Z690-E memory instability reintroduced with 3701

[MightEMatt]

13900k default settings, CMK64GX5M2B6400C32 memory, 6400cl32.

On 2802 all memory XMP profiles worked, including tweaked. 3101, 3302, 3401, and 3501, were all unstable outright even without XMP. 3603 reclaimed stability, XMP I and XMP II both stable, tweaked not stable.

3701 has reintroduced instability in all memory profiles. 2802 still provides complete stability, and 3603 still works for profiles I and II.

So yeah. It's probably something very particular to my setup or my 13900k, but whatever secret sauce is in 2802 and 3603 works for me, so if anybody can unveil this mystery I'm all ears.

[JohnAb]

Haven't tried 3701 yet. I had occasional code 53 errors with BIOS versions 3401 & 3501. They vanished with BIOS 3603, so maybe we're with having similar experiences, even with different CPUs. 

Not sure if I want to try 3701, I'll wait a while and see what others say. There is another post on here describing high voltages. 

[ls612]

Does anyone know if the microcode updates do anything for 12th gen? If not I'll stick with 3603 with my 12900k it has been pretty good for me so far.

[JohnAb]

I suspect that 3701 will have no impact on 12th gen, although I just like to be up to date. For the first time ever, I'm also tempted to just stick with 3603. I have the urge to try 3701, but I'm trying to resist, lol. 

UPDATE: I couldn't resist, so as far as I can tell so far, everything is OK. I've checked CPU voltages and they seem OK, temperatures and CPU power draw also seem normal. I can't tell if anything has changed as I mostly run BIOS defaults. The only things I change are XMP, enable GNA, reduce PCH voltages, enable DTT and change the motherboard fan settings. 

[PauloPanda]

I am using the ROG STRIX Z690-E GAMING WIFI. Had bad experiences with BIOS 3302 and 3401. Managed to update to 3501 without any major issues. Skipped 3603 as I am not sure what problems it will bring with so many changes.

Wanted to skip 3701 until I read about it resolving eTVB issue. Decided to go ahead.

No issue so far. All previous issues encountered with BIOS upgrade are no longer there (e.g. refusing to boot due to memory timing as I am using 4 sticks of DDR5 that are "not certified" to run together - two separate kits of 2 x DDR5 rather than one kit of 4 x DDR5).

Issue with high PCH temperatures are no longer there. 

[Rooke]

I've got 3701 installed on my Z690-F using a 12900KF, and it's been working fine for me for about 2 weeks now.  

I think the microcode updates only apply to the 13 & 14 gen CPUs.

[KentaZX]

Now I'm not sure if my RAM issues are related to this bios update, but I tried to add in 4 (double of 2x32GB sticks) = of RAM up to 128GB and tried to put in 6400MHz enabling XMP I and II (because thats what the manual for Z690-E said it could do) with the intel 13900K CPU. My computer would neither postr in safe mode, or get into windows and give me the BSOD. MY computer is now running fine at 5600MHz.

Whats weird is that I had 4 sticks of RAM before that totaled 64GB (4x16GB) at 6000MHz and my computer ran fine with XMP II enabled. but with the new RAM stick going up to 128GB, it cannot even do 6000MHz without windows crashing. This was happening when I was like one or two BIOS firmware behind and I tried updating to 3701 only to be stuck with the same results as mentioned above.

I have also tried manually adjusting the RAM's timing and voltage just learning about it last night and it did not help unless I got something wrong...

[MightEMatt]

Using 2 kits is usually a no-go to run 4 sticks, usually have to loosen timings substantially. 4 well clocked sticks even in a single kit is already a gamble. If you can find the timings and sub-timings of a similar 4-stick kit you might be able to get it working at rated speed. You could try other BIOS versions as everyone is having a different experience as far as which ones are stable, but with 4 sticks it might be a lost cause.

[Silent_Scone]

https://rog-forum.asus.com/t5/technologies-explained/memory-kits-overclocking-and-what-you-may-not-k...

[TigerSaw]

Can someone Help Tks. I updated my ASUS Z690-F Motherboard to the current ver.  3701

Here’s my issue:   I’m running ICUE and I have Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR5 5600MHz.I have 4 of them installed.  I have the Custom colors set on the through ICUE.   After I Updated the Bios to 3701 Only one Lights up.  I get this error from ICUE (ICUE detected that you are using DRAM Modules with Different types of Profiles. (EXPO and XMP) at the same time. When Mixing Profile types, the performance Manager tab is not available)

Now only one stick of memory is seen by ICUE.  Prior to updating Bios all worked well with the RAM and ICUE Lighting. Now my memory speed is 4000 Mhz not at 5600 Mhz like it was.  Any Ideas on how to fix the Memory Mix Match problem that this update did, and fix the Mhz speed problem.  Thanks…