I will have to try the turning off the rgb on the ram. When it freezes yes it stop power to the usb, but the only way i am able to determine that it does that is after i unplug my mouse and plug it back in, the lighting on my mouse does not turn back on.

If you have any usb hub could you try to unplug them and only use your kb and mouse ,then check your event viewer to see what causing the crash.

I don't have a usb hub connected, im just using the onboard usbs for my kb, mouse, external hdd, and 2 printers. I turned off the ram rgb and it didnt freeze today, that is also not using the xmp 2.0 profile. I just put the ram at 3200mhz and let the MB auto the CL's. I was thinking of enabling xmp without rgb on ram and see if it worked that way. Also on another note, a buddy of mine build a pc just recently and is using the same mb but using corsair ram. same bios 1602 and he has not encountered the same problem that i currently am having. So could it be the G.Skill ram or is it the MB. Ram would be the cheapest to replace between the 2 unless anyone has a better idea or thinks its something else.


P.S. Thanks for replying and for your ideas of what may be wrong

Redhawk wrote:
Also on another note, a buddy of mine build a pc just recently and is using the same mb but using corsair ram. same bios 1602 and he has not encountered the same problem that i currently am having. So could it be the G.Skill ram or is it the MB. Ram would be the cheapest to replace between the 2 unless anyone has a better idea or thinks its something else.


P.S. Thanks for replying and for your ideas of what may be wrong

Are you running 2 or 4 sticks? And, your buddy with the same motherboard? Here is why I ask...

I have Corsair DDR4-4000 (4*8GB) and since the "upgrade" to BIOS 1602 my system is totally unstable with 4 sticks of it. It works flawlessly with only 2 sticks. It overclocks to 4200 CL16 fine with 2 sticks. It used to do the same with 4 sticks until the day I flashed 1602.

Using BIOS Flashback does not downgrade the ME firmware. I am assuming the new ME is the culprit. It ran flawlessly with 4 sticks for months. I sent it back to ASUS on RMA for repair or replacement and they sent it back to me the same as before.

After getting it back and finding it was not fixed, Corsair replaced the RAM under warranty and it made no difference. If I slow down the RAM to 3800 it's stable with the new ME with all 4 sticks. Before 1602 it was stable to 4200 CL16 with all 4 sticks.

mr_fox_rox wrote:
Are you running 2 or 4 sticks? And, your buddy with the same motherboard? Here is why I ask...

I have Corsair DDR4-4000 (4*8GB) and since the "upgrade" to BIOS 1602 my system is totally unstable with 4 sticks of it. It works flawlessly with only 2 sticks. It overclocks to 4200 CL16 fine with 2 sticks. It used to do the same with 4 sticks until the day I flashed 1602.

Using BIOS Flashback does not downgrade the ME firmware. I am assuming the new ME is the culprit. It ran flawlessly with 4 sticks for months. I sent it back to ASUS on RMA for repair or replacement and they sent it back to me the same as before.

After getting it back and finding it was not fixed, Corsair replaced the RAM under warranty and it made no difference. If I slow down the RAM to 3800 it's stable with the new ME with all 4 sticks. Before 1602 it was stable to 4200 CL16 with all 4 sticks.

I don't think that the bios 1602 update or memory is the issue here.....I would suggest put memory in slots A2/B2..make sure firmly seated in dram slots...load stock defaults...apply XMP and 3200mxz...stock multiplier...remove all USB except for keyboard and mouse....if the board has Mode 1 in dram timings...I would enable it for compatibility...if issue still persists...I would suggest removal of cooler and chip....check socket for bent pins....your getting too many errors which leads me to believe that the later my be the root cause.

Phillyflyer wrote:
I don't think that the bios 1602 update or memory is the issue here.....I would suggest put memory in slots A2/B2..make sure firmly seated in dram slots...load stock defaults...apply XMP and 3200mxz...stock multiplier...remove all USB except for keyboard and mouse....if the board has Mode 1 in dram timings...I would enable it for compatibility...if issue still persists...I would suggest removal of cooler and chip....check socket for bent pins....your getting too many errors which leads me to believe that the later my be the root cause.

Everything works fine with 2 sticks in A1/B1 or A2/B2. It's only when 4 sticks are installed that there is a problem.

It began immediately after flashing 1602. None of the pins are bent. Board when back to ASUS and came back to me again the same way they got it from me. Wasted my time and money shipping it to them. I put the CPU, GPU, RAM and all other peripherals on a ASROCK Taichi motherboard and the problems went away. (That was while ASUS had my board on RMA.)

I think the motherboard needs to be replaced. It was either an odd coincidence or something triggered it with flashing 1602 since that is when everything went haywire with 4 sticks of RAM. Trying to get ASUS to take care of it now. If they do not take care of it this week I may have to buy another Maximus X Hero motherboard, test it to confirm the problems are gone, document the results to show ASUS and then return it for a refund.

mr_fox_rox wrote:
Everything works fine with 2 sticks in A1/B1 or A2/B2. It's only when 4 sticks are installed that there is a problem.

It began immediately after flashing 1602. None of the pins are bent. Board when back to ASUS and came back to me again the same way they got it from me. Wasted my time and money shipping it to them. I put the CPU, GPU, RAM and all other peripherals on a ASROCK Taichi motherboard and the problems went away. (That was while ASUS had my board on RMA.)

I think the motherboard needs to be replaced. It was either an odd coincidence or something triggered it with flashing 1602 since that is when everything went haywire with 4 sticks of RAM. Trying to get ASUS to take care of it now. If they do not take care of it this week I may have to buy another Maximus X Hero motherboard, test it to confirm the problems are gone, document the results to show ASUS and then return it for a refund.

Sorry Mr_Fox_Rox....reply was meant for the OP....
As for your issue...I don't doubt that the ME Firmware is in play here....If memory serves me correct...you flashed from 1101 to 1602....new ME was in 1401...but was in 1602 as well...1401 was buggy too...personally think that the ME has some corruption and has affected some bios chips.....just my tthoughts here.

Phillyflyer wrote:
Sorry Mr_Fox_Rox....reply was meant for the OP....
As for your issue...I don't doubt that the ME Firmware is in play here....If memory serves me correct...you flashed from 1101 to 1602....new ME was in 1401...but was in 1602 as well...1401 was buggy too...personally think that the ME has some corruption and has affected some bios chips.....just my tthoughts here.

Yes, I agree with you. Sorry, I did not realize you were not replying to my post.

It is possible there is ME corruption. There could also be something about the ME that requires a change for the new 9-series processors that is not understood. Fortunately, my system still works excellent with only two RAM slots filled. It's just a bummer I cannot use all four sticks of my RAM until this gets sorted.