ASRock has posted a new firmware package for its Radeon RX 7900 XTX graphics cards after reports that the previous version left some cards unable to boot. The replacement, labelled ASRVBFlash 1.0.6 and dated 6 November 2026, swaps out version 1.0.5. VideoCardz first reported it on 10 November, after a reader spotted it on ASRock's support page that day. ASRock has not published a changelog, an explanation of the earlier failures, or confirmation that 1.0.6 fixes them.
Forge PC has not tested either firmware version. This article is based on reporting from VideoCardz, TechSpot and TechPowerUp, and on AMD's statement about the RX 7000 security update. If your ASRock card is working normally, nothing below means you must flash it tonight.
What went wrong with the first update
TechSpot says the original downloads arrived on 29 October and covered ten ASRock models, from the RX 7600 XT up to the RX 7900 XTX. They followed similar security-related firmware releases from Sapphire and Gigabyte. Some RX 7900 XT and RX 7900 XTX owners then reported that Windows restarted during the update, and the PC would not POST with the graphics card installed afterwards. Taking the card out let the system start again.
According to TechSpot, a moderator on ASRock's forum blamed the failed flashes on graphics drivers not being fully removed before updating. One owner replied that they had used the uninstaller named in ASRock's instructions and still ended up with a card that did not work.
Some owners recovered their cards with external EEPROM programmers, which means removing the cooler and reprogramming the BIOS chip directly. TechPowerUp says another workaround was reflashing an older VBIOS, which some users downloaded from TechPowerUp's own VBIOS collection. ASRock reportedly removed version 1.0.5 from its download pages, although TechPowerUp says it was still reachable over FTP.
Why the update exists in the first place
This is not a performance update. TechPowerUp reported on 13 October that AMD had commented on the RX 7000 firmware that Sapphire and Gigabyte were releasing. Gigabyte linked it to vulnerabilities in the AMD VBIOS under the identifier AMD-SN-6023. AMD's statement, via ComputerBase, said the fixes were being provided ahead of public disclosure so customers had time to update. It recommended updating "as soon as it is made available" by your card's manufacturer, and said there were no reports of the vulnerabilities being exploited in practice.
VideoCardz describes ASRock's October release as part of that wider AMD effort. AMD has not said publicly what the flaw is. That leaves owners in an awkward position, because they are being asked to install firmware for a security problem that has not been described, from a vendor whose first attempt failed for some people.
Warranty: mixed messages
What happens to cards that were bricked is still unclear. TechSpot and VideoCardz both report that an owner in Japan was told by ASRock that a failed official update would be covered under warranty. An owner in Europe was directed to warranty service even though their card was out of warranty. TechPowerUp adds that a European customer was told that removing the heatsink to reach the VBIOS chip would void the warranty.
For UK buyers, that matters. If your card was bricked by the official tool, contact the retailer or ASRock before you take the cooler off or buy an EEPROM programmer. TechPowerUp's advice is to pursue an RMA. Keep a record of the download you used, its version number and the date you ran it.
What UK owners should do now
If your ASRock RX 7000 card works and you have not flashed it, there is no reason to rush. AMD says there are no known exploits. TechPowerUp suggests waiting for community feedback on 1.0.6 if you are unsure. When you do update, use only ASRock's file for your exact model, never a file built for another brand's board, and follow ASRock's instructions, including removing the graphics driver first.
Standard firmware care applies as well. Use a stable mains supply, close everything else, do not interrupt the flash, and have a way to get a display if the card fails, such as integrated graphics on your CPU. Our guide on updating graphics drivers covers a clean driver removal. If a PC refuses to show a picture after any change, work through our no display or no signal checks and our graphics card not detected guide before you assume the card is dead.
If you own a Sapphire, Gigabyte or other non-ASRock RX 7000 card, use only your own board partner's update when it appears. TechPowerUp warned against flashing files built for another vendor's boards.
Our verdict
ASRock has replaced a security firmware update that bricked some RX 7900 XT and XTX cards, but without saying what changed, so caution is reasonable. If your card is working, wait for community reports on ASRVBFlash 1.0.6, and then install only the official file for your exact model, after a clean driver removal. If your card was bricked by the official tool, go to the retailer or ASRock for an RMA before you open the card. AMD says the vulnerabilities have not been exploited, so a short wait is a sensible trade-off. We have not tested the firmware; this is based on VideoCardz, TechSpot and TechPowerUp reporting up to 11 November 2026.
The bottom line
ASRock has replaced a security firmware update that bricked some RX 7900 XT and XTX cards, but without saying what changed, so caution is reasonable. If your card is working, wait for community reports on ASRVBFlash 1.0.6, and then install only the official file for your exact model, after a clean driver removal. If your card was bricked by the official tool, go to the retailer or ASRock for an RMA before you open the card. AMD says the vulnerabilities have not been exploited, so a short wait is a sensible trade-off. We have not tested the firmware; this is based on VideoCardz, TechSpot and TechPowerUp reporting up to 11 November 2026.
