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List of Motherboards With BIOS Flashback (AMD B550, X570, B450, X470, Intel Z490)

BIOS Flashback Isn't Always Crucial to Have, But Can Be Very Handy in Certain Situations



Published: January 1, 2021

Some motherboards, including many of the top models on the market today, have a special feature called BIOS flashback which allows you to update the BIOS (also called firmware) without needing to have a CPU or memory module installed. This feature, namely slightly differently by certain manufacturers (it's "Q-Flash Plus" for Gigabyte boards, and "USB BIOS Flashback" for ASUS), means the board has a special designated USB port on the back of the motherboard which is used for inserting a USB flash/thumb drive that contains the BIOS update which you download onto the drive using another computer (explained in our full USB BIOS flashback tutorial).

Having a motherboard with BIOS flashback comes in handy in two main scenarios:

Building a New PC With a Recent CPU Release

If you're assembling a new system from scratch with a CPU that isn't supported by your motherboard out of the box, BIOS flashback can be a lifesaver. Just because a motherboard is compatible with your CPU, doesn't mean that motherboard's BIOS has a recent enough version to support the new CPU series out of the box (without an update).

When a new CPU series releases, when you buy that CPU with a motherboard that was released earlier than the CPU was (and sometimes even when you buy the motherboard a few weeks or even months after the CPU release, that board won't have been loaded with a fresh BIOS that supports the new CPU series, and you'll need to update the BIOS yourself in order to boot-up with the new CPU.

Without BIOS flashback, you would need to install an older compatible CPU in order to update the BIOS, wherein lies the problem as many new builders won't have access to an old CPU. This guide explains this whole situation as it relates right now to new AMD builds: Do B550/X570 Need BIOS Updates for Ryzen 5000?

Failed BIOS Update Recovery

If your motherboard ever has its BIOS corrupted, which is rare but can happen for various reasons (most commonly when doing a normal BIOS update within the BIOS itself and having it fail due to the power power cutting out etc), instead of trying to return/RMA the board (or throwing it at a nearby wall if not under warranty) you may be able to save your motherboard by using BIOS flashback instead.

So if you're still planning a build and want to stick to boards that have BIOS flashback, below are all the models I could dig up that have this feature at the time of publishing this article.

If you need help picking the best motherboard with BIOS flashback from all the models listed below, our continually updated recommended gaming PC builds contains our current top B550 and X570 picks, many of which have BIOS flashback.



List of X570 Motherboards With BIOS Flashback (AMD)

This, along with the B550 list, is the most relevant right now at the time of writing in early 2021 since most people concerned about having BIOS flashback as a feature will be wanting it in case of the need for updating a board for Ryzen 5000. 

These are all the X570 motherboards on the market as of the time of writing that have a BIOS flashback feature which allows you to update the BIOS without needing a CPU to be installed:

  • ASRock X570 Aqua (ATX)
  • ASRock X570 Creator (ATX)
  • ASRock X570 Phantom Gaming X (ATX)
  • ASRock X570 Taichi (ATX)
  • Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Formula (ATX)
  • Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (ATX)
  • Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Hero WiFi (ATX)
  • Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Hero Dark (ATX)
  • Asus TUF Gaming X570-PRO WiFi (ATX)
  • Asus ROG Strix X570-E (ATX)
  • Asus ROG X570-F (ATX)
  • Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Impact (mDTX)
  • Gigabyte X570 Aorus Extreme 1.0 (ATX)
  • Gigabyte X570 Aorus Extreme 1.1 (ATX)
  • Gigabyte X570 Aorus Elite (ATX)
  • Gigabyte X570 Aorus Elite WiFi (ATX)
  • Gigabyte X570 Aorus Master 1.0 (ATX)
  • Gigabyte X570 Aorus Master 1.1 (ATX)
  • Gigabyte X570 Aorus Master 1.2 (ATX)
  • Gigabyte X570 Aorus Pro (ATX)
  • Gigabyte X570 Aorus Pro WiFi (ATX)
  • Gigabyte X570 Aorus Pro 1.1 (ATX)
  • Gigabyte X570 Aorus Pro 1.1 WiFi (ATX)
  • Gigabyte X570 Aorus Ultra (ATX)
  • Gigabyte X570 Aorus Ultra 1.1 (ATX)
  • Gigabyte X570 Gaming X (ATX)
  • Gigabyte X570 UD (ATX)
  • Gigabyte X570 UD 1.1 (ATX)
  • Gigabyte X570i Aorus Pro WiFi (mITX)
  • MSI MPG X570-A Pro (ATX)
  • MSI MEG X570 ACE (ATX)
  • MSI MPG X570 Gaming Edge WiFi (ATX)
  • MSI MPG X570 Gaming Plus (ATX)
  • MSI MPG X570 Gaming Pro Carbon WiFi (ATX)
  • MSI MEG X570 Godlike (ATX)
  • MSI MEG X570 Unify (ATX)
  • MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk (ATX)


List of B550 Motherboards With BIOS Flashback (AMD)

  • ASRock B550 Taichi (ATX)
  • Asus TUF B550M-Plus WiFi (mATX)
  • Asus ROG Strix B550-I (mITX)
  • Asus ROG Strix B550-A (ATX)
  • Asus ROG Strix B550-E (ATX)
  • Asus ROG Strix B550-F (ATX)
  • Asus ROG Strix B550-F WiFi (ATX)
  • Asus ROG Strix B550-XE WiFi (ATX)
  • Asus TUF Gaming B550-Plus (ATX)
  • Asus TUF Gaming B550-Plus WiFi (ATX)
  • Gigabyte B550M Aorus Elite (mATX)
  • Gigabyte B550M Aorus Pro (mATX)
  • Gigabyte B550M Aorus Pro-P (mATX)
  • Gigabyte B550M DS3H (mATX)
  • Gigabyte B550M Gaming (mATX)
  • Gigabyte B550M H (mATX)
  • Gigabyte B550M S2H (mATX)
  • Gigabyte B550I Aorus Pro AX (mITX)
  • Gigabyte B550 Aorus Elite (ATX)
  • Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master (ATX)
  • Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro (ATX)
  • Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro AC (ATX)
  • Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro AX (ATX)
  • Gigabyte B550 Gaming X (ATX)
  • Gigabyte B550 Vision D (ATX)
  • MSI MAG B550M Bazooka (mATX)
  • MSI MAG B550M Pro VDH WiFi (mATX)
  • MSI MAG B550M Mortar (mATX)
  • MSI MAG B550M Mortar WiFi (mATX)
  • MSI MPG B550I Gaming Edge WiFi (mITX)
  • MSI MPG B550I Gaming Edge MAX WiFi (mITX)
  • MSI MEG B550 Unify (ATX)
  • MSI MEG B550 Unify X (ATX)
  • MSI MPG B550 Gaming Edge (ATX)
  • MSI MPG B550 Gaming Plus (ATX)
  • MSI MPG B550 Gaming Pro Carbon WiFi (ATX)
  • MSI MPG B550 Tomahawk (ATX)
  • MSI B550-A Pro (ATX)


List of B450 Motherboards With BIOS Flashback (AMD)

  • Asus TUF Gaming B450M-Plus II (mATX)
  • Asus TUF Gaming B450M-Pro S (mATX)
  • Asus Prime B450M-A II (mATX)
  • Asus ROG Strix B450-F Gaming II (ATX)
  • MSI B450M Bazooka Plus (mATX)
  • MSI B450M Gaming Plus (mATX)
  • MSI B450M Mortar (mATX)
  • MSI B450M Mortar MAX (mATX)
  • MSI B450M Mortar Titanium (mATX)
  • MSI B450-A Pro (ATX)
  • MSI B450-A Pro MAX (ATX)
  • MSI B450 Gaming Plus (ATX)
  • MSI B450 Gaming Plus MAX (ATX)
  • MSI B450 Gaming Pro Carbon AC (ATX)
  • MSI B450 Gaming Pro Carbon AC MAX (ATX)
  • MSI B450 Tomahawk (ATX)
  • MSI B450 Tomahawk MAX (ATX)

Related: The Best B450 Motherboards for Ryzen 3000



List of X470 Motherboards With BIOS Flashback (AMD)

  • ASUS Crosshair VII Hero (ATX)
  • ASUS Crosshair VII Hero Wi-Fi (ATX)
  • MSI X470 Gaming M7 AC (ATX)


List of Z490 Motherboards With BIOS Flashback (Intel)

If you buy a Z490 (Intel socket LGA 1200) with a current 10th generation Intel CPU, right now there's little importance to choosing a motherboard that has BIOS flashback since Z490 was released at the same time as these CPUs (and therefore worked out the box from day one). However, since Z490 motherboards will support the future next generation Intel 11th gen CPUs, if buying a Z490 in future once 11th gen is released, that's when choosing a Z490 with BIOS flashback may become a relevant consideration as you may need to update a Z490 that's purchased around/after their release in order to be able to boot up a new PC build using a Z490 and fresh new 11th gen CPU.

  • ASRock Z490 Taichi (ATX)
  • ASRock Z490 Aqua (EATX)
  • Asus ROG Maximus XII Extreme (EATX)
  • Asus ROG Maximus XII Hero Wi-Fi (ATX)
  • Asus ROG Strix Z490-E Gaming (ATX)
  • Gigabyte Z490 Aorus Master (ATX)
  • Gigabyte Z490 Aorus Xtreme (EATX)
  • Gigabyte Z490 Aorus Xtreme WaterForce (EATX)
  • Gigabyte Z490I Aorus Ultra (mITX)
  • MSI MEG Z490 Ace (ATX)
  • MSI MEG Z490 Unify (ATX)
  • MSI MEG Z490 Godlike (EATX)



Trusted VPNs

VPN software is quite important in this day and age and will improve the security and privacy of your PC when online. There are also benefits to using VPNs for gaming.

There's lots of VPNs out there but the ones I recommend most to gamers is ExpressVPN (special link that gets you 3 months off. they also offer a free trial here) and NordVPN which are both highly rated gaming VPNs because they're the fastest and most secure.


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About the Author

Indie game dev currently working on my first public release after years of hobby projects, a story-driven VR FPS built with Unreal Engine (to be announced soon here for anyone into VR FPS's). Also likes writing about tech, which also helps fund development of the game.

My favs of all time are OOT, Perfect Dark, MGS1, MGS2, GE007, DKC2, THPS3, HL1, and HL2, with the most recent addition to my list of immortals being the VR masterpiece Alyx. If you want help with a new build feel free to ask on the main PC builds guide. If you found the site extra helpful and wish to support the work I do here, sharing an article with a friend helps a lot and is much appreciated. - Julz