Odd BIOS error code 0xAF on ASRock X79 Extreme4 LGA 2011

[rschmitty]

edit: Just because this seems to be the first hit on google now for "ASRock AF" the solution slayer found below was right on, thank you sir!

1) Contact ASRock Tech Support at 909-590-8308
2) Tell them your BIOS version on the white label on the motherboard next to the south bridge long with your CPU i7-3820.
3) They will confirm your BIOS is out of date and since you can't boot to flash your BIOS they will overnight you a new BIOS chip you simply plug in and boot to success

No problems since, very helpful support. Just a bummer Newegg doesnt know about this to avoid the problem, the board works fine with older i7 chips



Original post:

From the manual it states AF is "Exit Boot services event" however I have no idea what that means.

This is a brand new computer I put together. The first time I booted I tried entering the BIOS menu via DEL key, however it never went in to the menu, I was just stuck on "Press F2/Delete to enter bios" (or something along those lines). Thinking I used a broke keyboard (it was an old dell PS/2 I had laying around until I was ready to swap out my current PC peripherals) I powered down the computer and then tried a USB keyboard.

Now when I boot up I don't get any output to screen and the motherboard LED is stuck on error AF. I've also tried pressing the CRL CMOS button on the back, but it just restarts and takes me back to AF

Does anyone have any idea what that could mean?

Component list

ASRock X79 Extreme4 LGA 2011 Intel X79 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
Intel Core i7-3820 Sandy Bridge-E 3.6GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 2011 130W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80619i73820
16gb total: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-8GBRL
EVGA 012-P3-2078-KR GeForce GTX 560 Ti - 448 Cores (Fermi) Classified Ultra 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP ...
OCZ Agility 3 AGT3-25SAT3-240G 2.5" 240GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
Western Digital Caviar Black WD1502FAEX 1.5TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Antec CP-850 850W Continuous Power CPX SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC "compatible with ...
LITE-ON Black 12X Blu-ray Burner with Blu Ray 3D Feature SATA IHBS112-04 - OEM

[rschmitty]

Re: Odd BIOS error code 0xAF on ASRock X79 Extreme4 LGA 2011

Holy crap. Where did you find that?

Frustrating as heck, but glad there is a fix.

Thank you


(I emailed asrock tech support earlier today so I guess I will follow up with the rest of the info)

[unBIOSd]

Re: Odd BIOS error code 0xAF on ASRock X79 Extreme4 LGA 2011

edit: Just because this seems to be the first hit on google now for "ASRock AF" the solution slayer found below was right on, thank you sir!

1) Contact ASRock Tech Support at 909-590-8308
2) Tell them your BIOS version on the white label on the motherboard next to the south bridge long with your CPU i7-3820.
3) They will confirm your BIOS is out of date and since you can't boot to flash your BIOS they will overnight you a new BIOS chip you simply plug in and boot to success

Please help.

I have the same issue as the Thread Creator, who I just quoted. I received a new BIOS chip from ASRock. The problem now is that I have no idea how to remove the BIOS chip!

I was expecting a DIP or PLCC. Instead, the BIOS chip is a socketed serial 8-pin bios flash chip. My PLCC extractor tool can't find any part of the chip to get a grip on and I've had no luck gingerly prodding at it with a paperclip. I'm scared to death of scratching the motherboard. How on earth do I remove an 8-pin chip from it's socket?

[rschmitty]

Re: Odd BIOS error code 0xAF on ASRock X79 Extreme4 LGA 2011

I used a micro flat head screwdriver to start it then pulled it off by hand pretty sure the important bits are the socket holes and not the black casing

[unBIOSd]

Re: Odd BIOS error code 0xAF on ASRock X79 Extreme4 LGA 2011

Ummm... thanks?

Yeah, the micro flat head screwdriver did the trick. I had no luck at all with an extractor tool that I was trying with last night.

[rschmitty]

Re: Odd BIOS error code 0xAF on ASRock X79 Extreme4 LGA 2011

ummm... you're welcome?

[DrEvil]

Re: Odd BIOS error code 0xAF on ASRock X79 Extreme4 LGA 2011

edit: Just because this seems to be the first hit on google now for "ASRock AF" the solution slayer found below was right on, thank you sir!

1) Contact ASRock Tech Support at 909-590-8308
2) Tell them your BIOS version on the white label on the motherboard next to the south bridge long with your CPU i7-3820.
3) They will confirm your BIOS is out of date and since you can't boot to flash your BIOS they will overnight you a new BIOS chip you simply plug in and boot to success

No problems since, very helpful support. Just a bummer Newegg doesnt know about this to avoid the problem, the board works fine with older i7 chips



Original post:

From the manual it states AF is "Exit Boot services event" however I have no idea what that means.

This is a brand new computer I put together. The first time I booted I tried entering the BIOS menu via DEL key, however it never went in to the menu, I was just stuck on "Press F2/Delete to enter bios" (or something along those lines). Thinking I used a broke keyboard (it was an old dell PS/2 I had laying around until I was ready to swap out my current PC peripherals) I powered down the computer and then tried a USB keyboard.

Now when I boot up I don't get any output to screen and the motherboard LED is stuck on error AF. I've also tried pressing the CRL CMOS button on the back, but it just restarts and takes me back to AF

Does anyone have any idea what that could mean?

Component list

ASRock X79 Extreme4 LGA 2011 Intel X79 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
Intel Core i7-3820 Sandy Bridge-E 3.6GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 2011 130W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80619i73820
16gb total: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-8GBRL
EVGA 012-P3-2078-KR GeForce GTX 560 Ti - 448 Cores (Fermi) Classified Ultra 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP ...
OCZ Agility 3 AGT3-25SAT3-240G 2.5" 240GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
Western Digital Caviar Black WD1502FAEX 1.5TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Antec CP-850 850W Continuous Power CPX SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC "compatible with ...
LITE-ON Black 12X Blu-ray Burner with Blu Ray 3D Feature SATA IHBS112-04 - OEM

Thanks guys.
This solution is right on.

I had a ASRock X79 E4 with original BIOS v1.1, & i7 3820, & got to error 0xAF. Much component testing & grief, & research to find out the BIOS incompatibility, & this thread.
After getting no help from incompetent & unwilling PC Case Gear staff & owner (my ex supplier now), I contacted ASRock (via the phone number in this thread, then by email [email protected] ) & then the Aussie distributor Achieva, who quickly gave me a new BIOS chip with v1.6. (even though the board actually came through the other Aussie distributor Altech, who were also very helpful but had no BIOS chips)

The replacement BIOS chip with v1.6 & works properly. Board is very fast.

But you gotta wonder, why do we have to fix a non-working product that should be working out of the box?

It took me a week to fix this problem that should not have been mine to resolve.
ASRock should be enforcing BIOS replacement, or recall the product.
With the original v1.1 chip it will not start-up with any current socket 2011 CPU (only the original 2011s possibly), so you can't flash it or fix it, & if your supplier won't accept it back as DOA, you are stuck if you can't get the replacement BIOS.
Aussie consumer laws state that products must work out of the box as they are advertised to do, or you can return it for full refund.

[tmemphis]

Re: Odd BIOS error code 0xAF on ASRock X79 Extreme4 LGA 2011

I got this problem of the error code 0xAF, took it back to the shop I purchased it from. They tried the i7-3820, the i7-3960 and i7-3930 they all did not work with the error code 0xAF. 2We got out a ASRock EXTreme7 same problem BIOS 1.1...

They rang the Australian supplier and was told that these boards were not built with support for these chips originally. From what I understood, they are apperently built for the the Sandy Bridge E but as the E was not released, they still built it . ????? It took from 1.1 BIOS to 1.6 to get Sandy Bridge E Support. ASRock built and sold a board that didn't support any current CPU out in the market place... ::: WTF! I'm struggling to believe any company would really do this.

Here is the proof. Check when support for the CPUs are added by BIOS version... ASRock > Products > Motherboard Series Extreme4

I've never seen an ASRock LGA 2011 with anything more an BIOS 1.1. I assume this is a big problem for ASRock.

What intreges me is... Haven't any of the reviewers come accross this? OR was I spun a yarn and the BIOS list fake on ASRock website

[Adjo]

Re: Odd BIOS error code 0xAF on ASRock X79 Extreme4 LGA 2011

Gday guys.....

sure enough, I have the same problem. A 3820 with M1 stepping and the dreaded 0xAF error. I'm just wondering if anyone can point me in the right direction? I rang the Australian supplier Achieva on Friday and the tech said he COULD send me the chip, but it wasn't normal practice and that I would void my warranty. He suggested I RMA the board through the retailer. I rang the retailer and was told it can take anywhere from days to weeks for an RMA with Achieva. I don't do patience well, and while my trusty i5 laptop has been my saviour, I obviously want my "baby" up and running ASAP. I noted a couple of peeps on here from Australia and was wondering if they had any advice?

Cheers.

[DrEvil]

Re: Odd BIOS error code 0xAF on ASRock X79 Extreme4 LGA 2011

Gday guys.....

sure enough, I have the same problem. A 3820 with M1 stepping and the dreaded 0xAF error. I'm just wondering if anyone can point me in the right direction? I rang the Australian supplier Achieva on Friday and the tech said he COULD send me the chip, but it wasn't normal practice and that I would void my warranty. He suggested I RMA the board through the retailer. I rang the retailer and was told it can take anywhere from days to weeks for an RMA with Achieva. I don't do patience well, and while my trusty i5 laptop has been my saviour, I obviously want my "baby" up and running ASAP. I noted a couple of peeps on here from Australia and was wondering if they had any advice?

Cheers.

Guys,
You have to call Acheiva or Altech. ASRock won't provide this BIOS upgrade themselves.
The fastest way to resolve is to pay them for it - probably about $10
You can't flash this problem. BIOS replacement is the only way, & easy.
Board works very well after that.

[ASRock TSD - Emily]

Re: Odd BIOS error code 0xAF on ASRock X79 Extreme4 LGA 2011

Dear Adjo,

Please kindly provide the shipping information (Name, Address and Phone number) for me via PM.

I will send the BIOS chip to you.

Thanks for your help!

Have a nice day
ASRock TSD
Emily

[Wryog]

Re: Odd BIOS error code 0xAF on ASRock X79 Extreme4 LGA 2011

I'm getting the same error code on my X99M motherboard. Tried to go completely barebones(nothing but CPU and power supply connected) and it's still not working. None of the USB ports are working. Is it the same problem with a bad BIOS chip?
Edit: I'm pretty sure it's a BIOS problem as the first BIOS instantly shows that error but the second one goes through a sequence of checks, reboots and then shows error AF.
Second edit: I managed to get the second BIOS to run and flashed it but it's now giving me error AF again. Are the chips themselves broken or did the BIOS flash not work(even though it said it was complete)?