Updated September 18, 2026 · 4 min read
New CPU, older motherboard: the BIOS question
When a board needs a firmware update for a newer processor, and how BIOS Flashback helps.
Same socket doesn't mean ready
A motherboard can share a socket with a newer processor yet ship with firmware that predates it. Without an update, the system may not start at all.
We record which processor generations each board supports from the factory and which need an update.
BIOS Flashback
Boards with BIOS Flashback can be updated from a USB drive without any processor installed. Boards without it need a previously supported CPU to perform the update.
Every Avalon-assembled system ships with current firmware, so this only affects self-builders.