ROG STRIX Z790-F GAMING WiFi won't boot up

[Yapper1]

Hello everyone! I have a problem with my PC, more precisely the Motherboard.

The problem is when I shut down the PC. It won't power up at all from the power button or reset or anything, unless I reset the CMOS from the button at the back. Then I get into the BIOS, everything looks OK and if I change anything and try to save the settings, the PC shuts down to reset and cannot be powered up by the power button or anything else. The cycle repeats if I reset the CMOS. The only way to get  the PC to start normally into Windows is to not change anything in the BIOS so it only restarts(not shut down) and then it loads normally. I've updated the BIOS to 1501. I was on 1402 before, tried with 1303 as well, still the same. Tried the flashback from USB, tried the flashback from the BIOS: all results are the same. The moment the PC needs to shutdown(even when updating the BIOS itself) it doesn't boot up. I have to reset the CMOS. What I notice is that the flashback LED keeps blinking even when I don't have a USB inserted in the flashback port or haven't pressed the flashback button after rebooting the PC.

I swapped the PSU - it wasn't it. I did a test on the RAM - it was fine, 0 errors. The Q-LED shows everything is fine when the PC boots up. I ran the tests without the GPU so it isn't that. I tried a minimum configuration with nothing external connected: only CPU, RAM, PSU and Motherboard - all the same. I also swapped the CMOS battery - no change.

My configuration:
Motherboard - ROG STRIX Z790-F GAMING WiFi
CPU - Intel Corei7 13700K
GPU - NVIDIA RTX 4090
PSU - ROG-THOR-1000P2-GAMING 1000W
RAM - Kingston Fury Renegade 6400 DDR5 32GB
OS - Windows 11 (all updated)

Thank you in advance!

[dfctr]

Hi all,

just to let you know that I seemed to have the same issue. Albeit kinda different. This is not a new rig, it's been running fine since June '23.

My rig:

Motherboard - ROG STRIX Z790-F GAMING WiFi
CPU - Intel Corei7 13700K w/AIO
GPU - NVIDIA RTX 3080 FTW3 w/AIO
PSU - Seasonic 1000W
RAM - 4x16GB  G.Skill DDR5-6400
OS - Windows 11 (all updated)

On early February I updated BIOS to 1802 and Windows Updates. After a long session of CoD two days after, I shutdown the computer. The next morning, it wouldn't start up. It gave me lots of Q-Codes (settled on 77, then white LED). At last, it just gave me 00 with the CPU LED. After tinkering a bit, clearing the CMOS and what not, I managed to boot it, play CoD again and stress test all components. Everything was fine...until I shut it down. No more boot. 00 Q-Code and red light.

I took the unit to a friend of mine so he could do some maintenance to it in late February. That meant, he TOOK IT ALL APART AND RESEATED/REPASTED EVERYTHING. Sent me a pic, everything was fine and running at this shop. Tested every component with other hardware and everything was fine.

Got the computer home on 03/19 after my friend tested it thoroughly, and guess what...00 Q-Code again. Frustrated, I just went to sleep and left the computer on all night.

Next morning, computer booted up and immediately updated to BIOS 2102 which was released that very same day and applied Windows Updates again. It's now been running fine since then. I did a shutdown, remove power completely and it came back normal. So, I'm pretty sure that version 1802 botched something related to the processor or its detection and was fixed afterwards.

[inge70]

The ROG STRIX Z790-F GAMING WiFi only has Q-LED, so it doesn't display any number codes.
When it starts, it only shows colored LEDs in the top right, in the sequence CPU, DRAM, GPU, boot.
Where did you get the codes "77" and "00" from?
I have the same motherboard and haven't had these problems yet, but I haven't played any games either.

What is noticeable, however, is that many users only experience such problems after they have played games before.
There were reports that Intel 13th Gen. and also 14th Gen. and here the "K" CPU's because at some point they go defective and then something like this malfunction occurs.

I'm guessing that the CPU is causing the problems here because it's running out of time for reasons that haven't yet been defined.

[Rallie]

I have had the same problem since November and patiently waited and from time to time checked this post for answers.

Sorry to say that BIOS 2102 did not fix my problem.

Like to rma it but I would be having a really hard time being without it for any amount of time. So I will continue to check here to look for progress on this matter.

[inge70]

I'm guessing it's the CPU that's causing this problem and not the motherboard's fault.
There were enough reports that the "K" CPUs from 13th and 14th Gen. Die early if you played games regularly.
First it only affected the 13900 and 14900 "K" and now it's also the 13700 and 14700 "K" that this is happening to.

With the UEFI 2102, the "CPU Core/Cache Limit max" (IccMax) is also set to 280.0 A in addition to PL1 and PL2 253W. Before it was 500A and with AI OC even 511A.
I think Intel has expanded the CPUs too much and has now caused these problems.
Intel should probably look into the problem, but there is nothing more to say about it yet.

[skyda_killer]

It isn’t a CPU issue. I took my 13700k out of my older (failing/failed) Z790-A Strix WiFi motherboard and put it in the newer replacement Z790-A Strix II motherboard and I’ve had no issues since. It isn’t related to CPU, I think it’s to do with TPM module as stated before. Either way, it is perhaps BIOS related and also to do with Windows. As mine started behaving that way after doing “update and shut down” the next day it wouldn’t boot. 

[Jiaszzz_ROG]

Hello, @skyda_killer 

Thank you for providing the relevant information.
Based on your description, your previous motherboard was the ROG STRIX Z790-A (WIFI or WIFI D4? ), with a slight difference from others experiencing the same issue with the ROG STRIX Z790-F GAMING WIFI.
Additionally, you have since replaced it with the ROG STRIX Z790-A GAMING WIFI II and have not encountered any further issues.
If you encounter any other anomalies or concerns in the future, we recommend initiating another discussion thread or DM me to avoid overlooking any issues.

Thank you.

[dfctr]

Hi,

I got the same issue on a the Z790-E.

After gaming heavily, I started getting red q-led and different q-codes. In one instance, it just freezed to 00 q-code and a red led.

That was after updating to BIOS 1801 (for Z790-E). Took all apart, reassemble and the issue persisted. Finally, managed to boot up (don't know how) and updated BIOS to version 2101. 

[WisKomp]

Hello, did you manage to solve the problem with the motherboard not booting?

I have exactly the same problem after a year of using the board - nothing helps

[Jiaszzz_ROG]

Hello, @WisKomp 

Could you please clarify the motherboard model and if this issue occurred after the PC was first built or after using it for some time and occurred following any recent changes, such as a BIOS update or component replacement?
When experiencing boot failure, are there any Q-LED indicator lights or Q-codes appearing?
Have you attempted troubleshooting methods such as updating BIOS, clearing CMOS, or any other troubleshooting techniques?
Please refer to the relevant FAQs below if needed:
[Motherboard] Troubleshooting - No Power/No Boot/No Display
[Motherboard] ASUS motherboard troubleshooting via Q-LED indicators
[Motherboard] Common Q-CODE(Error CODE) and Troubleshooting
[Motherboard] How to update BIOS of the motherboard ?(Include different generation CPU)
How to clear CMOS?
And kindly provide detailed hardware specifications and relevant context to help us better understand your issue.

Thank you.

[WisKomp]

Hi, the problem appeared after a year of using the computer. It appeared by itself, without any reason.

The board model is ASUS ROG Z790 Gaming WIFI F DDR5 with Intel 13700K processor

I tried changing the bios - nothing helps
I pressed the "clear cmos" button - nothing helps - but the computer will turn on

Q-LED indicator lights do not appear.