Z690 Formula - Constant loss of ethernet on load.

[axiumone]

Strange issue here that I don't even know how to troubleshoot. Whenever the ethernet gets loaded past 20 mb/s, theres a high probability that it will disconnect from the internet. I didn't think it was the motherboard at first, but now it seems like it's the only culprit.

Steps tried:
- Variety of different ethernet cables
- Replaced router with asus ax88u
- Tried marvell 3.1.3 and 3.1.6 drivers

After the ethernet adapter says it's not connected to the internet, the only thing that seems to work is funnily enough the built in MS tool that resets the ethernet adapter, after that the connection is back to normal, until the adapter is loaded again.

[eraserking]

STARRAIN@ROG wrote:
Hi eraserking and axiumone,
For loss of ethernet on load issue, our tech team have tested the motherboards and the devices at hand, but I'm afraid they cannot reproduce the issue.
Our tech team have tested:
1. using 1G internet to download games in Microsoft store
2. using another PC to transfer a 100Gb files through the router and the average speed is 500MB/s

If the issue occurs with bios all default settings, where do you download games in or make the ethernet gets loaded past 20 mb/s? Does the issue occurs every time when the ethernet gets loaded past 20 mb/s or 100MB/s? or what is the probability of the issue occurring? Do use have the issue since first build? or it was working fine at first but the issue occurred after use for a while or after some specific operation? Thank you so much.

>If the issue occurs with bios all default settings, where do you download games in or make the ethernet gets loaded past 20 mb/s?
With factory defaults I can still reproduce this by downloading games from Steam, Origin and Battle.net clients. My network is 1GB up/1GB down, and will reach anywhere from 50-100MB/s according to Steam's download status screen.

> Does the issue occurs every time when the ethernet gets loaded past 20 mb/s or 100MB/s? or what is the probability of the issue occurring?
I have seen this reproduce whether my download MB/s is in the ~50MB/s range or at 100MB/s. The issue does *not* occur every time: After reproducing the issue, I can more easily manage to reproduce again later after I have slept/woken my PC, or restarted my PC. It does reproduce every time when downloading multiple large games in succession, but it isn't consistent like others have mentioned so I don't have solid degree of reproducibility to provide.

*>Do use have the issue since first build? or it was working fine at first but the issue occurred after use for a while or after some specific operation?
I have been facing this since Day 1 with this build. This was *not* an issue with my former build with the exact same home network configuration so it surely is something with this board/config.

Similar to what Unstable_overclock mentioned about YouTube, I have also found this to reproduce while having Chrome open with Twitch playing a stream, and also downloading a large game on Steam. Perhaps that combined network load contributes to this reproducing more and may be a good test case for the tech team?

[STARRAIN_ROG]

Hi all,
May I have the following information for further checking?
1. Do you see the exclamation mark on the Network and Internet icon when the issue occurs?
2. Please enter settings > Network and Internet > Properties below the 10G Ethernet > and capture a screenshot of properties information like this:

3. If there is any warning or error in event viewer > windows logs > system before, during or after the issue occurs, please also share me screenshots like this:

4. the brand, model name, and the firmware version of your router
5. the ISP bandwidth(network) such as 1GB upload/1GB download
6. the device list you connecting to the rear I/O panel
- the brand and model name of the device and which port do you install the each device(such as ROG Chakram Core mouse in USB 2.0 port E7)
- a photo of your rear I/O panel when connecting all the device you use as usual
Thank you so much.

[axiumone]

STARRAIN@ROG wrote:
Hi all,
May I have the following information for further checking?
1. Do you see the exclamation mark on the Network and Internet icon when the issue occurs?
2. Please enter settings > Network and Internet > Properties below the 10G Ethernet > and capture a screenshot of properties information like this:

3. If there is any warning or error in event viewer > windows logs > system before, during or after the issue occurs, please also share me screenshots like this:

4. the brand, model name, and the firmware version of your router
5. the ISP bandwidth(network) such as 1GB upload/1GB download
6. the device list you connecting to the rear I/O panel
- the brand and model name of the device and which port do you install the each device(such as ROG Chakram Core mouse in USB 2.0 port E7)
- a photo of your rear I/O panel when connecting all the device you use as usual
Thank you so much.

1. No.
2. I've already attached this screenshot during the error in a previous post in this thread
3. There are always errors in the windows event viewer, thats the nature of the windows event viewer. Nothing related to networking was there.
4. asus ax88u, 3.0.0.4.386_46065
5. 1GB up/down
6. blue yeti mic, g915 tkl keyboard wireless sensor, logtitech superlight x mouse wireless sensor.

[eraserking]

STARRAIN@ROG wrote:
Hi all,
May I have the following information for further checking?
1. Do you see the exclamation mark on the Network and Internet icon when the issue occurs?
2. Please enter settings > Network and Internet > Properties below the 10G Ethernet > and capture a screenshot of properties information like this:

3. If there is any warning or error in event viewer > windows logs > system before, during or after the issue occurs, please also share me screenshots like this:

4. the brand, model name, and the firmware version of your router
5. the ISP bandwidth(network) such as 1GB upload/1GB download
6. the device list you connecting to the rear I/O panel
- the brand and model name of the device and which port do you install the each device(such as ROG Chakram Core mouse in USB 2.0 port E7)
- a photo of your rear I/O panel when connecting all the device you use as usual
Thank you so much.

1. No.
2. (Screenshot attached)
- As mentioned in a previous post, this issue did reproduce on both driver versions 3.1.3.0 and 3.1.6.0.
3. There are no errors or warnings in event viewer around the time this issue is reproduced.
4. Ubiquiti USG router > firmware 4.4.56 and Ubiquiti U6-LR access point > firmware 6.0.14. But this also reproduces when hard wired directly to my ISP default gateway, model Zyxel C4000, omitting the aforementioned devices entirely, as I tested previously.
5. CenturyLink Fiber Gigabit, 1G up / 1G down
6. (Screenshot Attached)
- Device List: Razer Orochi V2 wireless dongle; Razer Blackwidow V2 keyboard; Audioengine HD3 speakers; Razer Seiren Microphone; Elgato Stream Deck; Microsoft Xbox Wireless Controller dongle

[STARRAIN_ROG]

Hi axiumone and eraserking,
Thank you for your reply.
I'll forward your information to our tech team for further checking.

[STARRAIN_ROG]

Hi axiumone and eraserking,
I'm afraid our tech team have referred to your scenario to download torrent, games from Microsoft store and Steam and watch a youtube video meanwhile, but still cannot reproduce the issue.
May I have the following information?
- axiumone's ISP name
- Please use speedtest to check the bandwidth from the ISP.
- Please refer to the screenshot below(in the red box 1 & 2) to check the network status while downloading and share me screenshots about before and after the issue occurs. I would appreciate it if you can help to record a video before and after the issue occurring.


Please make sure the network cable is CAT 6 or CAT 7.
Please try removing the wireless devices such as wireless sensor and wireless dongle, and then check if software like antivirus, web or game accelerator has impact on this.
Thank you.

[jm600rr21]

I've been having the same problems as the others have expressed. Torrent download will kill the network connectivity on the 10Gb interface on the Z690 Maximus Extreme. You lose all connectivity, internet, home server access..ect. Only difference is my issue started from Bios 1304.

Thanks.

STARRAIN@ROG wrote:
Hi axiumone and eraserking,
I'm afraid our tech team have referred to your scenario to download torrent, games from Microsoft store and Steam and watch a youtube video meanwhile, but still cannot reproduce the issue.
May I have the following information?
- axiumone's ISP name
- Please use speedtest to check the bandwidth from the ISP.
- Please refer to the screenshot below(in the red box 1 & 2) to check the network status while downloading and share me screenshots about before and after the issue occurs. I would appreciate it if you can help to record a video before and after the issue occurring.


Please make sure the network cable is CAT 6 or CAT 7.
Please try removing the wireless devices such as wireless sensor and wireless dongle, and then check if software like antivirus, web or game accelerator has impact on this.
Thank you.

[axiumone]

STARRAIN@ROG wrote:
Hi axiumone and eraserking,
I'm afraid our tech team have referred to your scenario to download torrent, games from Microsoft store and Steam and watch a youtube video meanwhile, but still cannot reproduce the issue.
May I have the following information?
- axiumone's ISP name
- Please use speedtest to check the bandwidth from the ISP.
- Please refer to the screenshot below(in the red box 1 & 2) to check the network status while downloading and share me screenshots about before and after the issue occurs. I would appreciate it if you can help to record a video before and after the issue occurring.

Please make sure the network cable is CAT 6 or CAT 7.
Please try removing the wireless devices such as wireless sensor and wireless dongle, and then check if software like antivirus, web or game accelerator has impact on this.
Thank you.

I've since upgraded to bios 1403 and the issue is still present.

ISP - Verizon FIOS

Cables are CAT 7. It's not possible to disconnect the wireless dongles as asked, as I don't have a wired keyboard and mouse. I don't have any antivirus or web/game accelerators installed.

It's not possible to get a video of the issue without leaving the recording on for a long time, as the issue can happen at any moment.

Screenshots are attached.

InformationalDiagnostics Information (Network Adapter) 
Details about network adapter diagnosis: 

Network adapter Ethernet driver information:

   Description . . . . . . . . . . : Marvell AQtion 10Gbit Network Adapter
   Manufacturer  . . . . . . . . . : Marvell
   Provider  . . . . . . . . . . . : Marvell
   Version   . . . . . . . . . . . : 3.1.3.0
   Inf File Name . . . . . . . . . : C:\Windows\INF\oem4.inf
   Inf File Date . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, July 21, 2021  5:51:30 AM
   Section Name  . . . . . . . . . : Antigua10G
   Hardware ID . . . . . . . . . . : pci\ven_1d6a&dev_94c0
   Instance Status Flags . . . . . : 0x180200a
   Device Manager Status Code  . . : 0
   IfType  . . . . . . . . . . . . : 6
   Physical Media Type . . . . . . : 14

[Unstable_overcl]

I have now picked up a third z690 formula board form a local store and done a clean installation of windows along with the latest bios and drivers.

I was able to replicate the issue 4 times when downloading a game (redownloading gta 5, watching youtube and being in a conversation on discord.
I then brought my old PC build z390 maximus hero xi , 9900k and 2080ti and ran it for the last couple of days no issue (3 days to be exact).
As soon as I put back my new build with the formula the issue occurred immediately on testing as I have described.

Everyone here has done a lot of testing with multiple configurations, different builds and plugged into different switches/routers with all the recommended ethernet cables and are experiencing the same problems.

I have now tried three separate boards and all of them have the issue and my old build doesn't ( ASUS ROG z390 maximus hero xi).
I either have to trouble shoot to get it back which takes a minute for windows to do so, or I have to unplug the ethernet cable and plug it back in which causes my
PC to stutter when doing so until the ethernet connection is restored.

I would advise that your tech team try to replicate it with a different z690 formula board and not the same one you have on inventory.
Try to do multiple things at once during a very large download on steam, youtube , be in a discord conversation ( the disconnect happened twice in the discord call) etc.
Stress it heavily with multiple applications all at once. I found that being in a discord call caused it happen a lot more.


I have also shown this to the techs at my local PC store and they told me this seems more hardware than software related.
Either way if you guys can't fix this (with a bios update/ driver update) or are able to replicate it on your end, I will have to go with a different brand mobo, this is too much money to drop on something that has this unreliability factor. I have now done three seperate builds with the formula boards in my 12th gen system. They all have the problem. Each of my builds also used different drives for the OS ( 980 PRO 1tb nvme, 970 EVO Plus 1tb, a 256Gb 970 EVO Plus).

No amount of testing on the users side or those of us writing on the rog forums will fix this issue, your tech teams have to spend time with it and the problem will occur . From what I have seen everyone who has posted here, especially the individuals showing pictures have given a step by step break down of exactly what is happening.

My advice is to tell the tech teams to get a brand new board, install a brand new copy of windows. Get a secondary drive, install steam, chrome, firefox ( or any browser really), run youtube, be in a discord conversation, and then download a large game, GTA 5, cyberpunk, metro exodus etc and continue to do web activities while the download is going. This is a sure fire way to get the problem to occur.

Either way it seems that both the formula and extreme boards are affected and considering both boards have the Marvell® AQtion 10Gb ethernet port I am thinking that its a hardware issue. Especially considering that the user reporting on his extreme board is not having the issue with the Intel® 2.5Gb Ethernet port.

[STARRAIN_ROG]

Hi jm600rr21,
If you downgrade bios or update to bios 1403, do you still have the issue?
Does the issue only occur when connecting to 10Gb ethernet?
Could you please refer to #30 and #34 in the thread, and share me the information?
Thank you.