My Z690 motherboard: DDR5 XMP does not work at all, and very slow black screen boot

[illusionist]

Hello,

I built a brand new premium and expensive PC. I have issues with my Asus motherboard. I am very disappointed, do you have any advice? Maybe I need wait for a BIOS update? Should I send back the motherboard?

Intel Core i9-12900KF
NZXT Kraken X73 RGB 360mm
ASUS ROG STRIX Z690-E GAMING WIFI
ASUS GeForce RTX 3070 Ti 8GB DDR6X OC
Kingston FURY 64GB 4 x 16GB DDR5 6000 Mhz (2x KF560C40BBK2-32)
Samsung 980 PRO with Heatsink 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD (MZ-V8P1T0CW)
Corsair HX1200, 80 PLUS Platinum
Corsair 5000D case

In my case, there are 10 fans (3 for the watercooler) The speed of the fans was set up by 2 controllers, so the motherboard sees 2 fans only. The water pump is controlled in Windows by the Kraken software. I upgraded to the latest BIOS: 1720.

1.

I do not see "Fast boot" in the BIOS, UEFI boot is active if I turn it off I do not see the difference. I turned off the BIOS logo. My issue is that there is a black screen and 20 seconds when the BIOS screen appears. Is this normal for this fast PC?

I upgraded the firmware of GPU and nothing changed.
https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5233/~/nvidia-gpu-firmware-update-tool-for-displ...

The boot is super slow, circa 20-second black screen then BIOS logo appears, then Windows starts. (My old PC is much faster, almost immediately I can see the BIOS screen: i7-4790K + Asus Z97 gamer pro + 32GB DDR XMP + Corsair H80i)

In general, I turn off the electricity after when I turn off my PC. So when I turn back the electricity and when I start the PC my fans are very loud during that 20-second black screen, they became quiet when the BIOS logo appears, is this normal that the sound of my PC is like a hoover at the first start after turn on the PSU?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5ObcmZhFg0
With motherboard numbers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qL56_UD7a8


If I did not turn off the electricity, then the boot is the same slow, 20-second black screen until the BIOS logo, just the fans are quiet and not loud at this time. Why is the difference? Is this normal? (My old PC has fans and I did not recognize this kind of difference)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jx9G9_a3IQs
With motherboard numbers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNIS5vT7E8U

2.

We can see I have the latest BIOS. In the BIOS the "Graphis configuration" is missing, is this normal? I thought maybe I can change some PCI boot priority here, I have KF CPU, which does not have GPU, but I do not think that menu should missing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7cwapxl6bo


3.

XMP does not work at all!!! I tried XMP1/XMP2, but the PC is unable to booting.

According to the official description of the motherboard memory is supported up to 6400 MHz and "Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)"
https://rog.asus.com/motherboards/rog-strix/rog-strix-z690-e-gaming-wifi-model/spec/
My memory is on the supported list: KF560C40BBK2-32
https://rog.asus.com/motherboards/rog-strix/rog-strix-z690-e-gaming-wifi-model/helpdesk_qvl_memory/

I deliberately bought an expensive 64GB DDR5 6000 MHz memory, it is a big disappointment that XMP does not work at all. So my memory is working on default 4800 Mhz. Here is a longer video of what happens if I try to set up XMP.
After my PC is unable to boot, I think it starts an infinity boot cycle, after 6 minutes I turned off my PC (but if I turn it off after 1 minute the situation is the same). If I turn back again, very slowly I can see again the BIOS logo with the error message: "safe mode", then in the BIOS I set back XMP to "auto" as it was the default. After that Windows is unable to launch anymore, sometimes Windows launched but I got a blue screen and automatically restart, then a blue screen again... I can break this cycle when I reset the BIOS (by a button in the back) or I saved the good working default BIOS settings in a USB stick, then I load back my BIOS settings. In the video we can see, interesting, I did not change anything but Windows works again with my saved settings. This setting is just the default BIOS and fan speed settings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5XDN_UmrhY

[illusionist]

1.
When I put 4 memory modules together then my memory speed is only 4000! This is below than the official level, Kingston says MINIMUM 4800, Intel i9-12900KF CPU says NON OVERCLOCK 4800, Asus ROG Strix motherboard says NON OVERCLOCK 4800. When I did memtest with 4 modules together I got always a lot of various memory errors. But when I do memtest with the same single or double memory modules I do not get error in the memtest. Do you know why? Do you have any explanation why I get memtest error with 4 modules togther and no error with the same 2 modules together or 1 each module?

2.
I have only 2x16GB memory in the A2+B2 slots, the many hours long memtest was OK in default settings
According to the QVL list, the promised XMP 6000 and even the XMP 5600 does not work at all!
In BIOS in the XMP list, these settings do not work:
6000 40-40-40-80-1.35V
5600 40-40-40-80-1.25V

These settings works:
default 4800 (40-...)
XMP 4800 38-38-38-70-1.10V
If I choose XMP list (6000 40-40-40-80-1.35V) then I change only the Mhz:
XMP 5000 40-40-40-80-1.35V
XMP 5067 40-40-40-80-1.35V
XMP 5200 40-40-40-80-1.35V
XMP 5400 40-40-40-80-1.35V
XMP 5600 40-40-40-80-1.35V (it was a longer black screen in the first time to set up this)

So (XMP 5600 40-40-40-80-1.25V) does not work, but the slightly modified (XMP 5600 40-40-40-80-1.35V) works.

But later I got many blue screens at 5600, so it does not work at all.

3.

I set up this in the XMP list: (6000 40-40-40-80-1.35V)
Then I set up the other suggested settings:
Set CPU System Agent voltage to Manual then type in 1.35v
VDD voltage - 1.40v
VDDQ voltage - 1.40v
IVR Transmitter VDDQ voltage - 1.40v
Memory Controller voltage - 1.35v

Then I got all the time various Windows crashes during the Windows load.

In any case still I have 20-second black screen time before BIOS screen appears. Is this normal?

4.

It seems the promised advertised things does not work at all, just they ask more money for functions that does not work. I do not know what is the problem, the CPU or the motherboard or the Memory. Because if I would know this I could buy cheaper stuffs which could works on the same lower speed as the expensiver premium stuffs works actually.

[Traumatik]

illusionist wrote:
1.
When I put 4 memory modules together then my memory speed is only 4000! This is below than the official level, Kingston says MINIMUM 4800, Intel i9-12900KF CPU says NON OVERCLOCK 4800, Asus ROG Strix motherboard says NON OVERCLOCK 4800. When I did memtest with 4 modules together I got always a lot of various memory errors. Do you know why? Because when I do memtest with the same single or double memory modules I do not get error in the memtest.

2.
I have only 2x16GB memory in the A2+B2 slots, the many hours long memtest was OK in default settings
According to the QVL list, the promised XMP 6000 and even the XMP 5600 does not work at all!
In BIOS in the XMP list, these settings do not work:
6000 40-40-40-80-1.35V
5600 40-40-40-80-1.25V

These settings works:
default 4800 (40-...)
XMP 4800 38-38-38-70-1.10V
If I choose XMP list (6000 40-40-40-80-1.35V) then I change only the Mhz:
XMP 5000 40-40-40-80-1.35V
XMP 5067 40-40-40-80-1.35V
XMP 5200 40-40-40-80-1.35V
XMP 5400 40-40-40-80-1.35V
XMP 5600 40-40-40-80-1.35V (it was a longer black screen in the first time to set up this)

So (XMP 5600 40-40-40-80-1.25V) does not work, but the slightly modified (XMP 5600 40-40-40-80-1.35V) works.

But later I got many blue screens at 5600, so it does not work at all.

3.

I set up this in the XMP list: (6000 40-40-40-80-1.35V)
Then I set up the other suggested settings:
Set CPU System Agent voltage to Manual then type in 1.35v
VDD voltage - 1.40v
VDDQ voltage - 1.40v
IVR Transmitter VDDQ voltage - 1.40v
Memory Controller voltage - 1.35v

Then I got all the time various Windows crashes during the Windows load.

In any case still I have 20-second black screen time before BIOS screen appears. Is this normal?

4.

It seems the promised advertised things does not work at all, just they ask more money for functions that does not work. I do not know what is the problem, the CPU or the motherboard or the Memory. Because if I would know this I could buy cheaper stuffs which could works on the same lower speed as the expensiver premium stuffs works actually.

Answer .. 1. Your motherboard on the qvl list for all Kingston only lists 2x16 kits. Anything other isnt "qualified" and your mileage will vary with the cpu IMC , Motherboard quality.
2. I dont have the exact info on what intel says can be good to use but think it shows 4xXX setup will default to 4000 jdec, 2xXX will default to 4800. Anything over that is Overclocking and not a guaranteed. Now if you look at Asus board features which i found , it states QVL is "tested and guaranteed compatible". But the 2 Asus moderators said " the further you go up the frequency qvl it isnt a guarantee due to cpu IMC and board quality " (conflicts with whoever made the motherboard product pages that list "tested and guaranteed compatible" statement)

Now , did you try the thing i listed ( the flash and clear cmos then enter bios ) if you did then can you try clearing bios, then dont use xmp , set that setting to manual and then set ddr speed listed for your 2x16 kit then set your voltages and timings manually 40-40-40-80 and leave other settings on auto.
My extreme mobo made in 2021 struggles with xmp 1 xmp2 profiles , like yours , either games crashing or memtest errors with either my gskill or teamgroup kits on 2 different 12900k and 2 different 12900ks cpus.

[illusionist]

Ok, I see that 4x16GB is not in QVL list, that is why errors and 4000 speed. But I do not see any "4x" or any "4x32GB" or "2x64GB" on that list, which means the advertised max 128GB is unrealistic and the 4 DIMM slots are a useless joke. So I understand this, 4 rams do not work, this is shame.
I plan to buy a ram from the supported list maybe KF556C40BBK2-64 2x32GB 5600, and this is much cheaper than 4x16GB 6000 was, and I found a very expensive G.Skill 6000 2x32GB, but this is unnecessary.

Intel: Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/134600/intel-core-i912900kf-processor-30m-cache...

RAM:
Default (JEDEC): DDR5-4800 CL40-39-39 @1.1V
https://www.kingston.com/datasheets/KF560C40BBK2-32.pdf?_=v1

Motherboard: 4800 is not OC in the list
4 x DIMM, Max. 128GB, DDR5 6400(OC)/ 6200(OC)/ 6000(OC)/ 5800(OC)/ 5600(OC)/ 5400(OC)/ 5200(OC)/ 5000(OC)/ 4800 Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory*
Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)
https://rog.asus.com/motherboards/rog-strix/rog-strix-z690-e-gaming-wifi-model/spec/

[Traumatik]

illusionist wrote:
Ok, I see that 4x16GB is not in QVL list, that is why errors and 4000 speed. But I do not see any "4x" or any "4x32GB" or "2x64GB" on that list, which means the advertised max 128GB is unrealistic and the 4 DIMM slots are a useless joke. So I understand this, 4 rams do not work, this is shame.
I plan to buy a ram from the supported list maybe KF556C40BBK2-64 2x32GB 5600, and this is much cheaper than 4x16GB 6000 was, and I found a very expensive G.Skill 6000 2x32GB, but this is unnecessary.
Intel: Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/134600/intel-core-i912900kf-processor-30m-cache...
RAM:
Default (JEDEC): DDR5-4800 CL40-39-39 @1.1V
https://www.kingston.com/datasheets/KF560C40BBK2-32.pdf?_=v1
Motherboard: 4800 is not OC in the list
4 x DIMM, Max. 128GB, DDR5 6400(OC)/ 6200(OC)/ 6000(OC)/ 5800(OC)/ 5600(OC)/ 5400(OC)/ 5200(OC)/ 5000(OC)/ 4800 Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory*
Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)
https://rog.asus.com/motherboards/rog-strix/rog-strix-z690-e-gaming-wifi-model/spec/

There is ppl running 4xXX sticks , you can check either youtube ( one guy has a vid that said to change the setting "sync all pmics" to the other setting that pmics are separate), also check overclocker forums.. I dont have link to the vid or the forum posts here. But i would try to get 2xXX working first , then try 4xXX with lower speeds if you need to .

[illusionist]

Traumatik wrote:
There is ppl running 4xXX sticks , you can check either youtube ( one guy has a vid that said to change the setting "sync all pmics" to the other setting that pmics are separate), also check overclocker forums.. I dont have link to the vid or the forum posts here. But i would try to get 2xXX working first , then try 4xXX with lower speeds if you need to .

I know this, I saw that video, also I see these videos say 2 sticks are fine the problem occurs when I have 4 sticks, so my issue is that for my side even 2 sticks do not work at all, and I tried 2 Kit, and both did not work with XMP. But each 4 single modules worked with XMP 6000 in the B2 slot but not in the A1,A2,B1 slots, that is why I suppose the problem is the motherboard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uu9U7TVNImI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KZFeE-o3jo

[illusionist]

I asked an experienced very busy PC shop about the situation, and they confirmed that 2 modules are faster than 4 together, and probably the CPU (I have i9-12900KF) can be the weak chain because the memory controller is in the CPU and Intel says officially up to 4800mhz, and all things above
this are overclocking which is not a warranty problem. They said probably my CPU is from a weaker series.

[THETCR]

Z690 boards all use a daisy chain layout for the DIMM slots. It works, but you can't get the high speed that DDR5 provides with 4 modules.
So the limit will probably be 4400 for you with 4 DIMMs.

[Sunfox]

Intel's official supported DDR5 speeds for Alder Lake are as follows. Technically everything else is overclocking and, thus, not guaranteed.

2 x 1R/2R in a 2-slot motherboard: 4800mhz
2 x 1R/2R in a 4-slot motherboard: 4400mhz
4 x 1R (16gb): 4000mhz
4 x 2R (32gb): 3600mhz

Overclocking works relatively well with 2 modules, but with 4 it's a lot tougher. So while boosting the official 4400mhz speed to 6000 (36%) might be easy, trying to boost 3600 to 5600 (56%) with an even higher load on the controller is basically impossible.

[thinkingeek]

Hello ! How is your progress on this case? I have almost the same component configuration as you. I'm just trying to run another memory with 4x16gb G.SKILLF5-6000J3636F16GX2-TZ5K .
As for short-term fan noise, I also noticed this, and not only when loading Windows. Especially when I switch Intel AI Overlock.

Now my master is trying to test the processor (12900KF) and possibly make an exchange. But I also have a suspicion on the motherboard (I have the same as yours). The only thing that differs for us is the error code, it basically gives me IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL. 

In single-channel mode, the system works OK, but in dual-channel memory mode it fails either immediately or after some time. I don’t know how it will end, but I want to believe that general reason in the processor, not the motherboard, and they will change it for me.