I think so. Not that it seems necessary but these look like fairly major updates:

Blitz Extreme BIOS 0904
1. Support new CPUs. Please refer to our website at: http://support.asus.com.tw/cpusupport/cpusupport.aspx
2. Finetune CPU frequency calculation algorithm
3. Finetune HDD size detection algorithm
4. Improved FSB overclocking ability.
5. Improved DRAM performance.
6. Finetune DRAM frequency detection algorithm

The file size (extracted) is 2 MB so using a floppy is out Kinda scary because I don't really trust the Windows based BIOS update utilities

An excellent question Graham and one that I can't answer for you. I basically go by 'If it ain't broke...) Flashing one's BIOS is not the best thing to do, I know you realize this but others may not. I haven't flashed this one in over two years, A8N-E. Maybe time to look though?

I've regularly re-flashed the BIOS in my machine, especially if the update includes amendments and additions such as the ones you've listed above, Graham. Also, I ALWAYS use the Windows flash programs (mainly because I have no floppy disks) and I've not run into a single problem yet.

I know there are others out there who have but I can only assume that they're doing something wrong (or maybe have a corrupt download but any good flash program should check the integrity of the image before it performs the flash). My normal procedure is to re-flash, reboot and let the machine get past post (but not into the Windows start up menu) then reboot again and set the BIOS parameters back to how I'd like them. To be even safer you can always reset the BIOS to factory defaults before you flash, just make sure you keep a note of all those options you've changed.

Most motherboards can boot from USB media now. Anyway you can make a USB drive bootable, put the files on it from a DOS floppy and use that to update BIOS?

Yeah that would work actually Mark As it is I downloaded the latest update utility for XP and gave it a go. It worked fine and I had to then reset the BIOS to my preferred settings as the update took them to the defaults.