**Official** Asrock Z68 Gen3 Extreme7 & Extreme4 thread

[Ket]

Try the 1.0.0.115 driver, failing that fall back to the 1.0.0.101 driver and report back.

[presjar]

Try the 1.0.0.115 driver, failing that fall back to the 1.0.0.101 driver and report back.

I didn't realise there was a 1.0.0.115. I Google searched and got it from here: http://www.pctreiber.net/2012/etront...1-0-0-115.html
All working good with .115

I also tried .109 driver and the read speeds seem a bit higher than .115 but the write speed is faster in .115.

Thanks for the assist! Why would Etron have drivers on their site that are no good and also not the latest one?

[Ket]

Your guess is as good as mine. I frequently had to report a seemingly endless list to Asrock about Etron woes, from there Asrock I would assume put a hot poker to etrons arse.

[presjar]

I guess the native USB 3 with Ivy Bridge solves some issues, but intel needs to step up and provide support for more ports in the next update. Less dedicated USB 2 ports and replace with 3.0 ports.

It is stupid having to use external controllers, you can't trust the support.

[RatusNatus]

Hi guys,
I do have one Z68 Gen3 Extreme 3 with the bios 1.2 on it.
I was trying to update the bios but the Asrock Instant Flash utility wont load up. The confirmation message to open it never shows.
When i click on it a dialogue box with strange characters show up.

How can i upgrade this bios:

[apatch]

Z68E4G3 2.30 with Intel OROM 11.6.0.1624

Try at your own risk, use it with Intel RST 11.6.0.1030 , I'm using it right now and so far so good.

Before flashing this UEFI, Install newest Intel RST 11.6.0.1030 (installing newest version right on old one works too), if you will not do it system might not boot after flashing this UEFI !

[SnakePL]

Z68E4G3 2.30 with Intel OROM 11.6.0.1624

Try at your own risk, use it with Intel RST 11.6.0.1030 , I'm using it right now and so far so good.

Before flashing this UEFI, Install newest Intel RST 11.6.0.1030 (installing newest version right on old one works too), if you will not do it system might not boot after flashing this UEFI !

Installed, tested, and works with no problems.

Thanks

[SnakePL]

Is there any way to get Lucid Virtu MVP to work with this board?
Maybe a BIOS mod?

From what I understand its a problem with the license, which the manufacturer has to buy from Lucid... Unless we can somehow mod the BIOS with the proper license.

[apatch]

I had enough of Lucid problems and just bought few months ago GTX670 with similar adaptive vsync feature, as for a input lag reduction it's a better to buy some 120hz display. I know this is not a solution but you will end up with less problems and better effect.

[fullerms]

Does anyone know whether Asrock will release Windows 8 drivers for this board? While Windows 8 does include drivers out of the box, will be nice to see optimized drivers being available.

[SnakePL]

I had enough of Lucid problems and just bought few months ago GTX670 with similar adaptive vsync feature, as for a input lag reduction it's a better to buy some 120hz display. I know this is not a solution but you will end up with less problems and better effect.

I have a 570gtx and a samsung 120hz, so I don't really need it.

I was just messing around with it, I never used Lucid before. I can't get it to work anyways...

[TEDY]

i have gathered this drivers & utilites, anyone can correct me what is needed, what is not and what's doubled or anything, thanks:

ASMedia USB 3.0 v1.14.8.0 [Extreme7 Gen3]\
Broadcom BCM57781 v15.2.0.4B\
Etron EJ168A USB 3.0 v1.113 [Extreme4 Gen3]\
etron_115\
INF(9.2.0.1021)\
Intel HD Graphics v8.15.10.2761\
Intel Management Engine v8.0.13.1502\
Intel Management Engine v8.0.2.1410_1.5M\
Intel PCH v9.3.0.1019\
Intel RST v11.2.0.1006\
LAN(v14.6.4.2)\
Marvell 88SE9120 v1.2.0.1020\
Marvell_SATA3_Win7-64_Win7_Vista64_Vista 1.2.0.1003\
Nuvoton(20110219_CIR)\
RapidStorage(v10.8.0.1003)\
Realtek HD Audio R2.70\
THX TruStudio(1.00.01)\
VGA_Win7-64_Vista64(v15.26.1.64.2618)\
XFastUSB(3.02.30)\
ASR3TB+Unlocker_v1.0.exe
AsrAppChargerSetup_v1.0.4.exe
AsrInstantBoot_v126.exe
AsrRS(v1.0.6).exe
AXTUSetup(v0.1.220).exe
cfosspeed-v661-build1880-asrock-whql.exe
intel_rst_11.6.0.1030.exe
Lucidlogix VIRTU Setup_64Bit_1.2.112.20176.exe
Lucidlogix VIRTU x64 v1.2.114.exe
SETUP_0.115.zip
SETUP_0.115.zip.part
XFastRAM(v2.0.24).exe
XFastRAM(v2.0.9.2).exe
z68e4g32.30mod.zip

[TEDY]

everything default....

i5 2500k
samsung green 8gb ddr3
gxt 460 msi hawk
asrock z68 e4g3

[zoomee]

Does anyone know whether Asrock will release Windows 8 drivers for this board? While Windows 8 does include drivers out of the box, will be nice to see optimized drivers being available.

+1

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

[apatch]

Does anyone know whether Asrock will release Windows 8 drivers for this board? While Windows 8 does include drivers out of the box, will be nice to see optimized drivers being available.

More important here is if they will ever update UEFI to fully support fast boot with Win 8, so far no luck with Z68 link , maybe even this will never happen.

[Ket]

W8 absolutely sucks unless you have a touchscreen display, I really don't know why anyone would bother with W8 if they don't have a touchscreen monitor.

[zoomee]

W8 absolutely sucks unless you have a touchscreen display, I really don't know why anyone would bother with W8 if they don't have a touchscreen monitor.

Thats a very niaive point of view to adopt. Have you actually tried using it for a week or so? didn't think so.
People are so resistant to change these days lol! It was pretty much the same with all previous new MS OS's.

At first I used to miss the Start button (There's plenty of products out there that re-instate it anyway like pokki), but after a couple of weeks I'm actually beginning to like it. Barring the new Metro interface (which I hardly ever touch) theres a noticeable performance boost from it not just for everyday tasks but also for gaming.

Either way - whether you or I like it or not, it is Microsoft's next operating system and hardware vendors should make the effort to support it fully. It's not like microsoft are going to say - oh ok then, we'll just ditch it LOL. Move with the times dude!

[presjar]

Hey all,

In the UFEI settigs for the Extreme4 Gen3 I am having trouble setting the CPU fan to increase and decrease depending on CPU temperature. What is the correct method to set the fan? I want it full speed in temps are over 50deg.

Currently, the fan speed just stays on the level chosen in setup and won't change with temperature.

Also, I assume this also should work for CHA_FAN1 ?

I'm using P2.20

Thanks heaps for helping.

[Ket]

Thats a very niaive point of view to adopt. Have you actually tried using it for a week or so? didn't think so.
People are so resistant to change these days lol! It was pretty much the same with all previous new MS OS's.

At first I used to miss the Start button (There's plenty of products out there that re-instate it anyway like pokki), but after a couple of weeks I'm actually beginning to like it. Barring the new Metro interface (which I hardly ever touch) theres a noticeable performance boost from it not just for everyday tasks but also for gaming.

Either way - whether you or I like it or not, it is Microsoft's next operating system and hardware vendors should make the effort to support it fully. It's not like microsoft are going to say - oh ok then, we'll just ditch it LOL. Move with the times dude!

I don't like W8 because I have used it, the UI is completely counter intuitive for anyone that doesn't have a touch screen display. There are laptops (only a few, not all) only since W8s release that are shipping with touch screen displays, coincidence? Absolutely not, its because the W8 UI is totally counter intuitive for any device that doesn't have a touchscreen - it takes LONGER to do the SAME THING vs W7. This is also backed up by numerous bits of software released to put the W7 like UI (aka start menu et-al) back for laptop / PC users, Start8 is one example. I believe MS have also released something to put the start button back for desktops / laptops - that in itself should give you a big hint right there.

I've always adopted new MS OSes because its part of my job and associates either upgrade or stay with what they have got based on what I say. To be clear and put it beyond doubt I have embraced Win 95, 98SE, XP and W7 while laughing at the pitiful attempts that have been Win 98 (first edition), Windows Millennium Edition, Vista (with SP2 its not as terrible as people say, but still pretty bad) and most recent, W8. If you have a touch screen device then sure give W8 a try, but even then I found the W8 Metro UI clumsy, theres far too much "do this, then that, to get here - oh and BTW you'll have to learn X&Y does this to make this process easier / faster" whereas W7 its simply "click this, and you're there". What needed to be done right from the very start (no pun intended, but its a good one ) is for MS to include a option during the W8 install offering two choices which could of been described as so; "Metro UI: Recommended for users installing Windows 8 on a touch screen device" and " Windows 7 UI: Recommended for users installing Windows 8 on a non touch screen device".

In all honesty, you sound like a MS employee trolling or a MS fanboy, no objectivity at all.

[zoomee]

ahahaha!! - Microsoft wished I worked for them

In all honesty dude, I agree with you about most aspects, but a couple of tweaks and I find its more than good enough as a replacement for Windows 7 (price was my main factor in upgrading!). In fact recent sales figures prove its more popular than Windows 7 was! :

In its first month of sales Windows 8 has moved 40 million licenses, according to Microsoft. The company announced the news in a blog post and at a conference presentation. It also points out that buoyed by reduced upgrade fees, the Windows 8 upgrade rate is outpacing that of Windows 7, the previous sales record-holder.

Source: http://www.dailytech.com/Windows+8+B...ticle29288.htm

Like I said - whether you or I like it or not, its Microsoft's next operating system and its here to stay unfortunately. Without getting into tit for tat conversation regarding the operating system (simple advantages are speed and dx11.1 compatibility over W7 for a start, and yes I acknowledge a requirement to slightly retrain staff etc for business use - but this is what consumer computing is about) - learn to move with the times old man :p

ASRock should be providing up to date operating system drivers - If they simply optimise their existing W7 drivers and take advantage of the new functionality of W8 (Fast boot for example) it will ensure customer loyalty in future and show a commitment to supporting their range of products.

Every other component in my PC (which requires a driver) has had a new driver released, BUT my mainboard which is actually one of the most important bits, i'm sure you'll agree.

[tipes]

I agree with this view - I also have tried W8, but on an ordinary desktop machine it is in my view a fail.I will be sticking with W7 unless they give us an option on install for desktop with start menu/button or metro.

Btw should have quoted Ket post above which I am replying too.

Mark

[Ket]

ahahaha!! - Microsoft wished I worked for them

In all honesty dude, I agree with you about most aspects, but a couple of tweaks and I find its more than good enough as a replacement for Windows 7 (price was my main factor in upgrading!). In fact recent sales figures prove its more popular than Windows 7 was! :


Source: http://www.dailytech.com/Windows+8+B...ticle29288.htm

Like I said - whether you or I like it or not, its Microsoft's next operating system and its here to stay unfortunately. Without getting into tit for tat conversation regarding the operating system (simple advantages are speed and dx11.1 compatibility over W7 for a start, and yes I acknowledge a requirement to slightly retrain staff etc for business use - but this is what consumer computing is about) - learn to move with the times old man :p

ASRock should be providing up to date operating system drivers - If they simply optimise their existing W7 drivers and take advantage of the new functionality of W8 (Fast boot for example) it will ensure customer loyalty in future and show a commitment to supporting their range of products.

Every other component in my PC (which requires a driver) has had a new driver released, BUT my mainboard which is actually one of the most important bits, i'm sure you'll agree.

Funny how you keep saying "move with the times", yet I've already stated I've used W8 extensively..... I'm not going to keep repeating myself, you just look like a... well, I'll let other readers fill in that blank for repeatedly saying "move with the times" as your main argument. You also more or less fully backtracked on your first post with this post, going from totally disagreeing with that I summarised to pretty much fully agreeing when I made a more extensive post.. I'll leave that at that. W8 sales may be higher, but I'll bet anything you want those W8 sales figures include also the sales of Windows phone and Windows tablet as well as new desktops and laptops, W7 was for desktops and laptops not phones and tablets as well. Take the phone and tablet sales away I bet W8 sales figures are worse than W7s. MS also say they have reduced upgrade prices of W8 compared to what the upgrade cost of W7 was, aside from that being a form of "cheat" to boost sales, can you imagine if W7 had the same upgrade price of W8? No doubt sales for W7 upgrades would of been even higher because everyone loves W7. You also have to think about volume sales, if somewhere like Walmart buys 10,000 licenses MS count all of those as "sales" even if those licenses are all just sitting on a shelf somewhere. Then you also have to think about all the desktops / laptops sold with W8 pre-installed, that will be "downgraded" to a copy of W7, those desktops / laptops will still be counted as "sales" even though they won't be running W8 but W7, just because W8 was pre-installed. If MS released actual number of activations for W8 figures, they would tell a very different story. Oh and just to hammer this home, I tried buying some copies of W7 from MS to upgrade some work machines, they won't allow that. I HAVE to buy W8 then "downgrade" to W7. All those "sales" of W8 would still be counted even though the systems will be running W7. As for the boot speed and DX11.1 arguments... they are weak arguments at best. Compare a fresh install of W7 then take that same system and compare a fresh install of W8.. boot time differences will be minimal to none, DX11.1? Thats the same scenario as DX10 vs. DX10.1. Did you see any differences with DX10.1 vs DX10? Me neither, the same is true of DX11 vs. DX11.1. Here is also a professional analysis of W8; http://www.useit.com/alertbox/windows-8.html

Anyway, this is all I will say on this matter because its dragging the thread from its purpose - to help asrock MB owners.

Asrock also offer W8 drivers on their website for a lot of their boards, older boards may not get the drivers updated on the Asrock site for W8 drivers but finding W8 drivers for the hardware the board uses is as stupidly simple as its always been - just look in the user manual and google the hardware you have with "windows 8 driver" added to the search term. Alternatively you could always visit some Z77 board driver download pages on the asrock site as a lot of harware from the P67 Extreme4 through to the Z77 Extreme6 is the same. If you don't want to do that, just visit somewhere like station drivers where I'm sure you'll find drivers for all the hardware your board uses. Bare in mind there will be some manufacturers of some hardware that may not currently have W8 drivers or W8 specific drivers may not be released as theres no need for it because the W7 driver works perfectly fine with W8.

I agree with this view - I also have tried W8, but on an ordinary desktop machine it is in my view a fail.I will be sticking with W7 unless they give us an option on install for desktop with start menu/button or metro.

Btw should have quoted Ket post above which I am replying too.

Mark

^^ This here, is the majority of users opinion. We are not alone by any stretch of the imagination

[zoomee]

I couldn't care less what you or a couple of other haters may think about windows 8 tbh ket. I kept my second post short and agreeable to not have to enter into the usual 'windows 8 sux debate' but you still replied with a wall of text. Thanks for your 'gartner' study, but you don't have to tell me about how windows 8 sales operates - You might want to start to learn the difference between Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 for a start

Anyway - There are no drivers with 'official' support for Windows 8 - they are merely windows 7 drivers, hence the request. One other user has already asked for them, I'm simply adding that there's more than one isolated user requesting them also if you could pass that on to your contact at ASrock, I would be more than happy. Thanks.

[gareth170]

W8 sales may be higher, but I'll bet anything you want those W8 sales figures include also the sales of Windows phone and Windows tablet as well as new desktops and laptops,

no. the 40 million licenses was upgrade licenses sales not including Windows phone and Windows tablet as well as new desktops and laptops sales,

also Microsoft offered a free public preview. so you knew what Windows 8 had to offer, if you didn't like the preview nobody is forcing you to upgrade, and if you've bought windows 8 still even though you didn't like the preview then that's your fault really.

simple as that

so stop moaning

[Ket]

As I said, I'm not commenting on the topic further, but I do strongly suggest you re-read my post because you clearly haven't read it properly.