Can't Use Asus Optimal Setting

DMcturk · Aug 25, 2014

I built a new computer and everything works fine until I try using the Asus performance setting for my motherboard. After that has been activated everything will work except for the GPU. The GPU LED on the motherboard turns on but the fans spin. Once again the computer works fine until I set the motherboard to "Optimal".

My computer's specs are:

Motherboard - Asus Z97-A

CPU - Intel i7 4770

RAM - 2 8GB Corsair Vengeance Blue DDR3 1600MHz

GPU - EVGA GeForce GTX760

PSU - Corsair CX Series 600 Watt ATX/EPS Modular 80 PLUS Bronze

Darkbreeze · Aug 26, 2014

Can you check the BIOS after setting it to Optimal to make sure it isn't resetting the GPU of choice to the onboard Intel HD graphics? You might just need to go into there and set it manually to PCI. It might be a good idea to use Default settings instead of Optimal and then make whatever changes you want manually, like the preferred graphics adapter to PCI, to avoid this issue.

DMcturk · Sep 4, 2014

Darkbreeze :

Sorry for taking so long to respond, been busy with college. Setting the motherboard to optimal doesn't change display to Intel HD. I also tried changing some settings myself but always had the same reaction as optimal.

Darkbreeze · Sep 4, 2014

Check your motherboard BIOS version against the most recent version available for your motherboard. If there is a newer version available, I would recommend updating to it before going any further. This may be a hardware support problem that can be corrected with a BIOS update.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/187437/how_to_update_your_bios.html

DMcturk · Sep 4, 2014

Darkbreeze :

Already tried that. Do you think it could be that 600W isn't enough or it simply could be because it is the 4770 and not the 4770K?

Darkbreeze · Sep 4, 2014

What version of Windows and what bit (32 or 64) are you running?

DMcturk · Sep 4, 2014

Darkbreeze :

Windows 8.1 64 bit

Darkbreeze · Sep 5, 2014

What are you attempting to use the ASUS performance settings for? Are you trying to gain performance from the CPU or the GPU? Have you installed the OEM drivers for the graphics card or are you using windows drivers? I would recommend you start with downloading and installing the following driver which is the most recent one supplied by EVGA for your card as well as updating your chipset and other motherboard and hardware related drivers as provided on the ASUS website for your motherboard if you have not already done so. There may be significant changes from any drivers that came on disk with your motherboard or from what Windows may have installed during the OS installation.

http://us.download.nvidia.com/Windows/340.52/340.52-desktop-win8-win7-winvista-64bit-english-whql.exe

DMcturk · Sep 6, 2014

Darkbreeze :

I have all the latest drivers for everything. I don't know what part exactly is causing bad performance. All I know is that unless I have optimal turned on I don't get the best performance in games. When I had it on I could run BF3 on ultra but with it set to normal I have to put it on medium.

Darkbreeze · Sep 6, 2014

That PSU is a borderline model, not really recommended for gaming rigs. I don't think there's a problem with it on paper, do the math, but in reality I've seen issues with the CX series when used for anything other than general computing. It's probably not related to your performance issue though, but it's possible. I don't know what else to tell you. It's probably related to a setting in either the game or the graphic card utility you're using.

DMcturk · Sep 6, 2014

Darkbreeze :

OK, thanks for trying to help. Out of all the people I have ever asked for a problem you have been the best. I'll try messing with some other stuff. If that doesn't work I'll just send back some of the parts and choose different ones.

Darkbreeze · Sep 6, 2014

Just hold that thought. We still have a few things we can try. So, the card works fine, even while gaming, just not on ultra-settings, is that right?

Darkbreeze · Sep 6, 2014

Let's revisit a few of the basics. You do have the card installed in the grey PCI slot, right? And your monitor IS connected to the output of the card, not the output of the MB, right? Just want to double check those to make sure I'm not overlooking something obvious.

The following are all in the BIOS.

The BIOS can be used under two modes, Easy Mode and Advanced Mode. Make sure you are in Advanced Mode by switching to advanced mode in the Exit menu or by pressing the Exit/Advanced mode button while in Easy mode.

Press F5 and select yes or ok to reset the BIOS to optimal default settings.

It seems your memory supports the XMP profile so in your BIOS AI overclock tuner you might want to set that to XMP instead of Auto or Manual.

Unless you are manually overclocking you might want to make sure that Turbo mode is set to enabled.

Under the Advanced menu is System Agent Configuration. Make sure that under graphics configuration Primary display is set to PCIe and not set to AUTO, CPU graphics or PCI.

After making those changes, if necessary, reboot and see how it does now.

volcanoscout · Sep 6, 2014

Here are a few suggestions:

1. Uninstall and reinstall AI Suite 3. Right-click on the uninstall option from your Start Menu and select "Run as administrator". Once it's complete, run the AI Suite 3 Cleaner (http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?34503-AI-Suite-III-Cleaner), again using "Run as administrator". Then reboot and reinstall and try the optimal setting again and see if you get the same result as before.

2. In your UEFI/BIOS, in the Advanced tab / System Agent Configuration / NB PCI-E Configuration: It should be in default [Auto] - if so, change it to [GEN 3] then save and exit to boot and see if the GPU works correctly with Optimal. If not, try it in [GEN 2]. If it wasn't on [AUTO] to begin with, change it to Auto and try it.

3. If neither of the above works, you can try uninstalling the card and use Display Driver Uninstaller (http://www.guru3d.com/files-details/display-driver-uninstaller-download.html), then reboot. Do a fresh install of your chipset driver and reboot again, then reinstall the card and driver.

DMcturk · Sep 6, 2014

Darkbreeze :

Yes. The card works fine and is in the top/grey PCI slot. I don't want to use it just for BF3, I also get performance hits in all games.

Darkbreeze · Sep 6, 2014

Seems you guys posted while I was writing so try the following steps and if you don't have success then try volcanoscouts suggestions. It's probably not a bad idea to try his suggestions in any case but I'd make sure to switch to advanced mode in the BIOS and check these as well.

The following are all in the BIOS.

The BIOS can be used under two modes, Easy Mode and Advanced Mode. Make sure you are in Advanced Mode by switching to advanced mode in the Exit menu or by pressing the Exit/Advanced mode button while in Easy mode.

Press F5 and select yes or ok to reset the BIOS to optimal default settings.

It seems your memory supports the XMP profile so in your BIOS AI overclock tuner you might want to set that to XMP instead of Auto or Manual.

Unless you are manually overclocking you might want to make sure that Turbo mode is set to enabled.

Under the Advanced menu is System Agent Configuration. Make sure that under graphics configuration Primary display is set to PCIe and not set to AUTO, CPU graphics or PCI.

After making those changes, if necessary, reboot and see how it does now.

DMcturk · Sep 7, 2014

Darkbreeze :

Seems you guys posted while I was writing so try the following steps and if you don't have success then try volcanoscouts suggestions. It's probably not a bad idea to try his suggestions in any case but I'd make sure to switch to advanced mode in the BIOS and check these as well.

The following are all in the BIOS.

The BIOS can be used under two modes, Easy Mode and Advanced Mode. Make sure you are in Advanced Mode by switching to advanced mode in the Exit menu or by pressing the Exit/Advanced mode button while in Easy mode.

Press F5 and select yes or ok to reset the BIOS to optimal default settings.

It seems your memory supports the XMP profile so in your BIOS AI overclock tuner you might want to set that to XMP instead of Auto or Manual.

Unless you are manually overclocking you might want to make sure that Turbo mode is set to enabled.

Under the Advanced menu is System Agent Configuration. Make sure that under graphics configuration Primary display is set to PCIe and not set to AUTO, CPU graphics or PCI.

After making those changes, if necessary, reboot and see how it does now.

Thank you so much, that did the trick! All I ask now is if I run the chance of overheating my ram?

Darkbreeze · Sep 7, 2014

It's always a good idea to monitor things, at least at first, to make sure there are no issues. Couple of things I'd do to make help determine if things are stable is take a look and see if the RAM is in fact running at it's advertised speed, which in your case is 1600mhz. If it is, you're fine. If it's running higher than that you might want to adjust the RAM settings. If it's running lower, you definitely want to. But with the XMP profile it should be running right where it's supposed to be. Just make sure. I'd also recommend downloading CPU-Z which can provide you with a lot of information about your system status and specifications and HWinfo which will allow you to run "sensors" and keep an eye on things.

Darkbreeze · Sep 7, 2014

You can also download several stability testing utilities such as Prime95 to make sure everything is stable, but honestly if you game fairly hard and it doesn't have a problem, it's probably fine for your usage.

Can't Use Asus Optimal Setting

Reputable

Retired Mod

Reputable

Retired Mod

Reputable

Retired Mod

Reputable

Retired Mod

Reputable

Retired Mod

Reputable

Retired Mod

Retired Mod

Dignified

Reputable

Retired Mod

Reputable

Retired Mod

Retired Mod

Share this page