ASUS, Gigabyte And MSI Address Spectre And Meltdown Exploits With Motherboard BIOS Updates

Forget about planning just for Patch Tuesday, the second Tuesday of every month when Microsoft issues security updates to Windows users. As companies scramble to mitigate Meltdown and Spectre, you should be planning for Patch January, and maybe February as well. Case in point, ASUS, Gigabyte, and MSI have all now released firmware updates for a whole bunch of motherboard models.

"ASUS is aware that the current Intel microcode version might be subject to recently identified security vulnerabilities. We are diligently working to update ASUS motherboards that support 6th, 7th or 8th Generation Intel Core processors or Intel Core X-series processors for X99 and X299 platforms. We recommend customers update their systems by downloading and applying the latest BIOS, as soon as the relevant revision becomes available," ASUS said in a statement.

There are way too many models for us to link directly to each one individually, but if you go here, you will find the latest BIOS version available for well over 100 models cover the X299, Z370, Z270, Z170, B150, B250, H270, H110, Q170, Q270, and X99 chipsets. Cross reference that information with the latest BIOS update available in the support section of your motherboard's product page.

Gigabyte is also hard at work issuing BIOS updates. The company has conveniently put together a page that breaks down motherboards by chipset, with direct links to each one's latest available BIOS.

After being notified about this industry-wide potential security issue, Gigabyte is working with our silicon providers in developing solutions to mitigate these issues as soon as reasonably possible. Updated software and firmware mitigations should be available in the next few days and will continue to be released over the next few weeks," Gigabyte said.

If you own a Gigabyte motherboard, go here and click on your chipset, then find your specific model to grab the latest firmware for it.

Finally, MSI is busy cranking out BIOS updates as well.

"MSI, one of the world leading motherboard developers, has been working swift on solutions ever since receiving a formal notice from Intel stating that the current Intel® microcode version might be subject to recently identified security vulnerabilities. To ensure any system powered by MSI Z370-series motherboards is operating securely, Intel and MSI have been working around the clock to prepare updated microcode and release new BIOS updates, which will be available for download," MSI said.

It's not just Z370-chipset motherboards, either. MSI has new firmware available for several Z270, H270, Z170, B250, and B150 boards. Go here to browse a list of motherboards and BIOS updates.

Unfortunately there does not seem to be any BIOS updates for older motherboards and platforms that are still relevant from a performance perspective. For example, if you are still running a Core i7-4970K 'Devil's Canyon' CPU in a Z97-chipset motherboard, you are out of luck for the time being, at least as it pertains to a BIOS update. It remains to be seen if motherboard makers will go that far back, and beyond.