Question Motherboard shows code "08" permanently

[Khaine08]

Hi!

I'm experiencing something a bit strange with my PC. It's only 2 days old, newly assembled, and I've noticed that the mini "EZ Digi Debug" panel on the motherboard permanently shows an 08 code. According to the manual, this code corresponds to the boot phase of the PC:
08 System Agent initialization after microcode loading.

The interesting part is that the PC boots perfectly. There are no errors, and it works flawlessly. I've searched online, and most people who have this issue can't get past the POST. So I'm not sure what to do. I've completely disassembled the PC, tested it with just one RAM module, and removed almost everything, leaving only the essentials for booting. I even took the motherboard out to try different things.

Sometimes, during boot, it oscillates between 01 and 08 and finally settles on 00. Other times, it stays on 08.

Here are the details of my PC:

• Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D 5.0GHz Socket AM5 Boxed
• Motherboard: MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi - ATX AM5
• Graphics Card: MSI RTX 4080 Super Gaming X Slim 16GB GDDR6X DLSS3
• Memory: Corsair Vengeance RGB 32GB (2x16GB) 6000MHz CL30 EXPO-XMP
• Storage: Samsung 990 PRO 2TB PCIe x4 NVMe
• Power Supply: Asus ROG Strix 1000G ATX 3.0 (PCIe 5.0) - 1000W
• Cooling: NZXT Kraken Elite 360 RGB LCD Display Black
• Case: NZXT H9 Elite Black
• Extra Cooling: NZXT F360 RGB Core - 360mm fan

Any clues on what this could be?

Thank you in advance!

 

[Lutfij]

Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

Your motherboard has a Flash BIOS button on the rear;

in conjunction with this guide;

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5fJ7DjmLTU

see if reflashing the BIOS with the latest version helps you.

 

[Khaine08]

Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

Your motherboard has a Flash BIOS button on the rear;

in conjunction with this guide;

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5fJ7DjmLTU

see if reflashing the BIOS with the latest version helps you.

Hello,

First of all, thank you for the response. I tried updating the BIOS by downloading the latest version from the manufacturer's website. I also pressed the CMOS reset button located next to the one you mentioned. I will also try pressing the BIOS button to see if there is any change.

Edit: Nothing, still the same 08 code on the MOBO.

Thank you!

 

[Lutfij]

When clearing the CMOS, disconnect from the wall and display, then remove the CMOS battery from the board, press and hold down the power button for 30secs to drain residual power, then replace the battery after 30mins. See if that helps.

I tried updating the BIOS by downloading the latest version from the manufacturer's website.
Just so we're on the same page, which BIOS version did you reflash with?

 

[binkey92]

Hello,

First of all, thank you for the response. I tried updating the BIOS by downloading the latest version from the manufacturer's website. I also pressed the CMOS reset button located next to the one you mentioned. I will also try pressing the BIOS button to see if there is any change.

Edit: Nothing, still the same 08 code on the MOBO.

Thank you!

Hello I found this while googling. I have the exact same code 08 on nearly the exact same build. Build it 5 days ago. Same motherboard which of course came out very recently. When booting at the logon screen it rapidly switches between 01 and 08, then stays on 08 permanently. It never shows 00 now.

I had issues installing Windows due to using an SD to USB adapter. Switched to a flash drive and it was ok for 3 days. I ran benchmarks and tuned PBO and enabled EXPO. Updated BIOS and all drivers. Than started getting BSODs on the 3rd day. BSODs could have just been a corrupt Windows install from the beginning but I'm pretty sure the LED displayed 00 before, and then switched to 08 after the first BSOD and stayed that way. After 5 BSODS, Windows was so corrupt it was unbootable. I replaced RAM (no change) and just now got a new Samsung 990 Pro 2 TB and installed Windows with the same 08 code. I removed motherboard and all connections. Reseated CPU. I removed the CMOS battery and it got rid of the code for the first boot(it showed 00), but then came back the 2nd boot. Although, the first boot I left the GPU disconnected so technically it could be related to the GPU being plugged back in for the 2nd boot. I will remove battery again and test with no GPU again tomorrow.

Please add anything if you find a solution and I'll do the same. MSI was no help at all.

I've read that if this boots, then the code means nothing. But I'm still well in the return window so want to verify it truly does mean nothing like I'm sure you do.

• Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 7950X3D
• Motherboard: MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi - ATX AM5
• Graphics Card: MSI RTX 4080 Super Ventus
• Memory: Corsair Vengeance RGB 96GB (2x16GB) 6000MHz CL30 EXPO-XMP
• Storage: Crucial T700 4 TB
• Power Supply: NZXT 1200W
• Cooling: NZXT Kraken 360
• Case: Corsair 5000d
• Extra Cooling: 5 Fans

 

[Khaine08]

Hello I found this while googling. I have the exact same code 08 on nearly the exact same build. Build it 5 days ago. Same motherboard which of course came out very recently. When booting at the logon screen it rapidly switches between 01 and 08, then stays on 08 permanently. It never shows 00 now.

I had issues installing Windows due to using an SD to USB adapter. Switched to a flash drive and it was ok for 3 days. I ran benchmarks and tuned PBO and enabled EXPO. Updated BIOS and all drivers. Than started getting BSODs on the 3rd day. BSODs could have just been a corrupt Windows install from the beginning but I'm pretty sure the LED displayed 00 before, and then switched to 08 after the first BSOD and stayed that way. After 5 BSODS, Windows was so corrupt it was unbootable. I replaced RAM (no change) and just now got a new Samsung 990 Pro 2 TB and installed Windows with the same 08 code. I removed motherboard and all connections. Reseated CPU. I removed the CMOS battery and it got rid of the code for the first boot(it showed 00), but then came back the 2nd boot. Although, the first boot I left the GPU disconnected so technically it could be related to the GPU being plugged back in for the 2nd boot. I will remove battery again and test with no GPU again tomorrow.

Please add anything if you find a solution and I'll do the same. MSI was no help at all.

I've read that if this boots, then the code means nothing. But I'm still well in the return window so want to verify it truly does mean nothing like I'm sure you do.

• Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 7950X3D
• Motherboard: MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi - ATX AM5
• Graphics Card: MSI RTX 4080 Super Ventus
• Memory: Corsair Vengeance RGB 96GB (2x16GB) 6000MHz CL30 EXPO-XMP
• Storage: Crucial T700 4 TB
• Power Supply: NZXT 1200W
• Cooling: NZXT Kraken 360
• Case: Corsair 5000d
• Extra Cooling: 5 Fans

Hi!

Yesterday I contacted MSI support, and they replied with the following: 'Please don’t worry about it, and we believe the motherboard is functioning well. We will release a newer BIOS to fix it. Please wait for our reply. Thank you!'

The PC has been starting perfectly for me these past few days. I activated yesterday the EXPO profile of the RAM and not much else; I’m not experiencing any BSODs or anything. I've had the LED code 08 since day one.

I’ve also read that the issue might be related to the AMD 3D V-Cache Optimizer software. I’ve asked about it in the MSI ticket to see if they could confirm it, though I don’t expect them to say much.

In any case, I reverted to the previous BIOS version 'A10' since 'A13' is in Beta, and it doesn’t give me much confidence. When they release a more stable version, I’ll update it.

Without knowing too much about it, if I were you, I’d reset the BIOS to factory settings and do a clean installation of the operating system to see if that resolves the blue screen issues.

Edit: Sorry, I hadn’t noticed that you had already reinstalled the OS. After the second installation of Windows, you haven’t had any more blue screens, right?

 

[binkey92]

Hi!

Yesterday I contacted MSI support, and they replied with the following: 'Please don’t worry about it, and we believe the motherboard is functioning well. We will release a newer BIOS to fix it. Please wait for our reply. Thank you!'

The PC has been starting perfectly for me these past few days. I activated yesterday the EXPO profile of the RAM and not much else; I’m not experiencing any BSODs or anything. I've had the LED code 08 since day one.

I’ve also read that the issue might be related to the AMD 3D V-Cache Optimizer software. I’ve asked about it in the MSI ticket to see if they could confirm it, though I don’t expect them to say much.

In any case, I reverted to the previous BIOS version 'A10' since 'A13' is in Beta, and it doesn’t give me much confidence. When they release a more stable version, I’ll update it.

Without knowing too much about it, if I were you, I’d reset the BIOS to factory settings and do a clean installation of the operating system to see if that resolves the blue screen issues.

Edit: Sorry, I hadn’t noticed that you had already reinstalled the OS. After the second installation of Windows, you haven’t had any more blue screens, right?

Ok that's good to know about it potentially just being a BIOS firmware glitch and not a hardware issue...if MSI really believes that.

I did more testing this morning by removing CMOS battery and leaving GPU disconnected. The 1st boot with login it showed 00 , and when I restarted (no login) it went back to 08. Then I removed power plug for 10 minutes, and booted (no login) with 08. Then I pressed CMOS reset button and booted (no login) and then 00. Then the restart (no login) showed 08.

With everything I've tested so far, it likely rules out RAM, M.2. drive, and GPU being the issue.

Based on this, the 08 code doesn't appear to be Windows related but still could be. No more BSODs but it's only been 12 hours and I will be installing programs, tuning PBO and activate EXPO so it still might start BSODing like last time after 3 days.

How do you revert the BIOS? On the MSI site, I only see the Beta version and don't know how to find the older version.

 

[Khaine08]

Ok that's good to know about it potentially just being a BIOS firmware glitch and not a hardware issue...if MSI really believes that.

I did more testing this morning by removing CMOS battery and leaving GPU disconnected. The 1st boot with login it showed 00 , and when I restarted (no login) it went back to 08. Then I removed power plug for 10 minutes, and booted (no login) with 08. Then I pressed CMOS reset button and booted (no login) and then 00. Then the restart (no login) showed 08.

With everything I've tested so far, it likely rules out RAM, M.2. drive, and GPU being the issue.

Based on this, the 08 code doesn't appear to be Windows related but still could be. No more BSODs but it's only been 12 hours and I will be installing programs, tuning PBO and activate EXPO so it still might start BSODing like last time after 3 days.

How do you revert the BIOS? On the MSI site, I only see the Beta version and don't know how to find the older version.

I downloaded it from msi forum, 4th message:

https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?threads/mag-x870-tomahawk-original-bios.404578/

I'm glad you managed to solve the blue screen issue. After what MSI support told me, I feel much more at ease, although it seems a bit sloppy that they release products without fixing these kinds of things...

As long as it's a minor issue that doesn't affect performance, I don't mind seeing that 08 on the board. Hopefully, they'll release a BIOS update later on to fix it. If support tells me anything else, I'll update the post and tag you so you're aware.

Have you had the chance to test the system with any games yet? Yesterday I was testing Space Marine 2 at 4K resolution with all settings on ultra, and the performance is really good. Everything maxed out, and the CPU temperature doesn't go above 65-70º. The GPU has similar temperatures.

 

[binkey92]

I downloaded it from msi forum, 4th message:

https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?threads/mag-x870-tomahawk-original-bios.404578/

I'm glad you managed to solve the blue screen issue. After what MSI support told me, I feel much more at ease, although it seems a bit sloppy that they release products without fixing these kinds of things...

As long as it's a minor issue that doesn't affect performance, I don't mind seeing that 08 on the board. Hopefully, they'll release a BIOS update later on to fix it. If support tells me anything else, I'll update the post and tag you so you're aware.

Have you had the chance to test the system with any games yet? Yesterday I was testing Space Marine 2 at 4K resolution with all settings on ultra, and the performance is really good. Everything maxed out, and the CPU temperature doesn't go above 65-70º. The GPU has similar temperatures.

Thank you I never would have found it. Yeah, if I had never gotten the BSODs, I would never have noticed the 08 code to begin with, so hopefully it doesn't affect anything. 08 was likely there the entire time from day one. I had tested games right before getting BSODs but on very old games. I'm coming from a 2016 PC, so everything is on another level with this new build. I will test with Space Marine 2 and Cyberpunk soon once I get everything installed.

My processor is the 7950X3d so slightly different than yours, but at idle it's 47-50 C. This is normal according to many other people on Reddit. With Cinebench it goes to 84C. I'll update after a lot of testing the next few days on performance. Thanks again.

 

[Khaine08]

Thank you I never would have found it. Yeah, if I had never gotten the BSODs, I would never have noticed the 08 code to begin with, so hopefully it doesn't affect anything. 08 was likely there the entire time from day one. I had tested games right before getting BSODs but on very old games. I'm coming from a 2016 PC, so everything is on another level with this new build. I will test with Space Marine 2 and Cyberpunk soon once I get everything installed.

My processor is the 7950X3d so slightly different than yours, but at idle it's 47-50 C. This is normal according to many other people on Reddit. With Cinebench it goes to 84C. I'll update after a lot of testing the next few days on performance. Thanks again.

Good to hear that!! Let's cross our fingers that nothing happens in the next few days. As soon as I have an update on the MSI case, I'll post it here.