Can Kaby Lake CPU be used to flash Z170 board??

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   ASRock does not control the BIOS version of every board in every warehouse, on every shelf and in every store at the time a new CPU generation is released. It is hardly the manufacturer's fault that intel like to ensure their CPUs have absolutely 0 compatibility with older BIOS versions. Many AMD CPUs will allow post at a default frequency of 800 mhz for example and allow you to flash your BIOS in a sort of CPU safe mode. 
Everyone talks about being able to flash without a CPU without realizing what that would entail, there would need to be a basic CPU on the board itself that would allow the flash, this would add significant cost. IMO, in cases like these (happened with broadwell and broadwell-EP too) the retailer should be responsible for at the very least posting a warning about BIOS compatibility with newly released CPUs. Ideally they should offer a free service to flash the BIOS when this issue arises.

I do understand how frustrating it is, I have been there myself many times with multiple manufacturers over the years. Consider yourself lucky you are not trying to fill an order for 100+ PCs that all need a BIOS update before you can even start installing the OS  

The options are as follows:

Buy, borrow or steal a compatible CPU and update the BIOS (if purchased you can return it after with some retailers)

Purchase a new BIOS chip from ASRock or a 3rd party (I don't usually recommend 3rd parties)

Return the board to a physical store and get them to flash it for you, usually for a small fee.

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Xaltar Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 16 May 2015 Location: Europe Status: Offline Points: 27113	Post Options Post Reply Quote Xaltar Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Can Kaby Lake CPU be used to flash Z170 board?? Posted: 24 Jan 2017 at 2:05am
	ASRock does not control the BIOS version of every board in every warehouse, on every shelf and in every store at the time a new CPU generation is released. It is hardly the manufacturer's fault that intel like to ensure their CPUs have absolutely 0 compatibility with older BIOS versions. Many AMD CPUs will allow post at a default frequency of 800 mhz for example and allow you to flash your BIOS in a sort of CPU safe mode. Everyone talks about being able to flash without a CPU without realizing what that would entail, there would need to be a basic CPU on the board itself that would allow the flash, this would add significant cost. IMO, in cases like these (happened with broadwell and broadwell-EP too) the retailer should be responsible for at the very least posting a warning about BIOS compatibility with newly released CPUs. Ideally they should offer a free service to flash the BIOS when this issue arises. I do understand how frustrating it is, I have been there myself many times with multiple manufacturers over the years. Consider yourself lucky you are not trying to fill an order for 100+ PCs that all need a BIOS update before you can even start installing the OS The options are as follows: Buy, borrow or steal a compatible CPU and update the BIOS (if purchased you can return it after with some retailers) Purchase a new BIOS chip from ASRock or a 3rd party (I don't usually recommend 3rd parties) Return the board to a physical store and get them to flash it for you, usually for a small fee.


Dreyzzyn Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 16 Jan 2017 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 7	Post Options Post Reply Quote Dreyzzyn Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 24 Jan 2017 at 1:49am
	you need an older gen cpu to do the flash. I'm in the same boat as I just got an H170M Pro4 & Kaby lake i5 and unable to finish the build because ASRock needs to send me another bios chip to support it. Short of buying a cheap older gen cpu to do the flash (expensive and shouldn't be necessary) you have to wait for the RMA department to help. GOod luck with that as I've waiting over a week and barely gotten 1 message from them asking for my order invoice. About ready to return this piece of junk and order a board from a different company.

MainFramer Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 23 Jan 2017 Status: Offline Points: 3	Post Options Post Reply Quote MainFramer Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 Jan 2017 at 11:09pm
	Typically with changes like this (think Haswell-> Devil's Canyon), one can use the previous gen CPU to at least flash the bios. Are ASRock's Z170 boards able to be flashed with a KL CPU? Does this hold true with all of the boards or some? None? Thanks!