Maximus Z790 Dark Hero Random Reboots after BIOS 1503 Intel Core i9-14900K

[BajaWolf]

Hey everyone.   I have been running this configuration (no overclocking) fine for well over 7 months with no issues.  With the concerns over the Intel CPUs, I updated my BIOS to 1503.  Everything went fine; however, now my machine randomly reboots into the BIOS.  I generally turn my PC off every night, but I have run it for 24 hours with no reboot and other times I have it on for 4 hours and then suddenly it restarts and goes into the BIOS.  No error, no messages that I can see, the screen just suddenly goes black and then I am in the BIOS.

If I exit the BIOS it boots right back into the BIOS again.  The only way to get back into windows is to power off and then restart.  This is the configuration I am running.

1.  ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Dark Here
2. Intel Core i9-14900K (gen 14) 125W
3. Asus ROG Strix RTX 4080 16GB
4. Corsair 32GB DDR5-5600 x 4 (total 128 GB RAM)
5. Samsung NVMe 990 PRO 2TB OS drive

Anyone else seen this on the latest BIOS?  I am thinking about reverting to an old BIOS but would prefer not to.  In the BIOS I am running Intel Default profile set to Extreme.  SVID set to Intell Fail Safe.  After a few of these reboots, I went in and did the F5 reset to defaults and then set the parameters again to what ASUS recommended for the BIOS update and I am still getting random reboots into the BIOS.

One thing to note.  Running the standard BIOS config, my IA Loadline was at Auto and was showing 1.100 mOhm in HWINFO.  I changed this yesterday to manually be 0.800.  Machine ran fine all of yesterday, but today it was up for about 3 hours and then rebooted into the BIOS again.

[theroc44]

If your system was working fine with the previous bios I would rollback.

[BajaWolf]

I was thinking of doing that but not sure what impact that would have on the Intel issue.  I know the MCE is already updated and will not roll back so I guess I could give it a try.

[JohnAb]

I had (kind of) similar issues with BIOS 3802 on the Z690 Hero (12th Gen). The latest BIOS (3802 in my case) prevented me from booting into the BIOS, getting stuck with a blank screen, unless I powered off completely each time. When I tried Windows, there was a long boot time. I went back to the previous BIOS and all was solved, so I don't know if I might have experienced your issues if I had persevered. I think there is something wrong with the latest BIOS versions, although apparently not for everybody. 

If you are worried about rolling back I understand, but hopefully the next BIOS releases will prove to be better. I rolled back again since 12th Gen is not affected in the same way that 13th and 14th Gen are, but I do prefer to be on the latest release. Here's hoping. 

[achugh]

Hi @BajaWolf I have the same board and CPU as your. See my signature for build details. Luckily I am not having any issues. I am on Intel Extreme Profile as the baseline but have made lot of changes with regards to Power Conservation/Management. I am not doing any overclocking and all the Turbo Boost options are enabled. If you are interested to try my BIOS changes, let me know. I can spend some time to write them here for you.

In the mean time, if you do rollback BIOS, your MC will rollback as well. See https://rog-forum.asus.com/t5/gaming-motherboards/new-intel-microcode-crashing/td-p/1036616 thread where the person did a rollback and his CPU is now showing the older Microcode value of 0x123 instead of the current 0x129 value.

[BajaWolf]

Thanks for the heads up.  Yes, if its not too much to ask, it would like to know what other BIOS settings you have setup.  I am still having the issue.  I am going through all the MS logs to try and see if it has any other details on what is occurring.  

[achugh]

EDITED on 7-SEP-2024: I figured out user error (or my mistake) so if needed I can export out the files now. Nothing is broken.

Hi @BajaWolf I thought I would EXPORT my BIOS settings as CMO file and share it here for you but I was unsuccessful as 1503 BIOS is not saving the settings file for me. I have never tried to save this file on an earlier BIOS version so I am not sure when this feature was working or broken.

Anyway, this will make this post a bit longer as I have called out every single change. Before starting I would say, you need to get into BIOS, press F5 to RESET to BIOS default, SAVE and EXIT from BIOS. This is important so that the defaults are properly saved and loaded before you try my changes below as that is how I always set them.

Now that you are in BIOS again after a restart with 1503 defaults not only loaded but seen, start making the following changes:

LEGEND used below

=> This means the value I have selected
() This means I have a taken note of the default settings for reference i.e. this is the default I saw for this setting.

As an example for AI Overclock Tuner, I set the dropdown to XMP II where the default was AUTO. See #2 below on how this is represented using these legends for your understanding of how I am writing my BIOS changes here for you.

My PCI Express Configurations are based on what I have loaded into my slots. My approach is if BIOS is showing a device is present I manually set the speed so BIOS is not trying to auto detect the speed of the device. The only exception to this rule is the PEG Slot which I have configured as GEN5 even though no GEN5 GFX cards are available. The reason I set it to GEN5 is because I have a NVMe drive in M.2_1 slot which is GEN5. I don't know if the CPU can properly split the X16 GEN5 lane into X8 GEN5 going into M.2_1 and X8 GEN4 into PEG. Instead of taking this chance or doing tests and experiments, I have set the PCIEX16(G5)_1 to GEN5. ***  SPEICAL NOTE: If your GFX card is not an ASUS card and you experience issues, setting this slot to GEN4 will help you as it has helped others where AUTO was causing the problems.

EXTREME TWEAKER MENU

1. For the profile, this is the first drop down, I choose Intel EXTREME profile as the baseline.
2. AI Overclock Tuner => XMP II (AUTO)
3. Intel Adaptive Boost Technology => ENABLED (AUTO)
4. SVID Behavior => AUTO (AUTO)
5. DIMM FLEX => DISABLED (DISABLED)
6. DIGI+ VRM
   1. CPU Load-Line Calibration => LEVEL 8 (LEVEL 5)
7. Internal CPU Power Management
   1. CPU Core/Cache Current Limit Max. => 400 (AUTO)
   2. Long Duration Package Power Limit => 253 (AUTO)
   3. Package Power Time Windows => AUTO (AUTO)
   4. Short Duration Package Power Limit => 253 (AUTO)
   5. IA CEP => ENABLED (ENABLED)
   6. SA CEP => ENABLED (ENABLED)
   7. IA TDC Current Limit => Motherboard's Capability (Motherboard's Capability)
8. Tweaker's Paradise
   1. Undervolt Protection => DISABLED (ENABLED)
   2. Switch Microcode => Current Microcode (Current Microcode)
9. AI Features
   1. My P-Core SP is reported as 105 (so not a great silicon lottery win)
   2. My E-Core SP is reported as 76 (so not a great silicon lottery win)
10. Global Core SVID Behavior => ADAPTIVE MODE (AUTO)
    1. Offset Mode Sign => - (+)
    2. Additional Turbo Mode CPU Core Voltage => AUTO (AUTO)
    3. Offset Voltage = > AUTO (AUTO)

ADVANCED MENU

1. Platform Misc Configuration
   1. PCI Express Native Power Management => ENABLED (ENABLED)
   2. Native ASPM => ENABLED (AUTO)
   3. DMI LINK ASPM Control => L1 (DISABLED)
   4. ASPM => L1 (AUTO)
   5. L1 Substates => L1.1 & L1.2 (DISABLED)
   6. DMI ASPM => ASPM L1 (DISABLED)
   7. DMI GEN3 ASPM => ASPM L1 (DISABLED)
   8. PEG ASPM => L0sL1 (DISABLED)
   9. PCI Express Clock Gating => ENABLED (ENABLED)
2. CPU Configuration
   1. Per P-Core Control => ENABLED (DISABLED)
   2. Per E-Core Control => ENABLED (DISABLED)
3. System Agent (SA) Configuration
   1. Graphics Configuration
      1. iGPU Multi-Monitor => ENABLED (DISABLED)
   2. VMD Setup Menu
      1. Enable VMD Controller => DISABLED (DISABLED)
4. PCI Express Configuration
   1. M.2_2 Link Speed => GEN 4 (AUTO)
   2. PCIEX16(G5)_1 Link Speed => GEN 5 (AUTO)
   3. M.2_1 Link Speed => GEN 5 (AUTO)
5. PCH Configuration
   1. PCI Express Configuration
      1. M.2_3 Link Speed => GEN 4 (AUTO)
6. PCH Storage Configuration
   1. Aggressive LPM Support => ENABLED (DISABLED) *** SPECIAL NOTE: Enabling this will cause a BSOD during Windows 11 Installation so only enable after Windows 11 is fully installed and running.
7. Network Stack Configuration
   1. Network Stack => ENABLED (DISABLED)
      1. IPv4 PxE Support => ENABLED (DISABLED)
      2. IPv6 PxE Support => ENABLED (DISABLED)
8. APM Configuration
   1. Restore AC Power Loss => Power Off (Power Off)
   2. Max. Power Saving => ENABLED (DISABLED)
   3. ErP Ready => ENABLE (S4 + S5) (DISABLED)
9. OnBoard Devices Configuration
   1. PCIe Bandwidth Bifurication Configuration => GPU with M.2 Storage (AUTO)
   2. USB Power Delivery in soft off state (S5) => DISABLED (DISABLED)
   3. LED Lighting when system is in working state => STEALTH MODE (ALL ON)  *** SPEICAL NOTE: This will disable all RGB lighting as well as light for system power on and all the lights on the motherboard including Q-LED, START buttons extra. Basically enabling fully dark mode except the GFX Card lights.
   4. CPU PCIe Configuration Mode => AUTO (AUTO)
   5. GNA Device => ENABLED (DISABLED)

I hope this information helps you out. If you have any questions about any of these settings, please feel free to ask them. Good luck!

[achugh]

I have recently watched https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XI2x2_skwSs video of BUILDZOID which explains additional things to understand BIOS configuration. The thing that stood out is how F5 sets the default differently so it confirms my approach to start with F5 which is the message from BIOS anyways to get back to a known state.

Watching https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9slwXKUwmnE further explains the Load Line settings. I have selected the LEVEL 8 and did not add any additional undervolting at the global level. This prevents the typical double undervolting that happens and causes instability.

This is how I am understanding these two videos. I am open to interpretation of others and their experience as well.

[BajaWolf]

Thanks for the details!  I have been working through these to see if any resolve my issue.  I started with the default BIOS and it still BSOD on me about every 24 or so hours.  I am making a few changes at a time, letting it run to see if it BSOD (which it always does) and then making another change.

I am fairly convinced that I have a bad CPU so will open a case with Intel as well to see what they think.

[achugh]

Hi @BajaWolf what are you doing in this 24 hour test? Are you leaving the PC running for 24 Hours? Are you running some tests? Anything you can share about what is common for your BSOD.

If you think your CPU is degraded then running it slightly below the maximum speed could keep it stable. Checkout https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afN6SaT21cQ 20 minute video where you can lock all cores to the baseline stock for your CPU. It maybe possible to achieve this by disabling TVB and stopping this Turbo Boost if the CPU is not severely degraded as an alternate way to achieve the same result.

So far all the information from Intel and YouTubers is pointing towards BSOD are connected to single cores getting into extreme high frequencies or not getting enough voltages. To provide proper voltage for these short bursts of extreme frequencies when Turbo Boost is engaged is why I have set my Load Line Level to 8. This will make your overall system slightly hotter due to overshoot. In my case, I am using ASUS ProArt LC 420 AIO with its pump set to run at full speed via the AIO connector on the board. This is keeping the temperatures a bit under control.

I am really leaning towards having 3 BIOS profiles to use my system. I have NOT yet set them all up. Still doing my research.

Profile 1 - Default - meant for everyday use for browsing and light load work. This will mostly use single cores and idles a lot in Windows which then kicks quite a lot of Turbo Boost as the temperatures are quite low.

Profile 2 - Gaming - This will most likely use multiple cores depending on the game. Turbo Boost is not going to happen as the CPU is going to get hotter and go over the Intel's 80C threshold so best to disable Turbo Boost. Or follow the video of FrameChasers to SYNC and lock ALL cores to the processor Base Frequency. To keep the temperatures in control, going down in Load Lines to LEVEL 4 should help to avoid thermal throttling or any crashes.

Profile 3 - Performance - This will a profile for video rendering where losing the render is more time consuming over running at a slightly slower speed. So switch to Intel Performance Profile instead of Extreme, set Load Line Level to 6, disable Turbo Boost as video rendering is typically multi-core for most types of render.

I hope this helps you and maybe someone else. Good luck to you! I hope your find something quick that works and stabilizes your system.