Clear CMOS, Z690

[Crasje]

hello,

My motherboard only detects 1 of my memory sticks. ASUS has suggested I do a Clear CMOS.

I have not done such a thing before and I know my BIOS if full of settings, when I do the clear CMOS do I get an option to load default settings? Should I save current settings to upload them?

Any suggestion on how to tackle this wisely so my system keeps working?

[Nate152]

Hello Crasje

Clearing the cmos resets the bios to default settings.

To clear the cmos......

1) Power down your pc.

2) On the motherboard I/O panel, press and hold the clear cmos button (marked yellow) for 3 seconds.

3) Boot up your pc.

[Crasje]

I am not experienced with BIOS settings, I can update my Bios and that is about it. Will my bios settings change? Will I need to do stuff to make my PC work again, configure SSDs or other stuff.

Or, is it plug and play, do the CMOS thing, restart and all is as before (or better since it fixed something).

[Nate152]

Well, if resetting the bios to defaults gets your other ram stick detected, you'll have to enable X.M.P. or set your memory to get it back up to speed.

Be sure your ram sticks are installed in slots A2-B2 (2nd and 4th slots from the cpu).

[Crasje]

Hi,

My memory is in the slots you suggested, B2 is not visible.

I cleared CMOS and when going into my BIOS it only saw 1 (32GB) memory stikc. The B2 slot does get power, I can tell since the RGB on the memory stick is working. Since it is not recognized, I can't sync it with AURA and it is not visible in the ICUE software from Corsair.

I will take out both sticks and will put the B2 stick in the A2 place. If then the PC doesn't show any memory, it is the RAM, if it does, it is my motherboard.

[Nate152]

Sounds good Crasje.

Let us know if it's a bad memory stick or the memory slot.

[Silent_Scone]

Hello,

You need to try remounting the CPU. Improper pin pad contact will result in memory slots not being read correctly. Please ensure you do this before attempting to RMA.

Remove the cooler and CPU, inspect the CPU pin pad for debris or bent pins.

Remount CPU and cooler whilst ensuring even mounting pressure.

Retest.

[JohnAb]

Just to say that every time you upgrade your BIOS, the settings get reset to defaults anyway. So, you are probably on defaults, unless you have turned on XMP to increase your memory speed. Once your other stick starts working, then turn XMP back on. At the simplest level, that's the bare minimum you should do. If it doesn't work after a BIOS reset, try turning the power off at your PSU (after shutting down fully) for a few minutes. That can sometimes help with various problems. The only other thing I can think of is to make sure that your ME firmware is up to date. You will see the version on the main screen of your BIOS. It's usually updated with the latest BIOS automatically now, but a few months ago it still had to be updated manually in Windows. 

No need to worry about resetting your BIOS whenever you want, it just makes sure that everything is back to defaults (including XMP).  

No need to create a settings file - if you are on defaults anyway there is not much point. Also, settings files don't usually transfer between BIOS versions anyway. They are most useful for the same BIOS, if you are trying lots of changes. 

[1TM1TM]

Hello.

Your motherboard has 4 memory slots. Please try to install memory in A1 and B1 slots (1st and 3rd from CPU). Let us know if memory works then.

If memory doesn't work in A1 B1, then the cooler may be installed too tight. Try to read cooler installation manual, then un-tighten the four mounting screws of the cooler, then re-tighten the screws diagonally as 1-3-2-4, but not too tight. Why: because if cooler is too tight, it can distort contacts between CPU socket and CPU. If cooler is too loose, then the CPU could get hot.

Please report if one memory module works in either A1 or B1 slots, or if memory works in both. That would help further diagnosis.

If re-tightening the cooler did not help, then motherboard could be defective or CPU memory controller could be defective. 

If you try to re-install CPU in the CPU socket, be ultra-careful. Because the intel (and now AMD) design with socket leaf contacts is very very fragile (poor engineering design by CPU makers offloading responsibility onto motherboard companies).

[Crasje]

Hi,

I found out that the memory in B2 was the one not working. I took out the memory in A2 slot and placed the memory from the B2 slot there. When booting up (since I was using only 1 memory slot) my PC could not detect any memory.

I took it out, placed back the nenory stick that was initially in A2 and immidiatdly my PC worked again. Most likely for now is that the memory stick broke for some reason and I requested an RMA since I bought it in June.

Ps. When I return the 2 x 32GB I will insert my old 2x16GB, if my assumption is correct these 2 should work.