GPU stuck in X8 no NVME drive, no PCIE devices plugged in

[tonycstech]

Z690 Maximus
i9 12900KS CPU
GPU stuck in X8 instead of X16. You can see it in the BIOS screen.
No NVME drivers.
No PCIE devices plugged in.
Used latest GPUZ to confirm the issue.

Tested PCIE lanes to the CPU with a tester, PASS
Tested GPU for PCIE lanes with a tester, PASS
Tried another GPU,  same result.
Update to latest firmware, same result.

Anymore ideas ?
Bios tweak maybe ?

[theroc44]

Was this slot ever running at 16x? If so reflash the bios, maybe that one is corrupt somehow.

[tonycstech]

Cant do RMA, board purchased used on ebay.
Also memory socket was broken and i had it replaced. ASUS will say "i broke it"
latest bios didnt help.
The more i think about this, the more i realize what i already knew yet somehow ignored.
There is no point to buy these expensive boards. They offer no benefit.
Any board that supports same CPU same RAM has same PCIE gen will perform just as good.

[FixItWorse]

I'd still try the BIOS Flashback. With the GPU out. Then back in after a good boot to your onboard graphics.

[tonycstech]

when i got the board, it came with dead CMOS battery so 1st thing i did was boot using onboard graphics, downloaded bios and flashed it.
Then i proceeded with memory slot repairs and then OS and GPU etc.
Everything was done by the book i could write if i had time. That stupid CAPCHA keeps verifying me every second. Cant even look away for a minute. Keeps telling me i need to verify my self after i verified my self 5 second ago.

[FixItWorse]

Does that to me too. I don't understand why on a forum that we a registered on... But anyways.

If you have done the BIOS Flashback method, the only other thing I can think of is to do it again without a CPU installed, to the best of my knowledge, with a USB 2.0 flash drive believe it or not.

That's the only way to get to the BIOS rom at its lowest levels from what I understand, at least what we're able to accomplish without OEM tools as end users.

[arabulie]

I've been dealing with this problem for ages on a z690 extreme. The technical support team told me to return the motherboard, and I bought the same model again. With the stock BIOS (1304), it was working at x16, and I thought the issue was gone, but after updating the BIOS, the problem came back. I also triend a new gpu. same result. To me, it's obvious that it's a BIOS issue, but the technical support insists it's not and wants me to send the motherboard for repair, which I can't do because I would be left without a computer. Very frustrating. luckily this mobo has 2 bios so I can switch between the stock and the latest one.

[tonycstech]

Where can i get that bios ?

[arabulie]

official support page 

https://rog.asus.com/uk/motherboards/rog-maximus/rog-maximus-z690-hero-model/helpdesk_bios/

[tonycstech]

i need older bios
Or maybe i can roll back somehow ?
The push button on the side of the IO does not seem to do anything.

[tonycstech]

Problem solved by performing bios FlashBack using button on the back of the IO shield and with the BIOS in side the thumbdrive inserted into BIOS USB port.
Bottom line is: Its a BIOS issue and they need to fix it.
It does not seem to get flashed properly using Asus Flash utility.

Alternatively you can flash the chip directly if you have proper equipment and adapters. This is always 100% the best way to do it anyway.