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Intel ME and BIOS Updates - General Advice

iBruceypoo
Level 16
Thread created for JohnAb

Take it away John. 🙂
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79 REPLIES 79

BJBBJB
Level 7
@JohnAb,
Thanks so much for your help! It felt right to create a different thread on that issue as it is MB specific, not trying to double post. You are all over helping!

Huh, I missed that on the 1720 bios description and it says exactly that on my MB page too. Even if issues with that bios no NVME or ME issue. Hmmmmm....

Thanks again,
BJB

JohnAb
Level 17
You're welcome BJB 🙂
Z690 Hero, BIOS 3401, MEI 2345.5.3.0, ME Firmware 16.1.30.2361, 7000X Case, RM1000x PSU, i9 12900K, ASUS TUF OC 3090TI, 2 x 16GB Corsair RAM @ 5200MHz, Windows 11 Pro 23H2, Corsair H150i Elite AIO, 4x Corsair RGB fans, 3x M.2 NVME drives, 2x SATA SSDs, 2x SATA HDs.

BJBBJB
Level 7
I updated on the motherboard sub and thought I should here too as it is ME specific.

Updating the bios, then building the PC and updating the ME firmware and ME software after windows install worked fine. The M.2 drive was also recognized with no issue.

Of course I would 100% follow the advice here on install order and matching versions if running an active PC when updating a bios and ME. But for a new build, this worked for me.

Thanks a lot for the help here!

BJB

JohnAb
Level 17
Good to know it all worked. Your update is helpful so that other people with an older BIOS and a 13th Gen chip know that there is a way to do it 🙂
Z690 Hero, BIOS 3401, MEI 2345.5.3.0, ME Firmware 16.1.30.2361, 7000X Case, RM1000x PSU, i9 12900K, ASUS TUF OC 3090TI, 2 x 16GB Corsair RAM @ 5200MHz, Windows 11 Pro 23H2, Corsair H150i Elite AIO, 4x Corsair RGB fans, 3x M.2 NVME drives, 2x SATA SSDs, 2x SATA HDs.

Updated list based on the latest BIOS releases - as always, please check the support pages yourself before making changes. There are too many variants to be sure that I haven't missed something.

H610 (Prime H610M -A/E/K/R and H610I-PLUS Models)
==========================================
ME Firmware = 16.1.25.1885v2_S_NonZ. BIOS 2014
ME Firmware = Version 16.1.25.2020V2. BIOS 2212
NOTE: BIOS 2014 does not allow rolling back

B660 (Strix B660-A Models)
=====================
ME Firmware = 16.1.25.1885v2_S_NonZ. BIOS 2015
ME Firmware = Version 16.1.25.2020V2. BIOS 2212
NOTE: BIOS 2015 does not allow rolling back

B660 (Strix B660-F/G/I Models)
========================
ME Firmware = 16.1.25.1885v2_S_NonZ. BIOS 2012
NOTE: BIOS 2012 does not allow rolling back

B660 (Prime B660M-K, B660-PLUS and TUF Gaming B660-PLUS Models)
================================================== ====
ME Firmware = 16.1.25.1885v2_S_NonZ BIOS 2014
NOTE: BIOS 2014 does not allow rolling back

W680 (Pro WS W680-ACE & ACE IPMI Models)
==================================
ME Firmware not listed. BIOS 0203.
No rolling back information available

Z690 (Maximus, ProArt, TUF, Strix and Prime-A Models)
===========================================
ME Firmware = v16.1.25.1885. BIOS 2103 (can go back to 2004)
ME Firmware = v16.1.25.2020. BIOS 2204 (can go back to 2103)
NOTE: BIOS 2004 does not allow rolling back to previous versions.
NOTE: BIOS 23xx (when released) might not allow rolling back either.

Z690 (Prime-P Models)
=================
MEI Drivers = 2229.3.2.0, ME Firmware = v16.1.25.1885v2_S. BIOS 2212
NOTE: Cannot roll back to anything earlier than 2014

Z790 (Maximus, TUF and Strix Models)
==============================
ME Firmware = v16.1.25.1917. BIOS 0502
ME Firmware = v16.1.25.2020. BIOS 0703
ME Firmware = v16.1.25.2020. BIOS 0812 (Apex)
ME Firmware = v16.1.25.2020. BIOS 0813

Z790 (Prime D4 Models)
===================
ME Firmware 16.1.25.2020v2_S_Z. BIOS 0805
ME Firmware 16.1.25.2020v2_S_Z. BIOS 0809

Z790 (Prime non-D4 Models)
======================
ME Firmware 16.1.25.2020v2_S_Z. BIOS 0806
ME Firmware 16.1.25.2020v2_S_Z. BIOS 0809
Z690 Hero, BIOS 3401, MEI 2345.5.3.0, ME Firmware 16.1.30.2361, 7000X Case, RM1000x PSU, i9 12900K, ASUS TUF OC 3090TI, 2 x 16GB Corsair RAM @ 5200MHz, Windows 11 Pro 23H2, Corsair H150i Elite AIO, 4x Corsair RGB fans, 3x M.2 NVME drives, 2x SATA SSDs, 2x SATA HDs.

nyxagamemnon
Level 7
Because my CPU was not on the Supported list unless I updated my bios. AKA 13900KS,,, I did not update the ME because I had to update the bios first and now it's perma stuck "Check CPU" 7F. What's my recourse? Z790 Maximus Extreme? Second bios works fine but my primary I can't even boot because of the ME issue. So clearly on bios 813 something is messed up. Oh and before you say anything else I tried to downgrade the bios no luck.. Worst case M.2 not working is far from it I can't even post. I need bios 401 the original with the board. How can I get this?

The whole point of a bios flash back is to update without a supported CPU TO Gain it and yet now I'm just screwed?

JohnAb
Level 17
Probably best to stay on the other thread about this issue rather than duplicate things- I can see that Silent Scone is trying to help you there...
Z690 Hero, BIOS 3401, MEI 2345.5.3.0, ME Firmware 16.1.30.2361, 7000X Case, RM1000x PSU, i9 12900K, ASUS TUF OC 3090TI, 2 x 16GB Corsair RAM @ 5200MHz, Windows 11 Pro 23H2, Corsair H150i Elite AIO, 4x Corsair RGB fans, 3x M.2 NVME drives, 2x SATA SSDs, 2x SATA HDs.

robb543
Level 7
I assume the latest for a z790 apex board on beta bios would be:

Bios: 0902
Intel ME Firmware: 16.1.25.2091
Intel ME Driver: 2247.3.5.0

JohnAb
Level 17
You have the BIOS flash port on the back so, yes, flash to 2204. As you said, in your situation there is no other way. You will need to rename the BIOS using the renaming tool first (supplied with the BIOS). Then install Windows, chipset drivers, flash ME firmware, install the Windows MEI drivers, etc etc (everything from the support pages to start with). As it's your first PC, I suggest you install Armoury Crate which will install the most important drivers for you. You can then also use that to see what driver versions are installed. Also a good idea to install Intel Driver and Support Assistant, that will also scan your system and might identify some out of date drivers.

Have fun and enjoy your build. Take it slow and all should be well 🙂

After that, once all is working, you can start working your way through MoKiChU's driver threads on this forum if you want, where he supplies many driver packs that are more recent than the ones on the motherboard support pages. His drivers are not 'official' in the sense that they are not supplied by Asus directly and you usually won't find them on the support pages for a while - he supplies them before Asus catches up. They are the real deal, released by Intel and the like. He does not modify them, so they can all be trusted. If you would like to keep it simple for now though, as this is your first build, then just grab everything directly from the support pages.

If you have any problems, create a new thread for your specific issue and somebody will try to help 🙂
Z690 Hero, BIOS 3401, MEI 2345.5.3.0, ME Firmware 16.1.30.2361, 7000X Case, RM1000x PSU, i9 12900K, ASUS TUF OC 3090TI, 2 x 16GB Corsair RAM @ 5200MHz, Windows 11 Pro 23H2, Corsair H150i Elite AIO, 4x Corsair RGB fans, 3x M.2 NVME drives, 2x SATA SSDs, 2x SATA HDs.

JohnAb
Level 17
Some updates follow. I will probably now stop compiling this list because the BIOS history is now being shown again on support pages, so I am doing nothing more than spending too much time repeating information. Oh well, it was a good idea while it lasted...

H610 (Prime H610M -A/E/K/R and H610I-PLUS Models)
==========================================
ME Firmware = 16.1.25.1885v2_S_NonZ. BIOS 2014
ME Firmware = Version 16.1.25.2020V2. BIOS 2212
NOTE: BIOS 2014 does not allow rolling back

B660 (Strix B660-A Models)
=====================
ME Firmware = 16.1.25.1885v2_S_NonZ. BIOS 2015
ME Firmware = Version 16.1.25.2020V2. BIOS 2212
NOTE: BIOS 2015 does not allow rolling back

B660 (Strix B660-F/G/I Models)
========================
ME Firmware = 16.1.25.1885v2_S_NonZ. BIOS 2012
NOTE: BIOS 2012 does not allow rolling back

B660 (Prime B660M-K, B660-PLUS and TUF Gaming B660-PLUS Models)
================================================== ====
ME Firmware = 16.1.25.1885v2_S_NonZ BIOS 2014
NOTE: BIOS 2014 does not allow rolling back

W680 (Pro WS W680-ACE & ACE IPMI Models)
==================================
ME Firmware not listed. BIOS 0203.
No rolling back information available

Z690 (Maximus, ProArt, TUF, Strix and Prime-A Models)
===========================================
ME Firmware = v16.1.25.1885. BIOS 2103 (can go back to 2004)
ME Firmware = v16.1.25.2020. BIOS 2204 (can go back to 2103)
NOTE: BIOS 2004 does not allow rolling back to previous versions.
NOTE: BIOS 23xx (when released) might not allow rolling back either.

Z690 (Prime-P Models)
=================
MEI Drivers = 2229.3.2.0, ME Firmware = v16.1.25.1885v2_S. BIOS 2212
NOTE: Cannot roll back to anything earlier than 2014

Z790 (Maximus, TUF and Strix Models)
==============================
ME Firmware = v16.1.25.1917. BIOS 0502
ME Firmware = v16.1.25.2020. BIOS 0703
ME Firmware = v16.1.25.2020. BIOS 0812 (Apex & 790-A)
ME Firmware = v16.1.25.2020. BIOS 0813
ME Firmware = v16.1.25.2020. BIOS 0816

Z790 (Prime D4 Models)
===================
ME Firmware 16.1.25.2020v2_S_Z. BIOS 0805
ME Firmware 16.1.25.2020v2_S_Z. BIOS 0809

Z790 (Prime non-D4 Models)
======================
ME Firmware 16.1.25.2020v2_S_Z. BIOS 0806
ME Firmware 16.1.25.2020v2_S_Z. BIOS 0809

Z790 Prime Z790-A WIFI
======================
ME Firmware 16.1.25.2020v2 BIOS 0812
ME Firmware 16.1.25.2020v2 BIOS 0809
ME Firmware 16.1.25.2020v2 BIOS 0806
ME Firmware 16.1.25.1917 BIOS 0602
Z690 Hero, BIOS 3401, MEI 2345.5.3.0, ME Firmware 16.1.30.2361, 7000X Case, RM1000x PSU, i9 12900K, ASUS TUF OC 3090TI, 2 x 16GB Corsair RAM @ 5200MHz, Windows 11 Pro 23H2, Corsair H150i Elite AIO, 4x Corsair RGB fans, 3x M.2 NVME drives, 2x SATA SSDs, 2x SATA HDs.