General Discussion re PC help

[Salhezar-feathermoon (Salhezar)]

New PC .... good deal?

Here are the specs for the new pre-built PC I’m thinking about buying. I’m not very conversant with computer components, so thought I would ask you all what you think it’s performance on Shadowlands will be like, and if it’s a good price. Ryzen 7 2700 8 core 4.10 ghz 256 SSD 1 TB HDD 16 GB RAM GTX 1070 8GB Windows 10 Pro 64 bit it cost just under a grand

Doing my part but damn, its an uphill battle.

See stuff like this every day.

[You-zuluhed]

@Salhezar-feathermoon

Doing my part but damn, its an uphill battle.

It looks like they’re going to pay more for that than I paid for my Ryzen 5 3600 + RTX 2070 rig …

Hey Sal - do you know anything about bios updates? It’s been over 20 years since I’ve done one and I’m seeing something I’m having trouble understanding.

[Lilybugg-moon-guard (Lilybugg)]

The eBay specials…at least they finally stopped selling the fx-8 “gaming” builds for Intel i7 prices

[Salhezar-feathermoon (Salhezar)]

On the road

Give me a bit

Updating BIOS is a few things, it’s pretty easy but has some nuance on Ryzen:

1. CPU support additions
2. AGESA memory support upgrades
3. Some AMD boards needs updates to be done in a certain sequence.
4. Sometimes you lose older CPU support.
5. Sometimes you can’t go backwards.

If you are not upgrading your CPU, have problems with your memory speed/stability, or any other issues, it’s not really that important to update it, and I’d argue if it’s working, leave it be.

Intel is another story, where they often contain security updates that you may or may not want to apply due to performance impacts.

How to update BIOS - Usually just go to the manufacturer’s website and download the appropriate version (Specific to your exact motherboard). There’s often a windows based and USB stick BIOS based update option. I never use the Windows based option, as I think it has more points of potential failure. They both probably work but I have always used BIOS USB methods.

If you use the Windows based, it’s an executable like any other program.

If it’s the USB BIOS, boot the system with the USB stick in, and go into BIOS. There will be an option to update the BIOS somewhere (varies per manufacturer) that lets you choose the update file.

Hope this helps.

[You-zuluhed]

@Salhezar-feathermoon

Give me a bit

Cool… will post the issue - there is no urgency as I haven’t done anything other than poke around.

Everything is running fine. Updated my chipset driver, updated Ryzen Master, no issues.

When I used to build my own computers I used to play around a lot more. I would do bios updates on certain machines to keep them current or to test compared to older versions. It’s been at least 20 years since I had cause to do a bios update.

I don’t have a reason to do an update now, but I was curious about what version I was running and what might have been changed/improved. Board is ASRock B450 Pro4. I checked the version number and then went to the ASRock site and looked at what they have.

I can’t seem to find my version anywhere - so not only can I not compare differences - if I make a change, I have no path back if I want to flash and downgrade back to where I am now.

The ASRock site (https://www.asrock.com/MB/AMD/B450%20Pro4/index.asp#BIOS) shows the various versions, and everything I’ve seen online shows versions as P#.##

My bios (and CPU-Z shows the same) indicates that I have version “L3.32C” - I see very few references to this version on the internet and nothing helpful. The other information CPU-Z shows is:
Brand: “American Megatrends, Inc.”
Version: “L3.32C - AMD AGESA Combo-AM4 1.0.0.3”
Date: 06/21/19

So, in doing all this I’m left with four questions:

1. Why do I have a bios/uefi version that I can’t find online?
2. If I flashed the latest update and it is borked, what is my downgrade path?
3. Why do people flash nowadays? Is it for giggles? Performance improvements? Only should be done if having serious problems?
4. Now that I’ve done all this, I have an itch to flash it - is this foolish?

My focus for the last 20+ years has been on corporate/commercial applications, so there is almost never a reason to upgrade unless something is broken. Playing around on the ‘enthusiast’ side of things has led me here…

At this point I am inclined to leave it alone as I am not having problems. But, I don’t like not understanding things and I’m going to keep digging so it makes sense.

Any thoughts?

EDIT: I see you’ve addressed some of my questions about ‘why’ in your update to the previous post. My questions about the version issue remain. Also, I did download the update this morning and am able to see the option to flash to it - but I chose not to do it because of the version issue.

[Salhezar-feathermoon (Salhezar)]

Was your system a home build or an OEM, i forget?

If OEM, it’s possible they have a custom BIOS

[You-zuluhed]

PowerSpec prebuilt from MicroCenter. I was looking for parts but the Black Friday sale price was lower than the cost of the parts.

[Salhezar-feathermoon (Salhezar)]

specific model?

[You-zuluhed]

G505

http://www.powerspec.com/systems/system_specs.phtml?selection=G505
https://www.microcenter.com/product/608931/g505-gaming-desktop-pc-lt

So it looks like you’re right and that PowerSpec has their own custom bios. Unless there is some compelling reason to update, I’m inclined to leave it.

[Salhezar-feathermoon (Salhezar)]

I got nothing - looked at both the B450M Pro4 and the B450 Pro4 and none of them seem to have a BIOS version like yours or dates similar to any of the builds.

A google of L3.32C - AMD AGESA Combo-AM4 1.0.0.3 doesn’t bring up much; that said the oldest listed BIOS as AGESA 1.0.0.4.

I’d give Microcenter a call and ask them?

Wish I had a better answer, I really don’t know why they’re different.

[You-zuluhed]

Thanks. That’s where I was when I posted this morning.

But your post did lead me in the right direction. PowerSpec does have their own custom BIOS (found a reference to it here: https://community.microcenter.com/discussion/4116/powerspec-bios-updates).

So, it looks like I can update to ‘AMD AGESA Combo-AM4 1.0.0.6’ - v4.20 from the ASRock site, but I don’t see any reason to (unless someone here tells me different).

At least now it makes sense and I am satisfied with that.

Thanks!

[Lilybugg-moon-guard (Lilybugg)]

Typically when I update BIOS it’s for CPU support so I can install a new CPU in an older board, think Intel 9th series on 370 chipset. AMI creates proprietary BIOS for Dell (or at least did when I played a lot with Dells) so I assume it’s the same for microcenter.

My P67 Mobo also needed a BIOS update for SATA support of I recall correctly.

[Salhezar-feathermoon (Salhezar)]

Some further googling shows that updating the bios alone seems to be invalidating windows licenses on powerspec PC’s.

I guess they don’t really expect you to update the BIOS.

Honestly never occurred to me they’d use a custom bios on a retail-named board.

Given that knowledge, I guess I can’t recommend them anymore.

[You-zuluhed]

@Lilybugg-moon-guard

AMI creates proprietary BIOS for Dell (or at least did when I played a lot with Dells) so I assume it’s the same for microcenter.

Yes, this appears to be the case.

@Salhezar-feathermoon

Honestly never occurred to me they’d use a custom bios on a retail-named board.

Same. I always thought of PowerSpec along the lines of having someone assemble the parts for you - never really considered this.

The good news is I have no reason to update, and it is much easier to ‘let it go’ now that I understand it.

Also - in reference to the windows issue - I saw a reference to issues with 7 - did you see people having problems with 10 after an update?

Maybe after it’s out of warranty or if I’m retiring it, I might flash it just to see what happens!

[You-zuluhed]

@Salhezar-feathermoon

Some further googling shows that updating the bios alone seems to be invalidating windows licenses on powerspec PC’s … Given that knowledge, I guess I can’t recommend them anymore.

I don’t see many reports of this and what I saw was mostly Windows 7. On the page I linked, the rep from MicroCenter said:

“Well, I don’t want to point fingers, but we didn’t do anything on our end that would prevent you from updating the BIOS. In fact, we go out of our way to avoid any proprietary aspects in our system. Our philosophy is that we can’t (and shouldn’t) control what others want to do with their systems, it’s why we don’t void warranties when systems are upgraded and even offer free installation on components purchased alongside the system at the time of purchase.”
(https://community.microcenter.com/discussion/4116/powerspec-bios-updates)

The user reports that his flash was successful. This was a month ago.

[Salhezar-feathermoon (Salhezar)]

you know what you have to do.

for science

[You-zuluhed]

@Salhezar-feathermoon

for science

LMAO … I’m like the kid who knows it won’t end well, but really wants to stick her finger in the socket just to see what happens!

[Dadiddio-shadowsong]

LMAO … I’m like the kid who knows it won’t end well, but really wants to stick her finger in the socket just to see what happens!

Yup Been there done that.
As a youth I tried to place a Christmas light bulb in a normal light socket.
One and done! Ever since I have a huge respect electricity.

[You-zuluhed]

Lol, I think we all have those stories!

So does that mean you are voting FOR or AGAINST flashing the BIOS?

[Dadiddio-shadowsong]

If the release notes meet your needs then yes. Flashing isn’t as scary as it used to be. Just avoid doing inside of the operating system.
Or if the bulb is going bad and the new one “works” better and fits the situation or socket.