Cold boot problem ROG STRIX Z790-F GAMING WIFI

[Zeubest]

As others, I have cold boot problems with my Asus Z790 .

The computer may start, or not, sometimes after many reboots, most of the time on the second call.

I've read it's a known issue with this card ( at this price point I would have expected a more reliable board : I miss my Gigabyte).

Of course , the bios is up to the last version, running Windows 11. As it works normally when it enventually boots , it looks like a hardware problem...
Does anyone has found a solution to this ?
Tks

[Zeubest]

Hi achugh, tks for your reply.
The memory slots used are A2 B2, and the memory has been tested with MemTestPro, without error.

[Jiaszzz_ROG]

Hello, @Zeubest 

The Q-LED indicators flashing during startup signify the self-test process of hardware components. 
If any Q-LED remains on when the PC fails to boot, it indicates a possible issue with the corresponding hardware. Please refer to the following for more details: [Motherboard] ASUS motherboard troubleshooting via Q-LED indicators
We recommend consulting the ROG STRIX Z790-F GAMING WIFI user manual to ensure all hardware is correctly installed, and please avoid using extension cords or adapters during troubleshooting.
If necessary, test with minimal components to isolate the potential cause.
Please note, the FAQs and general guidelines provided are for reference to assist in troubleshooting and do not indicate any known issues with specific models. 

Thank you.

[achugh]

@Zeubest Can you also try testing the memory using OCCT with 90% fill or higher instead of the default 80% fill test? Also, are you using any XMP profiles? If yes, what happens if you switch to AUTO or no XMP profile. Do you see any difference?

You also mentioned that if you have a good boot and you reboot then also you see an issue. It could be possible that once the memory heats up it has issues which is what gets detected when the next boot check is done by BIOS. Do you have sufficient cooling around Memory Sticks? What temperature are they reporting after little bit of use i.e. assuming you get a good boot, then you use your computer normally. After about 20-30 mins of usage what's the temperature of your memory?

[MelectronVolt]

It seems that the Z790-A Gaming WIFI D4 motherboard commonly experiences this issue.

Problem Since Upgrading to RTX 4080:

• Symptom: After a cold boot (often after being off overnight), the PC fails to boot and continuously restarts. The screen remains blank with no post, and the QLED BOOT light stays green. The only solution is repeated restart attempts until it eventually boots. Clearing the CMOS often resolves the issue temporarily.

System Specifications:

• CPU: Intel I7-13700K
• GPU: ASUS TUF GAMING RTX 4080
• Monitor: ASUS TUF VG27A

Troubleshooting Steps Taken:

• Updated BIOS to the latest version.
• Memory tested with Memtest and swapped with new modules, but the issue persists.
• System benchmarks indicate all components perform well once the system is running.
• Actually trying the AI optimized mode (seems to arrange things)

Future Actions:

• Plan to disconnect the RTX 4080 and use the integrated graphics on the motherboard to isolate the issue.
• Considering switching to a different brand of motherboard card if the problem continues.

Final Note:

This is a known issue, and you are not alone. It's incredibly frustrating to have an unreliable motherboard, and I wanted to share my experience in case others are facing the same problem. You need to work the morning and... no computer...

[achugh]

Hi @MelectronVolt ,

You may have seen the news about Intel 13th and 14th Gen CPUs causing instability issues. As you mentioned that clearing the CMOS typically helps, that to me means that some BIOS settings that you have tweaked from the BIOS defaults causes this instability issue.

As this month (August 2024) new BIOS updates have come out, can you check your BIOS version, update it to the latest BIOS if you have not already done so. Then try the BIOS defaults for couple of days to see if this improves your situation. If it does, then you can slowly begin to make BIOS tweaks testing along the way till you find the tweak that causes issues for you. Then you can post a message here about what is not working so people over here can help find the right solution for you.

Good luck!

[achugh]

Hi @Zeubest and @MelectronVolt I am doing a friendly check. Are your issues resolved? Did the new BIOS help?

[MelectronVolt]

Hello,

Nothing change for me either. Same problem.

[achugh]

Hi @MelectronVolt did you try to set the exact PCIe GEN version for your devices including your graphics card in BIOS? By default BIOS will set every single device detection to AUTO. There was at least 1 other post where the individual had a luck setting explicit speeds in BIOS.

FYI, I have also set the device speed myself instead of the BIOS trying to figure it out. I feel that AUTO settings takes times to detect things. I also feel that the detection may not select the highest speed supported by the device due to compatibility issues or any number of issues.

Make sure your GFX Card speed is set to GEN4 as all RTX 40 Series cards are GEN4 since no GEN5 cards have been released at this time in the market. Set your every single M.2 drive to its correct speed generation value. 

I hope this helps you out. If it does not then I will try enabling CSM Module in BIOS. It is a configuration to tell BIOS to use legacy protocols to detect devices. You may be having issues with device detection so this might be the answer specially if you like setting your devices to AUTO.

[Zeubest]

Hi achugh 🙂 Tks for your reply... Uunfortunately, the problem remains unsolved. I steel need to boot several times before it loads windows. Sometimes (rarely), it works directly, I can't understand why.  I gave up

[achugh]

Hi @Zeubest I'm sorry to hear that you are struggling with this nuisance. Have you tried enabling CSM under I believe Boot Configuration and see if this helps you out?

You can also follow the above idea to explicitly set the device speed of every device manually instead of AUTO.

I hope this helps.