Updating the ASUS Z690 BIOS to version 4301 for the i7-12700K could lead to reduced frame rates and stuttering.
Updating the ASUS Z690 BIOS to version 4301 for the i7-12700K could lead to reduced frame rates and stuttering.
Hi everyone. I wanted to share what happened. I updated the BIOS on my MB (ASUS TUF Gaming Z690-Plus; CPU i7-12700K) to version 4301 and observed a drop in performance in GTA Online Enhanced. My FPS dropped about 10 frames, and the gameplay felt less smooth, with noticeable micro-stuttering, especially during Street Races. I restarted the game several times and even reset my PC, but nothing improved. After downgrading the BIOS back to 4101, which was the previous version, the issue disappeared completely—FPS returned to normal and there was no more stuttering. It seems using ASUS's BIOS version 4301 might not be ideal for maintaining high FPS with a 13th/14th generation Intel CPU.
I have restarted the game several times and also restarted my PC, but nothing has changed. Have you considered using DDU and installing the latest GPU driver manually for your discrete GPU to rule out BIOS issues? Also, try reinstalling all chipset drivers with the newest versions before updating the BIOS? After verifying the BIOS was flashed to 4301, did you clear the CMOS?
Based on my understanding, the problems with 13th and 14th generation systems were mainly due to Asus boards, which experienced performance drops after microcode updates—even before the 0x12F changes. Brands like ASUS, MSI, and Gigabyte ensured their BIOS versions avoided performance penalties. My colleagues have labeled Asus as a representative of this trend since the pre-pandemic era. Their declining quality, RMA issues, high prices, and BIOS limitations are well-known.
https://www.asus.com/motherboards-c...he...-Z690-PLUS
BIOS version 4301 includes the 0x12F microcode, which is essential for preventing issues with 13th and 14th generation Intel processors. If you're not using those generations, you likely don't need 0x12F. However, if you are running a 13th or 14th generation processor—regardless of the board—you should include 0x12F unless you're dealing with RMA issues.
The advice goes: don’t fix it if it ain’t broke.
Lutfij, thank you for your reply. No, I didn't reinstall the GPU and chipset drivers (yes, I cleared the CMOS), but it seems the issue isn't important now because I already confirmed that fixing the problem with BIOS 4301 resolved everything—issues started after updating to 4301. I updated the BIOS since I've purchased the 14700K and plan to install it soon to test its performance with 4301. However, since I'm currently using the 12700K and noticed those performance problems from the BIOS update, I wanted to alert others.
I believe the upgrade to 14700K, even with the new BIOS, will more than compensate for the performance loss you experienced on the 12700K.