Asrock X79 Extreme7 Bios Issues

[lizardking88mph]

I just got an X79 Extreme7 with an evga gtx 680. I'm trying to enable pcie 3.0 in the bios by going into the northbridge settings and turning on "gen3" on all the slots. Everytime I do this, I have starting up problems and waking from sleep issues. It's like there will be no video and it crashes. If I switch back to "gen2" then everything is great. WTF!!! Anyone else having this problem? So I buy this board and can't use pcie 3.0 w/o crazy problems? Please help me or this board is going back to newegg. Thanks!

[lizardking88mph]

Ok so I fixed the problem by swtiching from an HDMI cable to a DVI cable. For some reason, it likes it better. But I am still not showing 3.0 speeds in GPU-Z. It shows pci-e @ 2.0. :( Any suggestions?

[profJim]

We can best help you after you have created a detailed list of your hardware in the PC Specs portion of your forum profile.
http://forums.tweaktown.com/profile.php?do=editprofile is the link to edit your profile.
The PC Specs section is at the bottom of the page.
Be sure to include the current motherboard bios version and your operating system version information.

Welcome to the forum.

[ASRock TSD - Emily]

Dear lizardking88mph,

Could you provide the model name of your CPU for me?

Thanks!

Have a nice day
ASRock TSD
Emily

[lizardking88mph]

Ok, I have updated my system specs as requested. My processor is the Core i7 3820. Oh and the problem is back even with the DVI cable attached. If I change the pci express slot settings in my bios under the advanced tab in the north bridge settings to "GEN3", the system is completely unstable. Freezing, not starting correctly(starts, fans spin, no video, restarts after 15 seconds and loops like this 3 or 4 times), and even got a BSOD. :( I have a friend, who does not have a pci express 3.0 capable card(GTX 260) with the same motherboard/processor setup that can switch his setting in the bios to match mine and he boots up fine. What's going on here? Why should that setting in the bios cause my system to go to garbage? Thanks for any help!!! :)

[profJim]

Just checking, you're using 3 x 4GB of memory with an X79 motherboard?

Please include the model numbers of your G.SKILL Ripjaws Series memory and your "vanilla" EVGA GTX 680 video card.

Have you performed any stress tests with your memory? Memtest v4.2? Prime95? Other stress tests?

[lizardking88mph]

Confirmed. I am using 3 sticks and running them in tripple channel. They are in ram slots 1, 3, 4. Shows tripple channel. I updated specs again with part numbers. I'm at my wits end and am about to return the board to newegg. Thanks for any help. :(

[lizardking88mph]

Just tried with different ram. F3-17000CL9Q-16GBZH

This is 4 stick quad channel ram. SAME RESULTS. computer acts crazy when on PCI GEN3. About to scrap it.

[lizardking88mph]

Great, so noone can help me then.

[profJim]

Things to test:

• test with your GTX 680 in a different motherboard slot
• test your video card in your friend's system
• test with a different graphics card
• test with your raid drives disconnected AND use AHCI instead of RAID settings in your bios

The idea is to test with all "unneeded" hardware removed to see if this helps narrow down the problem.
It's possible that under-clocking your cpu and/or memory might make a difference.

You might need to remove your cpu and carefully inspect the socket for bent or broken pins.
With your cpu removed, inspect the cpu contact pads where you should see that all of the pads have a small indentation that indicates that all of the pins are making good contact with each pad.

At some point you might need to test with your motherboard removed from the case, with the motherboard placed on a cardboard box beside your computer case.

It will simplify things and help eliminate errors if you report your results in a list format instead of in a multi-sentence paragraph format.
Send a PM to ASRock TSD - Emily with your cpu model number.