Z690 Maximus Extreme Glacial bricked after bios update ?

[huyt]

Hello,

I have some issues with my Z690 Maximus Extreme Glacial, after doing a bios update today. After updating my bios from version 2204 to 2604 (or 2602, I cant remember) my computer is stuck in a boot loop, and cannot even post...

The thing is that, the second bios of the motherboard, which contains the bios version 2305, is behaving the same way...

Things I have tried :

  - clearing the cmos

  - unplugging every usb devices

  - usb flashback (possible only between 2305, 2403 and 2604, due to ME firmware updates). The flashback seems to work (led flashes for 3-4min, then stop). But same behavior afterwards.

  - starting in "safe mode", by clicking the "safe_mode" button on the bottom of the mobo.

  - starting in "Slow mode".

  - removing one stick of RAM.

  - removing the GPU.

  - found an "unlocked" 2305 bios, that would allow to step down to 2301 : didn't work.

Frankly, besides removing the cmos battery, I'm out of ideas (still didn't do it, because the loop is a bit complicated to work with :))

Full specs : 12900k, 3080, 64GB DDR5

Does anyone have idea what's happening here ? Please

[Silent_Scone]

Hi huyt, could you PM me your complete system specification please, thank you.

[huyt]

Sadly, removing the cmos battery did nothing.

I tried to reflash the bios (2204, then 2305, then 2602), without success.

I tried to resit the cpu, without success either.

I think I'll just RMA the board, I'm out of ideas

[kraven72]

Your video shows a Q-Code of 26 which suggests Memory and the OLED display is showing "Memory Code 2x" (can't read the last digit) before it suddenly powers off with a Code 00 (which is normal where systems suddenly power off).

Assuming that the post process you are seeing is identical every time. But the video you posted, along with the updates below seem to show differing messages each time ?

Based on the video, are you sure all of the memory is correctly seated ?

You should try :

1. Try with only 1 slot populated for Slot A2 with each dimm seperately, and then with Slot A1 again. So with 2 dimms across 2 slots, this is 4 tests to perform.
2. Reseat CPU (which you have already done, so probably not the issue)
3. At the top right of the board are 4 LED lights (see Section 33 of the manual for Q-LED's, what is lit ? I suspect Memory again)
4. How did you clear the CMOS ? Using the rear button ? If you're removing the battery, leave it out for a while.
5. How are you switching BIOS ? With the board on or off ? It can only be changed with the board off. (ie. mains power on, but PC off). When done correctly, the BIOS LED (marked 34 in the manual page 1-2) will change.
6. As the symptom is random power off's, do you have a spare PSU you can temporarily connect ?

I had similar issues with PSU causing problems of random power offs, but your board is attempting to POST whereas mine would not post at all.

[huyt]

Many thanks for the help.

I've reseated the cpu 3 times, tried each and every dimm slot with each dimm.

Also tried with a different psu.

3. I'll check that asap.

4. By pressing the rear button for 15sec. I also removed the cmos battery for 30min, that didn't change anything.

5. With the board off and PSU on yes. The Bios led are lit up correctly.

6. Same issue with another PSU.

[kraven72]

If you're within the warranty, RMA is your way to go, but with all that plumbing, that's not a fun way to go.

As it sounds like you've probably MEMTEST the memory in another machine, it would be weird for both sticks to fail at the same time.

[huyt]

Well, I've got something different now, after letting the board sit without power for an hour.

I started to recheck the memory.

So, dimm a into a1. No post

Dimm b into a1. No post

And so on.

There is no boot loop now. And I didn't change anything, apart from checking the memory again.

Here is a video of the current issue : https://streamable.com/13cn3w

[huyt]

It seems to sometimes fail at 28, when both dimms are installed.

When only the right one is in, I'm getting code 79, into shutdown

[huyt]

Idk if that's interesting or not, but I'm getting a different behavior in "slow mode". I'm getting the first boot loop again, but only in slow mode. The

[kraven72]

Code 79 is an incompatible hardware installed.

I take it you have removed any NVME SSD's, etc... so you only have CPU / Memory and no other cables except for power connected.

Reset the bios back to 2204, clear CMOS, and with only 1 mem stick in A2.

[huyt]

Cannot rollback from 2305 or higher to 2204.

I've seen tone of people that are unable to rollback to that one.

This is the whole problem for me, as the system was working in 2204