X670E-E Won't Boot When I Enable EXPO

[mny]

Hi, I am facing an issue about EXPO.
When I enable EXPO, pc is not booting. It seems to boot, but waits about one minute at 15 QCode then, taking me to POST screen.

At first EXPO was working. At that time bios version was v0xxx, I don't remember exact version but I'm sure that version was start with 0.
Sadly I updated my bios version to 1416 then boom, EXPO has gone. It doesn't work anymore. Then I tried 1516 and 1602 versions but it still not working.

I tried some combinations but I didn't get any results,
clear cmos,
1416, 1516 and 1602 bios versions,
EXPO profile I or II + MCR on or off,
4 or 2 slot ram installation

Motherboard: X670E-E
BIOS Version: 1602
Processor: Ryzen 7950X
Ram: 2 x F5-6000J3038F16GX2-TZ5NR

What should i do?
Thanks for your help.

[CerN]

Same problem here. 1202 is the latest working BIOS for me. You should try downgrading to that for now.

It doesn't matter how much I underclock the RAM, or what voltages I use. Anything after 1202 is stuck at 00 code after reboots. Cold boots mostly work.

1202 functions perfectly, boots every time, stable in 24 hour  hci memtest  + OCCT etc.


Motherboard: X670E-Hero
BIOS Version: 1602
Processor: Ryzen 7950X3D
Ram: 2 x cmt32gx5m2x6400c38

[mny]

Hi CerN, thank you for your answer.
I tried 1202 version but result is same. Still won't boot properly.

[mny · Accepted solution]

Okay. I downgrade my bios version from 1602 to 0805 and enabled EXPO I profile so far everything just works fine. Until ASUS publish another working version I'll stay this version. 

I'm leaving the official download link below in case you want to try it too. This version is not listed on the website, but the file is apparently still on ASUS servers. I replaced the version in the download link of 1602 with 0805 and voila!

Edit: Worth to mention. EXPO works only 2 slot ram installation. At least I couldn't make it work in 4 slot installation.

0805 download link 

[Silent_Scone]

Hello,

Auto rules for some voltage rails do not scale as high on later firmware.

I'd firstly try setting VDDIO (MC Voltage) to 1.15v - 1.2v.

Also tune SOC voltage.

[Ingbo]

Hey  @Silent_Scone

So this user has the same setup as me, CPU, Motherboard, RAM, and also commented on my Post.
We both report the same issues, and are using the same BIOS, 0805 that is stable for EXPO.
I though maybe i had some bad hardware, but it seems 1 person is a report, and just a report.
But now this user reports that same issue.
Also, i have found similar posts on Reddit and similar motherboards, of the x670E variety.
Someone wise somewhere said

Once An Accident, Twice A Coincidence, Three Times A Pattern - Alan Weiss, PhD.

Someone, somewhere, AMD or ASUS has dropped the ball, and has left their customers high and dry.

I was able to test my hardware, CPU and RAM in another motherboard today, and have some results.

First Test
CPU: Ryzen 7950x
Ram: 2 x F5-6000J3038F16GX2-TZ5NR
Motherboard: ASUS x670-P BIOS (BIOS 1654) ComboAM5Pi 1.0.0.7c
EXPO Enabled
Successful POST and A Games played great, with a Cinebench run for posterity.

Next Test
CPU: Ryzen 7700
Ram: 2 x Corsair 32GB 5200
Motherboard: ASUS x670E-E BIOS (BIOS 1602) ComboAM5Pi 1.0.0.7c
EXPO Enabled
Successful POST and A Games played great, with a Cinebench run for posterity.

Last Test
CPU: Ryzen 7950x
Ram: 2 x F5-6000J3038F16GX2-TZ5NR
Motherboard: ASUS x670E-E BIOS (BIOS 1602) ComboAM5Pi 1.0.0.7c
EXPO Enabled
POST Fails, motherboard in Safe Mode.

So with this data, i have concluded that ASUS/AMD has bungled the BIOS on their boards, because according to this graph, every thing running 1602 has reported errors across the internet, and i tested my CPU and RAM on a 1654 MoBo today, and everything worked.

Hopefully this additional information helps others and the company who can possibly fix this.

Thanks,
Ingbo

[Silent_Scone]

Hi Igbo,

1. Can you confirm who everyone is? You can link cases here if you believe they are relevant to yours.

2. If the profile I sent you helped, you need to tune. See my pm and my previous reply to you. You need to evaluate stability with something such as Karhu RAMTest or Memtest Pro. It is not at all surprising that there are some CPU that may need adjustments for some scenarios especially across AGESA updates. After all we are running the CPU and memory out of specification, the auto rules can’t accommodate every CPU. You may need to simply adjust VDDIO/MC for this particular kit. It may even help others if there enough cases (that are actually the same). Cross referencing different boards (with varying topology’s and layouts) is often counter intuitive, it’s more important to see why it’s not working for your given hardware. 

If you’re not willing to tune, perhaps stay on a BIOS that works. 

3. Cinebench is not a memory stess test. As per my PM you need to run something such as Karhu RAM Test or Memtest Pro to evaluate how stable any of the above scenarios are, once you've followed this advice we can better establish where your CPU needs adjustment. Simply using a CPU centric test doesn’t really say anything about the validity of the results.

Example:

Memtest Pro, F5-6000J3038F16GX2-TZ5NR

 

 

Thanks!

[Ingbo]

Hi @Silent_Scone 

Why do i have to keep "Tuning" when my previous post talked about swapping out the motherboard, and everything worked? I even put a different CPU and RAM into my motherboard, and EXPO worked without issue in mine.

You ask "What does this prove Ingbo?"
I answer, "The firmware/BIOS is bugged out for 7950x on the x670e motherboards!"
I noticed this trend and talked about it in my post.
But somehow left that part out of your responses.

No, i will not keep tuning, and playing with numbers, voltages, and headaches, for a feature that was sold to me as a "1-Click" feature for EXPO ram Kits
https://youtu.be/NV4UR0_z1VE?si=uy2Nb444MBTmqsfp&t=76
Go to 1:16 mark, and they describe EXPO..... this is not the behavior i experience even with an EXPO certified kit of RAM
The video host references "Just 1-click" multiple times for EXPO kits.

And yes, you are going to say "EXPO is overclocking". Yes it is overclocking, but set from the factory.
I was promised and sold a feature that was setup from the factory from the get-go.
I want to use it as a 1-click function, AS I WAS PROMISED! AND THE REASON I BOUGHT THIS PLATFORM!
Customers are fed up, and defending it as "might not work till you fiddle" is just making a mockery of at this point, is false advertisement.

If it is an AMD issue, then why can't ASUS say that?
If it is an AMD issue, then why can't AMD say that?
With both companies being silent, they both get 100% of the blame.

And at this point, my dream PC, is a sad excuse for a dream.

Thanks,

Ingbo

[Silent_Scone]

 Changing the CPU is fairly telling, that’s just how things are. CPU variance is real no matter what we say otherwise.

A different board with a different BIOS may have netted slightly better stability depending on what’s causing the instability on that particular CPU. Unfortunately, you didn’t test properly to confirm the same way you’re not doing so now. If not willing to tune, which is a part and parcel with overclocking, you can stick to a BIOS that works. Irregardless of the above you should be testing memory stability in the manner I’ve outlined above. The same applies irregardless of marketing, or where the marketing originates from. This kit has been tested internally with the Strix-E and your issue hasn’t been replicated. ROG Care have already extended a return if you feel you’ve exhausted all options, I would suggest going down this road if overclocking isn’t for you.

Hope this helps!

[CerN]

Got myself a new kit of RAM, also from the QVL list. Exactly same problem. Refuses to reboot/warm boot on any bios newer than 1202. Tried to tweak all voltages, but to no avail. On 1202 I load expo 2 and it just works.