Do I need to update my BIOS for Intel 13th gen Raptor Lake CPUs?

Here we explore whether or not you need to update your Motherboard BIOS to accommodate the 13th gen CPUs from Intel

Table of Contents Table of Contents

Intel has released its 13th generation Raptor Lake CPUs into the wild. Well, that was quite a while ago now – especially as the Intel 14th gen is here too! Regardless, there are a lot of questions concerning the compatibility and performance of Intel’s 13th generation CPUs. One of those questions is “Do I need a BIOS update for Intel’s 13th gen Raptor Lake CPUs?” we aim to answer that question today. We also asked a similar question regarding the Z690 chipset specifically – “will 13th gen work on the Z690 motherboard?“.

Intel CEO, Pat Gelsinger, was the first to give us a snippet of the 13th generation flagship, the 13900K. This information was given at Intel’s annual Innovation event, Intel Innovation 2022. If you’re interested in how exactly that went down, you can check out our coverage of the Innovation event. Pat went on to explain that the Raptor Lake family will have a flagship CPU containing up to 24 Performance and Efficiency cores, up to a 15% better single-core performance gain, and up to 41% better multi-thread performance gain. That’s some serious performance gains over 12th gen Alder Lake CPUs.

So, if you’ve still got one of the best 12th gen motherboards in your rig, let’s see if you need to perform a BIOS update.

Today’s best CPU deals

---

Are Intel’s 13th-generation CPUs compatible with 600 series motherboards? 

Yes, absolutely Yes, When the 600 series motherboards were announced on the LGA 1700 socket, Intel promised that they’d keep that socket supported for a good few years, which is what we could be seeing the Intel 14th gen as well. As Intel CPU consumers became tired of having to upgrade motherboards every time Intel released a CPU.

The LGA 1700 socket is still compatible with 13th-generation CPUs, and indeed even 14th gen. Therefore you can get a new Raptor Lake CPU and use it with your old Alder Lake era 600 series motherboard. If the socket is compatible then the CPU will work (with a little help from a BIOS or firmware update), no doubt.

BIOS updates are always recommended, so you should be applying them wherever possible anyway.

Do I need to update my BIOS for Intel’s 13th gen Raptor Lake CPUs?

Yes a motherboard BIOS update is required for the 13th-generation CPUs to function for most of you.

You will need to update your motherboard BIOS on all 600 series motherboards to make the 13th gen CPUs compatible, for those of you with Q-code indicators built into your motherboards, you may see Q-codes 56 and or 57 if you have not or improperly updated your motherboard BIOS.

Intel 700 series motherboards

On the flipside, you should not need to update your motherboard BIOS on the 700 series as they should ship with complete compatibility out of the box. It would make no sense to release a product alongside another that was incompatible with it without further tinkering.

---

How to update BIOS for 13th gen

Updating your BIOS for Intel 13th gen works much the same as any other BIOS update. We have already put together a comprehensive guide on how to update BIOS if you want step-by-step instructions for the process. You’ll need a flash drive with the latest BIOS update file downloaded from your motherboard manufacturer’s website. This way, you can be sure that your motherboard is compatible with the update for the 13th gen.

---

Will I need a BIOS update for 13th gen on 600 series motherboards?

You do need a BIOS update for your motherboard to be fully compatible with the 13th gen CPUs. If you’re feeling lucky and you buy a motherboard close to the launch then you may very well get a motherboard that has already had a BIOS update. Negating the need for you to update the BIOS yourself.

If you need to know how to perform a BIOS update, you can check our article here: How to update motherboard BIOS. The process never really changes there are just a few differences in menu navigation across motherboard manufacturers.

Why do I need to update a BIOS?

Updating your motherboard BIOS ensure that your motherboard and CPU can communicate effectively and fill each other’s needs. A BIOS is motherboard firmware that controls your PC and its components at a lower level than your operating system. 

BIOS updates can carry anything from security patches to overclocking profiles, to bug fixes in the BIOS, so it’s highly recommended you keep your BIOS as up-to-date as possible to avoid issues with your PC. 

---

FAQs

Will Intel 13th gen work without a BIOS update?

Generally speaking, no. If your motherboard is not properly updated to a version compatible with the Intel 13th gen, it’s possible that your machine won’t POST. In other words, it won’t power on.

Is updating BIOS for a new CPU easy?

It may seem daunting at first, but performing a BIOS update isn’t too much of a hassle at all. If you’ve installed a new CPU, especially from a newer generation, it’s likely you’ll need to perform a BIOS update.

Final word

You need to update your BIOS for your motherboard to be FULLY compatible with the latest Intel CPUs, without this, your CPU may struggle to perform optimally or may not even work at all. So, do you need a BIOS update for Intel’s 13th gen? Yes, you do. It’s always a good idea to apply the latest BIOS update anyway, as included in most updates are important device security patches.