ASRock VBIOS Update Risks Bricking Radeon RX 7900 XT and XTX Cards
A serious issue has emerged regarding ASRock's official VBIOS updates for certain AMD Radeon RX 7000 series graphics cards. Multiple users have reported that installing the latest firmware via the ASRVBFlash tool can lead to a complete failure to POST (Power-On Self-Test), effectively rendering the cards unusable through standard software means.
Since the release of ASRVBFlash version 1.0.5 on October 29, 2026, several owners of ASRock Radeon RX 7900 XT and RX 7900 XTX models have reported catastrophic failures following the update process. The issue appears to be tied to a broader VBIOS security update intended for the Radeon RX 7000 lineup. While the update was also released for RX 7600 XT, RX 7700 XT, and RX 7800 XT models, the reports of bricked cards are specifically concentrated on the high-end 7900 series.
Affected Models and Failure Pattern
The reports indicate that the failure follows a consistent pattern: the ASRVBFlash tool initiates the update, the system reboots, and subsequently, the computer fails to reach the POST stage with the affected card installed. Affected models include the Phantom Gaming and Taichi variants of both the RX 7900 XT and RX 7900 XTX, including their 'White' editions. Notably, the issue does not seem to be limited to a specific motherboard platform, as users have reported failures on both ASRock and MSI motherboards.
In one documented case involving an RX 7900 XTX Phantom Gaming, the system failed to boot only when the card was present; removing the card allowed the system to start normally, confirming that the issue is localized to the GPU or its firmware. While some users managed to recover their cards using external EEPROM programmers (such as a T48-USB programmer with a test clip) to flash the ROM directly, this is not a viable solution for the average consumer due to the required hardware and technical expertise.
Current Status and Recommendations
ASRock has not yet released an official statement regarding the cause of these failures. While some users reported that certain download links for the updates returned 404 errors, the manufacturer has not issued a formal recall or a corrected firmware version. There is a report from a user in Japan stating that ASRock support treated the failure as a warranty case, but this cannot be assumed to apply to all regions or out-of-warranty products.
Until ASRock provides a confirmed fix or a technical explanation, users with affected RX 7900 XT or XTX models are advised to avoid installing the ASRVBFlash 1.0.5 update. There is currently no technical reason to force the update, and the risk of a non-recoverable hardware state remains high for those without specialized recovery tools.
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