Why it matters: Microsoft introduced unified RGB lighting controls in Windows 11 last year, but the list of supported devices has been limited. The latest Asus beta BIOS now allows for controlling RGB lights on Asus motherboards without the need for vendor-specific software like Armory Crate.
A new Asus beta BIOS update has added support for Windows 11’s native RGB controls in recent motherboard models. This feature simplifies the process of configuring or turning off lighting on hardware components.
While it’s not clear which specific motherboards will receive the update, The Verge has confirmed that it works on the latest Intel Z790 models and some newer AMD boards. Users can check for beta firmware versions dated July 2024 or later by searching for their motherboard’s model number on the Asus website’s support section.
ASUS’ latest beta BIOS updates for its newest AMD and Intel boards enables Microsoft’s Dynamic Lighting feature in Windows 11, allowing users to control motherboard lighting directly in Windows pic.twitter.com/e34Vk1ExkH
– Tom Warren (@tomwarren) July 7, 2024
Typically, controlling RGB lights in hardware components requires accessing the BIOS or using vendor-specific software like Armory Crate. Windows 11 moved these controls to its settings menu last year, potentially eliminating the need for reboots or additional apps.
However, hardware vendors must support these Windows controls. Only a few companies have introduced compatible devices so far, with pledges from others like Acer, HP, and Logitech. Whether this support will extend to motherboards, RAM, and GPUs remains uncertain.
Users who install the beta update will find a “Windows Dynamic Lighting” switch in the UEFI BIOS under LED lighting. After selecting “Enabled” from the dropdown menu, a reboot is required. To access various controls for background lights and effects, users can navigate to Settings > Personalization > Dynamic Lighting in Windows. Tom Warren has confirmed that Armory Crate is no longer necessary.
Additionally, Tom’s Hardware reports that the beta update includes microcodes to address recent crashes affecting high-end 13th and 14th-generation Intel CPUs. While this hotfix may not resolve the issue for all users, it enhances Intel’s default voltage controls to reduce the likelihood of crashes. The company is still investigating the root cause, with overclocking being a contributing factor to the crashes during CPU-intensive tasks like shader compilation.
