Is the latest BIOS version number for Z490 ROG Maximus XI Formula a new code?

[Wingclip]

Hi Folks,

I have a custom-built desktop with an ASUS ROG Z490 Maximus XI Formula Motherboard. My OS is Windows 10 Pro 64bit.

My present Bios version is 2601. I want to update my Bios to the latest version and about 5 months ago, I did download, but did not install, the latest Bios from the ASUS ROG website, which was version 2701.

Tonight, I decided to install the latest Bios but I wanted to check and see if ASUS ROG had updated the Downloads section with another version that was newer than 2701.

I was surprised to see that now ASUS shows the latest version for my mobo to be version 2004! To demonstrate how ASUS named their BIOS zip-folder, I copied zip-folder name shown as the latest available version here:

“ROG MAXIMUS XI FORMULA BIOS 2004.zip Version 2004 8.22 MB 2021/11/29”

Then I copied three examples of how ASUS named their previous BIOS zip-folders here:

ROG-MAXIMUS-XII-FORMULA-ASUS-2701.zip

ROG-MAXIMUS-XII-FORMULA-ASUS-2601.zip

ROG-MAXIMUS-XII-FORMULA-ASUS-2301.zip

As you can see, the previous BIOS folder names show a sequence progression with each ending in the number “1”.

My other custom-built desktop has an Asrock mobo and Asrock uses a kind of “code” in their BIOS folder names rather than including the BIOS version number in the folder name the way ASUS does, (or used to).

My point here is; if ASUS has started referring to the BIOS version with some kind of “code number”, how would anyone know if their presently installed BIOS version is newer or older than the one that ASUS shows in their list now?

The list that ASUS NOW shows as previous BIOS versions before 2004, are listed as version 1903, then 1902, then 1802, then 1704, etc., etc.

I think I’m making my point clear, right? If I had ASUS BIOS version 2701 installed and I wanted to reinstall version 2301, how would I know which of the newly renamed BIOS version numbers is the one they used to have as version 2301?

Do you see what I mean?

Anyway, at this point I’m trying to determine if the BIOS version named “2004” is the same as their BIOS version named 2701.

Has anyone updated their Motherboard BIOS from 2701 to 2004? If so, was the 2004 update shown as “BIOS 2004” or as the predicted next version; “2801”?

Thanks,

Rich

[Wingclip]

UPDATE: Someone posted a reply to my question and saved my butt! However, I could only find their reply in the email that notified me of a response. For some reason, I can't see the reply in the forum itself. So, I want to thank that person for pointing out why I was confused and their answer helped me to avoid making a big mistake.

I copied their reply and pasted it below. I made the mistake of looking for the latest Bios version for my mobo under the "ROG Maximus XI Formula" motherboard. However, I ACTUALLY have the "ROG Maximus XII Formula"! That's why I didn't see any of my previous BIOS versions and why I saw a stark difference in the folder names!

Fortunately, the response to my question made me realize that I was looking for the BIOS update under the wrong motherboard. Thank you (whoever you are), for the reply, which made me realize my mistake and kept me from installing the wrong BIOS. The installer would've probably failed to accept the wrong BIOS but I would've spent a lot of time trying to figure out why I couldn't install it.

This is what that person said in their response, (copied from my email):

"You have the ROG MAXIMUS XI FORMULA and the latest bios for this is 2004 from 2021/11/29.

The bios 2701 or 2801 you mentioned is for a different motherboard, namely the ROG MAXIMUS XII FORMULA.

The respective BIOS version is indicated by the number at the end of the name of the zip archive. This number plus the date are also in the BIOS/UEFI.

The ROG MAXIMUS XII FORMULA is the successor model to your mainboard ROG MAXIMUS XI FORMULA.

You are not allowed to install another motherboard's BIOS on yours."

[inge70 · Accepted solution]

hi, that was me. But my answer kept disappearing here. I don't know why though.
That's why you'll probably have received the answer from me several times by email. Tried to answer here several times.

[Wingclip]

Thank you inge70! I certainly appreciated that response earlier today. I could've caused myself a lot of wasted time if I had kept going. Anyway, I can see your most recent post with no problem but I have no idea why the first one didn't show up in the thread. 

Thanks again,

Rich

[inge70]

Lately the forum has been flooded with various SPAM threads, as has been noticed.
So I think it was because of that and the forum software that my answer didn't stay in your thread but disappeared again.
But luckily you could still get help.