ROG Crosshair X670e Hero fails to boot shows Q-Code 2E

[Samwar]

I just finished building this PC today, and it was up and running, installing Windows 11 when it rebooted. I thought it might be an instability issue due to an outdated BIOS. I was going to update it, and while sitting in the BIOS it appeared to hang. I rebooted the machine, and after that, it shows code 15 for a while, then flashes a few times and gets stuck on code 2E (memory initialization error). I tried updating the BIOS using the flash feature built into the motherboard, but no luck. I cleared the CMOS using the motherboard button, but no luck. I've tried each stick of RAM separately in different memory slots, but no luck. I'm at a loss for what to do. Could the CPU be bad? Could the motherboard have cooked the CPU? All of the lights are on, and fans are spinning; I just can't get it to boot.

• ROG Crosshair X670e Hero
• AMD Ryzen 9 7950x3D
• G.SKILL Trident Z5 RGB Series 64GB (2 x 32GB) 288-Pin PC RAM DDR5 6400 (PC5 51200)
• GIGABYTE Gaming GeForce RTX 4070
• CORSAIR 850e PSU

[Nate152]

Hello Samwar

G.Skill Trident Z5 is designed for Intel motherboards, you should exchange your memory for G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo.

There are some Trident Z5 Neo 6400MHz memory kits, but only 32 and 48GB. You can check G.Skill's QVL list to see what memory is compatible with your motherboard and cpu.

[Samwar]

Hmm, why would it have initially booted, but not now? I would imagine it wouldn’t have worked at all. I’ll go ahead and give it a try. It’s too bad to lose out on that extra bit of speed though. 

[Samwar]

I replaced the ram with a compatible kit, the G.Skill F5-6000J303G32GX2-TZ5NRW, and I have the same problem.  I get a 2E error which is making me think there’s something wrong with my processor. 

[Nate152]

Thank you,

That memory kit should work as it's listed for AMD X670 motherboards and Ryzen 7000 series cpu's.

I checked the Q-Code table in the motherboard manual and 2E is not listed, the closest I see are 2B and 2F which are memory initialization codes.

Turn off your pc and turn off the power supply switch, install one stick of memory in the A2 slot (second slot from the cpu), make sure it's fully seated. Press and hold the clear cmos button for 3 seconds, then try booting up.

If you still get code 2E, the 2E error can be a power supply issue. Double check all your power connections.

[sylle22]

Try DRam Timming Control by:

Memory Contex Restore =  "enabled"

and

Power Down Enable = "enabled"

🙂

[Minnengroda]

2E is a Memory Initialization Q Code (2B-2F) Even with an Expo Profile i tend to get non bothersome Memory Exceptions,

Memory Contex Restore =  "enabled"

and

Power Down Enable = "enabled"

Should speed up your Post Time, although it can take up to approx 5 Min before the motherboard has trained the memory correctly. You might also wanna try to disable the AI OC Tuner  (set it to manual) and the Boost for stability testing. If everything works, you can try to manually overclock, from what Ive seen so far, the AI Tuner is not as artificially intelligent as it should be. You can also enter the Values of EXPO directly into the DRAM Settings. Just write down the EXPO I Settings before saving and enter them manually. EXPO I wasnt stable for me, having the same RAM as you do.

[Samwar · Accepted solution]

@syel8 @Minnengroda I couldn't adjust any memory timings or settings because the computer wouldn't even post.

@Nate152 The 2E Q-code falls in the range of 2B-2F (a hexadecimal-based code system), Memory Initialization Error, and I think it is related to the CPU trying to initialize the memory with its onboard memory controller.

Before coming to this forum, I checked all the cables, re-seated the RAM, and tried individual sticks in every slot, but nothing changed that error code. The issue that made it all the more perplexing is that I got as far as installing Windows when the system froze up and started giving me the 2E error code. Ultimately, I swapped out the CPU, and everything started working. My original CPU must've had a flaw waiting to be exposed, and I was lucky to find it. 

TLDR; I got a 2E error code and had to replace the CPU.