Asus P9X79 Pro error code 5A 'Internal CPU error'

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Hi All,

Having an issue with an Asus P9X79 pro motherboard. When I hit the power button it shows up a number of different codes but it seems to stop for 2 seconds at error code 5A and then it powers off.

I checked the manual and the error code 5A says internal CPU error. I tried removing the CPU and checking if any of the pins on the motherboards were bent which they were not. So I re-fitted the CPU and the CPU fan but still it is doing the same. I also tried removing all the cards except for the video card (No onboard video) and I left one stick of RAM.

Where should I go from here? Should I try and RMA the board of the CPU?

Thanks
 
what cpu? if latest ivy-e you might need latest bios to support it which would need a sb-e cpu to update bios with
 
It is an i7 4930k. I have already updated to the latest bios using the asus bios flash utility. The have a specific usb port and a button which you press for three seconds and it updates.
 
Still having trouble with this board. I got two Asus P9X79 Pro boards and I applied the BIOS update using the USB flash utility to the first one which worked without issue. I went through the exact same process with the second board but still I am getting an the '5A' error.

I tried the CPU in the faulty board; in the good board and it works perfectly. That rules the CPU out so it must be the board. I have also ordered another board of the same model and I'm getting the same issue!

Any advice?
 
Hi Wazza300. I checked the board and there are no bent pins. Also we just received a brand new Asus P9X79PRO today and I was very careful when fitting the CPU. I can also confirm the CPU from the faulty board works in the good board. So out of the three boards only one is working. I have emailed Asus just now and will update this thread if I find a solution.
 
Yeah the first of the three did not work until I updated the BIOS to the latest version. The second I updated the BIOS to the same version as the first, error 5A is still showing up. With the third board I am getting the exact same issue as the second board.

I am going to swap out the CPU from the working board to be 100% sure that it is not the CPU.
 
beg borrow or steal a 3820
I am sure both your dead boards will post with a 3820/3930 in and finish the flash.

On first post after flash the firmware/UEFI gets updated, not happening for you on 2 boards.

I have seen this myself on P9X79 Pro's, I have 3 and a P9X79
Not a problem for me as I popped in a 3820

Something to try before you RMA
 
can try a simple test,pull out the good working bios chip and install it in the faulty boards then see if the cpu bootsup,if so, you know the bios hasn't flashed fully

you can pickup pre flashed bios chips off fleabay just ask them to flash it with latest bios,cheaper than buying a cpu(if you cant borrow one)

IMPORTANT :that's assuming all three boards are same make/model
 
What BIOS Update are you on?

Can you get into the BIOs and reset to default settings?

Also what RAM are you using and are they in the right slots? Do you have a different set of RAM to test?
 
Thanks for the replies. I emailed ASUS and they asked me to check if there were bent pins on the CPU socket (which there are not). I think my only option is to try get a 3820 or 3930 as stated above and try and get the BIOS update to complete after it POSTS.
 
OK so the 3930K arrived this morning and I fitted it. Powered up the machine and it went past the code '5A' but when it reached code '60' it powered off. Code 60 in the manual is DXE core is started.

Beyond frustrated. I have removed the motherboards battery and will leave it out for 20 mins or so and then try again.
 
Hi Wazza, all of the boards are the same model (P9X79PRO). I did the BIOS flashback update using the USB key and I updated to the latest version which is 4502. The BIOS update doesn't complete until the system POSTS but I can't seem to even get that far.

So I have two of these boards here and two different generation CPU's and I'm not really sure what else to do other than sending them back and getting a different brand.

I did nothing different for these two boards than I did with the first board and that was a breeze.
 
you can swap the actual bios chip from the working board to the boards that arnt posting just to make 100% sure its a bios issue

if so I would email asus and ask them to send you some bios chips with latest bios already on them or buy some off fleabay,i think that's the only way your gonna get the other boards to work

or if you only need the one board just return the others,the bios's pull out and push in easily
 
So I sent the board back to OCUK. One of the technicians said he managed to get the board to post with a 3930K and the BIOS update completed. So I received the board back today, fit the 4930K, fit the cooler, RAM, case connections and I booted it up. LED shows a 00 code and the board shuts off after 3-4 seconds. I'm absolutely baffled.

Both the CPU's I have are both working in a different board. I have tried different PSU's, different RAM and no change.
 
Hi All,

Just thought I would update on this board. We have found the problem and it looks like one of the connections from the case was shorting out the board. I've learnt my lesson on this one. I had removed anything off the board that was not necessary but I obviously overlooked the case connections. It was the power LED +/- which seemed to be causing the issue and yes they were on the correct way.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.
 
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