Z790 Hero BIOS downgrade

[Tron64]

I've upgraded my Z790 Hero from BIOS version 0703 to 0813.

Before the update, my RAM runs stable at 4000 MHz. With 0813, it looks like I have to reduce the speed to 3400 MHz (memtest is still running).

Tried to downgrade to 0703. It says the BIOS file is invalid.

Is it possible to downgrade BIOS from 0813 to 0703?

[JohnAb]

Saltgrass wrote:
I finished testing my system with all four sticks and I thought it was fine, but I put it to sleep and it froze with the fans running.

I attempted to rollback to 703, but EZ Flash did not recognize the file and the Bios Flash back checked the drive and the light went back to steady.

Doing a Bios Flashback with 813 worked normally and took about 4 and 1/2 minutes.

Yeah, that's why I'm thinking that 0813 doesn't allow rollback to an earlier version. I haven't seen anything that demonstrates (for sure) that it's possible. If that's true, it really should be added to the support page BIOS notes.

[Brigman]

JohnAb wrote:
Yeah, that's why I'm thinking that 0813 doesn't allow rollback to an earlier version. I haven't seen anything that demonstrates (for sure) that it's possible. If that's true, it really should be added to the support page BIOS notes.

The 2301 beta UEFI for the Z690 boards was issued at more or less the same time as Z790 0813, seems to be causing a similar range of memory instability issues (and 0x31/54/55 Q-Code halts), and also has the regression/flashback block. Much to the frustration of a bunch of us who are now stuck with it.

AS you say, this quirk/behaviour could do with being added to the release notes PDQ. And a newer build that either removes the regression block, or fixes the instability issues, would be really timely.

[JohnAb]

Brigman wrote:
The 2301 beta UEFI for the Z690 boards was issued at more or less the same time as Z790 0813, seems to be causing a similar range of memory instability issues (and 0x31/54/55 Q-Code halts), and also has the regression/flashback block. Much to the frustration of a bunch of us who are now stuck with it.

AS you say, this quirk/behaviour could do with being added to the release notes PDQ. And a newer build that either removes the regression block, or fixes the instability issues, would be really timely.

Yes, totally agree, that really would be super helpful to know.

Incidentally, where did you get 2301? I have seen it mentioned somewhere (might have been on the overclockers forums?) but it isn't in the Raptorlake Resources sticky thread here when I looked a day ago. I do hope that a new version is released soon, It must be so frustrating to be stuck on a version that isn't working well. I understand that a release candidate BIOS is just that and might be problematic, but if rollback is not possible, it's very important to know.

Update - actually I have a copy of 2301. I must have saved it when I saw it, although I haven't tried it myself. Anyway, this thread is really about 790 so I'll leave it there...

[Brigman]

Yep @JohnAb, 2301 for the Z690 boards was 'released' on the oc.net forums - but seems as tho someone somewhere recognised there are issues as the links weren't added to various relevant threads here.

The lack of advance notification of the regression block is a real kick in the nuts. I'm totally up for risking an unstable beta UEFI, but not if we're then stuck with it.

[Brigman]

Yep @JohnAb, 2301 for the Z690 boards was 'released' on the oc.net forums - but seems as tho someone somewhere recognised there are issues as the links weren't added to various relevant threads here.

I've also experienced chronic issues with the system saving to/resuming from suspend, and nothing I've so far tried has got it fully stable - in a context where it was 24/7 stable on everything from 2103 and earlier.

The lack of advance notification of the regression block is a real kick in the nuts. I'm totally up for risking a pre-release UEFI, but not if we're then stuck with it.

[Shadowdane]

So would this v813 apply to the Strix Z790-E as well? I just installed it last night and having horrible instability issues with a DDR5-7200 kit that was working previously without issue. I triple checked all my settings (I had taken pics of all the BIOS screens).

Seems like the general consensus is to rollback your BIOS version?

[JohnAb]

I'm not certain, but I would assume that 0813 won't roll back on any 790 board that uses it. I'm not able to test this myself, so if you try it, then please update here....

I'm keeping BIOS and ME version notes in another thread, which I hope will become useful over time.

I also don't have any information about Z790 Prime (D4 and non-D4) BIOSs - currently 0809. It might be that all 08xx BIOSs don't allow rollback. So if anybody knows, please also add a note.

[Shadowdane]

Well I had no issue rolling back to 703 on my Strix Z790-E... worked without issue in EZFlash.


Works just fine now that the BIOS flash was finished, I noticed also this option in the BIOS. If that's disabled it appears it only allows BIOS upgrades, not a rollback.

[JohnAb]

Thanks Shadowdane.

So you've proven that 0813 is, in fact, not locked. Some BIOSs will not allow rollback regardless, even with that option enabled.

But that might explain why some other people on here have been having difficulty 🙂

[BabaCowboy]

I finished a build with a Proart Z790 Creator last night, installed Windows this morning, updated Intel ME as advised during setup. Then update BIOS 0604 to 0814 and could not start Windows again--or even reliably get back into BIOS. Was ready to return motherboard when Asus chat tech-support offered a copy of 0604. Big rollback, but it worked. Now, though, can't seem to enable XMP with my G-Skill 5600's, which are on the QVM list.


System is working, but I will definitely be patient with further updates. Bummer about the RAM speed, but I will wait for a few more BIOS updates before trying again!