Problems Flashing ASUS Maximus X Hero (WIFI) to 1003.

testtube5 · Jan 26, 2018

Specs:
8700k
Asus Maximus X Hero (Wifi)
2x16gb 32gb 3200mhz Corsair Vengeance LPX
GTX 1060

I recently flashed from 0505 to 0802 and 0802 is giving me serious problems (Lower CPU Clock speed, and even OC'd to 5ghz my FPS in games got cut by 2/3rds from what it was before.)

I want to update to 1003 through USB using EZ Flash. However, even though the USB drive is formatted to FAT32, EZ Flash is telling me that "This is not a valid BIOS" or something along those lines. I renamed the file to M10HWIFI.CAP and M10H.CAP as well and I am still getting the same problem.

I also am aware of the ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 "program" that my Mobo CD came with. And I'm also having problems with that. The manual directions say to:

1. Turn on the computer
2. Insert the motherboard support DVD to the optical drive
3. The utility automatically checks the devices for the BIOS file. When found, the utility reads the BIOS file and enters ASUS EZ Flash 3 Automatically.
4. The system requires you to enter BIOS Setup to recover the BIOS settings.

Yet, this isn't working either.

Please help!

MeanMachine41 · Jan 26, 2018

You may be lucky testtube5

If unsuccessful updating Bios via EZflash utility then try using your rear IO Panel. (One of the best features of ASUS MBs)
Best and safest method is using a USB thats empty and formatted to fat32.
Power down your system so there is only power to the MB. This way you don't need Bios (in case of corruption).
Your flashback button and correct USB port are detailed on page 2-15 in your MB Manual.

Download the Bios file 1003 to your system. check it is renamed to correct .CAP file which is M10HWIFI.CAP and transfer the .CAP file to your USB.
When inserted in the correct USB, press the flashback button for 2-3secs and it will start to blink. Once it stops you are done and it will take a couple of mins to complete.
If blinking stops and continuously lit then it has failed.

testtube5 · Jan 26, 2018

Okay, I was finally able to update to the newest BIOS version. However...

I still have the same problem. CPU Speed capping at 4.3ghz in Cinebench (Basically as if MultiCore Enhancement was disabled but it isn't.)

I can OC to 5.0ghz just fine but...

EVEN AFTER the OC, I log into games that I was getting 60+ FPS on and I'm running 15 FPS now.

I updated BIOS to 1003, tried clearing CMOS, I am now reformatting and reinstalling Win10 but I doubt that will fix it.

After that, I have not a SINGLE clue what else to try. Please help =(

There's almost 0% chance that any of the hardware is faulty because the problem happened RIGHT after a BIOS flash (And all my clock speeds are fine, Cinebench has the same score it did before, but my games are lagging to hell)

I'll love you forever if you can help me fix this, thanks in advance.

MeanMachine41 · Jan 26, 2018

OK testtube5

patience is the key to LOVE lol.

Download AIDA64 and HWinfo64 and put them on your desktop together.
We need to analyze your system under load to properly identify any issues with core temperature, Voltages and GPU etc.
Run the stress test in AIDA64 for 10mins with check boxes for CPU,FPU and Cache only.
Take screenies at the 10min mark.
Post the results for analysis using IMIGUR or your favourite host url.
Now if the system is stable then we will check the GPU next.

If unstable and crashes in Aida64 then bring the system back to default in Bios and run the tests at stock frequency with no Overclocks on the GPU and no arbitrary changes to Bios.
Lets optimise the system first. Awaiting your results before conclusions are drawn.

Also, Is your RAM running at its 3200MHz SPD and stable.?

testtube5 · Jan 26, 2018

MeanMachine41 :

Okay I made a mistake in listing specs. All is correct except that I have yet to purchase the 1060 as I'm hoping cryptocurrency prices tank so I can afford one...I am currently running a GTX 760.

The other parts, 8700k, Maximus X Hero, 3200mhz 32gb Corsair Vengeance LPX: Were all purchased 20 days ago (Still in the return period, just to clarify)...

So, at the moment, after the CMOS clear, I'm at stock settings (So RAM is at 2133 at the moment, while I had XMP enabled, it was at 3200mhz and stable.). Should I first go back to the OC while running these stress tests, and then go back to stock?

MeanMachine41 · Jan 26, 2018

No best is to run the Stress test at stock to establish a baseline for Overclocking.
You never jump to a target frequency in one hit especially to 5GHz.
You can have your XMP enabled if you wish.

The 1060 is good however the 1080 is better if Crypto comes good. lol don't wait for the crash.

testtube5 · Jan 26, 2018

Okay. Running CPU, FPU, and cache for 10min (Closing all programs first) Will post screenshots in ~12min assuming I don't crash (I'm only on a h100i atm)

testtube5 · Jan 26, 2018

https://imgur.com/a/W9tMb

CPU, FPU, and Cache test at stock speeds (No XMP)

Also, I don't think we need to test the OC at the moment (right?). Because I'm not worried about being able to OC atm with my current cooler. Going to wait until get the h115i (was gona buy tonight but only if I can get this fixed first.)

Test GPU now for 10min as well?

EDIT: GPU Stable as well (XMP still off, still at stock settings), max temperature 64C

MeanMachine41 · Jan 26, 2018

Well at stock your fine and temps seem stable and your plan is fine. Go ahead and get the H115i, you won't be disappointed. Just take your time mounting the unit and use a good TIM, Thermal grizzly, AS5 or MX4 well spread and use as little as possible. (small pea method)

I also upgraded from H100 to H115i and the difference is certainly measurable at higher OCs.
Now run tests on your GPU and enable XMP.
I also wanted to check your Rail Voltages in HWinfo under load to make sure it's stable and the PSU is doing it's job.

testtube5 · Jan 26, 2018

Ok give me about 15min.

testtube5 · Jan 27, 2018

https://imgur.com/a/rFvmI

Pretty sure I was taking screenshots of the correct things. These were taken while the stress test was still running. (GPU Only, with XMP on)

MeanMachine41 · Jan 27, 2018

testtube5 :

Excellent results testube

I see nothing wrong with Rail Voltages, temps at current frequency, Vcore is nice and low. Your good to go lol

If your rad fans are noisy at 5000rpm, adjust the fan curve in Bios or use Corsair Link to set them when you have the H115i installed.

Then time to checkout that little Coffee Lake beast. HaHa!

I'm really interested in it's AMD equivalent, except for core count ofc. I want to see an unbiased opinion and not some vested interest review.
I have the Ryzen 1800X and both are the same price at newegg.

testtube5 · Jan 27, 2018

Okay so, all we did here is confirmed that none of the hardware is broken. But I still have the problem. Why am I getting 15 FPS in games I was getting 60+ FPS in before I Flashed the BIOS? And how should I go about troubleshooting this?

MeanMachine41 · Jan 27, 2018

Not sure yet, Could be GPU driver, Game settings, Nvidia settings or Windows settings not set to performance. Some have had to resort to a clean instal of Windows to fix it.
Use Cinebench to test the GPU and post your benchmark scores.

There are other benchmarks to check for performance and i'm sure it will become apparent when results come in.
There are also others here that will be watching your thread and dieing to jump in, who may offer solutions if I can't put my finger on it.

testtube5 · Jan 27, 2018

https://imgur.com/a/8Ohe5

To be clear, GPU has next to nothing to do with the game I'm trying to play. What I'm doing is massive multiboxing the MMORPG Everquest 1 (A game over 2 decades old). All this requires is as many threads as possible and as much RAM as possible. Even with 18 clients up and my CPU running around 70% load my GPU load doesn't go above 30% and with VRAM at 1GBish)

Right now I'm downloading BF4 to see if performance is degraded in that game as well considering I do remember the average FPS I would get there.

EDIT: GPU Drivers are up to date and are the same ones I was using before the problem arose. Game settings weren't changed either. And windows settings are also same as they were before the problem.

The last thing I could think to try is to go back to the original BIOS version (Considering RIGHT after I flashed to a new BIOS was when the problems arose).

Question, if I use the BIOS version that comes with the CD in the Mobo box, would you say that that's probably the same version that the motherboard originally came with?

PS. If anyone else feels like chiming in, please do so. This is making me so sad. =( (Although I can breathe a sigh of relief that none of my hardware is shot)

MeanMachine41 · Jan 27, 2018

Well for a start your Open GL score is low. Now run the CPU test.

Check in Nvidia control panel>Manage 3D settings in left column>Global settings> Power Management mode, and set to prefer max performance.
Any improvement.?
Well reverting back your Bios is worth a try if all else fails. Do you not know which revision it was.? If not get the original from disk and work your way up.

testtube5 · Jan 27, 2018

Oh wow it is low...It was 144FPS before this...sec...

testtube5 · Jan 27, 2018

Sorry, I've only been cramming knowledge of computers for the last monthish, so my knowledge level is still vastly lacking...Is GeForce Experience the same as NVidia control panel? If not, where do I find it? (searched PC for it and wasn't there)

Oh and Cinebench was a normal score for a 8700k @ 3.7ghz (1350ish)

EDIT: Nevermind, figured it out (I think?) Guess I didn't have the latest gtz 760 drivers. DLing them now and that should give me NVidia Control Panel.

MeanMachine41 · Jan 27, 2018

Right click on your desktop and Nvidia control panel should be there.

At the same time try these other settings.
Vertical sync- Off
Threaded optimization - off and try on, not just auto
Triple buffering - off

GeForce Experience is not the same as Nvidia Control panel.
It's a good app to use tho for driver updates and optimal game settings if the game is recognised.

Also your Cinebench CPU score is OK at current frequency and will improve tremendously once Overclocked.

testtube5 · Jan 27, 2018

NVidia Control Panel is not there at the moment but I believe it is because I don't have the latest 760 drivers installed? Right?...DLing them now, will be done in 3min

MeanMachine41 · Jan 27, 2018

testtube5 :

Wrong.. If you have Nvidia driver installed it contains control panel.
See you soon just having Dinner.

testtube5 · Jan 27, 2018

Getting a Cinebench score of 125ish now (almost double from before, 20 points lower than what I WAS at though)...

However, not a single thing has changed with in-game performance.

Also, The other question I had...The motherboard that came with factory BIOS. The CD that came with the Mobo should contain the same version of BIOS that the MB originally had, correct? It may be possible that swapping back to the original BIOS would fix the problem considering the problem started *right* after I Flashed BIOS.

And last but not least, do you think reformatting and reinstalling windows could potentially solve my problem?

And no problem. I'll be up all night...and you don't know how much I appreciate all the help so far even if we can't get it working.

MeanMachine41 · Jan 27, 2018

OK i'm back for a couple more hrs.
If your seeing a great deal of improvement in Cinebench then were getting somewhere and if your scores are good then it must have something to do with game optimization or Windows.

Make sure now that your Windows is up to date.

The Bios on your installation disk would have contained the original or possibly higher depending when you bought it or how long it was sitting on the shelf.
Whether going back will fix your issue, I don't know till you try it. Updated Bios versions provide for better stability and addressing new RAM so going back may not fix it. I also assume you checked in Bios that it was successfully flashed OK to 1003.?

Everquest is an old game now and probably not optimised by Geforce Experience.
We will get it working or find out the cause. HaHa!!

Yea last resort is too fresh instal Windows as some have had to do. Not yet tho.

testtube5 · Jan 27, 2018

Yes, Windows is up to date. I installed straight from the website through USB which automatically came with all updates and service packs. (Also double checked to make sure there were no updates.)

And yes, I've checked the BIOS and it is showing version 1003.

One of the key things that is rather odd, is that after the first flash my CPU runs capped at 4.3mhz which should be the base non-turbo setting if multicore enhancement was off. However, MCE is on. I CAN get it to run at 4.7ghz simply by choosing the "Sync all cores" option in BIOS. However, this does nothing for the in-game performance problem.

EDIT: ALSO, I just purchased a 960 Evo NVMe SSD, and I cloned my 840 Evo (My Boot Drive) onto it. So...I could simply reformat the 840 Evo and if it doesn't fix the problem it doesn't matter anyway because I'll still have the 960 Evo to boot from which is now my main boot drive anyway.)

Considering that, should I try the reformat? Or do we have some other things we can try before this?

MeanMachine41 · Jan 27, 2018

Does Everquest have a game client and is it possible to verify your files.? Is your current settings and card showing up in the settings menu. Sorry but I don't know Everquest but i'm familiar with MMORPGs and GW2.
Not much help I know but i'm grasping at straws atm.
I also have the Samsung 960 EVO M.2 drive and don't think that's the issue.

Multi core enhancement may be best disabled and have all cores in sync and a fixed core frequency set when Overclocking. Not 100% sure as I don't have MCE in my Bios which I think is the equivalent to turbo boost.

Updating Bios would bring Bios back to default.
I'm researching atm however formatting is a bit radical and I can tell your patience is running thin. lol

Hmm, If you can successfully dual boot then why not format the other drive and clean install the OS and your game.

Problems Flashing ASUS Maximus X Hero (WIFI) to 1003.

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