Windows 10: ASUS Z170 Pro Gamer Bios Update v 3606

Finally Z170 Pro Gamer Bios Updated on ASUS site. I guess it should include the microcode fixes for the recent security threats spectre and meltdown although notes make zero mention of it. Just for those who might be waiting for it. I already had the WU microcode fix installed but also installed this. Generally without incident but beware that if you have iTunes or apple stuff like icloud control panel on your pc they will think it's a new device and ask you to sign in again. It will then take up another space on your trusted devices in your icloud account. I removed the duplicate but it caused plenty of knock on side effects with having to re-authenticate my other 'apple' devices such as imac, iPhone and iPad. So this is the main side effect of the new BIOS. If I'd known beforehand I would of just stuck with the WU microcode fix. I probably won't be hurrying to ever install a new BIOS again. Anyway just to share my experience and alert to the new BIOS.

:)

 

Windows 10 system frequently freezing or BSOD. Crash Dump included.

Z170 PRO GAMING BIOS 3202 2017/03/03

Fix Memory Frequency mismatch issue

Z170-PRO-GAMING-ASUS-3202.zip

 

Need help with often BSOD

Update the Realtek audio driver to version 6.0.1.7899:

http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mi...iver.zip?_ga=1.65889326.1422212028.1476179407



Update the Intel LAN Driver to version 20.7.67.0:

http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/la...670.zip?_ga=1.128852748.1422212028.1476179407



Update the ASM1142 Driver to version 1.16.33.1:

http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mi...6331.zip?_ga=1.71814163.1422212028.1476179407



You may update the BIOS to version

http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb...003.zip?_ga=1.105188483.1422212028.1476179407



Video] MB EZUpdate

[Video] MB EZUpdate | Official Support | ASUS UK



Warning: Do not turn off your computer or disconnect from your power source while updating the BIOS or you may harm your computer. Do not carry out other tasks on the computer until the BIOS
update has completed.



As a precaution back up your data files to external media before updating the BIOS.

 

Thanks @scottyboy 99! I just checked on my Asrock Extreme7+ and it, too, had a BIOS update ready to download. Went without apparent difficulty in my case too (also a Z170 model) but I did have a horrifying black screen moment when I tried the first post-update boot. Turns out I had to manually power off the PSU, and wait a minute, before the PC would boot once again. Everything OK, though.



--Ed--

 

Z170-P also updated to 3606, no problems, pretty much an uneventful bios upgrade, just had reset the ram speed which had gone back to default.

 

just updated from 3501 to 3606 on Z170 PRO GAMING
I had to re-tweak the BIOS like after each update using automatic ASUS optimization
no issue





GRC *Tongue Out

 

I upgraded the BIOS in my ASUS Z170 ROG Maximus VIII Hero a month or so ago. No issues other than resetting customized BIOS settings. My BIOS is at 3703.

 

@fireberd: Asus seems to have been quite a bit faster to get its BIOS/UEFI updates out than most other motherboard makers. Asrock was particularly slow. Thanks for sharing that info!
--Ed--

 

Thanks, Ed.
I have ASUS (my recording studio system I built) and a Dell laptop and Toshiba Laptop. Dell and ASUS were out about the same time. I'm still waiting for Toshiba (that has an i7). Considering Toshiba's troubles there may never be one for that, fortunately all its used for is loading Embroidery patterns to my wife's Embroidery machine (it was replaced by the Dell for my uses).

 

I figured out how to install the recently-released Lenovo updates, too. For my older T520 and X 220 Tablet laptops, Lenovo does not support Windows 10 (even though it runs fine on both machines, and has done so since 2015). Their Windows Flash utility crashes on a Win10 machine as soon as it tries to write the BIOS/UEFI (but causes no harm, thank goodness). The download pages for those updates also includes links to a bootable CD ISO (which I now know boots into DOS) that can run the update independent of whatever OS is installed. I had to use FreeISOBurner.exe (available at Free ISO Burner) to burn a DVD to which I could boot (the tool won't work on a bootable USB drive for some odd reason or another) to install the update. Worked like a charm if a bit baroque in model and execution! Good thing I still had a slew of blank DVDs around (and a USB-attached Blu-Ray/DVD/CD player/burner as well).
Now, the only machine that's not been patched for Spectre/Meltdown here at Chez Tittel is my wife's Jetway mini-ITX Sandy Bridge vintage i7-quad core machine. I'm planning to replace it this year anyway...
Case closed here -- or as closed as it's going to get, anyway.
--Ed--

PS added 40 mins later: In getting it to run on the X220 Tablet, I also realized I had to visit the UEFI to change my boot mode from UEFI only to Both (UEFI and MBR, that is). Booting from DOS can't help but require MBR, so until I made that change it simply wouldn't boot when I pointed the PC at the DVD drive during startup. Sigh: it's always something.

 

I just noticed a new bios 3610 came out for the z170 pro gaming board. It merely lists ‘improved memory compatibility’. Presume there is nothing to gain from this update? I was keen to be more secure from the recent threats of spectre and meltdown by grabbing 3606 but prefer not to a bios update if not necessary. It has annoying side effect of making Apple think it’s a new machine for iTunes and I get an additional trusted device for the same machine as I need to re enter password to access some of my media. The old duplicate can be removed but it then has the annoyance of making all my Apple devices require a sign in of my ID again (probably due to their lousy implementation of two factor authentication). So long story short, little to gain from the new BIOS?

thanks
Wayne