Asus P8Z68-V Pro Gen 3 Owners - Did you install the new BIOS?

[Axonn]

Old version was 0301. New Version is 0402. It's been out only 5 days now. (Repeat: Mobo model is P8Z68-V Pro Gen 3).

I'm curious if anybody installed it and if it's working ok for you. I'm preparing to update my SSD firmware as well (I got my Vertex 3 running on a 2.08 firmware and the newest is 2.15).

 

[chimaxi83]

I have the 0902 BIOS installed. Have a P8Z68-V. Works well for me, so far so good.

 

[Axonn]

0902? Where the hell does that come from? *laugh* + *shocked*. The newest version I see on their website is 0402. Do you have some beta or something?

 

[chimaxi83]

Which exact model do you have? 0902 is listed on their site as the last official release. And again, I have P8Z68-V specifically.

Asus download site

 

[Axonn]

P8Z68-V Pro Gen 3 for me. Sorry, my bad. You're right. For V standard that's the correct BIOS. Updated my main post! *embarrassed* Should have known better.

 

[bankster55]

he has the gen 3
actually the latest v-pro (came out yesterday) is 1101
ftp://ftp.asus.com.tw/pub/ASUS/mb/LGA1155/

 

[Axonn]

So, anybody with the new BIOS for the Gen3 mobo?

 

[Axonn]

... guess not ::- (.

 

[Anarchist420]

Why do they release different versions of the same mobo (other than the necessary 3.0)?

EDIT: never mind

 

[Skypix7]

Hi Axonn, I've got the same Gen3 board, new build last couple weeks, and have the same question re bios. I have 3.01 too, have had lots of stability problems, possibly with memory, possibly with the memory controllers. Since I unplugged two of my four SSD drives from the Marvell, everything's working fine. The Intel SATA 3 ports are solid, but maybe the Marvell is the culprit. I have the latest drivers but I should be able to run drives on those ports. Maybe my settings are off, this board is a bit over my head and it's my first full build in 3 years.

Anyway, someone suggested my 4x4GB G Skill Ripjaws X memory setup may be the problem, as some people post that they're not able to populate all four slots reliably. I'm using XMP, before that had 3000+ memtest errors! After, zero.

But thinking I'll put two 8GB in there. Asus only lists two sticks, both 1333: A-DATA and Samsung, but that list is months old. What memory are you running and how's it working?

Also, would you mind telling me what settings you have in bios? If it's not too much trouble...I think I'm set up right, and I'm not overclocking at this point until I get it stable, but would appreciate any insights you can share.

*** Just talked with Asus tech support as I was writing this, not a whole lot of help there. He said if a memory mfg. says a particuylar stick is compatible, then it's okay to use it.

He also suggested I reset the CMOS and press the CRTC button (or reset the jumper, don't remember which I've got) because if I'm getting blue screens it's usually memory or OS. And gave the usual advice of trying one stick at a time etc. So I guess, sigh, I'll go that route.

But I want 16GB in there, so maybe the 8s are the way to go.

Thanks for any help you care to give

JIm

 

[blackened23]

Old version was 0301. New Version is 0402. It's been out only 5 days now. (Repeat: Mobo model is P8Z68-V Pro Gen 3).

I'm curious if anybody installed it and if it's working ok for you. I'm preparing to update my SSD firmware as well (I got my Vertex 3 running on a 2.08 firmware and the newest is 2.15).

I have 0402 installed with no problems. I was actually able to squeeze more MHZ outta my chip at the same vcore, up to 5ghz.

 

[blackened23]

Hi Axonn, I've got the same Gen3 board, new build last couple weeks, and have the same question re bios. I have 3.01 too, have had lots of stability problems, possibly with memory, possibly with the memory controllers. Since I unplugged two of my four SSD drives from the Marvell, everything's working fine. The Intel SATA 3 ports are solid, but maybe the Marvell is the culprit. I have the latest drivers but I should be able to run drives on those ports. Maybe my settings are off, this board is a bit over my head and it's my first full build in 3 years.

Anyway, someone suggested my 4x4GB G Skill Ripjaws X memory setup may be the problem, as some people post that they're not able to populate all four slots reliably. I'm using XMP, before that had 3000+ memtest errors! After, zero.

But thinking I'll put two 8GB in there. Asus only lists two sticks, both 1333: A-DATA and Samsung, but that list is months old. What memory are you running and how's it working?

Also, would you mind telling me what settings you have in bios? If it's not too much trouble...I think I'm set up right, and I'm not overclocking at this point until I get it stable, but would appreciate any insights you can share.

*** Just talked with Asus tech support as I was writing this, not a whole lot of help there. He said if a memory mfg. says a particuylar stick is compatible, then it's okay to use it.

He also suggested I reset the CMOS and press the CRTC button (or reset the jumper, don't remember which I've got) because if I'm getting blue screens it's usually memory or OS. And gave the usual advice of trying one stick at a time etc. So I guess, sigh, I'll go that route.

But I want 16GB in there, so maybe the 8s are the way to go.

Thanks for any help you care to give

JIm

Hit the memtest OK button on your motherboard during powerup. Then clear the CMOS with the jumper.

After all that is done you need to set your DRAM to AUTO and do not change timings. Don't manually select DDR3-1600 or whatever, select auto. You can also flash to 0402, that may help.

What kind of SSD do you have?

 

[blackened23]

Another thing. You may have your SSDs not configured properly. Improperly configured SSDs, or SSDs booting on a legacy OS can and will cause constant BSODs.. First of all, if you have a legacy / backup OS installation, you NEED TO DO A fresh install. Secondly, AHCI media will not work on non AHCI OS. For example, if you install windows 7 without AHCI you cannot switch it to AHCI without reinstalling. Well you can but the steps are such a hassle, don't bother.

Go in your BIOS and set *everything* to AHCI. Your SSDs have to be on the White intel 6gb ports or the marvel ports. You need to set it to AHCI in the BIOS. After this is done, reinstall your operating system.

So. To recap. Make sure all of your SSDs are AHCI. Second. You *need* a fresh OS install - if you have a legacy installation nuke it.

 

[Skypix7]

Hi blackened23, thanks for the help!
I did do the memtest OK thing the first time I had a blue screen and it seemed to work...for awhile. Also I have had AHCI since I built the system (was default and I double checked through Windows once installed).
I have had my memory set to AUTO I'm pretty sure from the beginning. I did a memtest x86+ for 12 hours from boot disk and had 3024 errors. When I switched bios to XMP, I had 0 errors on 8 hour test.
Everything was then stable (running on one SSD, no other drives installed at the time.)
Then I installed the second SSD on the second INtel SATA 6 port, (those two SSDs are both Corsair Force GT 240GBs with latest firmware), and also installed a Force GT 90GB on one Marvell SATA 3 port and a Kingston 128GB on the other one. System recognized all four without a hitch. Then I stuffed the cables behind the motherboard (new NZXT Phantom case) and had repeated BSODs.
I removed the two Marvell-connected SSD last night and that seemed to calm everything. System ran fine for four hours...but did crash when I opened another program during an Intel Burn Test at Maximum.
And today, just crashed for no apparent reason after running fine for 2 hours, typical BSOD, f4 etc.
I'm thinking I'll get two 8GB sticks from Crucial, they say it's compatible, and put those in B1/B2 and hope for better luck.
So do you still think I need to go through the whole reinstall thing again?

Not sure what you mean by legacy/backup, it's a fresh OEM Win 7 64bit install.
Also not sure what you by "improperly configured" SSD.

thanks
JIm

 

[blackened23]

Hi blackened23, thanks for the help!
I did do the memtest OK thing the first time I had a blue screen and it seemed to work...for awhile. Also I have had AHCI since I built the system (was default and I double checked through Windows once installed).
I have had my memory set to AUTO I'm pretty sure from the beginning. I did a memtest x86+ for 12 hours from boot disk and had 3024 errors. When I switched bios to XMP, I had 0 errors on 8 hour test.
Everything was then stable (running on one SSD, no other drives installed at the time.)
Then I installed the second SSD on the second INtel SATA 6 port, (those two SSDs are both Corsair Force GT 240GBs with latest firmware), and also installed a Force GT 90GB on one Marvell SATA 3 port and a Kingston 128GB on the other one. System recognized all four without a hitch. Then I stuffed the cables behind the motherboard (new NZXT Phantom case) and had repeated BSODs.
I removed the two Marvell-connected SSD last night and that seemed to calm everything. System ran fine for four hours...but did crash when I opened another program during an Intel Burn Test at Maximum.
And today, just crashed for no apparent reason after running fine for 2 hours, typical BSOD, f4 etc.
I'm thinking I'll get two 8GB sticks from Crucial, they say it's compatible, and put those in B1/B2 and hope for better luck.
So do you still think I need to go through the whole reinstall thing again?

Not sure what you mean by legacy/backup, it's a fresh OEM Win 7 64bit install.
Also not sure what you by "improperly configured" SSD.

thanks
JIm

What I mean is if you attach non AHCI media to a OS that was installed to a AHCI drive, it will BSOD. Anyway, here's what you should do. It'll be a pain, but should help solve problems.

Reading your post, I believe your SSD Is causing the problem. SF2281 drives are *very* unreliable and are known to cause BSODs - there are stories everywhere about this if you google. So to help isolate whats causing the BSOD, i'd suggest removing all but 1 SSD, put that on the 1st intel white port on your mobo....and then do a process of elimination.
Also, are you able to put your other 2 SSDs on the 3gb/s ports (black)? They don't gain anything from being on the marvell, as they're sata II.

Edit: just read that you have the latest firmware. I guess my best suggestion is try alternating between IDE and AHCI in your BIOS settings and see if that helps.
Did you install the chipset INF, intel management interface, and marvell drivers from the mobo cd?

 

[Skypix7]

Hi, I just went in and pulled B1/B2 memory sticks, pushed MEMOK button again (it wasn't red), then switched from XMP to AUTO in memory, and clicked on another AUTO selection, I think in the Overclock thing (forgot already).

I did install everything from the CD because I had so many BSOD in the beginning (with just the single Corsair SSD installed, all 16GB, but memory not set to XMP. Took awhile for the OS to update, had a lot of failed updates too because of the crashes (before I switched to XMP, after which everything seemed to calm down...almost).
I know I could reinstall the drivers from the ASUS download page, have done that in a couple cases. Had so many BSOD frankly I just did what I could think of to get it running.
Now seems stable on two sticks of 4GB each, 8GB total, but we'll see...maybe I should do memtest again.
I think from what I've heard and seen that the SSD are solid. The three Corsairs all have the 3.3.1 firmware. I haven't checked the Kingston, I bought that used, a pull from another system. But it's not hooked up currently anyway.

chipset INF was installed from the CD (I bought the board 2 weeks ago), the Marvell I think (I should write everything down, it's all a jumble in my head now I've done so many things) was from the ASUS site because I couldn't find it directly on the CD...but not sure. I could reinstall it to be sure, then try the other two SSD one at a time.

 

[Skypix7]

I reinstalled the Marvell drivers, connected up the force GT 90GB to it, (it's a sata3 also) and seemed stable. Running memtest now, well see.

I'm going to order the two crucial 8gb sticks, they guarantee it and if I have trouble I'll get some tech support anyway

Sure don't want to drop another day or two doing another fresh install, already have important programs installed, gotta get to work.

 

[Axonn]

Skypix7: You seem to have a lot of SSDs of all brands. Do you have a SandForce 2xxx in there as well? They are known for stability issues. I got a Vertex 3 ::- D, but I'm one of the lucky ones: very few crashes, and even those may be because I'm still running it with ancient firmware (2.08). I'm about to update everything though, hence, this thread.

I doubt that you have a RAM problem, but who knows?

Did you update your BIOS?

blackened23: Thanks for the BIOS confirmation. At what voltage did you achieve 5 GHz? Are you running with the stock cooler?

 

[Skypix7]

Hi Axonn, thanks for your reply.

I have three SSD that are all Corsair Force GT SATA 3, with the latest 3.3.1 firmware (and stable according to what I've read).

I just reinstalled the Marvell drivers and hooked up the 90GB Corsair, did an ATTO test on it (before trying to do that crashed my system.) This time it went through just fine, and showed about 350/377 write/read which is less than spec but according to others typical of the diminished performance of the Marvell port.

It all seems stable now, no crashes since I made that change, double checked all my bios settings, and removed two of my four memory chips (now have 8GB in slots A1 and A2)

I've also just ordered two 8GB sticks from Crucial that they guarantee are compatible with the board, so I'll hope that ends my problems. Really don't want to reinstall everything if I don't have to!

Haven't updated bios, I suppose that's next but need to do some work for awhile.

 

[Skypix7]

Man, will it ever end? Just ran an Intel Burn Test and it crashed while I was away, blue screen,

kernel data inpage error

stop: 0x0000007a

I bet it has to do with the Marvell port but going to do some searching now to see if any new clues present themselves.

 

[blackened23]

Man, will it ever end? Just ran an Intel Burn Test and it crashed while I was away, blue screen,

kernel data inpage error

stop: 0x0000007a

I bet it has to do with the Marvell port but going to do some searching now to see if any new clues present themselves.

Weird. That BSOD code would point to RAM or one of the drives being the culprit, did you look at event viewer to see what the cause of this was? Do you get errors when you
use a non sandforce drive as an OS drive? (with others disconnected)

I dunno, i'm really wary of SF drives. They are notorious for problems like this. But we know its the memory or drives in your situation I know that doesn't help but...I tried!

Honestly, if you're still in your return window i'd get a refund on the SF22xx drives! Too many horror stories, thats me though.

 

[blackened23]

Skypix7: You seem to have a lot of SSDs of all brands. Do you have a SandForce 2xxx in there as well? They are known for stability issues. I got a Vertex 3 ::- D, but I'm one of the lucky ones: very few crashes, and even those may be because I'm still running it with ancient firmware (2.08). I'm about to update everything though, hence, this thread.

I doubt that you have a RAM problem, but who knows?

Did you update your BIOS?

blackened23: Thanks for the BIOS confirmation. At what voltage did you achieve 5 GHz? Are you running with the stock cooler?

Corsair H100, I got 5ghz with 1.45vcore. You won't have any probs with 402

 

[Skypix7]

Thanks, definitely weird, never had so much problems troubleshooting before. Must be Mercury Retrograde.

I'll hope the new memory will straighten things out. Meanwhile will try more things and report back. I think that last bsod came after a Resume...I've deselected everything I can find relating to resume (never never never etc.) and it still kicks in ikf I leave the system running for half an hour or so. I've got enough problems without that!.
But I read others have problems with that bsod after resuming, and I don't think I'd rebooted after it, I had that problem before.
I never use the Resume, it's never worked well in any Win OS I've ever tried, starting with 95!

 

[Axonn]

Skypix7: The fact that a RAM brand is written as "supported" in the mobo book has almost no relevance as far as I know. Any RAM works as long as it's a decent brand and has the proper MHz. If you have problems with such a situation, buying "recommended" RAM won't help you. My guess.

blackened23: Corsair H100 ::- D. That's nice cooling. What temps are you running at? Load/Idle. What chassis do you have? [update your signature man, hehehe]

 

[Skypix7]

Thanks Axxon, well, we'll see, already ordered it and this way at least I'll be able to update to 32GB if I want...assuming I ever get the system stable.

When I had just the OS SDD (Corsair 240GB on Intel SATA 3) it was rock solid. When I brought in the Marvell SATA 3 it got goofy. I may just have to give up on the Marvell for anything, even HDD. Although the system ran solid with one SSD (the 90GB Corsair) on the Marvell...but then after 2-3 hours as I recall, it crashed.

I may end up as blackened suggested and just go through the whole reinstall thing again but really don't want to. I was also concerned that I have the CoolerMaster hyper 212+ cranked down too tight...even so, I can pretty easily rotate the cooler on top of the CPU, so that's probably not the problem.

You know how nuts you get when things don't work, everything is suspect.

Most stability I've had:
1. four sticks of 4GB on XMP setting in bios, only OS drive plugged into Intel
2. two sticks of 4GB in A1/A2 slots, two Corsair 240 drives connected to INtel. Hours without a crash.