Are you having some trouble with your Gigabyte motherboard? Maybe it’s not recognizing the new CPU you just installed, or maybe it’s refusing to POST at all. Before you give up and consider buying a new motherboard, try updating the BIOS.
Updating the BIOS can fix all sorts of problems and get your motherboard performing like new again. In this article, we’ll walk you through the process of updating your BIOS on a Gigabyte motherboard. Let’s get started!
How to Update Bios on Gigabyte Motherboard?
How to Check if the BIOS Is Up-to-date?
Before we get started with updating the BIOS, it’s important to check and see if there’s an update available in the first place. After all, there’s no point in going through the hassle of updating the BIOS if there isn’t an update available!
To check for a BIOS update, head over to Gigabyte’s website and find your motherboard model number. Once you’ve found it, look for the Downloads section and see if there’s a BIOS file available for download. If there is, great! If not, then you’re already running the latest version of the BIOS and you don’t need to do anything.
When Does It Need to Update BIOS?
If you’re not sure whether or not you need to update your BIOS, there are a few things you can check. First, take a look at the version number of the BIOS that’s currently installed on your motherboard. If it’s significantly out-of-date, then it might be worth updating to the latest version.
Another thing to keep in mind is what’s changed since you last updated the BIOS. If you’ve installed a new CPU, graphics card, or other major component, then it’s a good idea to update the BIOS. In some cases, the BIOS needs to be updated in order for the new hardware to be properly recognized.
Finally, if you’re experiencing any stability issues with your motherboard, updating the BIOS might help to fix them. If your system is randomly crashing or if you’re getting strange error messages, give BIOS update a try.
Step by step instructions to Update GIGABYTE BIOS
Before we begin, it’s important to note that you should only update your BIOS if you’re experiencing issues with your motherboard. Don’t update just for the sake of it- a bad BIOS flash can render your motherboard useless.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s update your BIOS!
Step 1: Download the BIOS Update Utility
The first thing you’ll need to do is download the BIOS update utility from Gigabyte’s website. This utility will handle the actual process of updating your BIOS.
Be sure to download the correct version of the utility for your motherboard. There are a lot of different Gigabyte motherboards out there, and each one has its own specific BIOS update utility.
Once you’ve downloaded the utility, extract it to a folder on your hard drive. We recommend creating a new folder specifically for this purpose. That way, you can keep everything organized and avoid any potential confusion later on.
Step 2: Prepare a Bootable USB Drive
In order to update your BIOS, you’ll need to create a bootable USB drive. This is a drive that you can boot from and run the BIOS update utility on.
To do this, you’ll need a USB drive with at least 512 MB of free space. Any size larger than that will work, but 512 MB is the minimum.
Once you have your USB drive, plug it into your computer and open the BIOS update utility folder that you extracted in Step 1. In that folder, you should see a file with the .exe extension.
Double-click on that file to launch the BIOS update utility. When the utility opens, click on the “Create Bootable Media” option and follow the instructions to create your bootable USB drive.
When you’re finished, close the BIOS update utility and unplug your USB drive. We’ll need it later.
Step 3: Enter the BIOS Setup Utility
Now, we need to enter the BIOS setup utility so that we can change a few settings and prepare for the BIOS update. To do this, restart your computer and press the key that opens up the BIOS setup utility when your computer starts booting up.
This key varies from one motherboard to another. For Gigabyte motherboards, it’s usually the F2 or DEL key. If you’re not sure which key it is, consult your motherboard’s manual.
Once you’re in the BIOS setup utility, use the arrow keys to navigate to the “Boot” menu. In the “Boot” menu, find the option that says “Boot Device Priority” and press Enter.
This will open up a sub-menu with all of your computer’s bootable devices listed in order of priority. Use the arrow keys to navigate to your USB drive and press Enter. This will move your USB drive to the top of the list, making it the first device that your computer boots from.
Once you’ve done that, press F10 to save your changes and exit the BIOS setup utility. Your computer will restart and boot from your USB drive.
Step 4: Update Your BIOS
Now that we’re booted into the BIOS update utility, it’s time to actually update your BIOS. To do this, simply follow the instructions that appear on-screen.
The process is relatively straightforward and shouldn’t take more than a few minutes to complete. Once it’s finished, close the utility and restart your computer.
Your BIOS will now be up to date and you can go back into the BIOS setup utility (Step 3) and change the “Boot Device Priority” setting back to its original value.
And that’s it! You’ve successfully updated your motherboard’s BIOS.
Tips to Keep Bios Update from Going Wrong
BIOS updates are a sensitive process, and things can sometimes go wrong. Here are a few tips to help you avoid any potential problems:
- Make sure that your computer is plugged into a reliable power source before updating the BIOS. A sudden power outage in the middle of a BIOS update can corrupt the BIOS, rendering your motherboard useless.
- Avoid updating the BIOS if your computer is running low on battery. Again, a power outage could cause problems.
- Create a backup of your BIOS before updating it. That way, if something does go wrong, you can restore the old BIOS and try again.
- Be patient! Don’t try to hurry the BIOS update process. Rushing things could result in a mistake that could cause problems down the line.
- Follow the instructions that come with your BIOS update utility to the letter. Don’t deviate from them, even if you think you know what you’re doing.
- If something does go wrong, don’t panic! There’s usually a way to fix it. Consult your motherboard’s manual or contact the manufacturer for support.
FAQS
1. How do I update my Gigabyte motherboard firmware?
To update the firmware on your Gigabyte motherboard, you’ll first need to download the appropriate BIOS update utility from Gigabyte’s website. Once you’ve downloaded the utility, create a bootable USB drive and use it to enter the BIOS setup utility. From there, you can follow the instructions on-screen to update your BIOS.
2. How often should I update my BIOS?
You don’t need to update your BIOS very often. In general, you should only update your BIOS if there’s a new version available that offers improvements or fixes for issues that you’re experiencing.
3. Can I update my BIOS without a CPU?
No, you need a CPU in order to update your BIOS.
4. Will updating my BIOS delete my data?
No, updating your BIOS will not delete any of your data.
Conclusion
Updating your BIOS is important to do every few months in order to ensure that your motherboard is running smoothly. While it may seem daunting, the process is actually quite simple and only takes a few minutes. Follow the steps outlined in this blog post and you’ll be up and running in no time. If you have any questions or encounter any problems, let us know in the comments section below and we’ll be happy to help.