Z790-E Gaming Wifi: If a profile is loaded, at least one setting is left unchanged

[Snafu42]

Hi,

I recently did this (with ROG STRIX Z790-E Gaming Wifi BIOS 2503):

1. In "ASUS User Profile": Saved current BIOS settings to USB drive (F2) and an old_settings.txt file (Ctrl+F2). Differences from defaults:
XMP: Enabled (+ related)
QFan: various adjustments
AURA: Aura Off
IA TDC Current Limit: Intel's Default
ErP Ready: Enabled (S4+S5) (+ related)
Boot Logo Display: Disabled
Post Report: 7 sec

2. Performed various tests with changed BIOS settings.

3. Loaded BIOS defaults(F5, F10).

4. Loaded previous BIOS settings from USB drive and then F10.

5. Created a new_settings.txt file.

6. Compared the results.

Observed (timestamp difference omitted):

$ diff -au old_settings.txt new_settings.txt
...
 Next Boot after AC Power Loss [Fast Boot]
-Boot Logo Display [Disabled]
-POST Report [7 sec]
+Boot Logo Display [Auto]
+POST Delay Time [3 sec]
 Bootup NumLock State [On]
...

Expected: The above difference should not occur.

The same occurs if a local profile slot is used instead of a *.CMO file.

The above difference is quite obvious on next reboot and harmless. But if BIOS developers forgot to restore other settings, this might be dangerous. Therefore I would recommend to restore BIOS defaults first before reloading a profile, at least after extreme OC tests.

Thoughts?

[achugh]

Hi @Snafu42 I believe the only true way to start from scratch is to CLEAR CMOS first. This is why ASUS Support team recommends clearing CMOS over F5. 

You can also listen to the first 5 minutes of https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XI2x2_skwSs BUILDZOID video where he shows that there is a difference between CLEAR CMOS and F5 too.

[Snafu42]

Hi @achugh, thanks for the link to this interesting video which I watched completely. I could confirm its observations regarding Load-line after CLEAR CMOS, but only temporarily:

1. CLEAR CMOS, power on, F1, no F5, no F10:
- "CPU Load-line Calibration: Level 4: Recommended for OC" (the F5 default)
- "Current CPU Load-line Calibration: LEVEL 3" (grey text) does not match. HWINFO says 1.100/1.100 mOhm as mentioned in the video.
- TPM is gone: BIOS setting "Advanced/Trusted Computing" is no longer present. The *_settings.txt file lacks the related section. Windows with enabled BitLocker requests the Recovery Key. HWINFO does not list a TPM.

2. Reboot (Cltr+Alt+Del in BIOS or Windows Reboot):
- "Current CPU Load-line Calibration: LEVEL 4" (grey text) now matches BIOS setting. HWINFO says 1.000/1.000 mOhm. This is not mentioned in the video.
- TPM is still gone.

3. Shutdown, power on:
- TPM is back again. Windows with enabled BitLocker boots as usual without Recovery Key.
- Using F5+F10 now apparently makes no obvious difference (according to *_settings.txt files).

Summary:
- After CLEAR CMOS, the "Current CPU Load-line Calibration" does not match the BIOS setting. This is fixed after next reboot.
- After CLEAR CMOS, the TPM module is invisible. This is fixed after the next power cyle. A BitLocker Recovery Key is not needed then!
- After one power cycle, there are no obvious differences between CLEAR CMOS and F5 result.

BTW: I also didn't know that the CLEAR CMOS button is also effective if (accidentally?) pressed when the power cord is disconnected. Not really a feature 🙂

[Wesley1]

Aura settings were never stored for me in BIOS profiles. I learned it the hard way. 

I have a closed case so I only noticed Aura wasn't set correctly when I was undusting my PC like 2 months later after BIOS update, and I loaded my old settings right after BIOS update.

What's even worse is that by default the Aura leds run 24/7, even when your PC if completely off. So they were just running 24/7 for two months.

Some of BIOS settings might be reset intentionally, but I guess a simple test would detect such setting mismatch. Question remains if anyone does such test at Asus. I mean for all BIOS options.

IMHO each BIOS setting should be stored to profile. You can always clear CMOS if there was an error. And Aura is not critical setting for sure.

[Snafu42]

Hi @Wesley1, meantime I have also seen that Aura settings are also not restored. This is then also visible in the diff of the *_settings.txt files. I have no idea why this did not happen in the first place.

If it is intentional that certain settings are not restored, this should be documented by ASUS. If not, this is bad software engineering.

Enabling stuff like Aura by default in soft-off mode is IMO a bad idea. My box then pulls around 2.5W. With "ErP ready: Enable" (which at least disables Aura and USB PD) it is only 0.1W which even complies with new 2025 EU regulations (0.8W if a status display exists, otherwise 0.5W).