I'm running Windows 10 x64 (AHCI/UEFI) on M.2 Samsung 960 EVO / i7-7700k / 32GB compliant RAM and can't take ASUS Z270-A below 18 seconds from power button press to POST screen no matter what I try. The actual OS loading takes just a couple seconds.
I've updated the BIOS to the latest one, re-configured it from stock settings, dug all over the Internet and tried all the popular solutions:
- enabling in BIOS: XMP profile, OS fast boot, MRC fast boot, CPU boot state to Performance, Gen3 whatever, AHCI/UEFI whatever
- disabling in BIOS: CSM compatibility module, MCH full check, SMART test, legacy USB, unused peripherals, unused SATA
I feel like the issue started when I "upgraded" a SATA Samsung EVO to an M.2 Samsung EVO, but I might be wrong.
What I know for sure is that an older ASUS motherboard from ~6 years ago boots to POST screen almost instantly, yet the new one doesn't.
Any ideas?