AI Suite Optimization requires MEI?

[tamm]

So I have a Z97 Deluxe board which recently came back from its 2nd RMA, and I`m having issues where I have been able to install the drivers and utilities from the driver disk provided by ASUS. However after install, and upon every restart I notice two issues:

1) MEI driver must be installed before using 5 Way Optimization
-When I downloaded the MEI driver off the website, upon reboot I get a "platform is not supported error"
-Upon checking the UEFI, under ME, its listed as N/A.

2) Opening AI SUITE 3, I can only see it listing on the top left, as 4 Way Optimization
-I thought the Z97 came with 5 way optimization what gives?

Please tell me there is going to be an easy fix?

So update 1:

After scouring the web, to find a resolution, I decided to go online and search if anyone else has a problem. Well i stumbled upon a couple link from the ROG forums to Linus Tech with this exact problem.

One of the solutions was to do a clean reinstall of Windows, and install the MEI driver first and the GPU last.

Did that....MEI driver installation package still comes up with "Platform Not Supported"

ARGHH!!! What a waste of time this MEI driver issue has become.

Hopefully someone can chime in with some solutions

 

[mikeymikec]

I had trouble installing MEI on my Asus Z97 PRO GAMER board as well; the version on the CD refused to install on Windows 7 as did the latest version on the Intel site (which mentioned Win7 support). The latest version on the ASUS website worked for me.

With regard to MEI dependence, I'm not surprised: I ran CPUID's HWmonitor on my system before installing MEI and it gave me very little in terms of motherboard readings. After installing MEI all the readings I'd normally expect showed up.

I've been having some intermittent system stability issues with my haswell build; intermittent 0x00000116 when resuming from S3 sleep. I suspected that it might be the MEI driver that I downloaded from Windows Update, so I removed that recently and started trying to find a driver that worked for me. One thing I did experience was that when I removed MEI from Device Manager, no install program would detect the device until I had run a 'scan for new hardware' in Device Manager so that 'PCI Simple Communications Controller' (or whatever it's called, the device name that an undetected modem would typically show up as) appeared, then the ASUS MEI driver installed. Perhaps the latest Intel one would have done so as well, but until I did that I also got 'platform not supported'.

 

[tamm]

See I didn't run the windows update or download an intel mei.

I went on the support page for the board, and downloaded all the drivers from there and installed.

As for the bios, before rma it he board was running 2502, but after the rma it came back with 2702 which is the latest version.

 

[vailr]

This forum page has better info on how to check the version of Intel MEI, both firmware and software:
http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyt...ng-stability-tools-post284763.html#post284763
Although listed as Gigabyte forum, it also applies to other brands of motherboards.
For Intel 9 series, you would need to double-check that this firmware has been flashed to the motherboard bios:
Intel® Management Engine Interface(ME) 9.1.37.1002 (Firmware) (Intel® 9)
Using this info utility version:
Intel® Management Engine Interface(ME) Info (Intel® 9)
And this device driver:
Intel® Management Engine Interface Ver. 11.0.0.1173 WHQL
Note: the device driver installation package includes some additional system software, which you may find unnecessary, and can be uninstalled, leaving only the device driver itself installed.

 

[VirtualLarry]

OP, sounds like your ME embedded firmware is corrupted. That happened to me with a MeegoPad T02 Compute Stick, after I flashed the BIOS, and then did some other stuff to it.

Booting to BIOS setup, shows the embedded ME firmware as "N/A", instead of the version number that was there before.

It runs, otherwise. Not really sure why you need the ME firmware at all.

 

[vailr]

OP, sounds like your ME embedded firmware is corrupted. That happened to me with a MeegoPad T02 Compute Stick, after I flashed the BIOS, and then did some other stuff to it.

Booting to BIOS setup, shows the embedded ME firmware as "N/A", instead of the version number that was there before.

It runs, otherwise. Not really sure why you need the ME firmware at all.

Did you happen to write down the ME firmware version prior to the bios flash? What portion of the bios setup screen shows the ME version?
More info here:
http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte/54860-about-intel-management-engine-firmware.html
http://www.win-raid.com/t596f39-Intel-Management-Engine-Drivers-Firmware-amp-System-Tools.html

 

[tamm]

UPDATE 2: Spoke to soon?

1) So I called up ASUS Support. First Phone rep, seemed eager to assist.
Me: I have an MEI driver issue, driver install is unable to be completed due to error of "platform not supported"
Rep: Hold on. 30 minutes later. Did you install the driver from the disc?
Me: No, I went on the support website for this board, downloaded the latest driver available, and tried to install. Error message received after trying this.
Rep: Hold on. 30 minutes later Did you download the correct drivers for your OS.
Me: When you go to the support page, you have to select the OS before you are shown the drivers. So yes.
Rep: Hold on. 30 minutes later. What motherboard do you have?
Me: Z97 deluxe.
Rep: After troubleshooting the problem, I believe you have a faulty Motherboard.

At this point, I`m speechless. I have never ever had to deal with such a problematic build ever. I`m shaking at the thought I have to disassemble the system AGAIN!

In addition, the Thunderbolt issue I`m having seems to be directly linked with the MEI issue according to the rep

The one thing in the back of my mind, is that every customer service rep I ask or bring up my concerns to about the quality of an RMA, tells me how the RMA quality is miles above the quality of a new retail board. One rep/supervisor has even stated that they would take an RMA board over a retail board due to the quality checks a replacement board is subject to.

.......??????.........

 

[vailr]

@ tamm: please re-read my previous post #4.
The official Intel ME identification utility download link is included.
That would at least provide information on identifying the existing firmware and device driver software, and thereby allow room for further troubleshooting suggestions.
If that info can be posted here, the chances for potentially avoiding an RMA would improve for you.

 

[Puffnstuff]

I've seen that same message with the older MEI driver. Once I acquired the updated version it installed without incident.

 

[tamm]

Update 3

So trying to be as proactive in this RMA, I called up ASUS support to inquire with my case # as an RMA # has yet to be generated. The person/supervisor who had assisted me yesterday to troubleshoot the issue told me that today latest I should be receiving a RMA form to fill out. Having ending the day with no such form, hence the call. For some reason the case # was filed with the problem being a Thunderbolt issue rather then the MEI driver/FW issue. In addition, I guess there were no notes related to the MEI driver, like the 2 hours spent troubleshooting and holding, so I had to go over the entire situation with a new rep.
This entailed:
1-Explain the issue with the MEI driver install
2-The multiple attempts at reinstalling the OS, changing the driver order installation, clear CMOS, etc etc
3) After all that this new rep came to the same conclusion as the previous day (surprise anyone?)
4) In addition, now the calibration team is involved?
5) In addition, I mentioned the TB issue as well, and I dont know if the reps are agreeing with me for heck of agreeing or actually stating this with some background knowledge, but when I brought up the issue of tb after the mei explanation, they all tend to agree their related.


All in all, I don`t where this is going to end up. I`ll update as I get more info. Frustrating experience, especially with the number of customer service reps who continuously promise that replacement boards and the RMA quality is bar none, even when they hear that this will be my 3rd RMA.

 

[tamm]

@ tamm: please re-read my previous post #4.
The official Intel ME identification utility download link is included.
That would at least provide information on identifying the existing firmware and device driver software, and thereby allow room for further troubleshooting suggestions.
If that info can be posted here, the chances for potentially avoiding an RMA would improve for you.

Although I appreciate the help, after speaking to many reps/supervisors this seems to be a hardware issue for sure and spending any more time trying to fix/tb it would be a poor use of the rest of my break.

I've seen that same message with the older MEI driver. Once I acquired the updated version it installed without incident.

Latest Driver according to Asus website, and support staff

 

[Puffnstuff]

Go to the intel website and get their MEI driver which is always the latest. I also use their driver update utility which will keep all intel drivers up to date.

 

[guskline]

Go to the intel website and get their MEI driver which is always the latest. I also use their driver update utility which will keep all intel drivers up to date.

EXCELLENT suggestion. Just did the Intel driver update check with their utility on both of my rigs below.:thumbsup:

 

[tamm]

Go to the intel website and get their MEI driver which is always the latest. I also use their driver update utility which will keep all intel drivers up to date.

Have that running as well. No updates found on my rig.

 

[tamm]

Update 4:

1) Calibration Team. Apparently the team said that none of the ASUS Boards Support MEI Functionality. In addition, the team believes that a non K CPU is required to support MEI

My takeaway: I dont get this. How is a critical and widely advertised feature of ASUS's 5 Way Optimization, and AI Suite 3 not supported by the ASUS BIOS? In addition, why would a non-K CPU, which cannot be overclocked by design, be required to support MEI which is integral in supporting the Overclocking Suite of ASUS?

2) It seems as though the hour+ conversations I have with ASUS support somehow does not get written down into notes on the case#. So every contact I have with them ends up me spending the better part of the call explaining the situation, going through the same troubleshoot options, and ending with the same prognosis. For a change though read 3)

3) So the last technical support person I spoke wanted me to get in touch with their L2 MB Specialist. The way this person explained it to me, was that their tech would contact me in a set time frame. I waited 2x the timeframe, never got any contact from ASUS. I ended up calling them, and apparently they will call tomorrow.

For a company that ships 1 in 3 boards in the consumer space, states they try to make technology simple for the end user, and prides in itself in the least RMA, I`m speechless as before.

 

[mikeymikec]

Well, I'm using an ASUS board, MEI is installed, and I have a K CPU installed.

When you couldn't install MEI, did you have a 'PCI Simple Communications Controller' or something to that effect in Device Manager that was showing up as having no drivers installed?

 

[Puffnstuff]

Here's the link to intel's download page for the ME software https://downloadcenter.intel.com/search?keyword=intel+management+engine and I'm running the latest version on my asus maximus vii hero.

 

[vailr]

Apparently the team said that none of the ASUS Boards Support MEI Functionality. In addition, the team believes that a non K CPU is required to support MEI

My takeaway: I dont get this.

My interpretation: whoever at Asus support came up with that explanation is entirely mistaken. An ME firmware is going to be found in all modern Intel chipset motherboards (regardless of manufacturer); the presence of "K" or "non-K" CPU has absolutely no bearing on the ME factor, whatsoever.
Note: there are 2 factors required for Intel Management Engine: the firmware located within the bios chip, and the supporting Windows device driver. There's also (command prompt) ME Info Tools, with various different versions of that utility supporting various specific versions of the firmware and device driver. Using an incorrect ME Info Tool version will produce an "unknown firmware" diagnosis.
Example: Intel "H" & "Z" chipset boards require a 1.5 Mb version ME firmware, while Intel "B" & "Q" boards require a 5 Mb version firmware. And different ME firmware versions for each series of chipset, such as Intel 7, 8, 9, or 100 series.
Laptop & Intel Atom machine chipsets require still other ME firmwares.
So: since Asus support has already proved to be ignorant in this regard, I would advise you to either: do some further reading at the 2 links posted previously, and diagnose the existing ME firmware and device driver yourself.
Or: get a refund and buy another brand of board, such as Gigabyte or MSI.
If I were to guess, the ME firmware may have been wrongly updated by a previous board owner, using the incorrect version of ME firmware. But: that's only a guess. Asus never figured out the problem, and failed to properly troubleshoot the situation, passing along the corrupted board to you.
A "brand new" replacement board would be a better option than an RMA'd board.
Of course, the ME firmware could also have been faulty coming directly out of Asus's factory.
Who knows?
Further data point: the ME firmware version (for whatever obscure reason) is not necessarily always updated during a bios flash update. There's a separate ME firmware flash update procedure provided by Intel, to accomplish that update.
Note: won't work, unless there's an MEI driver installed.
In other words: there should be no "yellowed out" devices in Windows Device Manager.
Also: it is possible to flash the incorrect ME firmware. Such as: flashing the ME firmware designed for a newer series chipset board onto an older series motherboard, producing unintended consequences.
Another tool for identifying the ME firmware version:
UEFI BIOS Updater
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/uefi_bios_updater.html
This free tool can identify and update a board's AMI bios.bin file, in preparation for doing a bios flash update using a more up-to-date bios.bin file than what the board maker has provided.

 

[tamm]

Will update the thread after the holidays I guess. Stay tuned...

 

[vailr]

ME Analyzer v1.4.1 : Intel Engine Firmware Analysis Tool
http://www.win-raid.com/t840f39-ME-Analyzer-Intel-Engine-Firmware-Analysis-Tool.html