Question Brand new ASUS ROG Strix Z690-E Gaming WiFi - - - - issues with intermittent freezing in Windows ?

[beakhole]

Hey all. Trying to troubleshoot some issues with random Windows freezing with a brand new build with a Z690-E.
I was lucky enough to win a newegg shuffle fairly recently with a ASUS ROG Strix Z690-E Gaming WiFi bundled with CORSAIR Dominator Platinum RGB 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR5. I purchased a 12700K to go with it and was also lucky enough to acquire an Asus RTX 3070ti TUF GPU. All seemed to be going well. It is powered by a 750 watt EVGA PSU. I have 2 NVME Western Digital drives as well, in M2_2 (WD Black) and M2_3 (WD Green).

Today was build day and I have been plagued with issues with Windows freezing randomly with the brand new build. The first freeze actually occurred when booting from the install thumb drive right in the very first windows install menu, but I rebooted and was able to complete the Windows 10 installation. By freeze I mean keyboard and mouse input stop working and it appears to be completely frozen until reboot.

Once inside the fresh Windows install, however, the intermittent freezes continued. Sometimes it's 1 minute inside windows and it freezes, and sometimes it's 10 minutes or more, but it always freezes and requires me to hard reboot.
I have tried the following:

• Used EZ Flash to update the BIOS to the latest (Version 1003 )
• Was able to install latest chipset and LAN drivers before freeze
• Was able to briefly look into Windows Event Viewer before the freeze to see some warnings, which listed "A corrected hardware error has occurred. PCI Express Root Port". I should also note that error logs appear to be made for the hard reboots too, something along the lines of "Windows was shutdown not normally." which leads me to believe something is still running during the freezes when I hard reboot even though I have no control.
• Tried using XMP 1 with the RAM, which properly clocked it at its rated speeds and timings (5800, 36-36-36-76. 1.25v), and also tried leaving it at "Auto" which set it at 4800, and even down clocked it to 4000 just to see if it helped the freezing - the freezing kept happening regardless.

I am able to access BIOS just fine, and there is no freezing there, only in Windows. BIOS recognizes all the hardware I have in it just fine. I've also been able to monitor temperatures while in Windows and nothing is overheating. I read that over-tightening the CPU cooler (a NH-C14S in my case) could cause issues, so I have made sure it is not remotely close to being over tightened (if anything, it is too loose now, but I make sure to monitor temps closely and it is not getting too hot).

I did notice this board has 2 CPU 12v power connectors, so I connected both (even though I have no plans to overclock). In the manual it basically said you could connect either both, or just 1, so I just connected both to be safe.
Does anyone have some clues to point me towards a possible resolution? Is it a bad board? I don't know where to go from here.

 

[Fix_that_Glitch]

Did you run update search for windows after fresh windows install? Did you try using the Intel hd graphics to see if the problem persists?

 

[beakhole]

Did you run update search for windows after fresh windows install? Did you try using the Intel hd graphics to see if the problem persists?

Hi Glitch, Thanks for the response. Yes, as an update I have tried a few more things:

- Removed the 3070ti entirely, and plugged it into the integrated graphics. The freezing /stuttering continued.

- I have 2 nvme drives I initially had plugged into M2_2 and M2_3 slots (Like this:

https://imgur.com/RHvEERV

View: https://i.imgur.com/RHvEERV.png
), so I tried moving them to M2_1 and M2_2 instead, but the issue persisted.

- I wiped Windows 10 (the initial fresh install I had on the drive) off of the drive and installed fresh Windows 11. Things seemed a lot more stable, and I was able to fully download all drivers (including the GPU which I returned to the build) and set it up for about an hour, but then the freeze came back even on the new Windows 11.

At this point do you think it could be the RAM chips?

 

[Fix_that_Glitch]

In computer management, check event viewer, critical errors. What if any errors are reported?

 

[Fix_that_Glitch]

Also in bios is c-state (cpu power management) disabled? If it isn't try disabling it.

 

[beakhole]

The errors I originally saw are the "A corrected hardware error has occurred" and some about the hard shutdown like "Windows was not shutdown properly." I checked after the latest freeze and there actually was no new events at all for it.

 

[cyntax]

I'm having the same issue. Generally whilst in any form of game. This could be at the title screen, or 20 mins into gameplay.
My specs are as follows;
i9 12900KF
ASUS ROG Strix Z690-F Gaming
32GB (2x16GB) Corsair Dominator DDR5
ASUS Strix 3070ti (connected to the Gen5 slot)
Seasonic 1000w PSU
Corsair AiO cooler

So, what I have fund is that this is related to the gen5 slot, as when I connect the GPU to the gen3 slot, I get no crashes (but rubbish performance).
In the event viewer I get;
Event17, WHEA-Logger
Component: PCI Express Root Port
Error Source: Advanced Error Reporting (PCI Express)

Primary Busevice:Function: 0x0:0x1:0x0
Secondary Busevice:Funtion: 0x0:0x0:0x0
Primary Device NameCI\VEN_8086&DEV_460D&SUBSYS_86941043&REV_02

This hardware ID is the GPU in that slot. Once I move it, I no longer get the events.

I've set the slot to gen4 in the BIOS, but that made no difference.
I've tried other GPUs, and get the same result.
I've tested and confirmed CPU and RAM are fine.
I've also disabled the PCIe power management, as this was an issue a while ago.

As usual, ASUS have been utterly rubbish with their support.

All drives are up to date, and BIOS has been re-flashed several times.

I'm now at the point of just sending the board back, and going MSI.
Any thoughts?

 

[beakhole]

I'm having the same issue. Generally whilst in any form of game. This could be at the title screen, or 20 mins into gameplay.
............
I'm now at the point of just sending the board back, and going MSI.
Any thoughts?

I ended up RMA'ing mine (sorry for not updating this thread). They ended up replacing it with a new unit rather than sending back the same unit. The new unit didn't have this issue, or any issues, and worked flawlessly - very happy with it (all the other hardware like RAM and M2 drives were the same for both units, and I tried the same initial M2 configuration with the new unit). I believe if you are experiencing this issue with this board, then you have a defective board. You should RMA it or return it and get a different model.

 

[cyntax]

I ended up RMA'ing mine (sorry for not updating this thread). They ended up replacing it with a new unit rather than sending back the same unit. The new unit didn't have this issue, or any issues, and worked flawlessly - very happy with it (all the other hardware like RAM and M2 drives were the same for both units, and I tried the same initial M2 configuration with the new unit). I believe if you are experiencing this issue with this board, then you have a defective board. You should RMA it or return it and get a different model.

Thanks - I'll arrange to do just that. So frustrating when you spend this much money! The joys of computers lol

 

[beakhole]

Thanks - I'll arrange to do just that. So frustrating when you spend this much money! The joys of computers lol

Yep. I tried EVERYTHING before sending mine in. For a MOBO at such a high price point, I thought something else must be wrong. I troubleshooted each individual piece of hardware, tried several different Windows installations on different hard drives in different slots (both Win 10 and 11). Finally it became pretty clear it had to be the MOBO, so I RMA'd it. The fact that they just sent me a brand new unit also indicates that something was defective with the original. New unit is great though, works flawlessly.

 

[Mozs]

Hi,
All the problem you have is because of the RAM memories

Entering the BIOS In BIOS "Search?" In the search register SPD click OK
You will get a result of "SPD Write Disable"
Change it from TRUE to FALSE then press F10 and save
I was glad to help