Why it matters: While Windows Update can automatically push some firmware updates, there are situations where manual action is required. Thankfully, motherboard makers are working to streamline this process and make it more user-friendly. Case in point: Asus’ new feature for its EZ Flash utility on its latest Z890 motherboards.
Asus highlighted this handy feature during its recent Z890 AMA live stream on YouTube. With EZ Flash 4, you no longer have to manually unzip the BIOS update file before flashing it to the motherboard. The utility now supports applying updates directly from compressed ZIP files, eliminating an extra step.
It’s a minor tweak, but a welcome one, as it makes the update process smoother, especially for less tech-savvy users. Asus has also updated the BIOS interface resolution to 1920 x 1080 on the Z890 boards, providing a crisper experience in line with modern displays.
asus now supports bios update with rar file.
you no longer need to unzip the rar that downloaded from asus product pages.asus ez flash 4 !https://t.co/XZdj2cAJrE pic.twitter.com/JpA3AA9wDC
– UNIKO’s Hardware ð (@unikoshardware) October 26, 2024
Staying on top of BIOS updates is more important than ever. A recent example is the 0x12b microcode update from Intel that addresses potential instability issues in the latest Raptor Lake and Raptor Lake Refresh CPUs.
Ironically, the latest major Windows 11 update itself was causing headaches with BIOS compatibility. Reports emerged of widespread problems with the Windows 11 24H2 update on systems running Intel’s Core Ultra 200S series CPUs and Z890 chipset motherboards.
Now, as reported by El Chapuzas Informatico, the problems seemingly stemmed from the integrated Iris Xe-LPG graphics in these CPUs that are causing issues after the 24H2 update is installed. It’s primarily an issue for laptop users using Intel’s integrated graphics, but it also impacts desktop users of these chips who may want to use the iGPU for basic display output or other lightweight tasks.
Thankfully, there are a couple of potential workarounds. Users can simply disable the integrated GPU in the BIOS settings prior to installing 24H2. Alternatively, and ideally, they can proactively install any available BIOS updates for their Z890 motherboard, which should contain a fix for the issue.
All major motherboard vendors like Asus, ASRock, Gigabyte, and MSI are already aware of the problem and have started issuing patched BIOS versions. So, if you’re rocking Intel’s newest Core Ultra chips on a Z890 board and intend to use the integrated graphics, updating your BIOS before moving to Windows 11 24H2 is important.
The process for entering the BIOS and initiating an update will vary slightly by manufacturer and model. However, most modern boards allow you to download and apply official updates directly through the BIOS interface itself, just like Asus’ EZ Flash 4 does.
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