Aurora R16, BIOS/Microcode update question

There is no dumb question.  Everything got to be learnt.  Some are by asking questions. 

If you already applied the new microcode BIOS update, it was done to BIOS chip on motherboard.  Therefore, replacing a new processor does not change the microcode on BIOS chip.  There is no need to reapply the BIOS update again.

In a related post on an Intel forum, an Intel employee said...

• "As a general best practice Intel recommends users adhere to Intel Default Settings on their desktop processors. Intel is not changing the tuning capabilities of existing K sku processors. Users who desire to overclock or utilize higher power delivery settings than recommended can still do so at their own risk as overclocking may void warranty or affect system health (learn more at Overclock Your CPU with Unlocked Intel® Processors - Intel). To be effective, the microcode patch (0x129) MUST be loaded via BIOS update when you receive the new CPU. You may contact your system or motherboard manufacturer for BIOS updates containing this microcode update (0x129)."

Does the new 0x129 microcode get applied automatically because the BIOS is already upgraded to 2.10.1 before the processor was swapped, or do you need to reapply the 2.10.1 BIOS update so the new 0x129 microcode is applied to the new processor? 

Not sure why you repeated the same question in a different way.  The BIOS version 2.10.1 provides fixes and enhancements:  Maintains stability of 13th and 14th generation Intel processors.

Once you already updated the motherboard with that BIOS version, any newly added CPU will be operated with that fixes and enhancements.

If it can ease your mind, you can run BIOS update again but note that a new version of BIOS update is on the horizon as Dell has been providing update very often.  Any new update should included the microcode that fixes Intel CPU issue.

"To be effective, the microcode patch (0x129) MUST be loaded via BIOS update when you receive the new CPU. You may contact your system or motherboard manufacturer for BIOS updates containing this microcode update (0x129)."

That's assuming the new BIOS hasn't been uploaded yet.

Thanks all for helping me understand this better.

Yes, don't put the new CPU in and then update the BIOS, as that could cause permanent damage to the CPU.

Only tricky part is flashing a BIOS with an unstable CPU could cause a bad flash, and pending your motherboard recovery options cause serious issues.

It's a bit of an unusual situation, as I would never recommend upgrading your BIOS when your system is unstable. But in this case you actually have to do it.

Now that I think about it, that is why they might advice to do it again after you replaced the CPU, to be sure the BIOS is error free. Typically a bad flash will just fail, but you never know...

I was just made aware of this Chip issue from Dell Today , I just performed the Bios update but I have not used the pc enough since purchase to identify any issues 

Q: are all i9 chips getting replaced ? next step if you have issues after the bios update 

Any repo steps I do to test if the Bios update has fixed this issue, i.e. running Application X or setting to high performance mode in AWCC ?

Thanks

@Trd3000GT​ Not all chips are getting replaced. Only the damaged ones, but there's no way to actually test for this damage.

If you experience system crashes after the update you will have to engage a Dell agent by pressing the get help now button in the lower right corner of the screen.

i tried to do a BIOS update from Windows 11, but it said the version was the same as the one installed, 2.13.0.  Getting BSODs daily, and I’m not even using the machine.  All diagnostics are OK.  Waiting for Dell to call me.

BSOD's could be a Windows problem.  Got 3 BSOD's one day when I had the newest version of Outlook open along with other items.  After the BSOD's, I decided just to try the slightly older version of Outlook and the BSOD's stopped.