ASUS ROG Strix X99 - XMP Issues

[RSR]

Hey All,

I am experiencing some weird XMP issues when updating system BIOS's.

System Spec:

MB: ASUS ROG Strix X99 Gaming ATX
CPU: Intel i7 6850K
RAM: G.Skill Trident Z - F4-3200C16Q-32GTZKW

When using BIOS release 0801 or below the motherboard work correctly, as do the XMP profiles. However, when upgrading to the latest version which at the time of writing this post is 1201 and then also down grading to 1101 and 1003 the same problem is still present.

I have used the MEMOK feature on the MB which confirmed everything is good. I have even run memtest86 which runs without error.

When observing the post codes on the MB it seems to get stuck on a 'bd' post code, which I can see from looking around on the internet seems to be released to the System Agent voltage.

What I have noticed with the BIOS changes is a reduction in these voltages on the CPU System Agent Voltage, DRAM Voltage (I suspect that this one is due to the XMP not working correctly) and the VCCIO CPU 1.05V Voltage.

Under BIOS 0801 can I can see these values which are automatically set the following:

CPU System Agent Voltage: 1.200V
VCCIO CPU 1.05V Voltage: 1.240V

and under the later BIOS these values are much lower.

The only way I can get the board to boot with these later BIOS is to disable XMP and run the AI Overclock Tuner in Auto or Manual and then change the DRAM to DDR4-2800MHz or below and then everything is fine.

I have raised a RMA with ASUS now but I am yet to have a reply.

Has anyone come across this problem before and has could pin point it? As any help, would be greatly appreciated. I have taken screen shots from the BIOS should it aid in T-Shooting.

As I assume it’s down to a possible faulty MB or weak memory controller on the CPU.

 

[Greebo]

I can't boot my memory with xmp either. Hovwver setting memory all manually at 3200 c14 1t its all fine.

 

[tipes]

I have the same problem crop up recently on my Asus RVe 1oth anniversary board - it is annoying and have not found a cure yet. So it seems more than one board from Asus is affected by this issue with later bioses.

Mark

 

[RSR]

It's why ive flashed back to 0801 at the moment and every things just works. I have a open case with Asus at the moment, so ill see what they say.

I've even thought about changing the board but as ive been reading a lot of X99 board don't play nice with high bandwidth RAM.

 

[shamus21]

Their are a lot of problems with the bioses on this years new asus x99 MB just have to use work rounds they will get fixed over the coming months.

 

[Greebo]

It's why ive flashed back to 0801 at the moment and every things just works. I have a open case with Asus at the moment, so ill see what they say.

I've even thought about changing the board but as ive been reading a lot of X99 board don't play nice with high bandwidth RAM.

to be fair the Asus Strix is the best of the bunch IMO. Okay xmp might not work all the time but I couldnt get past 2666 with my old Gigabyte board yet the asus one worked fine at 3200 from the start.

I suspect you will find other peoples boards may will be a step back.

Just set it manually at 3200 until Asus fix it in a new bios

 

[RSR]

I'll test it with manual setup this evening on 1201 and see how it goes.

 

[Fuzzbox]

This exact thing happened with my machine when I updated to the 1201 BIOS, in addition to it not now recognising the CPU correctly (defaults to 3.2GHz with XMP off instead of 3.6GHz, and also tries to overclock to 4GHz with XMP on but undervolts, resulting in a boot loop).

Good to know it wasn't a borked BIOS flash at least

Mine also won't recognise my M.2 drive as an "immediate" boot device, although it does show up in the F8 Boot Menu as my other drives have no OS on. A bit of a pain with the extra step every startup, so would be interesting to know if this is also caused by the 1201 UEFI version (or even any BIOS after 0801, mine came with 0401 I believe).

At the moment I'm a bit reluctant to try flashing back to a previous version as aside from the wonky CPU/RAM settings and the M.2 boot issue, everything is working fine. I haven't yet raised a ticket directly with ASUS but after the information in this thread I may also grab some UEFI screenshots and fire a request their way to see if they are aware of this problem.

Fuzz

 

[Greebo]

Mine also won't recognise my M.2 drive as an "immediate" boot device, although it does show up in the F8 Boot Menu as my other drives have no OS on. A bit of a pain with the extra step every startup, so would be interesting to know if this is also caused by the 1201 UEFI version (or even any BIOS after 0801, mine came with 0401 I believe).



Fuzz

I had that issue with a bios prior to 0801.

Somehow it lost the drive after working fine for days after a bad overlock boot attempt and never would let me select it in bios as a boot drive despite been allowed to select it from a boot menu when the system booted up.

Prompted me to finally reinstall windows which solved it again and it appeared again as a selectable boot drive.

 

[Fuzzbox]

I had that issue with a bios prior to 0801.

Somehow it lost the drive after working fine for days after a bad overlock boot attempt and never would let me select it in bios as a boot drive despite been allowed to select it from a boot menu when the system booted up.

Prompted me to finally reinstall windows which solved it again and it appeared again as a selectable boot drive.

I wonder if the "auto-XMP overclock" may have done the same to mine then, as it did seem to get stuck in a boot loop.

Thing is that Win10 works absolutely fine when you select it to manually boot, it's just the motherboard refuses to see it as a boot device (but still shows it in the drive menu). Interestingly it doesn't show my 4TB storage drive either:

Fuzz

 

[RSR]

I'll need to look at my notes from 0801 / 1201 but I can see straight away you're vCore is lower on 1201 as you are running the same CPU as me. As I can see the vCore on your 1201 is 1.042v vs 1.174v on mine running 0801.

Ill also bet the CPU System Agent Voltage & VCCIO CPU 1.05V Voltage are running to a lower value.

Here is a screen shots from 0801, which is also clearly shows the memory running at 3200 but the voltages are higher.

To take a screen shot from the while in the BIOS, push F12 with a USB stick (FAT or FAT32) inserted.

 

[Greebo]

Fuzz, thats an exact copy of my issue. Windows would boot fine as well but I wasnt allowed to select that drive in bios as the boot drive.

 

[queeg]

just updated my bios a couple of days ago I had the same problem it wasn't showing the m2 drive in boot order drop box confused me for a bit but after I changed the boot 2 to same drive as 1 the m2 then showed up and let me select as first boot device. its also slashed my boot time at least by half

 

[RSR]

I've spend the past hour or two testing and my system will not boot currently in any setting above 2800 MHz.

I've tried setting the ram timing manually, putting 'AI Overclocker' in Auto and Manual and tried playing around with the various DRAM frequency's. Even setting the voltages manual makes zero difference.

Greebo - What settings are you using with yours to get it to boot?

I'm at a lost what else to try other than re-flashing back to 0801 and ive not heard a anything from Asus other than buying a new MB or RAM to test with.

 

[Fuzzbox]

Fuzz, thats an exact copy of my issue. Windows would boot fine as well but I wasnt allowed to select that drive in bios as the boot drive.

OK so I flashed back to 0401 (the version the motherboard came with) and CPU and RAM is now running at correct speed and timings with XMP enabled.

However I still cannot get the M.2 drive to be recognised as a valid boot device. I'm leery about trying to re-install windows as if the BIOS can't see the drive on startup (though it can see it in the boot menu), I'm not convinced this will make any difference during Win10 installation.

queeg: can you remember exactly which options you switched around to get your M.2 drive to show up again? I looked for a boot1/boot2 type of thing but couldn't seem to find them.

Fuzz

EDIT: also, when running speedfan to monitor temps, with the default config I see the "AUXTIN0" sensor jumping between around 51-67 degrees which is a little on the high side for my liking, unless this is one of those components that is meant to run hot. Does anyone happen to know which sensor this actually is, as it looks to have picked up the CPU, GPU and system sensors correctly.

 

[8 Pack]

It's why ive flashed back to 0801 at the moment and every things just works. I have a open case with Asus at the moment, so ill see what they say.

I've even thought about changing the board but as ive been reading a lot of X99 board don't play nice with high bandwidth RAM.

Updating the BIOS is not an upgrade. It gains you nothing if your system is working correctly. Why do you need this update???

The hardware is not faulty and you dont need RMA just run the older edition Bios and enjoy yur PC.

 

[Greebo]

I've spend the past hour or two testing and my system will not boot currently in any setting above 2800 MHz.

I've tried setting the ram timing manually, putting 'AI Overclocker' in Auto and Manual and tried playing around with the various DRAM frequency's. Even setting the voltages manual makes zero difference.

Greebo - What settings are you using with yours to get it to boot?

I'm at a lost what else to try other than re-flashing back to 0801 and ive not heard a anything from Asus other than buying a new MB or RAM to test with.

Just 1.35v for the voltage on the ram and set the timings to 14-14-14-34 1T

 

[RSR]

Thanks for the info Greebo, it's as I assumed even though my timings on my ram are a little different.

I'm just going to roll mine back to 0801 and leave it there, as it is/was working correctly, I'd also agree with 8pack up the updated BIOS doesn't upgrade anything. I guess its just because I like tweaking.

 

[Kayjay333]

I just got a new Strix x99 board with bios version 0401 and I'm wondering which bios I should flash if any.

There is a recent bios dated 15/11/16 (1401).
Has anybody tried it out and did it fix the problems people were having?

 

[RSR]

I just got a new Strix x99 board with bios version 0401 and I'm wondering which bios I should flash if any.

There is a recent bios dated 15/11/16 (1401).
Has anybody tried it out and did it fix the problems people were having?

Yes, I have tested it. However, its the same as 1301, 1201, 1101,1003 in terms of results as for me it wont boot with DDR speeds set to 3200 with XMP disabled. Even dailing in the memory timings manual makes zero difference.

0801 seems to best one from my testing but the boot times are slower.

Also which CPU are you using?