Which CPU supports the F4 BIOS?

[teknology19]

Thanks for that odiebugs, yes I can see that F6 BIOS supports that particular CPU.

[profJim]

The only reason to flash the BIOS to F8 would be if you have a Xeon CPU.

Not necessarily.
The F8 version is only required for the Xeon v2 processors.
from GIGABYTE - Motherboard - Socket 1155 - GA-Z77X-UD5H (rev. 1.0)
F7 = Improve system compatibility
F8 = Improve keyboard compatibility

The bios descriptions are woefully inadequate and include other undocumented fixes or enhancements.
Newer versions are usually (but not always) better.

[odiebugs]

Not necessarily.
The F8 version is only required for the Xeon v2 processors.
from GIGABYTE - Motherboard - Socket 1155 - GA-Z77X-UD5H (rev. 1.0)
F7 = Improve system compatibility
F8 = Improve keyboard compatibility



The bios descriptions are woefully inadequate and include other undocumented fixes or enhancements.
Newer versions are usually (but not always) better.

I was only answering his question regarding CPU, but good thing you posted this in case someone took it the same way as you, and didn't check the BIOS description. Thanks.

In rare cases a BIOS update without reasons stated on description can be worse, as you say, but I even find myself always looking for every update on every single piece of hardware and soft.

I think I check Nvidia every three weeks for graph drivers, and now even more with the GTX 670, as they make improvements constantly.

[teknology19]

I guess it's a case of only update BIOS only if necessary. Interms of the backup BIOS is it better to press Alt + F12 or change the BIOS switch and repeat the BIOS flashing process?

Also, as the motherboard has no PS/2 port would a USB to PS/2 adapter be useful to make this less problematic initially?

[profJim]

Earlier P67 and Z68 boards apparently had issues when the main and backup bios versions didn't match.
This doesn't appear to be a problem with z77 boards.
I would hold off on updating the backup bios version until you know that everything is okie-dokie with F8.
If your board has F5 installed as the default bios, I would install F6 initially in to the backup bios to support your cpu.

Using a usb to ps/2 adapter should help if their are initial usb 2.0 issues.
I'm not familiar with the ALT + F12 option for your motherboard.

[odiebugs]

I guess it's a case of only update BIOS only if necessary. Interms of the backup BIOS is it better to press Alt + F12 or change the BIOS switch and repeat the BIOS flashing process?

Also, as the motherboard has no PS/2 port would a USB to PS/2 adapter be useful to make this less problematic initially?

Yes, for most people, you only update the BIOS if you have the problem covered in the new BIOS, or a general stability, new compatibility, or CPU upgrade, new BIOS update.


If you have PS/2 keyboard, you have to have the USB to PS/2 adapter, as you said, this MOBO has no PS/2. If you have a USB keyboard, you're all set.

The F8 BIOS should be for problems with keyboard commands to BIOS, and not with windows, only inputs to BIOS.


As for saving BIOS in Q-flash, it doesn't matter, it is only coping file to drive, what's important is flashing, then setting optimized default, then setting BIOS for your hardware, all without starting OS, or loading it. EXAMPLE- you load optimized defaults but have a SSD on Marvell as OS boot, most times the default will have the Marvell in IDE, so the system might not load the OS because the hardware is not in AHCI mode. This is why you flash new BIOS, then set Optimized, save, restart, set BIOS, save then start OS.

Your manual say's nothing about clearing CMOS ( BIOS Switch ) after saving, or before installing new BIOS.

You can clear CMOS,, before, just remember the system might not boot into OS, but it doesn't matter until you're all done in the BIOS with flashing and setting.

I also see noting about ALT + F12, might be on the q-flash screen you see.

[profJim]

I believe that pressing ALT + F12 while booting copies the main bios to the backup bios for some or all 1155 motherboards.
A web search using: alt + f12 gigabyte should provide the answer.

[odiebugs]

Looks like the ALT + F12 brings up the q-flash already in backup mode set to save BIOS.


Does nothing for my G1 Guerrilla, but in the BIOS, this opens a load CMOS page with several load CMOS boot records. Cool.

Never saw this in the manual.

[profJim]

How to update your backup bios on GIGABYTE P67 boards

[stasio]

It's clearly stated in Latest BIOS sticky:

Backup BIOS reflash:
ALT+F12 -Z68 and bellow
ALT+F10 -X79/Z77 w/o switch