MemTest not passed with newer BIOS. Asus Z690-F, Gigabyte 2080, DDR5 6400, 12900k

[WolfMan_007]

Hi,
I am having memory issues, when I install a newer BIOS.
BIOS Version 1304 is running fine with a memory speed of 6400 MHz, but newer versions do not work with 6400 MHz.

Ver. | 4800 MHz | 6400 MHz
-----+----------+---------
1304 | OK______ | OK
-----+----------+---------
1403 | OK______ | ERROR
-----+----------+---------
1505 | OK______ | ERROR
-----+----------+---------
1601 | untested | ERROR
-----+----------+---------
1720 | untested | ERROR


Here are the full computer specs:
Asus Z690-F
Intel Core i9-12900K
Team Group DIMM 32 GB DDR5-6400 Kit, (white, FF4D532G6400HC40BDC01, Delta RGB)
Alphacool Eisbaer Aurora 360
Gigabyte RTX 2080
Team Group CARDEA A440 Pro Special Series 2 TB, SSD (white, PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe 1.4, M.2 2280)
HD Seagate ST16000NE000-2RW103
Sound controller Creative SB X-Fi
Video controller Hauppauge WinTV Startburst 2
Power Supply 865W
Win 10 Pro
Current BIOS version: 1304

MemTest reports the error sometimes after two minutes with a mem-temperature of 42 degrees celsius and
sometimes after five minutes with 54 degrees celsius. So I assume no temperature problem.

The system runs pretty stable with BIOS 1304, but a newer version just won't do with 6400 Mhz memory speed.

What I've tried:
Updating all drivers/firmware/BIOS. Added additonial cooling

Does anyone know a fix for this issue ?
Or do I have to live with the old version ...

[Alvez_ROG]

Hi
May I know what is your Memtest version ? Could you please take a picture of bios settings?

[WolfMan_007]

Hi,

I was testing with the builtin version PassMark MemTes86 V9.4 Free.
Also I added two screenshots, but I'm not sure if they show what you want to know.

Basically after a BIOS update I change to XMP II, disable WLAN, USB-Audio and Bluetooth.

Today, to retrieve the MemTest version I started the builtin MemTest and surprisingly also with BIOS Version 1304 there was an error. Already after 90s.

This is really a new surprising situation after all the testing since January with different BIOS-Version.

In the past, after installing the BIOS-version 1403 I had twice a freeze while working with Windows10. Then I found out that MemTest shows error, too.
So i reinstalled BIOS-version 1304 and there were no errors in MemTest, which run for hours.
That's why I decided for BIOS-version 1304.
Then I tried every new BIOS-Version, as it was available. But with no success.

Now, I m irritated, because the system runs absolutely stable with BIOS-version 1304.

[WolfMan_007]

Hi,

alarmed from this discovery I checked the different BIOS-Versions in combination with the BIOS setting of the AI overclocking tuner.
Here is the result of the MemTest:

PassMark MemTest 9.4 Free
=====================================================================
BIOS-Version: 1304 (20220307)
=====================================================================
AI overclocking | f       | Errors@Pass | Passes | Duration   | Temp
tuner           | [MHz]   | 1/2/3/4     |        | [hh:mm:ss] | 
----------------+---------+-------------+--------+------------+------
Auto            | 4800    | 0/0/0/0     | 4      | 01:18:33   | 54
XMP I           | 6400    | 0/0/0/0     | 4      | 01:04:13   | 57
XMP II          | 6400    | 0/0/5/5     | 4      | 01:04:12   | 55
----------------+---------+-------------+--------+------------+------

=====================================================================
BIOS-Version: 1403 (20220330)
=====================================================================
AI overclocking | f       | Errors@Pass | Passes | Duration   | Temp
tuner           | [MHz]   | 1/2/3/4     |        | [hh:mm:ss] | 
----------------+---------+-------------+--------+------------+------
Auto            | 4800    | 0/0/0/0     | 4      | 01:18:41   | 46
XMP I           | 6400    | 0/0/0/0     | 4      | 01:04:12   | 57
XMP II          | 6400    | 0/0/0/0     | 4      | 01:04:12   | 56
----------------+---------+-------------+--------+------------+------

=====================================================================
BIOS-Version: 1505 (20220531)
=====================================================================
AI overclocking | f       | Errors@Pass | Passes | Duration   | Temp
tuner           | [MHz]   | 1/2/3/4     |        | [hh:mm:ss] | 
----------------+---------+-------------+--------+------------+------
Auto            | 4800    | 0/0/0/0     | 4      | 01:20:20   | 47
XMP I           | 6400    | 0/2/3/1     | 4      | 01:04:42   | 56
XMP II          | 6400    | 5/1/7/2     | 4      | 01:06:50   | 56
----------------+---------+-------------+--------+------------+------

=====================================================================
BIOS-Version: 1601 (20220705)
=====================================================================
AI overclocking | f       | Errors@Pass | Passes | Duration   | Temp
tuner           | [MHz]   | 1/2/3/4     |        | [hh:mm:ss] | 
----------------+---------+-------------+--------+------------+------
Auto            | 4800    | 0/0/0/0     | 4      | 01:20:19   | 47
XMP I           | 6400    | 0/2/0/2     | 4      | 01:04:43   | 54
XMP II (1. try) | 6400    | 0/0/0/0     | 4      | 01:06:51   | 54
XMP II (2. try) | 6400    | 0/0/2/1     | 4      | 01:06:52   | 54
----------------+---------+-------------+--------+------------+------

=====================================================================
BIOS-Version: 1720 (20220815)
=====================================================================
AI overclocking | f       | Errors@Pass | Passes | Duration   | Temp
tuner           | [MHz]   | 1/2/3/4     |        | [hh:mm:ss] | 
----------------+---------+-------------+--------+------------+------
Auto            | 4800    | 0/0/0/0     | 4      | 01:20:20   | 48
XMP I           | 6400    | 0/0/0/1     | 4      | 01:04:42   | 56
XMP II          | 6400    | 0/4/3/4     | 4      | 01:06:52   | 56
----------------+---------+-------------+--------+------------+------

The conclusion from this test:
- no errors if the frequency is 4800 MHz
- XMP I or XMP II work sometimes
- If you retry the same test the result may be different (see BIOS-Version 1601 / XMP II)

Still looks like a problem with
- the BIOS-setting
- the HW
- the BIOS

To track down the cause I swapped the BIOS-Versions. But for the HW (board and memory) I don't have a replacement.
The BIOS-settings are too complex for me.

Currently I'm using BIOS-Version 1601 with XMP II. But it feels like sitting on a powder keg.

br

[STARRAIN]

Hi WolfMan_007,
If all other settings are default except XMP, is it same error in MemTest?
May I have the following information?
- the serial number of your motherboard via PM
- bios profile with .CMO file on bios 1720 via PM
- OS version and OS build
Thank you.

[WolfMan_007]

Hi STARRAIN,

Thanks for looking into this.

All values in the BIOS settings are default, except
- AI overclocking tuner (-> Auto, XMP I, XMP II)
- Advanced/Onboard Devices Confugration: USB-Audio disabled, Wi-Fi Controller disabled, Bluetooth Controller disabled
- Boot/Boot Configurations: Boot Log Display: Disabledlogo, POST Report: to 1 s

The errors in MemTest are always at different addresses. The values are also different.

I sent the serial number and .CMO directly to you.

- Windows 10 Version 21H2 (OS Build 19044.1766)

BTW. I had a look to the SPD info tool in the BIOS. For my memory only a profile for XMP I exists.
So, I guess its not a good idea to switch to XMP II.

[STARRAIN]

Hi WolfMan_007,
Thank you for your reply and information.
I'll consult our tech team more about this.

[STARRAIN]

Hi WolfMan_007,

Our tech team have tested Z690-F motherboard and memory at hand, but don't get error when run Memtest with a memory speed of 6400 MHz.
For the specifications of Intel DDR5, it is overclocking when memory speed is over 4800 MHz. 6400 MHz is close to the maximus speed of Z690, so CPU condition will affect test result. Also, it may get better result with CPU water cooler.

The XMP meaning in SPD and AI Tweak is different. For SPD, it means XMP overclocking is supported on the memory when it shows XMP information. For AI Tweak, XMP I is XMP overclock settings from ASUS and XMP II is the overclock settings from memory vendor.

In short, the components condition will affect overclocking.
Thank you.

[STARRAIN]

Hi WolfMan_007,
I've sent a PM to you. Please help to check it.
Thank you.