[SPD Write Protection = FALSE] and my Z690 Extreme hangs on boot.

Hi all.

I'm using a Z690 Extreme mobo with 4 sticks of 6200MHz SK Hinyx downclocked at 5.2GHz for stability reasons.
Using corsair iCue to drive the RGB on my RAM sticks.

I can stress test my PC with every possible software for days and there is no errors and no crash but if disable the SPD Write Protection in BIOS to let iCue control my RGB LEDs on the RAM sticks I have a problem.

With SPD Write Protection disabled, from time to time, RGB on my RAM sticks stops working, when they stops working the PC continue to work ok,
but if I reboot when the RGB are freezed, the PC hangs on boot in the initial stage of the POST process.

The OLED shows the "Detecting memory" msg and the two digit displays shows 00.

Is there someone working on this issue in Asus?

I had something similar happen here ONCE (Corsair Platinum 64 GB DDR5 2x32, Z690 Extreme).

You're running Armoury Crate too, right? My guess is that there might be a conflict between Armoury Crate and iCue, although I can't be sure since I only experienced this issue once and I normally avoid opening Armoury Crate like the plague.

In my case *I think* I experienced the issue after running Armoury Crate - suddenly I look at my RAM and the RGB animation is frozen in place. iCue no longer recognizes the RAM. I rebooted the PC (no hang though) and iCue still couldn't see the RAM.

Went to the BIOS, toggled SPD Write on and off again, forced a save. Not sure if that did the trick or if powering off the PC is what did it (as in turning the switch off at the back of the PSU so the mobo no longer gets standby current).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JcRabbit

I had something similar happen here ONCE (Corsair Platinum 64 GB DDR5 2x32, Z690 Extreme).

You're running Armoury Crate too, right? My guess is that there might be a conflict between Armoury Crate and iCue, although I can't be sure since I only experienced this issue once and I normally avoid opening Armoury Crate like the plague.

In my case *I think* I experienced the issue after running Armoury Crate - suddenly I look at my RAM and the RGB animation is frozen in place. iCue no longer recognizes the RAM. I rebooted the PC (no hang though) and iCue still couldn't see the RAM.

Went to the BIOS, toggled SPD Write on and off again, forced a save. Not sure if that did the trick or if powering off the PC is what did it (as in turning the switch off at the back of the PSU so the mobo no longer gets standby current).

---

the problem remains even if I uninstall Armoury Crate

Hi sblantipodi,
Do you have the issue with [SPD Write Disable=FALSE]?
Have you tried bios 1403 with bios all default settings except [SPD Write Disable=FALSE] and the issue still occurs?
What did you do between you set [SPD Write Disable=FALSE] and RGB on the RAM sticks stops working? for example, idling for 1hr or adjust settings in corsair iCue?
Was the ram detected in corsair iCue when the RAM RGB stops working?
Did you use Armoury Crate uninstall tool to uninstall Armoury Crate?
Thank you.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by STARRAIN@ROG

Hi sblantipodi,
Do you have the issue with [SPD Write Disable=FALSE]?

---

If SPD Write is enabled, I can manage the RGB on the RAM and I have the problem.
If SPD Write is disabled, I can't manage the RGB on the RAM (as expected) but I have no problem.

Quote:

---

Have you tried bios 1403 with bios all default settings except [SPD Write Disable=FALSE] and the issue still occurs?

---

No, I haven't tried the 1403, I'm using 1304. Most people says that 1403 is trash, I don't want additional problems.
There is nothing in the 1403 changelog that let me think that it could fix the problem.

Quote:

---

What did you do between you set [SPD Write Disable=FALSE] and RGB on the RAM sticks stops working? for example, idling for 1hr or adjust settings in corsair iCue?

---

I simply need to wait. Sometimes idling for two hours in enough, sometimes stress testing trigger the problem faster.

Quote:

---

Was the ram detected in corsair iCue when the RAM RGB stops working?

---

No, iCue stops detecting the RAM when the problem happen.

Quote:

---

Did you use Armoury Crate uninstall tool to uninstall Armoury Crate?
Thank you.

---

Yes sure, thank you!

is there a way to submit this issue to Asus? are there someone working on it?
is this a known issue in Asus?

Hi sblantipodi,
Thank you for your reply.
What is the probability when you enable SPD Write > boot into windows > idle on the desktop for two hours?
May I have more detail about stress testing and the probability?
Have you tried bios 1304 with bios all default settings except SPD Write enabled and the issue still occurs? If you also adjust other bios settings, please restore bios to all default and then enable SPD Write to see if the issue still occurs.
Thank you.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by STARRAIN@ROG

Hi sblantipodi,
Thank you for your reply.
What is the probability when you enable SPD Write > boot into windows > idle on the desktop for two hours?

---

Thank you for your reply Starrain :)
In two hours the probability is low, let's say 20%.
In 10 hours of work/idle in a day, it happen two times at most.

Quote:

---

May I have more detail about stress testing and the probability?

---

I'm using Cinebench for 30 minutes, OCCT RAM and CPU tests for hours, Asus Real Bench, Aida64 CPU/RAM test, Ram Test by Karhu Software, Test Mem 5, Memtest 86.
If I need to be sincere, the best test I have found is Java programming with IntelliJ IDE. it creates so many spikes on the CPU, sometimes using all threads, sometimes using one thread, sometimes two, ecc... I'm stable with every kind of tests.

Quote:

---

Have you tried bios 1304 with bios all default settings except SPD Write enabled and the issue still occurs? If you also adjust other bios settings, please restore bios to all default and then enable SPD Write to see if the issue still occurs.
Thank you.

---

Sure, I have tried with 1304 BIOS with all default settings exept the SPD Write...
The issue occurs even in that case.

The only settings I always adjust are the following:
OS Type [Windows UEFI mode]
Secure Boot Mode [Standard]

Hi sblantipodi,
If you idle in 10 hours, does the issue occur at least once?
Is your ram in our qvl list?
https://rog.asus.com/motherboards/ro...esk_qvl_memory
To make sure compatibility, please use the ram in our qvl list.
Also, please try reseat ram sticks and reinstall corsair iCue app.
Thank you.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by STARRAIN@ROG

Hi sblantipodi,
If you idle in 10 hours, does the issue occur at least once?
Is your ram in our qvl list?
https://rog.asus.com/motherboards/ro...esk_qvl_memory
To make sure compatibility, please use the ram in our qvl list.
Also, please try reseat ram sticks and reinstall corsair iCue app.
Thank you.

---

Yes I'm using this kit: CMT32GX5M2X6200C36
it's on QVL.

I tried reseating the ram sticks many times as well as iCue and it doesn't solved.

if I idle for 10 hours, yes it happen at least once.

Hi sblantipodi,
Could you please help to check if it also occur on bios 1403 with the same bios settings?
It is possible to downgrade to bios 1304 with bios flashback if you want.
Thank you.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by STARRAIN@ROG

Hi sblantipodi,
Could you please help to check if it also occur on bios 1403 with the same bios settings?
It is possible to downgrade to bios 1304 with bios flashback if you want.
Thank you.

---

it took a while to answer because I needed to test the new BIOS.
upgraded to 1403, installed the new Intel microcode, same problem :(

Hi sblantipodi,
May I double confirm when RGB on my RAM sticks stops working, it means no RGB light or stuck at the specific color?
May I have the following information?
- the serial number of the motherboard via PM
- the brand and the model name of your CPU, graphics card, OS SSD, and PSU
- photos the RAM information like this
Attachment 92927
- the iCue version, a screenshot of the settings in iCue
- a video about the issue(the RGB are freezed, the PC hangs on boot in the initial stage of the POST process. The OLED shows the "Detecting memory" msg and the two digit displays shows 00)
- OS version and OS build such as win11 21H2 22000.469
Thank you so much.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by STARRAIN@ROG

Hi sblantipodi,
May I double confirm when RGB on my RAM sticks stops working, it means no RGB light or stuck at the specific color?
May I have the following information?
- the serial number of the motherboard via PM
- the brand and the model name of your CPU, graphics card, OS SSD, and PSU
- photos the RAM information like this
Attachment 92927
- the iCue version, a screenshot of the settings in iCue
- a video about the issue(the RGB are freezed, the PC hangs on boot in the initial stage of the POST process. The OLED shows the "Detecting memory" msg and the two digit displays shows 00)
- OS version and OS build such as win11 21H2 22000.469
Thank you so much.

---

Guys, it's clear that Asus doesn't have a solution to this problem, I spent months behind Shamino on overclock.net trying BETA bioses and nothing is fixed.
I spent thousands of dollars buying different RAM kits with Micron, Samsung and now Hynix.
I spent money buying an Asus Hero board (that doesn't have this problem).

After months I can't use my PC reliably for my job.

I want my money back, how can I ask for a refund? It's clear that some of your boards have design flaws and I spent a lot of time and money behind it, now I want a refund.

How can I ask for a refund?

Hi sblantipodi,
Because the motherboard is one of pc components, the pc combination would be a the key for the issue.
I'm afraid we need the specific information for further checking. Could you please help to share the information to me?
However, if you want to ask for a refund, please consult the retailer about it.
Thank you.

I swapped all the components to my Z690 Hero and the problem does not happen,
Extreme boards have design flaws with RAM, admit it, recall it, refund us!

my retailer don't want to refund me since 5 months passed but I still have a flawed product,
as I said, if I putt all the components on the hero it works without problems.

how can I ask for the refund?

Hi sblantipodi,
Could you please share me the requested information? Our tech team will refer to your information and scenario for further checking.
If you don't want to provide the information on the forums, please contact our local support for help.
Thank you.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by STARRAIN@ROG

Hi sblantipodi,
May I double confirm when RGB on my RAM sticks stops working, it means no RGB light or stuck at the specific color?
May I have the following information?
- the serial number of the motherboard via PM
- the brand and the model name of your CPU, graphics card, OS SSD, and PSU
- photos the RAM information like this
- the iCue version, a screenshot of the settings in iCue
- a video about the issue(the RGB are freezed, the PC hangs on boot in the initial stage of the POST process. The OLED shows the "Detecting memory" msg and the two digit displays shows 00)
- OS version and OS build such as win11 21H2 22000.469
Thank you so much.

---

- the serial number of the motherboard via PM
OK sent via PVT.

- the brand and the model name of your CPU, graphics card, OS SSD, and PSU
Intel i9 12900K, Nvidia RTX2080Ti Founders Edition, Samsung 980 PRO 2TB SSD, Corsair HX1200i PSU 1200W

- photos the RAM information like this
here it is
Attachment 93076

Attachment 93077

Please note that I spent more than 3000 euros in RAM trying to get the correct sticks.

I tried 4 sticks of Corsair Dominator 5200MHz C40 with Micron chips,
I tried 4 sticks of Corsair Dominator 5600MHz C36 with Samsung chips,
I tried 4 sticks of Corsair Dominator 6200MHz C36 with SK Hynix chips (the one in photos).
I'm trying 4 sticks of Corsair Dominator 4400MHz C36 with Micron chips, (this one is certified to work with 4 sticks).

I tried all the sticks with XMP and at default settings at 4000MHz C40 as per JEDEC specs but the problem still...

- the iCue version, a screenshot of the settings in iCue

icue version 4.23.137

this is icue when it works.
Attachment 93078

this is icue when the problem happen and RGB on the RAM freezes, when this happen, if I reboot the PC it hangs on detecting memory:
Attachment 93079

- a video about the issue(the RGB are freezed, the PC hangs on boot in the initial stage of the POST process. The OLED shows the "Detecting memory" msg and the two digit displays shows 00)

I was wrong the error code shown when the issue happen is 01 and not 00.
here the video:
https://youtube.com/shorts/hjltmaDCPzU?feature=share


- OS version and OS build such as win11 21H2 22000.469

Windows 11 version 21H2 (build SO 22000.675)
with all the latest update with a fresh new install. I tried reinstalling and updating all the drivers with a clean install but the issue remains.

I have spent a lot of money trying various sticks with various chips (Samsung, Micron, Hinyx), I even tried buying another motherboard.
All the same components on the Asus Hero Z690 works well, on my Extreme does not work.

Can you help me please? I spent all that money, all that trying trying to figure out the problem, tried beta bioses from Shamino, and now after 5 months,
I still can't use my PC for my job since it's "unreliable".

if some of the informations I posted are not clear or you need other info just ask and I'll try to answer asap.

Hi sblantipodi,
Thank you for your information.
I'll consult our tech team more about this.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by STARRAIN@ROG

Hi sblantipodi,
Thank you for your information.
I'll consult our tech team more about this.

---

Thank you very much for letting me know and for trying to help.
I appreciate it. Thanks.

Hi sblantipodi,
I'm afraid our tech team need the Corsair RAM version such as CMT32GX5M2X6200C36(Ver 5.43.13). Please take a picture of your RAM like this.
Attachment 93101
For Corsair CMT32GX5M2X6200C36, it is 2 sticks in a set, and you install 4 sticks. Please try only one set(2 sticks) in A2 and B2 to see if the issue still occurs.
For Z690 Hero, did you only change the motherboard and disable SPD Write Protection in bios with the same OS? or did you reinstall OS? or change to another SSD?
Thank you.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by STARRAIN@ROG

Hi sblantipodi,
I'm afraid our tech team need the Corsair RAM version such as CMT32GX5M2X6200C36(Ver 5.43.13). Please take a picture of your RAM like this.
Attachment 93101
For Corsair CMT32GX5M2X6200C36, it is 2 sticks in a set, and you install 4 sticks. Please try only one set(2 sticks) in A2 and B2 to see if the issue still occurs.
For Z690 Hero, did you only change the motherboard and disable SPD Write Protection in bios with the same OS? or did you reinstall OS? or change to another SSD?
Thank you.

---

Hi,
if you zoom the photo I posted you can clearly see that I'm using CMT32GX5M2X6200C36(Ver 5.43.13).

As I said with two sticks the problem does not happen but I bought a 1200€ mobo with 4 slots because I need a lot of RAM and I need 4 slots for the RAM since I'm considering buying 128GB when available.

As I already said I tried 4 different kind of kits all in your QVL list, one of this kit is certified to work with 4 sticks at 4.4GHz but it still not work.

I have random hanging of the RGB on the RAM and then it hangs on re-boot when the RGB stops working.

Quote:

---

For Z690 Hero, did you only change the motherboard and disable SPD Write Protection in bios with the same OS? or did you reinstall OS? or change to another SSD?
Thank you.

---

Correct, I used another SSD with a fresh install of Windows 11.


I know that Asus released these boards without good testing and now you abandoned them because you are looking into Z790 but I want a refund or a working mobo.
Can you help me with this or I have spent all this money to have a PC that simply "doesn't work reliably".

Hi sblantipodi,
May I also have specific ram model name, version and picture of Corsair Dominator 4400MHz C36 with Micron chips(the ram you mentioned is certified to work with 4 sticks)?
Have you also tried the SSD which is no issue on Z690 Hero on Z690 Extreme to reinstall win11 but the issue still occurred?
Thank you.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by STARRAIN@ROG

Hi sblantipodi,
May I also have specific ram model name, version and picture of Corsair Dominator 4400MHz C36 with Micron chips(the ram you mentioned is certified to work with 4 sticks)?
Have you also tried the SSD which is no issue on Z690 Hero on Z690 Extreme to reinstall win11 but the issue still occurred?
Thank you.

---

I have written dominator but the 4x16GB kit was Vengeance, not dominator, I correct my self.
I was using this kit:
CMK64GX5M4A4400C36

but I already returned it since micron and samsung are the worst chips on my mobo, I have a lot more problems with samsung and micron over hynix.

I finally sold the Samsung kit also (I lost a lot of money with this trials), but this is a photo of my PC running the Samsung kit.
Attachment 93167

In any case, all kits have the same issue descibed in this thread, other kits have even more issues...

PS: The SSD is not the problem, they are both Samsung 980PRO 2TB and I swapped the SSDs between the two mobos with fresh Windows install in this months.

Hi sblantipodi,
Thank you for your reply.
I'll share this information to our tech team to check it again.
Thank you.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by STARRAIN@ROG

Hi sblantipodi,
Thank you for your reply.
I'll share this information to our tech team to check it again.
Thank you.

---

I am continuing to test but I'm sure that SPD Write Protection to FALSE and Corsair iCue is the culprit of this problem.
I have uninstalled iCue and never had the problem since then.

With icue it happen "always", two times in a full day at least, without iCue it seems that it never happen, testing from three days now without icue and never happened.

Reporting if it happen in the future without icue.

This isn't a fix, it's a workaround but without icue I can't manage all my Corsair peripherals.

I opened a ticket with Corsair and they said me that the problem is on the Asus side and that someone in asus is working on this, I hope that it's true.

I'm complaining about this problem since 6 months but nothing fixed yet.

Hi sblantipodi,
I'll forward the information to our tech team as well.
Thank you.

days of testing with iCue enabled but SPD Write protection ENABLED.
In this way iCue can't control the RGB on the RAM but the problem does not happen.

It's all related to icue controlling the RGB trough SPD Write.

Does this explains why Asus haven't set SPD Write Protection DISABLED by default?
Probably asus knows that there is some problems in this?
Other manufacturers does not have this problems and the SPD Write protection is disabled by default in their bios.

Hi sblantipodi,
Our tech team will test the devices at hand first.
I'll keep you updated if there is any news.
Thank you.

updated to 1505 and the problem remains.

Is there any news on this issue?

Hi sblantipodi,
Our tech team still do experiment, so I'm sorry we haven't got news so far.
I'll keep follow up the case.
Thank you.

I have seen that my last post has been deleted by moderation, why?

what have you answered to Corsair?

Attachment 93568

As I said, I want a fix or a refund.
I'll escalate the problem until I got a fix or a refund.

I'm a civil person, I'm not attacking a brand, I'm only asking for a fix or a refund.
I waited 7 months, I waited enough.

Asus, what have you to offer? A fix or a refund?

Hi sblantipodi,
Please refer to the following link to see if there is any dirt on the CPU, CPU pin, memory pin or memory slot of motherboard. If so, please clean them and try again.
https://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1042678
Thank you.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by STARRAIN@ROG

Hi sblantipodi,
Please refer to the following link to see if there is any dirt on the CPU, CPU pin, memory pin or memory slot of motherboard. If so, please clean them and try again.
https://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1042678
Thank you.

---

I've checked it multiple times, I've struggling with this problem since seven months.
I'm sorry, is this the solution proposed by your technicians?

Hi sblantipodi,
This suggestion is from our tech team, because they test the motherboard and device at hand, found qcode 01 twice(the rgb light is normal) after weeks testing. But after clean CPU and memory pin, they don't see qcode 01 so far.
Also, they found iCue rgb stopping issue few times, and will do more experiment.
Thank you.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by STARRAIN@ROG

Hi sblantipodi,
This suggestion is from our tech team, because they test the motherboard and device at hand, found qcode 01 twice(the rgb light is normal) after weeks testing. But after clean CPU and memory pin, they don't see qcode 01 so far.
Also, they found iCue rgb stopping issue few times, and will do more experiment.
Thank you.

---

when iCue RGB stops working, if you reboot the PC, it freeze and you need to safe boot to make it working again.
that is the most annoying part.