewer programs mean less clutter and fewer issues later. For control, keep the software active; otherwise it will revert to its default settings.
It was frustrating trying to set everything up once and then leave it alone. I also really dislike installing unnecessary software, though I don’t mind Corsair’s AiO too much. Thanks for the update, but it looks like I need to research CAM more and check its performance effects before committing. Also, figuring out how to make Trident Z RGB RAM work is a priority—I’m leaning toward Trident Z Royal Silver since it looks better. It’s sad that iCUE still can’t control that yet; apparently people are praising its effects and customization options.