01-06-2025 08:18 AM
HI all,
Need your help guys in resolving mystery with what's going on with my PC after recent bios update as I'm simply out of ideas and about to throw out PC over the window.
Some specs first:
Asus Maximus Hero Z790
Intel 13900K
32GB RAM - 2x16gb DDR5 TeamGroup FF4D516G6400HC40BBK 6400Mhz
Drive m.2 Evo 980 1TB
GPU TUF 4080 Super
PSU 1000 Watt
After upgrade from bios ver.1801 to ver.2703 I experienced nothing but crashes, freezes, BSODs...
Reset bios to default, cleared CMOS, but shortly after screen went black right after post code. Black screens happen randomly, but in 90% cases they happen right after post screen. Sometimes I can hear windows loading and playing sounds, but screens remain black.
After I have successfully installed Win11 (USB) I started getting multiple freezes/hungs which I had to hard reset each time. I've tried several different BIOS settings to make it more stable, but without lack, hence being completely helpless I decided that I'll go back to bios 1801 on the next day as it was already getting very late.
On the next day I have downgraded bios to 1801 hoping everything will get back to normal, but it's far from being OK. Resetting bios default and clearing CMOS is standard procedure...
I have removed all external components from PC, resettled RAM, tested RAM, GPU and tested m.2 drive to narrow down source of issue, but no luck. No errors found.
Having installed bios 1801 black screens are gone and PC boots normally, but I'm unable to complete windows installation. Thinking of possible faulty m.2 I have replaced it with spare m.2 drive and wanted to do clean windows installation via USB...no luck either.
I've isolated 3 scenarios repeating almost each time when trying to install Windows.
1. Windows is installed, after reboot it throws error that he isn't able to complete installation so I can only start all over again. SFC/DISM commands didn't resolve it.
2.BSODs ... always when I run Windows Installer, almost each time BSOD would throw different error. KMODE exception, WDF_Violation, IRQ..., Faulty Page....etc .etc.....
3. Very rarely system would freeze with graphical glitch across the screen resulting with hard reset.
(like a half of installation menu/window is visible, causing immediate reboot)
The only this I haven't tried yet was to install windows on regular sata ssd, other that that I have no idea what's going on.
RAM ... my RAM was on Asus compatibility list, but I must admit I had some challenges from day 1.
Asus motherboard never wanted to read it as 6400Mhz, so I stayed happy with 6000Mhz. However new bios AUTO DRAM frequency locks on 4800Mhz and that is the MOST stable setting for this RAM. Setting DRAM in bios to 6000 or 6400 is not passing you through post screen during boot.
Need your help guys please as I get stuck here and really don't know what else to test or what bios settings to change. I can still RMA motherboard or Intel CPU, which both have valid warranty, but I would be more happy to fix it.
Ask me anything, guide me to fix it please...I'm here all for you.
during installation error
W11 installer freeze at start
just hang at loading windows
post installation error after reboot
graphical glitch
error before installation
Solved! Go to Solution.
a month ago
HI there,
I've been able to sort this out eventually.
As expected, setting up RAM specs solved stability issue partially only. The other part ( thinking of it now as the main instability factor) was CPU settings.
Apparently bios 2703 needs a lot of manual tweaking even for auto/default settings. (who would expect... 😕 )
All AUTO settings had to be switched to manual and adjusted following Intel's tech guide to setup watts and amps.
It's been a week now and not a single BSOD, so I think it is solved now for good.
01-06-2025 08:48 AM - edited 01-06-2025 08:48 AM
check if on bios, the secure boot is on custom or standard. change to custom. also check if the word RAID is on eay mode screen. If it does, disable vmd. try. How old is the cpu?
01-07-2025 07:52 AM
hi,
Followed your suggestions and changed secure boot from standard to custom. Since my motherboard has only 2 options : SATA and AHCI (default & in use) I didn't make any changes. I've tested with vmd ON/OFF, but no difference really and Windows installer keeps crashing.
Crashing windows 11 installer with an error code 0xC00000005 is quite common. Suggestion by MS support is to test Windows 10 installation instead Windows 11 to avoid crashes. I may try it this evening to see if works.
I purchased CPU and motherboard about 1-1.5 years ago, so not so old. I am aware that the CPU could be degraded by now, but before updating bios it didn't show any signs of degradation.
01-06-2025 04:07 PM
honestly, if you had ram issues day 1 then i would look to see if you have a faulty ram stick. faulty ram can be the cause of freezes/hangs/bsod no problem. i would even go so far as to get a new ram kit.
try reseating the cpu. i reboot issues/freezing when i first built my system because like the dumbass i am apparently i did not seat the CPU correctly in the socket. i know its a long shot but seriously try reseating the cpu. a poor cpu mount can also be the cause of ram channels not working properly. i hope this helps.
01-07-2025 08:24 AM
Hi,
You're absolutely right and RAM is first thing that came to my mind when my nightmare started. However it worked just fine for the last 1.5 year with same components and stopped just 2 minutes after updating bios.
The chances that RAM started to malfunction exactly at the time when I was updating BIOS are very low, at the same time the chances that Asus new BIOS version introduced bugs and instability are quite high.
I've checked RAM against Asus compatibility list before the purchase and to be very, very honest I would expect Asus to test compatible components prior releasing any new bios update.
Nobody can expect from us to buy new components whenever bios update is released, because there is no guarantee things will work. OR maybe I'm being too stupid believing in quality over quantity 😉
I have reseated CPU, despite it's been working fine for the last 1.5 years. That didn't help either.
As I do not have too many spare components I'm thinking I may visit local PC service and let them struggle a bit. At least they do have many spare parts to replace and test.
01-07-2025 11:32 AM - edited 01-07-2025 11:35 AM
It's commonplace to reevaluate your overclock when updating the BIOS - and for good reason. Especially in light of the changes in recent months. Change in the microcode could affect stability when overclocking. The ME firmware controls a wide range of background processes at POST, and is part of the boards firmware. As such, there are only so many concessions and considerations a vendor can make to accommodate these changes when it comes to "plug and play" overclocking if they impact stability on some CPU samples.
There are a few tools at your disposal, including some timing profiles located under DRAM Timing Configuration.
Be sure to try these, as well as tuning CPU signal rails (VCCSA, IMC VDD).
01-08-2025 11:37 AM - edited 01-08-2025 11:41 AM
Thanks for sharing the link @Silent_Scone !
Made some "good" progress since last night by moving to bios 2703 which this time installed without any problems.
I even managed to get RAM up to speed and working @6400. Unfortunately I could not find any of there options to tune CPU signal rails in my bios, but maybe because they are named differently. I'll search again.
Using memtest (via bootable pendrive) I have passed did 3 out of 4 tests.. and had to cancel. Fortunately without any errors, and will re-run full test again overnight.
The only 5 BSOD's (haha) I'm getting points out to ntoskrnl.sys and is something I still need to fix.
However..
Despite of all successful stress tests (CPU, FSU, RAM, Cache) Windows 11 causes apps to start extremely slow and I mean extremely slow.
For example Nvidia installer takes about 3-4 min to show up on the screen, then preparation to install drivers takes another like 10 minutes. It will eventually fail after some time not doing anything.
Firefox sometimes crash completely, or just some tabs crash randomly. or things like
.NET Framework 3.5 could not be installed for unknown reason.
At this point I don't really know whether it is CPU or RAM needing additional tweaks in bios.
Have you guys experienced anything like it before ? Any ideas ?
TBH In my 30+ years in IT I haven't seen anything like it, so definitely an experience I will learn from.
....fun fact : Firefox tab crashed 5 7 times during writing this post. I'm glad all the text is saved as draft 😉
01-08-2025 11:41 AM
VCCSA = CPU System Agent Voltage
MCVDD = Memory Controller Voltage (Advanced Memory Voltage menu)
Go to DRAM Timing Configuration > Memory Presets
Try some of the a-die memory profiles. You'll need to set DRAM frequency accordingly.
01-08-2025 01:25 PM
mate... I owe you one drink someday !
I had VCCSA and MCVDD configured OK already and didn't have to change anything. But your suggestion to use memory presets was like great idea. After this all is working just fine. Going to run some RAM overnight tests, but I'm already super happy.
Thanks a lot !
01-09-2025 12:14 AM
No problem. That's what the presets are there for, if not only to give you a reasonable reference point. 👍