Asus tests BIOS update enabling Microsoft Dynamic Lighting control — makes it easier to avoid Armory Crate software

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Control RGB lighting straight from Windows settings, no third-party app required.

Asus ROG Strix motherboard
(Image credit: Asus ROG)

Motherboard maker Asus has a BIOS update for its newest AMD and Intel boards in beta testing that will make it easier for you to personalize the RGB lighting inside your case. The upcoming BIOS update enables Microsoft’s Dynamic Lighting feature in Windows 11, allowing direct control over the motherboard lighting.

Tom Warren, senior editor at The Verge, made the discovery. Testing the latest beta BIOS update, he found that the latest Asus Z970 boards turn on support for Dynamic Lighting in Windows 11. A new option in his motherboard’s UEFI BIOS utility allows the user to enable or disable Dynamic Lighting.

Microsoft’s Dynamic Lighting hopes to homogenize control over lighting devices like those found on motherboards, inside PC cases, and in CPU and case fans. This allows consumers to control their device lighting straight from Windows, without using a third-party app.

The implementation also allows you to synchronize the lighting for devices by different brands. For example, you could set the brightness or color change of the RGB lighting for your Asus motherboard, and your other-brand PC case fans at the same time, using just one control.

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UEFI BIOS utility in beta BIOS update
UEFI BIOS utility in Asus beta BIOS update(Image credit: Tom Warren)

According to Microsoft, several other key partners have joined its Dynamic Lighting effort. These include Acer; HP’s Omen, Victus, and HyperX products; Logitech; Razer; SteelSeries; and Twinkly. You’ll find compatible lighting in computer cases and motherboards, but also in keyboards, mice, game controllers, and more. We have also previously reported on ASRock motherboards adopting this generic Windows 11 standard.

Warren’s post to X was met with mixed reactions. While some commenters praised the news, some even saying it was “about time,” not everyone is a fan. Some suggest the most aesthetically pleasing computers lack any RGB lighting at all. Others say Asus should offer support for the open-source OpenRGB standard instead.

Warren notes the latest BIOS updates also include a new microcode fix for 13th and 14th Gen Intel CPUs. This microcode enforces Intel’s default power and voltage settings to help address instability issues found in those CPUs under high loads. Intel has stated this isn’t the root cause of the crashing issues, but it is a contributing factor.

Jeff Butts
Jeff Butts
Contributing Writer

Jeff Butts has been covering tech news for more than a decade, and his IT experience predates the internet. Yes, he remembers when 9600 baud was “fast.” He especially enjoys covering DIY and Maker topics, along with anything on the bleeding edge of technology.

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2 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Amdlova
    New way to get blue screen... generic control over RGB
    Reply
  • dave france
    I am surprised it took them so long to add the Asus boards for the RGB control app to work.
    It's not as if they are an obscure manufacturer.
    I wonder if it supports other Asus boards as well ? Hopefully the RGB Aurora is a universal Asus component across the generations.

    I installed it ages ago when it came in on a Windows update, but nothing worked when altering the controls in the panel.
    The MS App won't tell you that it's not compatible, so you end up wasting time trouble shooting the problem.
    Reply