Updating the BIOS regularly comes naturally to some users. The average PC user, however, has probably not updated their BIOS in years, possibly never. BIOS updates aren't often spoken in the same vein as Windows and driver updates, and are ignored outside of troubleshooting scenarios. The old belief of "not fixing what ain't broke" contributes to countless PCs continuing without BIOS updates for years, since no glaring downsides are apparent. The negative effects of an outdated BIOS/UEFI, however, can be felt in multiple ways. Your PC's performance, stability, and security can be compromised if your firmware isn't updated. Motherboard manufacturers often release microcode updates to fix security flaws, improve system stability, and even increase performance. You don't need to jump to every single BIOS update on your motherboard's product page, but updating it now and then is highly recommended.

Your PC's performance lags behind that of comparable builds

All else being optimized, outdated firmware could be the reason

Many users consider BIOS updates necessary only when switching to a new platform or CPU. They forget that BIOS updates can also bring performance boosts to your system, improving gaming performance, enabling faster XMP/EXPO settings, and reducing boot times. All of these improvements noticeably affect your day-to-day PC experience, and cannot be taken lightly. BIOS updates by Gigabyte and MSI in late 2024 managed to boost gaming performance by 15–20%, depending on the title. This was a free and seamless performance increase on existing hardware, simply due to optimized core distribution and power balancing, and better SMT handling. You can't scoff at such a significant boost obtained just from a simple BIOS update.

If you have noticed your PC fails to achieve framerates similar to equivalent builds in gaming benchmarks, then an outdated BIOS can be the culprit. Provided you've optimized all BIOS settings for maximum performance already, the only thing missing might be a newer BIOS version. Gaming isn't the only thing affected by updated firmware; your RAM speed and boot times also stand to benefit. Optimized BIOS versions can ensure your CPU and motherboard can sustain faster XMP/EXPO profiles. Reduction in the OS boot time is also possible by tweaking the handshake between the firmware and the hardware. Hence, there's really no excuse to avoid BIOS updates for years. It's not even a risky process, thanks to BIOS flashback and dual BIOS features.

You're experiencing unexplained errors and instability

You may be ignoring the simplest fix

Another telltale sign of outdated firmware is a system riddled with frequent errors, crashes, BSODs, and general instability. If you haven't been able to pin down the issues to a specific component or application, then your outdated BIOS version could be behind the entire ordeal. The instability could be related to CPU behavior, memory settings, power settings, or storage issues. Intel's Vmin shift scandal, which permanently degraded 13th and 14th Gen CPUs, was eventually fixed by a microcode update. While it didn't undo the damage that was already caused, it stopped the chips from crashing countless PCs. It was a must-have update for both people who had been suffering from these faulty chips for months and those who were about to invest in them.

Even AMD's PBO and Intel's MultiCore Enhancement algorithms have been known to keep CPUs overclocked 24/7, severely degrading their lifespan. When these issues came to light, the fixes were delivered to user systems using BIOS updates. Ignoring BIOS updates can keep your PC exposed to unstable behavior while you scratch your head to diagnose the root cause. Stability-focused firmware updates essentially allow you to extend your hardware's lifespan. Checking for BIOS updates once in a quarter or six months can save you from weeks or months of headaches.

Your system was exposed to a firmware-level attack

Nothing except a BIOS reflash will fix it

It might not be easy to tell if your PC was indeed compromised in a firmware-level security breach like the Plundervolt and LogoFAIL vulnerabilities. However, some signs can be indirectly correlated to a severe cyberattack. If you notice key BIOS settings such as Secure Boot altered without your knowledge, it might be related to a firmware breach. Corrupted OS files and malware persisting even after a storage wipe or OS reinstall can also indicate a BIOS infection, since the firmware sits beneath the OS. Of course, unexplained slowdowns, freezes, crashes, or longer boot times could also point to the same conclusion.

On a system without the latest BIOS/UEFI version, it's tough to argue that such issues aren't related to the BIOS version. The security of your PC is much more important than its performance, since it can compromise your sensitive data. Keeping your BIOS updated ensures you're doing your best to protect against emerging firmware-level attacks. It gives you the best chance of dodging serious security breaches. Manufacturers often release BIOS updates immediately after these security flaws come to light, hence ensuring you install them is an important part of PC maintenance.

Ignoring BIOS updates has zero upside

At a time when flashing a new BIOS version is as seamless as can be, keeping your firmware outdated makes no sense. You're willingly missing out on new features and performance improvements, skipping stability patches, and leaving your PC exposed to critical security attacks. Updating your BIOS should be part of your regular PC maintenance checklist. You can check for updates once every few months, and update if the change log indicates substantial improvements.