ASUS ROG Maximus z790 formula random freezing

[Tweek_Mcfffly]

Against my better judgement, I gave ASUS a last try with my most recent build.  But this time, I went all out.  ASUS ROG Maximus z790 Formula -Special Edition-, Intel i9-14900k, 128gb Kingston Fury RAM 4x 32GB (DDR5 5600MT/s CL40-40-40 1.25v XMP), ASUS ROG 4090 OC edition, Crucial 2TB NVMe SSD (OS), Crucial 2TB NVMe SSD (games), Kingston 4TB (full back-ups and random data) ASUS ROG 1600W TITAN PSU, ASUS ROG Hyperion case (white), a custom water loop, running Windows 11 PRO. 
My start up freezes at the "PIN" window for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, just after the ROG logo.  When the PC freezes, audio still works, but it's laggy.  When I play Helldivers II, and make a screen change, you'd swear the ****** thing had a stroke.  Everything freezes on the screen and takes about 1 minute to clear up.  Randomly freezes during FFXIV game play.  Random freezing when running Steamlabs OBS.  This is my second ROG build and I've already had to replace the motherboard, PSU, and FAN/RGB board in the back of the tower.  Original PSU wouldn't power up the board.  Once that was replaced, the MB couldn't load into the BIOS.  And the module had broken pins in the RGB headers.  No XMP profile, stock CPU voltage settings, stock timing and memory settings.  Nothing OC'd yet.

This build was the most expensive build I've ever created, and it's the worse at the same time.  If I can't get this freezing under control, I won't be able to sell this thing and create a new PC. 

[JohnAb]

There is also an Intel tool available for free - the 'Intel Processor Diagnostic Tool' that runs through a number of tests. That's another way to potentially pick up any CPU related issues. It takes around 5 minutes to run through all tests. I don't know if it will detect all problems, but a place to start. You can get it here:

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/download/15951/intel-processor-diagnostic-tool.html

[Tweek_Mcfffly]

This is GREAT info.  I'm out of town now but I will return in 2 days and give this a shot.  I have a new motherboard waiting for me at home but I'd much rather do this and have it work than drain the loop and chance out that board!!!  Thank you very much!!!

[JohnAb]

No problem. I still think your issues are memory related, so like Silent Scone suggested, try turning off XMP and just try 2 sticks for now if you haven't already. Just in case your issues are drivers related (less likely I suspect) then you can get all the latest drivers for you board from a user called MoKiChU on these forums. I use all of his drivers and update whenever there is a new release. You can find all of his driver threads from this link:

https://rog-forum.asus.com/t5/hardware-build-advice/index-all-my-drivers-firmware-software-threads/m...

[Silent_Scone]

Hi,
It is not great info.

Clear the CMOS and enable Intel Base Profile, that's it. Don't touch AI Tuner or anything else.

Retest stability.

Do not run Prime95, as this is a power virus and antiquated. There should be no need to run this, I haven't used it in several years.

[JohnAb]

Just to say, I tried the baseline profile last night out of interest. It does not, in itself, turn off XMP. I thought it would, so just to let everybody know, XMP will have to be disabled manually if testing for basic stability.

Of course, if the CMOS is reset first as Silent Scone suggests, then XMP will be off anyway. 

[Tweek_Mcfffly]

I did exactly that. I pulled the CMOS and cleared it out. Went into the BIOS and set time and date and had to disable Intel base profile after reset. Fired up PC and the post screen isn't freezing anymore. Restarted once and power cycled once and no freezing. I will run some of the applications and hardware that would lock up to test the unit. This looks like it might be the fix!!  

[Tweek_Mcfffly]

I did download an intel drivers tool, but I didn't try this.  I'm out of the states right now but when I get home Wednesday I will most certainly try this.  I have another motherboard waiting for me at the house, but if I don't have to change it out, I'll take it for sure!!

[smithjohn]

hi @Tweek_Mcfffly 

You have to check some points to resolve this issue:

• Update BIOS
• Check Temperatures
• Check Hardware Connections
• Test RAM
• Update Drivers
• Power Supply
• Disable Overclocking
• Clean Install of Windows
• Contact ASUS Support

Hope this will work.

[Tweek_Mcfffly]

I've updated the BIOS to the most latest version, Equipment is on a custom water loop so CPU/GPU temps are way in the clear as are RAM and MOBO temps,  I disconnected everything including the RAM from the MOBO and re-connected.  I didn't test RAM by using a form of RAM software, but I did run one module at a time to see if it was a bad slot in the MOBO or one of the RAM modules were bad.  All drivers are up to date per the intel drivers tool and windows update.  I have a power supply tester that I used before I put in the PSU (Previous PSU was bad and I bought a tester for it).  As far as I know, all the overclocking is disabled but if ASUS has "default" overclocking then no, I haven't.  I'm using a clean install of windows 11 PRO that I had recently installed in another machine.  the NVMe/SSD was running just fine with no issues in the other rig (i9-13900k/ASRock Z790 WiFi Pro/4090FE).  ASUS support was a JOKE!  They had no clue what I was saying outside of their script that they are forced to read.  I spoke with more than one person too, and the results were the same "ehhh wellll.... idk... maybe RMA it".  And ASUS RMA process is a JOKE!!!!  Thanks for the suggestion though, it was all good ideas to try.

[Silent_Scone · Accepted solution]

As already explained, you need to enable Intel Base Profile and retest.