PRO Z690-A DDR4 Wifi XMP failure

[Flybyrd]

Hey! Just built my new PC with the above motherboard. After my Windows constantly froze (and a few skipped heart beats as I thought a part was broken) I managed to trace the problem to the bios XMP.
The memory in question is Corsair 32GB (2 x 16GB) Vengeance LPX, DDR4 3600MHz, CL18,1.35V. Everything works on default bios settings and I've been able to game and use the computer safely for three days straight. Thank god I was upgrading from a quite old PC so the base clocks are a huge upgrade as well but it's kind of a bummer to lose almost 1000Mhz of value of the RAM I bought. Is there something I can do to fix this or is it perhaps a bios side problem as I read somewhere?

 

[zerijelly]

Please provide full system configuration including MB BIOS version and the sticker of the memory module showing the chipset version: https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?threads/posting-guide.38822/

 

[citay]

I would just wait for the next BIOS release to improve RAM/XMP support. Otherwise you might be wasting time by trying all sorts of things to get the XMP working properly, when it's just a poor early state of the BIOS development in that regard.

 

[garikfox]

This probably is a dumb question but your DIMMs are in slots A2+B2 correct?

 

[Flybyrd]

Please provide full system configuration including MB BIOS version and the sticker of the memory module showing the chipset version: https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?threads/posting-guide.38822/

Board: PRO Z690-A Wifi DDR4
BIOS: 7D25v11
VGA: KFA2 GeForce GTX 1060 OC, 6GB GDDR5
PSU: Corsair 850W RM850x (2021), +12V - 70.8 A

• CPU: Intel Core i5-12600K Processor
• MEM: 2x16GB, Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3600MHz, CL18, 1.35V ver: MK32GX4M2Z3600C18

HDD/SSD: A-Data 1TB XPG SX8200 PRO SSD-levy, M.2 2280, PCIe 3.0, 3D TLC, 3500/3000 MB/s
COOLER: ARCTIC Freezer 34 eSports
Keyboard: SteelSeries Apex 300 Gaming Keyboard, USB
Mouse: SteelSeries Rival 300 Gaming Mouse, USB
OC: None
OS: Windows 11 Pro (Did the same with Windows 10 Pro)

This probably is a dumb question but your DIMMs are in slot A2+B2 correct?

Yes, they're in correct places as the motherboard instructs.

I would just wait for the next BIOS release to improve RAM/XMP support. Otherwise you might be wasting time by trying all sorts of things to get the XMP working properly, when it's just a poor early state of the BIOS development in that regard.

I read this somewhere else too and it sounds like a quite good idea.

 

[garikfox]

Have you tried the latest BETA BIOS v1.24U2?

https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?threads/pro-z690-a-ddr4-wifi-owners-thread.370399/post-2102649

 

[Flybyrd]

Have you tried the latest BETA BIOS v1.24U2?

https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?threads/pro-z690-a-ddr4-wifi-owners-thread.370399/post-2102649

Does it include a ram fix? I'm guessing it becomes a normal release at some point. I'm a bit shaky about updating bios (although I successfully installed the 1.1) as people always warn about motherboard bricking.

 

[garikfox]

Yeah just wait for the official v1.2, Probably will be released very soon...

 

[citay]

I'm a bit shaky about updating bios (although I successfully installed the 1.1) as people always warn about motherboard bricking.

On Z690 it's no problem, since all the ATX boards have a Flash BIOS Button where you can force-flash a BIOS even if the normal update failed. It's essentially "bricking-proof".

 

[Flybyrd]

Yeah just wait for the official v1.2, Probably will be released very soon...

Nice I'll wait for that.

On Z690 it's no problem, since all the ATX boards have a Flash BIOS Button where you can force-flash a BIOS even if the normal update failed. It's essentially "bricking-proof".

Oh! That's good to hear! Do you mind to elaborate a bit more? If my bios installation goes south, I can just put the usb stick into the 'flash bios' slot and press the button or how does it work?

 

[citay]

Yeah, a bit like that.

You can even update that way without any CPU or RAM installed. It calls a little routine that flashes the BIOS no matter what else is going on with the board.

 

[Flybyrd]

Updated to the 7D25v126(Beta version) BIOS that arrived yesterday. Doesn't fix the memory issue but then again the readme talks only about non-K processors so it should be expected? I'm hoping the K-version memory issue is something that's still under fix.

 

[mr.shade154c02dc]

I've had exactly the same issue.
Z690 tomahawk WiFi ddr4.
Corsair 3600mhz 32gb c18.
12700k.
Everything worked great until I enabled XMP, which failed. I updated to latest bios, xmp failed again.
I managed to get 3200mhz c16 to run but occasionally got the.
: ( problem with your system windows is checking, error page.
I contacted my vendor as I thought maybe the memory had an issue but they asked me to sent a picture of the CPU socket saying they suspected pin damage. I sent a photo of the pristine socket, then they promptly issued an RMA for the motherboard.

 

[citay]

I contacted my vendor as I thought maybe the memory had an issue but they asked me to sent a picture of the CPU socket saying they suspected pin damage. I sent a photo of the pristine socket, then they promptly issued an RMA for the motherboard.

Why would they want to replace the board? You can have it replaced 100 times, if it's a BIOS problem, you're gonna have it again each time.

Just today, @Svet posted about an XMP issue with the Z690 boards, see https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?threads/z690-a-pro-ram-issue.374477/#post-2121064

It says DDR4-3000~3200, but i wouldn't be surprised if it expands beyond that. So what you need to do is cancel the RMA and wait for the new beta BIOS.

 

[mr.shade154c02dc]

Why would they want to replace the board? You can have it replaced 100 times, if it's a BIOS problem, you're gonna have it again each time.

Just today, @Svet posted about an XMP issue with the Z690 boards, see https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?threads/z690-a-pro-ram-issue.374477/#post-2121064

It says DDR4-3000~3200, but i wouldn't be surprised if it expands beyond that. So what you need to do is cancel the RMA and wait for the new beta BIOS.

I must admit it confused me. But it's my first build and am being led by their supposedly superior knowledge of such issues.
I've literally just found this forum and discovered it's not just me that's experienced this issue.

 

[mr.shade154c02dc]

Why would they want to replace the board? You can have it replaced 100 times, if it's a BIOS problem, you're gonna have it again each time.

Just today, @Svet posted about an XMP issue with the Z690 boards, see https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?threads/z690-a-pro-ram-issue.374477/#post-2121064

It says DDR4-3000~3200, but i wouldn't be surprised if it expands beyond that. So what you need to do is cancel the RMA and wait for the new beta BIOS.

It's also not the only issue I've had with the board, so a replacement would be welcomed. My Z690 won't go into the case with the I/O shield fitted. It looks like the USB C socket is protruding past the edge of the board and pushing the shield too far out. If I try fitting into the case the screw holes won't line up. I've tried it in two different cases.

 

[citay]

My Z690 won't go into the case with the I/O shield fitted.

Can you make a picture of the I/O cover?

 

[mr.shade154c02dc]

Unfortunately not. I've already shipped it for the RMA.
It was only just possible to fit the board onto the centre pin, but was not possible to fit any of the screws as the board was rotated a few degrees clockwise and the shield wouldn't sit squarely in the case. If I fitted the shield flush with the case the screw hole wouldn't line up with the centre pin at all. I've only got a picture of the front of the board, which doesn't show the issue

 

[citay]

Usually you have to push the boards towards the left (towards the rear I/O) with one hand to make the screw holes of the board line up with the standoffs in the case. When you put the board loosely into the case, the screw holes will not line up, as the rear I/O needs to make good contact with the case for EMI shielding, so you have to push it against it towards the left. Were you aware of that and tried that?

 

[mr.shade154c02dc]

Usually you have to push the boards towards the left (towards the rear I/O) with one hand to make the screw holes of the board line up with the standoffs in the case. When you put the board loosely into the case, the screw holes will not line up, as the rear I/O needs to make good contact with the case for EMI shielding, so you have to push it against it towards the left. Were you aware of that and tried that?

Yes, it wouldn't fit at all with the shield fitted. With the board pushed hard to the left, I could just about see the edge of the pin. It may be my first build but I'm a mechanical engineer. I've also designed and built RC quadcopters and RC planes with flight control systems. So I'm not a complete newb