Problems with the latest Z690 configuration
Problems with the latest Z690 configuration
Hello everyone, I just finished assembling a new PC in March following a significant refresh. The current configuration includes: Motherboard - ASUS Maximus Hero Z690 (verified that the capacitors aren't problematic; my board is functioning normally) BIOS Version - 0237 (only stable build I can boot into Windows with) CPU - Intel Core i9 12900k - MCE disabled in BIOS, default settings preferred. Case - Corsair iCUE 7000X RGB Cooler - iCUE H170i ELITE LCD Display Liquid CPU Cooler GPU - ASUS STRIX NVIDIA RTX 3080 (from prior build) RAM - 2x16 DDR5 Corsair Dominator Platinum 5600mhz (CMT32GX5M2B5600C36) PSU - Corsair 1200W HX1200 80+ Platinum Power Supply (same as previous, recently worked well) SSD - Samsung 1TB 970 EVO Plus M.2 NVMe SSD (from prior build) I've faced several problems with this system and struggle to diagnose them after trying many solutions. First challenge was turning on XMP for RAM; the PC failed to boot and BIOS reset to defaults. No problem there. It now runs at stock speed. The main concern is occasional game loading, where the machine restarts unexpectedly—sometimes it powers up and then shuts down. Event Viewer shows only a generic Critical Event ID 41 during these events. Event Log doesn’t provide much detail beforehand. This pattern also showed up after updating BIOS to versions 1304 and 1403. I managed to access BIOS without issues, and the Q-code displayed A0, indicating everything is fine. When trying to boot Windows 11, the PC would restart immediately. This happened even when trying to mount directly from the W11 Installer USB via BIOS. I regained stability by reverting back to the original BIOS version 0237. Once that was done, I could boot into Windows without problems. What’s notable is that I haven’t experienced any crashes during gameplay—my recent build hasn’t had any BSODs. I’ve tested Elden Ring, COD Vanguard, Lego Star Wars, and even non-intensive titles like Apex Legends. The issue seems to appear only at first load of certain games. Drivers are up to date, Windows 11 is fully updated, and nothing has gone wrong. I’m still trying to figure out what might be causing this. Any advice or insights would be greatly appreciated. Please note, no modifications were made during assembly. Everything remains stock except the MCE setting which was disabled to prevent instability. The problem persisted even when MCE was turned on.
Are you still inside the return period? If yes, I’d consider the MSI Z690 Unify-X or the Asus Z690 Maximus Apex. The first option is about $100 less than your main board, while the second is roughly $100 more. It looks like DDR5 RAM performs significantly better on boards with just two dimming slots. Buildzoid on YouTube has put a lot of effort into testing this thoroughly. Besides the two-dimming slot problem on Z690 DDR5 boards, this model seems to have several other issues beyond the capacitor concerns. Asus is typically reliable, but this generation feels like they missed the mark. The only solid picks are the Z690 and B660 Asus boards—only the Maximus Apex is worth considering. For the lower end, you have the MSI Pro B660M-A DDR4, mid-range options like the Pro Z690-A, and the high-end Z690 Tomahawk/Gaming Edge Wifi (essentially the same as the Maximus). There’s really no good reason to choose Asus unless you’re prepared to buy the Maximus Apex. MSI offers better value across the entire lineup. If you’re past the return window, I’d either sell it—people quickly move hero boards—or send it back via RMA. Personally, I wouldn’t want a $600 board running with so many problems alongside a $600 processor and a 1k GPU. That’s just my opinion.
Thanks for the guidance. It seems like this might be a broader motherboard concern. I'm gathering some replacement components for any upcoming maintenance on this system. I'll also be checking out another motherboard for additional testing. Ideally, if the Hero board needs replacement, I'll follow up with an RMA and install a new one temporarily. Right now, I'm planning to swap parts just to confirm everything is functioning properly. While it's frustrating thinking about ASUS being my preferred brand, I understand the situation.