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Abdul Hannan

I’ve been the Journalist & Editorial Writer at Tech4Gamers since July 2022. I spearhead our hardware coverage, including overclocking GPUs, benchmarking CPUs, reviewing peripherals, and fine-tuning custom PC builds for every budget. Daily, I report on breaking gaming news, from major launches and studio updates to the latest industry trends, ensuring our community stays informed. Beyond news briefs, I write in-depth feature articles on gaming culture and emerging technologies. And by collaborating closely with the editorial team on content planning, SEO strategy, and our publishing calendar, I help us consistently hit our traffic and engagement targets.

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Many of us would agree that updating the BIOS of our motherboard can be a complex task, as any oopsie can make your motherboard useless. That’s why you have probably heard of the phrase, “No matter what the version of your BIOS is, if it’s working fine, leave it.” For this reason, many users leave their motherboard default at their factory settings and never try to tinker with their BIOS versions.

This is true to some extent because a power issue while updating your motherboard can potentially brick it. However, users who don’t update their BIOS miss out on many performance improvements, including new features, improved RAM speeds, bug fixes, and more. Therefore, in this article, I will explain why updating your BIOS is good and how you can do it carefully without bricking your motherboard.

Why Does It Matter?

One main benefit of updating your BIOS is access to new features in newer versions. Different manufacturers add various updates to improve their motherboard capabilities, which can improve your PC’s overall performance. Even for components that work properly right out of the box, BIOS upgrades frequently feature performance-enhancing improvements throughout the board. Users also update their BIOS to use hardware they previously could not use.

Better Hardware Compatibility

For instance, sometimes it is not enough to install a new generation or latest series CPU on an old motherboard and expect it to work. Rather, manufacturers provide a BIOS update to enable motherboards to support those processors. Updates to the BIOS can also enable the use of other hardware upgrades, such as compatibility with new RAM speeds, and they can also fix problems involving PCIe devices, such as storage and capture cards.

Security Fixes

Additionally, keeping your computer secure is important. BIOS hacking and boot sector corruption are both real and can cause major damage to your computer. Security updates aim to resolve and fix flaws in the preceding BIOS version. Generally, most security updates are not particularly big, and you will probably not see any significant performance changes following the update. Nonetheless, improving your computer’s security is always a good idea.

Fix Common Issues

Furthermore, BIOS often fixes flaws and other issues on motherboards. These issues can appear in several ways. Due to the complexity of current BIOS firmware, they are practically unavoidable, and some may be more problematic than others. For instance, they can show up as blue screens of death, slowdowns, hardware or port failure to function, unexpected operating system failures, or boot problems.

Therefore, frequently visiting your motherboard’s support website for BIOS updates could help you find out if there is an update that can solve an annoying PC issue that continues to occur even after numerous upgrades to the operating system. Last but not least, let’s say newer hardware, whatever it is, fits and installs on your motherboard, but it isn’t functioning correctly. Depending on the motherboard manufacturer, there is a very high likelihood that a BIOS update will be able to resolve the issue.

But, You Should Be Careful

Updating the motherboard’s BIOS may improve security, compatibility, and performance, but it might cause permanent damage if done incorrectly. One of the biggest concerns is bricking your motherboard, which occurs when an update fails and makes it unusable. Installing the incorrect BIOS file, disrupting the update process, or losing power during an update can all trigger this.

Furthermore, changing the BIOS needlessly could lead to compatibility issues. Improper handling might result in expensive repairs or a new motherboard replacement, so it’s important to understand the procedure and act carefully. Although it may seem intimidating, following a safe approach is important while updating your BIOS.

Safely Updating BIOS Is Not Difficult

Firstly, it’s important to identify the version of your BIOS to determine whether a firmware upgrade is required. Usually, you can do this by opening the systems information tab, which is easily accessible, or by using the utility tools that the motherboard manufacturer usually provides. Afterward, download an update from the manufacturer’s official website if available.

To avoid incompatibilities, ensure that the updated file matches the correct model of your motherboard. After ensuring a reliable power connection and downloading the proper file, follow the manufacturer’s detailed instructions on the website. Lastly, avoid interrupting the update process by restarting or switching off the computer, which might cause it to stop updating.

A Must-Have, If Done Correctly

Updating your BIOS offers numerous benefits that can significantly increase your PC’s performance, from unlocking new features and enhancing compatibility to fixing bugs. However, it also comes with risks that shouldn’t be overlooked and could be costly. Nevertheless, in my opinion, the perks far outweigh the risks, and you should update it with caution and take all necessary safety measures before doing so.

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Ali Rashid Khan

As Tech4Gamers’ Wiki Editor, I dissect gaming products, offering detailed perspectives on a variety of PCMR hardware ranging from the Best Motherboards and CPUs to the Best GPUs, RAM, and PSUs.

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It’s 2025 and GPU prices look all set on penetrating the ozone layer. No, I’m not even exaggerating this time. It’s a shame to say that GPU prices never truly recovered in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

What was once considered painfully expensive for a flagship GPU is now deemed as a reasonable price point for upper midrange GPUs. No, it’s not right, but it is what it is. Of course, I can’t objectively classify as to what amount YOU in particular should be spending on a GPU for your gaming PC. 

That’s because gamers are typically split into two different camps, i.e., the average Joe who’ll be happy with 60+ FPS in 1080p at High settings versus the hardcore enthusiasts who absolutely need triple-digit FPS in 1440p or even 4K at Ultra settings to drive their high refresh rate monitors.

As such, the definition and subsequently price of a satisfactory GPU will vary from gamer to gamer. Nevertheless, I’m still going to attempt to justify the reasonable limit for spending on GPUs in 2025 which should somewhat satisfy the needs of both types of gamers. 

Breaking News: Nvidia’s RTX 5000 Launch Proves My Point

I’m sure you’re already well-versed with the recent unveiling of Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 5000 Series GPUs. For now, the cheapest GPU in the lineup is the RTX 5070 with an MSRP of $550. 

Interestingly, Nvidia claims that the RTX 5070 can match the outgoing (and much more expensive) flagship GPU, i.e., the RTX 4090 thanks to advancements in the silicon giant’s DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) Technology. 

However, I’d advise you to take this news with a grain of salt as you’ll need to enable DLSS 4.0 in order to have any possibility of rivaling the RTX 4090’s performance. Even so, it’s pretty groundbreaking to realize that a next-generation midrange $550 GPU has the technical potential to outgun a previous-generation flagship $1,600 GPU.

As I’m sure you’ve put two and two together, this is exactly why I’m advocating for the fact that $500 is plenty of money to be spending on a GPU in 2025.

What Kind Of GPU Does $500 Get You In 2025?

Let’s assume you’re the frenzied competitive gamer who needs upwards of 240 FPS to sync your frame rates with your high refresh rate monitors. If you’re into such hardcore gameplay, it’s safe to say you’ll be gaming in 1080p at High or Ultra settings.

As such, you’ll find that you can easily find a brand new RTX 3070 Ti or even an RTX 4060 Ti from a reputable vendor for under $500. Both of these GPUs are easily capable of pushing 144-240+ FPS at 1080p in the latest gaming titles and you won’t be running out of power anytime soon.

Even better, both these GPUs are relatively efficient when it comes to their power consumption as opposed to the power-hungry flagship GPUs like the RTX 3090/RTX 4090.

What About Used GPUs? 

Here’s where things get a bit more interesting. If you’re willing to buy a used GPU, you’ll be able to easily pick up an RTX 2080 Ti, an RTX 3080 Ti, and even an RTX 4070 Super for under 500 bucks.

Of course, you might miss out on the manufacturers’ warranties, but these GPUs are still relatively new and packed with almost all of Nvidia’s latest technological architectures and hardware, so it’s not too much of a risk.

AMD GPUs: Are They Worth Considering?

It would be incredibly unthoughtful of me to write an article advocating for people to spend less money on GPUs without discussing what AMD has in store for us.

While Team Red is struggling to compete with Nvidia at the higher-end tiers of the GPUs’ hierarchy, that doesn’t mean they don’t make a good budget GPU.

In fact, I genuinely think that the Radeon RX 7800 XT and Radeon RX 7600 are some of the best budget GPUs that money can buy, provided they’re competitively underpriced in contrast to their Nvidia counterparts.

Next Generation GPUs: The Future Is Budget-Friendly

The battle for the best next-generation GPUs has already started with Intel taking the covers off of its Arc ‘Battlemage’ GPUs, i.e., its B-Series lineup consisting of the B570 and B580 which are priced at $220 and $260, respectively.

These discrete GPUs from Intel look set to give the RTX 4060 and RX 7600 a tough run for their money, which will only increase competition and ultimately benefit the consumer, i.e., you in terms of value propositions.

Furthermore, AMD has also announced the brand new Radeon RX 9000 Series of GPUs based on the company’s proprietary RDNA4 architecture. 

The aforementioned RX 9060 and RX 9070 Series GPUs are still awaiting their launch, but Nvidia should expect stiff competition in the entry-level to midrange market segment.

To conclude, spending more than $500 on a GPU in 2025 really doesn’t make sense to me unless you’re in the game (no pun intended) for bragging rights.