How to perform a BIOS update To update your motherboard firmware in 2021, all you need is an internet connection, a USB stick, and 10 minutes to spare If your PC isn’t working as it should, maybe you need a BIOS update. Whether you’re upgrading to the best gaming CPU or attempting to diagnose the source of your system’s instability, updating your PC’s basic firmware is a great place to start your troubleshooting. The BIOS, or Basic Input Output System, is the crucial low-level interconnect between your motherboard, the components plugged into it, and your OS. This firmware stored locally on the board initialises everything plugged into the mobo’s I/O, and is crucial to the smooth operation of your PC, from the best SSD for gaming to your CPU to the best gaming RAM. Think of it as the system governing the highway between all your computer’s most important components.