Z690 Proart (possibly faulty) issue

[Zetra]

Hello @Silent_Scone ,

Sadly I would not write here if I did not contact them:

ASUS last email:

Thank you for contacting Asus, my name is Sokratis and I will try my best to assist you with your current situation.

Regarding the described problem, we would kindly like to inform you that unfortunately it is not possible to downgrade the ME firmware.

If the problem does not persist with a different SSD or with the older KC3000 SSD, which features older firmware compared to your recently purchased ones, it is possible that there is an incompatibility issue between the SSD and the motherboard.

Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to get back in touch with us.

Your satisfaction with the service provided is very important to Asus, which is why I ask you to read the following:
- In case you have chosen to receive the Customer satisfaction survey and if you are satisfied, please select the maximum vote.
- If you are not satisfied or still need my support, I invite you to let me know in response to this email.

Kingston email: 

While it is clear that both 1TB and 2TB SSDs are not defective as they are working in the laptop, it is no clear why they are not working in the ASUS ProArt Z690 motherboard.

According to your description, both the older SSD and the 2TB KC3000 share the same firmware, meaning they are using identical components, another potential source of the issue ruled out.

Having reviewed the details of the case with our colleagues from the Technical Resources Team, we have concluded that the only potential solution we can provide in this case, would be to replace the 1TB and 2TB KC3000 SSDs with a 1TB and 2TB FURY Renegade SSDs.

The new SSDs would use different components and different firmware to their KC3000 counterparts.

The only thing is that if the new SSDs result in the same behaviour as the KC3000s, you will not be able to get a refund for them as they are not the SSDs you purchased originally from your supplier.

And, ofcourse I cannot chnage KC3000 to renegade.. 

[Zetra]

Hello there nice people,

I need your help.

I have issues with my Motherboard/SSD, something regarding firmware, or just faulty motherboard. Specs are, i7 12700KF, MB: ASUS Z690 Proart, latest bios 3603. So, I bought two new NVME drivers, kingston KC3000, one 1TB and one 2TB. Currently I am running adata, 256 nvme, and working very fine. So, when I added KC3000, when I tried to install system, it gives the error as soon as windows starts copying files... thought it is USB stick but it is not. For some reason, it is like controller does not know how to deal with that specific SSD, because adata is working fine. I've tried to install system using VDM enables (virtual controller for raid) and disabled, tried changing PCIE slots, still same, nothing can help. All of this I think happend with BIOS update and ME update. Even if you rollback bios, ME version stays the same. Also, odd thing, my old KC3000, 1tb, and new one I bought, has completly different firmware versions and software shows there is no new firmware available, image attached.

[Vynra]

 sorry just so i know the sequence of events...was the drive working fine before the bios update? or was it that you only put in the SSD after the bios update? if the latter is the case then the bios update and ME update probably have nothing to do with it. if the answer is the first then there is a way to downgrade ME firmware 

[Zetra]

So, I already had KC3000 (1tb) in the PC right. And... after some time, in windows, I started getting I/O errors, where OS waits for disk to respond... guess what, I put my old adata SSD with windows... working very fine, and sent KC3000 for RMA.

In meantime, few days later, I got replacment for 1TB KC3000 SSD and I bought another 2TB.

I am quite sure, errors started poping after bios upgrade to version 3603 (with ME upgrade as well).

• So, I get new SSD,
• Pull my adata, 
• Try to install windows with multiple usb sticks and version of windows,
• Enabled VDM, disabled it.. all combinations,
• Downgraded bios to 350x, 

All same, I cannot get Windows installed. 

I plug the adata back... everything working perfectly. 

So, in all this mess, when I downgraded BIOS, ME stayed on same version I guess, which could possible be the issue, since it is not possbile that both new 1tb and 2tb SSDs are not working. Tried to installed Win on my lap using both of these SSDs, working like a charm. With that windows installed, switched SSD to my PC... and yep.. fails to boot.

Only strage thing besides ME firmware, is SSD firmware, where same SSDs have very different firmware and tools shows there is no firmware available.

Br, Goran Zetra

[Silent_Scone]

Hi @Zetra 

As the issues started occurring after the BIOS update, are you able to confirm if the behaviour is the same with XMP disabled so that we can quickly rule out overclocking instability?

[Jiaszzz_ROG]

Hello, @Zetra 

I apologize for any missing information due to joining the discussion midway.
Please feel free to correct and supplement any details.

Regarding the Intel ME, it is factual that after updating the BIOS, it cannot be manually downgraded.
Kindly arrange an RMA to send the motherboard for repair and request a specific BIOS and Intel ME reflash if needed.

Based on your description, the Kingston 1TB SSD shows abnormalities (such as I/O errors or OS waits for disk response) after some usage, and the newly purchased 2TB SSD has similar issues, while the ADATA SSD does not.
May I ask which slot the SSD was installed in when the issue occurred, and if you have tried testing other slots?

Could you clarify whether the "Kingston email: While it is clear that both 1TB and 2TB SSDs are not defective as they are working in the laptop, it is no clear why they are not working in the ASUS ProArt Z690 motherboard." means that you cross-tested the SSDs in a laptop? did the same issue occur when cross-tested with another motherboard?

Additionally, the ROG forum is specifically for discussions related to ROG or TUF gaming series products.
However, the situation you mentioned in the Zentalk discussion thread seems inconsistent with this, so we suggest updating the relevant information in that post.

Thank you.

[Zetra]

Hello @Silent_Scone ,

Well, I am quite sure that everyhing was working fine before BIOS upgrade, but I cannot tell 100%. I can confim now with adata that everyhing works very well.

I will try disabling XMP and I will then try again, and tell you result.

Thanks for the reply.

[Zetra]

Hello again @Silent_Scone !

So, I've tried disabling XMP profile, still the same. Also, supported suggested enabling CSM for legacy devices (don't know why), still.. not working.

Anyway, sometimes I get error when I am creating partions and sometimes, when Windows installation starts. Sreenshoot attached.

[Silent_Scone]

I'd question the true integrity of the drive. Have you contacted Kingston customer support about this issue?

[Zetra]

Problem is, it does not matter which one is it, either 1tb or 2tb one, both factory sealed, I've put them in laptop, working perfectly fine. Also I installed windows on one, tested, working, and also on 2nd one..

@Silent_Scone and yes I forgot, SMART shows no error and I tested all ssds on another computer.

I am still waiting both asus and kingstone to answer.